$4800.00 A Month Aint BAD!!!!!!!!!!
byTim Firth
This is a quick guide on how you can earn a full time income with affiliate programs without even having a website. This is so simple, its stupid, yet so many affiliates keep failing.
The biggest reason I failed when I first started online was because I complicated things. I tried to create huge websites filled with content, and it just did’nt work because I lost my motivation.
With this guide, all you have to do is create a free autoresponder series, then advertise it directly with ezines and other simple methods that I will show you.
Select 3 affiliate programs
To make this work and not be a one hit wonder, you will need to select THREE affiliate programs to join. The criteria to select these programs is a little different than going out and selecting the affiliate with the biggest commission although this does play a role.
Of course, all the affiliate programs you promote will have to revolve around the same subject. For instance, say your first affiliate program is an ebook on Mini Sites, then your second affiliate program that you sell could be a “members only” site based on Mini Sites and your third affiliate program could be a service where someone creates a network of Mini sites for your customers.
I will talk more about this later and how the pricing is crucial.
The first affiliate program you promote will want to be one that pays a larger than normal commission on the first sale. Do not accept anything less than 40% commission for your first affiliate program. The reason for this is because we want to make a profit on the first affiliate program and by selling any product that does not make you at least $20 per sale you will not profit straight away. The main aim of this is to really build up your opt-in mailing list.
If you break even, don’t be discouraged. Breaking even is an amazing result, and if you have built your list up, then you will be profiting for years to come.
So for your first affiliate program, choose a product that sells for around $40 to $50 and where you still get at least 40% of the total profits.
Your second affiliate program you join will be in the category of what we call “Residual Income”.
This is an affiliate program that pays you every month someone stays signed up for their product or service. For example, if you were to promote a web hosting company, and they charged $25 a month, you would get around $10 a month for as long as that person stays signed up for the web hosting. This is one of the best ways of earning a secure pay check every month.
These are great programs to promote because all they require is a little hard work up front and you’re set for months, even years. That’s why I recommend promoting this type of program when you have a large list of names to email to.
Of course you will still be promoting your free course to other people but this is a way to make back end sales from your current list. Don’t think if you’ve advertised to these people once, that’s all they are good for.
Now your third affiliate program will also be a program that you will promote to your current subscriber list. This program should pay you a large sum of money. Although this type of program will have a lower conversion rate, you should be making $80 to $150 commission per sale.
Now you must promote your three affiliate programs successfully – For a step-by-step guide, visit the website below.
Timothy Firth B.Sc. Hons. is an expert author and provides cheap e-books with master resale rights, premium e-books, audio books, software and home business opportunity suitable for everyone. For more information on Article Cash, visit E-Book Library Online - http://www.ebooklibraryonline.co.uk
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Firth
Home Based Business
Internet Marketing
Friday, September 14, 2007
Friday, February 02, 2007
How To Start & Operate Import/Export Business
How To Start & Operate Import/Export Business
How To Start & Operate Your Own Profitable
Import/Export Business At Home
What is a good way to build up a successful business from nothing
and have fun doing it? The import/export business may be your
answer. Not only does it require little financial investment to
start, but it offers the prestige of working with clients from
all over the world.
You don't need previous experience in the field, but you should
have a good head for organizing. Fulfilling a successful
import/export business requires constant attention to little
details.
Do you know some local manufacturers looking for ways to increase
their market for the goods they make? Or are you planning a trip
abroad and want to make some contacts for setting up a business?
If you have the ability to sell, and an air of diplomacy, the
import/export business might be right for you. All you need is
the desire and determination to make it work.
As you progress in the business, many factors become obvious and
easy to handle. For example, you'll need to find a person to
handle shipments, called a freight forwarder. And you'll need to
create solid contacts and strong relationships with reliable
suppliers. But after a short time, you can be well on your way to
making a sizeable income, with a very low overhead.
Do you like the idea of running your own business? How would you
like a tax deductible trip to foreign places a couple times a
year? The advantage of an import/export business are great.
The biggest advantage is the money you'll make.. Once you get the
business underway,, the commission for setting up sales is very
profitable. And after you establish and maintain a number of
exclusive accounts, you'll find the time you spend is highly
rewarded with money.
Take a look into the import/export business. Consider the risks,
and consider the advantages. Talk to people in the business. Is
it for you?
HOW IT WORKS
Of all the manufacturers in the United States, only a small
percentage distribute goods outside of North America. The goods
that do find foreign markets are exports. On the other hand,
anything that is manufactured outside the country and brought in
for sale is imported.
Although it seems obvious that all manufacturers would want a
worldwide market, it is not easy for a company that is limited in
its scope and abilities. That's where you come in.
An import/export agent is a matchmaker. Manufacturers of domestic
goods seek foreign distribution; foreign manufacturers want a
United States market. You need to find them, make a solid
connection, and establish a business relationship with these
companies.
The agent's commission is generally about ten percent. Now, think
of ten percent of $500,000 or ten percent of a million. Although
that may seem like a large order, it wouldn't be, if you're
talking about machinery, raw materials, or computers.
The market is unlimited and there are hundreds of manufacturers
looking for foreign distribution. Sporting goods, clocks,
electronic games, radios, housewares, garments, tools-anything
can be readily imported or exported if there is a consumer demand
and if you can get the products.
The United States Government encourages exports. Indeed, it is
those sales that keep our balance of payments with the vast
amounts of goods are imported.. And you'll find government
agencies helpful in establishing your business.
THE BASICS
You can start your import/export business at home with a
telephone.. You'll need a file system, business cards, and a
machine to answer the phone calls. Once you get going, you'll
want a cable address or a telex hook-up.
And you'll need a classy letterhead. Until you establish personal
contacts, it is your letterhead that represents you. Make it look
professional, possibly embossed or two-color, or gold leafed.
Have it printed on light-weight paper for airmail correspondence,
but don't have airmail envelopes printed. You'll have a lot of
domestic correspondence too.
More than office equipment, you need the determination to make
it work. It will be slow at first, and you'll need to plan your
moves, make contacts and SELL YOURSELF. But once you make a few
sales and sign several exclusive contracts worth money, you'll
know your dedication was worthwhile.
MAKING CONTACTS
The most important step in setting up your business is finding
the contacts. You may have relatives in a foreign country;; you
may have frequently visited and established business
relationships in a country. Or, you might just have a feeling for
what will sell where. A person who keeps well-informed in the
business world can pick up and ride the crest of worldwide
trends.
Foreign consulates located in the United States have commercial
attaches who want to establish outlets in the U.S., and they're a
good place to start.. Sometimes these consulates can help find
indices of their own import/export enterprises.
The Unites States embassies abroad are another place to find
contacts for commercial distribution. They can help you find out
about a company's solvency and reputation.
Another way to establish contacts is through the Chambers of
Commerce of every city you are aiming for.
Start small-don't tackle the world.. Where do you want to sell
American goods you might have in mind? Which countries have the
merchandise you want to import? Find out about the countries,
what they have to offer, what is generally in demand.
Then prepare a massive mail campaign
The easiest way to mail hundreds of letters is to use a typing
service that has the equipment to produce the same letter with a
different address each time.. It's worth the money it will cost;
you'd go crazy typing so many identical letters.
To every possible contact, write a letter introducing your
company, requesting the names and address of appropriate firms to
contact. Ask to have the notice published in the monthly bulletin
or posted in an appropriate place.
From the names to get back, write another letter, again
introducing yourself, and asking information about their company.
You can use a questionaire, which is easy to fill out and invites
a response.
What goods do they want to import? What products are now imported
and how are they distributed?? Does the company have a certain
territory, does it have sales representatives, branches in other
cities? What are the basic details of operation--history, assets
and liabilities, plans for growth?
Request any information you need, to find out what they will buy
and what they have to sell. If the company is a manufacturer, ask
for samples or a catalog, the facts and figures of current
foreign distribution, and the product demand in their own
country.
ANALYZE THE MARKET
Keep informed. Read everything you can find about world trade.
Look at trade publications, international newspapers, news
magazines, and financial reports. Who is selling what to whom?
Although the market for American-made airplanes is sewn up, there
are thousands of medium to small sized manufacturers in every
state of the union.
You can get goods to sell, buy you have to be sure to study where
they are in demand and can get the price to make exportation
viable. Your questionaires will tell you what foreign importers
want. Take it a step further and read the journals published by
that country; many of them are available in English. Do these
publication confirm the desire for certain products?
The American market for imported products fluctuates with the
value of the dollar in comparison to the value of each other
country's currency. And, importation prices reflect that
directly. Can American consumers afford to pay the price of
certain imported goods? Or will they?
Finding the right market is as important as the actual
particulars of making deals and selling goods.. What do you think
will sell? If you do some careful studies and think about the
trends, you'll be able to come up with hundreds of products to
import and export.
The import/export business is actually smaller than you might
think.. There are only a few of these businesses; that's why
there's plenty of room for more.
WHERE TO FIND HELP
Establish a good business relationship with a local bank that
handles international business.. Your personal banker will follow
through on the actual foreign transactions, and will help you
keep your credit afloat, In fact, this is one of the best factors
about an import/export business. Aside from office suppliers and
correspondence, or possible business trips, you need a no
personal cash outlay. All you need is a good credit and good
reputation.
Your banker is your credit manager and will give you valuable
advice and references when you deal with both American and
foreign manufacturers
and distributors.
The United States Government agencies are great places to find
help... These agencies promote the import/export business, and
publish many small booklets and pamphlets. They also distribute
continually updated reports on foreign markets, commerce and
financing.
Read these source of information and find out the particulars of
exports, global surveys and ocean freight guidelines. Become
familiar with the market share reports, current laws and
regulations, and government promotional facilities.
MAKING CONNECTIONS
As you continue your correspondence with foreign companies, build
up a good rapport with their representative.. Pin down a few
companies- perhaps in the same country or similar territory--to
their exact needs. What are the two or three products most in
demand?
Consider their methods of distribution. You may be able to work
directly with a wholesaler of an overseas importing company. Your
commission will be lower, but you won't need to handle as many
particulars , and they will take care of distribution.
Or, you may need to supply catalogs and samples, working with a
network of small companies or sales representatives from a larger
conglomerate.
The highest fees that you can collect are for raw materials taken
from the source and delivered directly to a manufacturer. But you
must be certain of a guaranteed quantity and the continued
ability to deliver.
If you are importing goods, you'll need to find U.S. distributors
that can handle the quantity of goods at a high enough price for
you to profit by. A single retail outlet or two is not enough to
make your time worthwhile. Look into how buyers work and make
contacts in the larger retail chains if you have retail
merchandise.
GETTING THE GOODS
There are hundreds of American manufacturers with limited
distribution looking for an overseas market. Exporting their
goods is the place to start your business.
You have many selling qualities for convincing the manufacturers
to engage you as the sole export agent. You have foreign contacts
and know the demand for specific goods.. You will handle the
sale,, the paperwork, the money, all shipping, customs, and
foreign distribution.
The manufacturers in return provide firm price quotations, and
you put your fees on top of that; you cost the manufacturer
nothing.
The manufacturer have everything to gain--an increase in sales, a
broader market, and more profit. And you have everything to
gain--establishing your business, and a commission on the cost of
the goods. That is the basis of firm business connections and a
mutually profitable arrangement.
Contact local manufacturers first and then move into larger
territories. You can make these contacts by phone, in person,, or
by personal introduction from contacts you may already have.. Or,
you can advertise in business publications and newspapers.
Before yo do get into a legal agreement, be sure to check the
reputation of the company. How long has it been in business?
Where are the products distributed domestically? What is the
solvency and reliability of the company and its goods? When you
make your sale, you'll want to be able to deliver.
MAKING AN AGREEMENT
ONce you have agreed to represent the manufacturer as the export
agent, you need to have a written and signed contract to bind
this agreement. Your attorney should be the one to draw up this
contract; later you can just use the same one, substituting names
of other manufacturers.
Basically, the contract is between the manufacturer and you as
the export representative. You are granted exclusive rights to
distribute goods to all countries except those they already
distribute in. The manufacturer will pay you the specific
commission quoted to the distribution on top of the price of
goods. The company will also provide catalogs and samples for
your use in distribution.
You, the export representative, in turn will promise to do
everything possible to make contacts and distribute
manufacturer's goods in foreign territories..
The terms of the contract should then be stated: how many years
the contract will be signed for, the terms of cancellation by
either party voluntarily or because of no sales action over a
certain period of time.
THE SALE
You've made your contacts with foreign distributors who will buy
the merchandise. You have a signed contract with an American
manufacturer that will deliver the goods.. Perhaps one of the
distributors now asks for a firm quotations on the price of a
certain amount of goods.
You go to the manufacturer and get a price quotation on the
quantity of goods. It should be valid for a certain stated
period... The manufacturer may agree to deliver the goods to the
ship,, handling the freight to that point, or you may need to
make arrangements from the factory.
You ass on the commission you want to the price of the goods.
Then you add on all the extra costs of getting the merchandise
from the factory to the warehouse of the distributor.
If you've made an agreement with a foreign import/export company,
their representatives may take over the shipping, paying you the
price of the goods and your commission. That;s the easiest, but
your commission will have to be reasonably lower.
If your sale is to a company that will distribute the goods
wholesale or retail from its premises, you have to arrange all
the transportation.
TERMS OF SHIPPING
You will become more familiar with the terms of shipping used in
quoting prices and delivering goods as you gain experience. Your
responsibilities vary with the terms of the agreements and
orders. Check with your freight forwarder to be clear about your
responsibilities.
A bill of lading is a receipt for goods shipped. It is signed by
the agent of a ship or common carrier and assures the buyer that
the goods were unloaded in the same condition as they were
accepted. These are the documents you'll need to produce for your
banker to release the letter of credit.
FOB means free on board. The seller delivers the goods to a
certain destination with no additional charges. The seller
insures and takes the responsibility until that point. The buyer
takes the responsibility and pays the charges after that. For
example, FOB New York means the seller's price quotation includes
full responsibility and shipping to New York.
FAS means free alongside. The seller delivers the goods to the
ship that will carry the merchandise. The buyer pays to load onto
the ship and takes responsibility from there. FAS New York, for
example, means that the seller will deliver and store the goods
until they are ready for loading onto the ship.
C & F means cost and freight. The seller pays the freight
charges. The buyer insures the merchandise and takes full
responsibility after the destination.
CIF means cost, insurance, freight. The seller is responsible for
the value and condition of the goods, and pays both insurance and
freight charges to a certain point.. The buyer is responsible
from there.
THE FREIGHT FORWARDER
A freight forwarder is a person who takes care of the important
steps of shipping the merchandise. This person quotes shipping
rates, provides routing information, and books cargo space.
Freight forwarders prepare documentation, contract shipping
insurance, route cargo with the lowest customs charges, and
arrange storage. They are valuable to you as an import/export
agent, and they are important in handling the steps from factory
to final destination.
They can be found by looking in the yellow pages or by personal
referrals. Find someone who can do a good job for you. You'll
need someone you can work with, since this may become a long term
business relationship.
You'll need the help of a freight forwarder when you make up the
total price quotation to the distributor. Not only do you
include the manufacturer's price and your commission-usually
added together, but you need to include dock and cartage fees,
the forwarders fees, ocean freight costs, marine insurance, duty
charges, and any consular invoice fees, packing charges, or other
hidden costs.
Be especially careful when you prepare this quotation It
certainly isn't professional to come back to the distributor with
a higher quote including fees you forgot... You might go over the
price quotation with your freight forwarder to be sure nothing is
overlooked.
Usually the quotation is itemized into three main categories of
cost of goods, which includes your commission, freight charges
from destination to destination, and insurance fees.
Give a date the quotation is valid to, which should be the same
as the date given on your quotes. You may also include
information about the products, including any new sales
literature.
A formal letter that accompanies the price quotation should push
for the sale. You can inform the distributor of the shipping date
as soon as the order is received and confirmed by a letter of
credit. Send the letter and price quotation by registered mail to
be certain of its delivery.
THE LETTER OF CREDIT
A letter of credit eliminates financial risks for you, the
manufacturer, and the distributor. When your distributor confirms
the order, a letter of credit is drawn from that company's bank
to a branch in the United States or to your bank.
This letter of credit confirms that funds are available from the
distributor to cover the same costs you quoted. An irrevocable
letter of credit assures you the order will not be cancelled at
any time... When that letter of credit is likewise confirmed by
your bank to deliver the goods, the distributor is assured of
delivery. Once the letter of credit is confirmed, so you don't
have to worry about the fluctuation in currency.
Basically, the bank holds the money until all shipping documents
are presented. The letter of credit states the terms and
conditions to make it legal and negotiable into money, usually
holding for proof of shipment of the goods. Your freight
forwarder helps you attain all those documents. When you hand
them to the banker, the letter of credit is turned into liquid
assets for you to pay the manufacturer and all other invoices
from the transaction.
Never work on promises. Not only do you take a gigantic risk, but
you create bad risks for everyone you are involved with. A letter
of credit is the only sure way to transfer these payments.
DELIVERING THE GOODS
There are many combinations of people and methods you can use to
deliver the goods that were ordered. When you produced a price
quotation for the goods, you had to go through all the steps the
merchandise will follow. Now, before you proceed, check again.
Do you have a confirmed order signed by the authorized
representatives of the distributing company?? Has your banker
approved the letter of credit from the company?
Compare the amount of the letter of credit to the amount quoted
for the goods. Be sure they match exactly. Or, if the distributor
chose a certain quantity of several offers, check the prices
again and confirm the quantity.
Confirm the quotation and sale with the manufacturer, and do the
same with the freight forwarder and any marine insurance agents
you are working with. Then follow through.
I order to assure the quality of merchandise, some manufacturers
prefer to handle freight to the loading docks,, which makes it
easier for you. If you handle overland shipping, follow through
to be sure the merchandise is picked up and arrives safely at its
destination.
Be informed of the date the goods are loaded onto the ship. The
factory should have them freighted in time to avoid costly dock
storage charges.
Since all conditions of the sale must be met to comply with the
terms of the letter of credit, you need all the signed documents.
Have your freight forwarder or other contacts get authorized
bills of lading for the merchandise each step of the way--from
destination to destination..
Once you have all the signed documents, present them to your
banker. If all the terms are met, the funds will be released.
Since your commission is part of the quoted price of the
merchandise, you'll usually collect your fees from the
manufacturer.
When it is totally complete, you collect your money--and make a
sizeable profit for simply making connections. Consider the
commissions when you have dozens of orders coming and going.
IMPORTING
Take a look at the household items and equipment you have in your
home. Made in West Germany, made in Japan, made in Korea. You may
have clothing from India, shoes from Brazil,,, a leather wallet
from Italy.. Your car may be an import; your stereo equipment may
be manufacturer elsewhere. There are hundreds and hundreds of
items manufactured all over the world, now being used by the
American consumer.
The market is huge. And there are many American firms looking for
foreign made merchandise to distribute. Some items are less
expensive;some are better made; some are imported because they
are made in a country now fashionable with the designers.
What can you tap into? Maybe you have contacts in the Unites
States, distributors looking for certain goods. And you've
already made contacts in the foreign countries that produce these
goods.. Follow through and get yourself an exclusive distribution
agreement with those manufacturers.
Importing requires the same diligence and follow up as exporting
does. You'll need a signed contract with the manufacturer to be a
sole agent
distributor to North America, or even the world.
You'll also need to obtain firm price quotes from the
manufacturer in the quantities your distributor requests. These
quotes should be converted into the appropriate dollar figures
representing the currency exchange.
Investigate the reputation of the manufacturer and the
reliability of the goods. If you import something like electronic
components, check into other distribution market the manufacturer
has to assure the quality of merchandise.
Your commission will come through from the foreign manufacturer.
Have your bank investigate the solvency of that company and the
reputation of living up to agreements. Since it's on foreign
territory you'd have more trouble in any legal suits, even in
light of many international laws.
Prepare the price quotation. It is easiest if you request terms
of delivery to the port of that country. Your freight forwarder
can help you move the merchandise from port, overseas, and
through domestic customs.
Follow through with all the details of shipment. Be sure to
include any insurance, dock fees, storage rates, and shipping
overland. Overlook nothing so your price quotation to the
American distributor is accurate,
Itemize the quotation and give it to the American distributor..
Upon receipt of an authorized order, double check prices and
follow through on delivery.
The letter of credit will go from the American distributor to the
bank of the manufacturer. All terms and agreements regarding
prices, freight and insurance will be defined. The manufacturer's
representative will confirm receipt of the letter of credit,
which will release the goods for shipment.
Have your freight forwarder follow up on the shipment of goods.
They may have to be freighted from the factory to the docks..
Arrangements for shipping need to be carried out.. Customs duties
and unloading need to be followed through from the American port.
Then the goods may need to be freighted overland to the final
destination...
As soon as the goods have arrived at the proper assigned
destination, papers have to be documented and presented to the
bank that holds the letter of credit. Then, all carriers and
agents need to be paid, and you collect your commission.
PROMOTION
After you have completed a few sales transactions to establish
yourself, you'll need to promote your import/export business to
get more clients. The first transactions give you the experience
to learn the ropes of the business, and to establish contacts and
agents both here and abroad.
Join organizations of commerce and foreign trade associations to
develop more contracts and extend your territory. Talk to
everybody you contact about importing and exporting, learning
from their mistakes and successes.
Advertise in the print media for distributors and for goods.
Manufacturers don't know how to make the contacts for foreign
distributions. Show them your credentials and pick them up on
exclusive contracts. With a little experience, you can market
almost anything anywhere.
EXPANDING THE BUSINESS
THe profit of the import/export business is in the quantity of
the goods traded. The higher the cost of the merchandise, the
higher the profit from your percentage. Since you need to go
through all the steps for each transaction, having more sales on
a continual basis simply adds to profit.
Send constant mailings to your original list of contacts and
follow-up leads. You might develop a sales approach. As you
develop more clients, you can convince the bigger companies of
your reputation.
Contact as many manufacturers and distributors as you can on both
side of the ocean. And solidify these contacts. You may be able
to work out an arrangement with someone to work in certain
country for a commission. Or, you might want to take a business
trip there to personally meet with the various companies.
get in-depth information on the products now selling.. Why are
certain products successful?? Maybe you can get into the same
market with more competitive product. Investigate ways to sell
more.. Do the products need to be better made? Do they sell
better at a reduced price? Know what sells and where to get it.
MAKING IT WORK
The import/export is a high profit enterprise. Because of the low
overhead, most of the money you make on commission is yours.. But
building a truly profitable business requires dedication and a
good knowledge of the business.
You need numerous contacts who know you, respect you,, and can
recommend your work. You need to have good agents both here and
abroad to help follow through on the delivery of the goods... You
need a good working relationship with your own bank and possibly
the others that letters of credit come into as branch transfers
from foreign offices.
Don't be hasty for orders. Investigate the manufacturers and
distributors to be sure the products and sales methods are
reputable.. Check out the particulars of shipping and
manufacturers from the foreign country. Each culture works in a
specific manner... Get to know how to work with those people..
The import/export business is not for everyone.. But it is a
personal operation that you can run yourself-- you don't have to
answer to anybody. The rewards of negotiating in a foreign
country are excitement, a touch of the exotic and the great
profit potentials.
When you make the proper contacts and follow through completely
with reputable manufacturers, reliable shipping companies, and
responsible distributors, you have it made.
If you are ready to put in the time, sell yourself. Start making
inquiries and contacts. Try it on for size.. Does it feel good?
Then MAKE IT SUCCEED,
If you need specialized LEGAL advice or assistance on this
subject, the services of a professional person are recommended.
How To Start & Operate Your Own Profitable
Import/Export Business At Home
What is a good way to build up a successful business from nothing
and have fun doing it? The import/export business may be your
answer. Not only does it require little financial investment to
start, but it offers the prestige of working with clients from
all over the world.
You don't need previous experience in the field, but you should
have a good head for organizing. Fulfilling a successful
import/export business requires constant attention to little
details.
Do you know some local manufacturers looking for ways to increase
their market for the goods they make? Or are you planning a trip
abroad and want to make some contacts for setting up a business?
If you have the ability to sell, and an air of diplomacy, the
import/export business might be right for you. All you need is
the desire and determination to make it work.
As you progress in the business, many factors become obvious and
easy to handle. For example, you'll need to find a person to
handle shipments, called a freight forwarder. And you'll need to
create solid contacts and strong relationships with reliable
suppliers. But after a short time, you can be well on your way to
making a sizeable income, with a very low overhead.
Do you like the idea of running your own business? How would you
like a tax deductible trip to foreign places a couple times a
year? The advantage of an import/export business are great.
The biggest advantage is the money you'll make.. Once you get the
business underway,, the commission for setting up sales is very
profitable. And after you establish and maintain a number of
exclusive accounts, you'll find the time you spend is highly
rewarded with money.
Take a look into the import/export business. Consider the risks,
and consider the advantages. Talk to people in the business. Is
it for you?
HOW IT WORKS
Of all the manufacturers in the United States, only a small
percentage distribute goods outside of North America. The goods
that do find foreign markets are exports. On the other hand,
anything that is manufactured outside the country and brought in
for sale is imported.
Although it seems obvious that all manufacturers would want a
worldwide market, it is not easy for a company that is limited in
its scope and abilities. That's where you come in.
An import/export agent is a matchmaker. Manufacturers of domestic
goods seek foreign distribution; foreign manufacturers want a
United States market. You need to find them, make a solid
connection, and establish a business relationship with these
companies.
The agent's commission is generally about ten percent. Now, think
of ten percent of $500,000 or ten percent of a million. Although
that may seem like a large order, it wouldn't be, if you're
talking about machinery, raw materials, or computers.
The market is unlimited and there are hundreds of manufacturers
looking for foreign distribution. Sporting goods, clocks,
electronic games, radios, housewares, garments, tools-anything
can be readily imported or exported if there is a consumer demand
and if you can get the products.
The United States Government encourages exports. Indeed, it is
those sales that keep our balance of payments with the vast
amounts of goods are imported.. And you'll find government
agencies helpful in establishing your business.
THE BASICS
You can start your import/export business at home with a
telephone.. You'll need a file system, business cards, and a
machine to answer the phone calls. Once you get going, you'll
want a cable address or a telex hook-up.
And you'll need a classy letterhead. Until you establish personal
contacts, it is your letterhead that represents you. Make it look
professional, possibly embossed or two-color, or gold leafed.
Have it printed on light-weight paper for airmail correspondence,
but don't have airmail envelopes printed. You'll have a lot of
domestic correspondence too.
More than office equipment, you need the determination to make
it work. It will be slow at first, and you'll need to plan your
moves, make contacts and SELL YOURSELF. But once you make a few
sales and sign several exclusive contracts worth money, you'll
know your dedication was worthwhile.
MAKING CONTACTS
The most important step in setting up your business is finding
the contacts. You may have relatives in a foreign country;; you
may have frequently visited and established business
relationships in a country. Or, you might just have a feeling for
what will sell where. A person who keeps well-informed in the
business world can pick up and ride the crest of worldwide
trends.
Foreign consulates located in the United States have commercial
attaches who want to establish outlets in the U.S., and they're a
good place to start.. Sometimes these consulates can help find
indices of their own import/export enterprises.
The Unites States embassies abroad are another place to find
contacts for commercial distribution. They can help you find out
about a company's solvency and reputation.
Another way to establish contacts is through the Chambers of
Commerce of every city you are aiming for.
Start small-don't tackle the world.. Where do you want to sell
American goods you might have in mind? Which countries have the
merchandise you want to import? Find out about the countries,
what they have to offer, what is generally in demand.
Then prepare a massive mail campaign
The easiest way to mail hundreds of letters is to use a typing
service that has the equipment to produce the same letter with a
different address each time.. It's worth the money it will cost;
you'd go crazy typing so many identical letters.
To every possible contact, write a letter introducing your
company, requesting the names and address of appropriate firms to
contact. Ask to have the notice published in the monthly bulletin
or posted in an appropriate place.
From the names to get back, write another letter, again
introducing yourself, and asking information about their company.
You can use a questionaire, which is easy to fill out and invites
a response.
What goods do they want to import? What products are now imported
and how are they distributed?? Does the company have a certain
territory, does it have sales representatives, branches in other
cities? What are the basic details of operation--history, assets
and liabilities, plans for growth?
Request any information you need, to find out what they will buy
and what they have to sell. If the company is a manufacturer, ask
for samples or a catalog, the facts and figures of current
foreign distribution, and the product demand in their own
country.
ANALYZE THE MARKET
Keep informed. Read everything you can find about world trade.
Look at trade publications, international newspapers, news
magazines, and financial reports. Who is selling what to whom?
Although the market for American-made airplanes is sewn up, there
are thousands of medium to small sized manufacturers in every
state of the union.
You can get goods to sell, buy you have to be sure to study where
they are in demand and can get the price to make exportation
viable. Your questionaires will tell you what foreign importers
want. Take it a step further and read the journals published by
that country; many of them are available in English. Do these
publication confirm the desire for certain products?
The American market for imported products fluctuates with the
value of the dollar in comparison to the value of each other
country's currency. And, importation prices reflect that
directly. Can American consumers afford to pay the price of
certain imported goods? Or will they?
Finding the right market is as important as the actual
particulars of making deals and selling goods.. What do you think
will sell? If you do some careful studies and think about the
trends, you'll be able to come up with hundreds of products to
import and export.
The import/export business is actually smaller than you might
think.. There are only a few of these businesses; that's why
there's plenty of room for more.
WHERE TO FIND HELP
Establish a good business relationship with a local bank that
handles international business.. Your personal banker will follow
through on the actual foreign transactions, and will help you
keep your credit afloat, In fact, this is one of the best factors
about an import/export business. Aside from office suppliers and
correspondence, or possible business trips, you need a no
personal cash outlay. All you need is a good credit and good
reputation.
Your banker is your credit manager and will give you valuable
advice and references when you deal with both American and
foreign manufacturers
and distributors.
The United States Government agencies are great places to find
help... These agencies promote the import/export business, and
publish many small booklets and pamphlets. They also distribute
continually updated reports on foreign markets, commerce and
financing.
Read these source of information and find out the particulars of
exports, global surveys and ocean freight guidelines. Become
familiar with the market share reports, current laws and
regulations, and government promotional facilities.
MAKING CONNECTIONS
As you continue your correspondence with foreign companies, build
up a good rapport with their representative.. Pin down a few
companies- perhaps in the same country or similar territory--to
their exact needs. What are the two or three products most in
demand?
Consider their methods of distribution. You may be able to work
directly with a wholesaler of an overseas importing company. Your
commission will be lower, but you won't need to handle as many
particulars , and they will take care of distribution.
Or, you may need to supply catalogs and samples, working with a
network of small companies or sales representatives from a larger
conglomerate.
The highest fees that you can collect are for raw materials taken
from the source and delivered directly to a manufacturer. But you
must be certain of a guaranteed quantity and the continued
ability to deliver.
If you are importing goods, you'll need to find U.S. distributors
that can handle the quantity of goods at a high enough price for
you to profit by. A single retail outlet or two is not enough to
make your time worthwhile. Look into how buyers work and make
contacts in the larger retail chains if you have retail
merchandise.
GETTING THE GOODS
There are hundreds of American manufacturers with limited
distribution looking for an overseas market. Exporting their
goods is the place to start your business.
You have many selling qualities for convincing the manufacturers
to engage you as the sole export agent. You have foreign contacts
and know the demand for specific goods.. You will handle the
sale,, the paperwork, the money, all shipping, customs, and
foreign distribution.
The manufacturers in return provide firm price quotations, and
you put your fees on top of that; you cost the manufacturer
nothing.
The manufacturer have everything to gain--an increase in sales, a
broader market, and more profit. And you have everything to
gain--establishing your business, and a commission on the cost of
the goods. That is the basis of firm business connections and a
mutually profitable arrangement.
Contact local manufacturers first and then move into larger
territories. You can make these contacts by phone, in person,, or
by personal introduction from contacts you may already have.. Or,
you can advertise in business publications and newspapers.
Before yo do get into a legal agreement, be sure to check the
reputation of the company. How long has it been in business?
Where are the products distributed domestically? What is the
solvency and reliability of the company and its goods? When you
make your sale, you'll want to be able to deliver.
MAKING AN AGREEMENT
ONce you have agreed to represent the manufacturer as the export
agent, you need to have a written and signed contract to bind
this agreement. Your attorney should be the one to draw up this
contract; later you can just use the same one, substituting names
of other manufacturers.
Basically, the contract is between the manufacturer and you as
the export representative. You are granted exclusive rights to
distribute goods to all countries except those they already
distribute in. The manufacturer will pay you the specific
commission quoted to the distribution on top of the price of
goods. The company will also provide catalogs and samples for
your use in distribution.
You, the export representative, in turn will promise to do
everything possible to make contacts and distribute
manufacturer's goods in foreign territories..
The terms of the contract should then be stated: how many years
the contract will be signed for, the terms of cancellation by
either party voluntarily or because of no sales action over a
certain period of time.
THE SALE
You've made your contacts with foreign distributors who will buy
the merchandise. You have a signed contract with an American
manufacturer that will deliver the goods.. Perhaps one of the
distributors now asks for a firm quotations on the price of a
certain amount of goods.
You go to the manufacturer and get a price quotation on the
quantity of goods. It should be valid for a certain stated
period... The manufacturer may agree to deliver the goods to the
ship,, handling the freight to that point, or you may need to
make arrangements from the factory.
You ass on the commission you want to the price of the goods.
Then you add on all the extra costs of getting the merchandise
from the factory to the warehouse of the distributor.
If you've made an agreement with a foreign import/export company,
their representatives may take over the shipping, paying you the
price of the goods and your commission. That;s the easiest, but
your commission will have to be reasonably lower.
If your sale is to a company that will distribute the goods
wholesale or retail from its premises, you have to arrange all
the transportation.
TERMS OF SHIPPING
You will become more familiar with the terms of shipping used in
quoting prices and delivering goods as you gain experience. Your
responsibilities vary with the terms of the agreements and
orders. Check with your freight forwarder to be clear about your
responsibilities.
A bill of lading is a receipt for goods shipped. It is signed by
the agent of a ship or common carrier and assures the buyer that
the goods were unloaded in the same condition as they were
accepted. These are the documents you'll need to produce for your
banker to release the letter of credit.
FOB means free on board. The seller delivers the goods to a
certain destination with no additional charges. The seller
insures and takes the responsibility until that point. The buyer
takes the responsibility and pays the charges after that. For
example, FOB New York means the seller's price quotation includes
full responsibility and shipping to New York.
FAS means free alongside. The seller delivers the goods to the
ship that will carry the merchandise. The buyer pays to load onto
the ship and takes responsibility from there. FAS New York, for
example, means that the seller will deliver and store the goods
until they are ready for loading onto the ship.
C & F means cost and freight. The seller pays the freight
charges. The buyer insures the merchandise and takes full
responsibility after the destination.
CIF means cost, insurance, freight. The seller is responsible for
the value and condition of the goods, and pays both insurance and
freight charges to a certain point.. The buyer is responsible
from there.
THE FREIGHT FORWARDER
A freight forwarder is a person who takes care of the important
steps of shipping the merchandise. This person quotes shipping
rates, provides routing information, and books cargo space.
Freight forwarders prepare documentation, contract shipping
insurance, route cargo with the lowest customs charges, and
arrange storage. They are valuable to you as an import/export
agent, and they are important in handling the steps from factory
to final destination.
They can be found by looking in the yellow pages or by personal
referrals. Find someone who can do a good job for you. You'll
need someone you can work with, since this may become a long term
business relationship.
You'll need the help of a freight forwarder when you make up the
total price quotation to the distributor. Not only do you
include the manufacturer's price and your commission-usually
added together, but you need to include dock and cartage fees,
the forwarders fees, ocean freight costs, marine insurance, duty
charges, and any consular invoice fees, packing charges, or other
hidden costs.
Be especially careful when you prepare this quotation It
certainly isn't professional to come back to the distributor with
a higher quote including fees you forgot... You might go over the
price quotation with your freight forwarder to be sure nothing is
overlooked.
Usually the quotation is itemized into three main categories of
cost of goods, which includes your commission, freight charges
from destination to destination, and insurance fees.
Give a date the quotation is valid to, which should be the same
as the date given on your quotes. You may also include
information about the products, including any new sales
literature.
A formal letter that accompanies the price quotation should push
for the sale. You can inform the distributor of the shipping date
as soon as the order is received and confirmed by a letter of
credit. Send the letter and price quotation by registered mail to
be certain of its delivery.
THE LETTER OF CREDIT
A letter of credit eliminates financial risks for you, the
manufacturer, and the distributor. When your distributor confirms
the order, a letter of credit is drawn from that company's bank
to a branch in the United States or to your bank.
This letter of credit confirms that funds are available from the
distributor to cover the same costs you quoted. An irrevocable
letter of credit assures you the order will not be cancelled at
any time... When that letter of credit is likewise confirmed by
your bank to deliver the goods, the distributor is assured of
delivery. Once the letter of credit is confirmed, so you don't
have to worry about the fluctuation in currency.
Basically, the bank holds the money until all shipping documents
are presented. The letter of credit states the terms and
conditions to make it legal and negotiable into money, usually
holding for proof of shipment of the goods. Your freight
forwarder helps you attain all those documents. When you hand
them to the banker, the letter of credit is turned into liquid
assets for you to pay the manufacturer and all other invoices
from the transaction.
Never work on promises. Not only do you take a gigantic risk, but
you create bad risks for everyone you are involved with. A letter
of credit is the only sure way to transfer these payments.
DELIVERING THE GOODS
There are many combinations of people and methods you can use to
deliver the goods that were ordered. When you produced a price
quotation for the goods, you had to go through all the steps the
merchandise will follow. Now, before you proceed, check again.
Do you have a confirmed order signed by the authorized
representatives of the distributing company?? Has your banker
approved the letter of credit from the company?
Compare the amount of the letter of credit to the amount quoted
for the goods. Be sure they match exactly. Or, if the distributor
chose a certain quantity of several offers, check the prices
again and confirm the quantity.
Confirm the quotation and sale with the manufacturer, and do the
same with the freight forwarder and any marine insurance agents
you are working with. Then follow through.
I order to assure the quality of merchandise, some manufacturers
prefer to handle freight to the loading docks,, which makes it
easier for you. If you handle overland shipping, follow through
to be sure the merchandise is picked up and arrives safely at its
destination.
Be informed of the date the goods are loaded onto the ship. The
factory should have them freighted in time to avoid costly dock
storage charges.
Since all conditions of the sale must be met to comply with the
terms of the letter of credit, you need all the signed documents.
Have your freight forwarder or other contacts get authorized
bills of lading for the merchandise each step of the way--from
destination to destination..
Once you have all the signed documents, present them to your
banker. If all the terms are met, the funds will be released.
Since your commission is part of the quoted price of the
merchandise, you'll usually collect your fees from the
manufacturer.
When it is totally complete, you collect your money--and make a
sizeable profit for simply making connections. Consider the
commissions when you have dozens of orders coming and going.
IMPORTING
Take a look at the household items and equipment you have in your
home. Made in West Germany, made in Japan, made in Korea. You may
have clothing from India, shoes from Brazil,,, a leather wallet
from Italy.. Your car may be an import; your stereo equipment may
be manufacturer elsewhere. There are hundreds and hundreds of
items manufactured all over the world, now being used by the
American consumer.
The market is huge. And there are many American firms looking for
foreign made merchandise to distribute. Some items are less
expensive;some are better made; some are imported because they
are made in a country now fashionable with the designers.
What can you tap into? Maybe you have contacts in the Unites
States, distributors looking for certain goods. And you've
already made contacts in the foreign countries that produce these
goods.. Follow through and get yourself an exclusive distribution
agreement with those manufacturers.
Importing requires the same diligence and follow up as exporting
does. You'll need a signed contract with the manufacturer to be a
sole agent
distributor to North America, or even the world.
You'll also need to obtain firm price quotes from the
manufacturer in the quantities your distributor requests. These
quotes should be converted into the appropriate dollar figures
representing the currency exchange.
Investigate the reputation of the manufacturer and the
reliability of the goods. If you import something like electronic
components, check into other distribution market the manufacturer
has to assure the quality of merchandise.
Your commission will come through from the foreign manufacturer.
Have your bank investigate the solvency of that company and the
reputation of living up to agreements. Since it's on foreign
territory you'd have more trouble in any legal suits, even in
light of many international laws.
Prepare the price quotation. It is easiest if you request terms
of delivery to the port of that country. Your freight forwarder
can help you move the merchandise from port, overseas, and
through domestic customs.
Follow through with all the details of shipment. Be sure to
include any insurance, dock fees, storage rates, and shipping
overland. Overlook nothing so your price quotation to the
American distributor is accurate,
Itemize the quotation and give it to the American distributor..
Upon receipt of an authorized order, double check prices and
follow through on delivery.
The letter of credit will go from the American distributor to the
bank of the manufacturer. All terms and agreements regarding
prices, freight and insurance will be defined. The manufacturer's
representative will confirm receipt of the letter of credit,
which will release the goods for shipment.
Have your freight forwarder follow up on the shipment of goods.
They may have to be freighted from the factory to the docks..
Arrangements for shipping need to be carried out.. Customs duties
and unloading need to be followed through from the American port.
Then the goods may need to be freighted overland to the final
destination...
As soon as the goods have arrived at the proper assigned
destination, papers have to be documented and presented to the
bank that holds the letter of credit. Then, all carriers and
agents need to be paid, and you collect your commission.
PROMOTION
After you have completed a few sales transactions to establish
yourself, you'll need to promote your import/export business to
get more clients. The first transactions give you the experience
to learn the ropes of the business, and to establish contacts and
agents both here and abroad.
Join organizations of commerce and foreign trade associations to
develop more contracts and extend your territory. Talk to
everybody you contact about importing and exporting, learning
from their mistakes and successes.
Advertise in the print media for distributors and for goods.
Manufacturers don't know how to make the contacts for foreign
distributions. Show them your credentials and pick them up on
exclusive contracts. With a little experience, you can market
almost anything anywhere.
EXPANDING THE BUSINESS
THe profit of the import/export business is in the quantity of
the goods traded. The higher the cost of the merchandise, the
higher the profit from your percentage. Since you need to go
through all the steps for each transaction, having more sales on
a continual basis simply adds to profit.
Send constant mailings to your original list of contacts and
follow-up leads. You might develop a sales approach. As you
develop more clients, you can convince the bigger companies of
your reputation.
Contact as many manufacturers and distributors as you can on both
side of the ocean. And solidify these contacts. You may be able
to work out an arrangement with someone to work in certain
country for a commission. Or, you might want to take a business
trip there to personally meet with the various companies.
get in-depth information on the products now selling.. Why are
certain products successful?? Maybe you can get into the same
market with more competitive product. Investigate ways to sell
more.. Do the products need to be better made? Do they sell
better at a reduced price? Know what sells and where to get it.
MAKING IT WORK
The import/export is a high profit enterprise. Because of the low
overhead, most of the money you make on commission is yours.. But
building a truly profitable business requires dedication and a
good knowledge of the business.
You need numerous contacts who know you, respect you,, and can
recommend your work. You need to have good agents both here and
abroad to help follow through on the delivery of the goods... You
need a good working relationship with your own bank and possibly
the others that letters of credit come into as branch transfers
from foreign offices.
Don't be hasty for orders. Investigate the manufacturers and
distributors to be sure the products and sales methods are
reputable.. Check out the particulars of shipping and
manufacturers from the foreign country. Each culture works in a
specific manner... Get to know how to work with those people..
The import/export business is not for everyone.. But it is a
personal operation that you can run yourself-- you don't have to
answer to anybody. The rewards of negotiating in a foreign
country are excitement, a touch of the exotic and the great
profit potentials.
When you make the proper contacts and follow through completely
with reputable manufacturers, reliable shipping companies, and
responsible distributors, you have it made.
If you are ready to put in the time, sell yourself. Start making
inquiries and contacts. Try it on for size.. Does it feel good?
Then MAKE IT SUCCEED,
If you need specialized LEGAL advice or assistance on this
subject, the services of a professional person are recommended.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
How To Start Your Own Credit And Debt Counseling Service
How To Start Your Own Credit And Debt Counseling Service
by Tycoon2k
Here's Another Great Industry To Profit From In 2007
You can start small with a little or no investment, develop it in
your spare time, and parlay it into a $100,000 a year income--all
within the next twelve months or so.
Really, all it takes to move one is an empathy for people, a
basic understanding of money management, and about 500 business
cards, some smart advertising, and you're in business. Your
greatest expense or investment, of course, will be your
advertising.
The first, and most important thing to learn is the "thought
processes" in the minds of the people or firms that lend money.
No one lends money with the thought of foreclosing on the loan
and taking away a borrower's collateral. Whenever the lender is
forced into such a situation, everybody loses. The borrower loses
his possessions, and the lender ends up with about one tenth of
the money he originally loaned out.
Therefore, the lending institution will generally do everything
possible to work with the borrower as long as he continues to
show good faith in attempting to repay the amount of the loan.
The most important thing a borrower should do, once he finds
himself in a financial bind, is get in touch with his creditors
and apprise them of his situation. Usually, the lender will set
up a meeting for an open discussion between himself and the
borrower, in order to adjust or work out a more convenient
repayment schedule.
Most people who borrow money are having money management problems
to begin with, and are actually terrified to death at the thought
of people from the loan company calling them. Although they
generally won't admit it, most are aware that they're having
problems managing their money. They're embarrassed about it, and
instead of openly seeking help, they attempt to cover up the
problem, and then hide from or avoid the very people who want to
help them.
Over the past three years, personal and small business
bankruptcies have been soaring to record levels. At the bottom
line, very few people want to file bankruptcy against their
creditors, because regardless how easy it is, the thought of
having "gone bankrupt" still leaves a stigma.
And this is where you step in with your Professional Credit Debt
Counseling Service. YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE ANY TROUBLE FINDING
CLIENTS.
Remember, step one is always to notify the client's creditors.
This is the first instruction (or job) that you give to the
client after you've heard his story. The borrower should be the
one to notify the creditors, and ideally, he should call each on
the phone, set up a meeting and then discuss with the lender his
current financial situation as well as his plans to rectify the
problems, and resume payments. The plan he'll discuss with the
lender will be the plan you assist him in setting up.
If the borrower is over his head and with no other alternative,
you should immediately advise him to file for relief under " The
Wage Earner's Plan," as explained in Chapter 13 of Federal
Bankruptcy Act. In essence, this "plan" gives the debtor time to
regroup and reorganize his financial situation without hounded by
bill collectors.
Anyone who's capable wages, salaries or commissions, can make use
of this plan. It should in no way be thought of as bankruptcy.
This is simply a court supervised method for a borrower to pay
off his debts. The borrower simply draws up a plan, the lenders
are almost over a three-year period. If the court accepts the
plan, the lenders are almost obligated to accept it. while more
recent bankruptcy laws still leave room for abuse by dishonest
"big business," they fortunately have improved the outlook for
the "little guy."
Your job as a Creditor and Debt Counselor is to meet with the
over extended borrower, listen to his problems, and help him to
plan a budget to live by, and set up a plan for the proper
management of his income that will include money for him to live
on, plus regular payments to his creditors. In the beginning, you
can meet in the borrower's home, pretty much the same way an
insurance agent does. later on, you'll probably want your own
office, but a formal office for your business will never be
absolutely necessary.
Many people are reluctant to be seen walking into a Credit
Counselor's office. Again, there's a personal embarrassment---the
thought of their friends seeing them, and the worry of what other
people will think of them. So if you do opt for an office, make
it as unobtrusive and as confidential as possible. A sign stating
"Money Management Consultant" would be appropriate. Gaining the
confidence and trust of your clients will be the secrets of your
success. And do not underestimate the power of "word-of-mouth"
recommendations by grateful clients.
Follow the methods of the insurance salesman, making everything
as comfortable as possible for your clients. So long as you
listen to your client's problems, and then work with him to plan
a budget he can live with while paying off his bills, you won't
be required to have a license in most states. You simply listen,
assist the borrower in planning a budget, and he administers it
himself. He makes all the contacts with his creditors, and makes
all the payments directly to them. To give you the money and have
you disburse it among his creditors would require a license for
your business.
Step two in your service is to find out the total amount of cash
your client has coming in each month, and on what debts.
Calculate according to his current obligations, how much he needs
for living expenses: Rent or mortgage payments, utilities, food
and clothing. The remainder of his available income is then
budgeted for division among his creditors.
One of the best (and easiest) methods of money management within
a budget is via envelopes. The wage earner marks a different
envelope for each of his obligations. He then makes a
pre-determined amount of deposit in each of these envelopes each
payday.
Thus, if his mortgage were $500 per month, and be brought home
$750 each pay day, you'd probably advise that he "deposit" $250
each payday into the mortgage envelope. And so it would be with
each envelope.
Many people find this kind of system scary in the beginning, but
after they're used it for a month, they swear by it as the only
way to keep bills up to date.
Of course, the most important thing you want to advise your
clients to do is to destroy their credit cards. Best of all, have
them cut them in half, and send them back with a short note
explaining what they are doing and why--getting a handle on their
debts according to their actual income. Basically, that's all
there is to your counseling service.
You'll need a first meeting to hear the problems, and to make
your proposals. A second meeting will be in order to polish and
endorse the planning. Perhaps a third meeting at the end of the
first month to assist them in making their payments from their
obligation envelopes. Finally, you'll want to keep in touch with
them and ask how they are doing from time to time. You'll find
that most of the people you serve today will need your services
again at some time within the next five years--sad, but
statistically true.
It's a "fast track" and ever changing world. People who are poor
money managers today will invariably encounter money problems,
again and again, regardless of how often they get everything paid
off. This is, unfortunately, what keeps the lending institutions
in business, and presents the opportunity for you to become
wealthy as a Professional Credit and Debt Counselor.
You'll need a receipt book. Drop by any large stationary store
and get the most impressive one available. You should charge
$100, more or less, for services, Three counseling sessions, with
the payments at 410 per month spread over ten months is an ideal
arrangement. Explain your fee during your first contact---$100 in
payments of $10 per month over 10 months. You'll find the sound
of a $100 fee affords an intangible degree of respect for your
services, while the explanation of modest $10 monthly payments
closes the sale for you.
Always carry an attache case, and at each meeting, work at the
kitchen or dining room table. if it's a husband and wife, be sure
that each is seated beside you. If it's just one person, have him
or her to your right if you're righthanded; to your left if
you're lefthanded. Never have a client opposite you, across the
table. Round tables are best for empathy, agreement and
cooperation; this has been proven psychologically---just believe
it, and be guided accordingly.
Always carry a yellow legal pad, and have plenty of pencils with
erasers available. The legal pad lends authority to your
knowledge, while leaving plenty of room for alternatives. The
pencils and erasers eliminate the symbolic fear of everything
being "cast in stone," and conveys the feeling of negotiation.
You should be well dressed, a portrayal of the traditional
"financing officer," and yet warm colors to accentuate your
empathy with the problems of your clients. By all means, you
should be sparkling clean and well-groomed. Do not smoke during
your meeting with your client, and always diplomatically refuse
any alcoholic drinks that be offered. Try to "talk" with your
clients. You must never show any signs of disapproval of the
actions that resulted in your clients being in their present
predicament, nor should you sound as if you're lecturing or
speaking to children. Remember--and you can tell your
client--this has happened to many stable, conscientious people.
Maintain an attitude of understanding and sincere desire to help
them out of their current "tight spot." Don't let them get going
on a deprecatory tangent, either. Should they start down the
path, simply tell them, "These things happen to everyone, and
what's done is done; the important thing now is working out the
solution to the problem."
As mentioned earlier, your only real investment to set yourself
up in this business will be your advertising. Even that does not
have to be a "saved up" cash outlay. You can start off by
planning to run a two-column wide by three inch deep
advertisement in your most read area newspaper. Check with the
newspaper office to get the best price on a bulk space contract.
Under this kind of agreement, you sign to pay for a certain
minimum number of column inches for the next year, and as a
result, your rates are considerably lower than those paid by the
infrequent advertiser. Best of all, the newspaper will bill you
after the ad has run, and allow you 30 days from the date of your
billing.
You should plan to run an ad in the newspaper for at least three
days a week, especially in the Sunday editions, every week. You
might also want to run the same ad in several of your weekly
Shoppers Newspapers. Definitely have a flyer made up describing
your services. About once a month, hire 7th or 8th grade school
girls to hand these out for you in the busy shopping centers.
Another good place to hand them out is at the entrance to your
state's employment service offices.
Small 3 by 5 cards announcement cards or descriptive business
cards
on all the bulletin boards in the area will also pull in
business. Finally---and most importantly---just as soon as you
can afford it, an advertisement and listing in the yellow pages
of your telephone directory should be bought. Telephone
directories come out on a regular ( usually annually) schedule,
so check ahead, and anticipate cost and date you may expect
results.
A good place to check for help in writing your advertising is
your area colleges. The students will generally help in exchange
for the opportunity to build a portfolio. There's never a need to
pay the "out-of-sight" high prices demanded for professional
copywriting and advertising design by some agencies, even if you
have the money. All finished ads are unproven, and you have no
guarantee that one is better than another until you begin testing
or using it.
The important element is that your ad says what you want it to
say--that it looks good and makes you feel that it will appeal to
your potential customers--that it instills confidence within you
that it will bring in the customers. Use the "AIDA" formula:
ATTENTION, INTEREST, DESIRE, ACTION!
An attention grabbing headline (or first line)--- a line or
paragraph that definitely appeals to or arouses the self-interest
of your potential customer; "a hooker," or image building
description that causes the prospect to picture how much better
his life will be as a result of availing himself of your
services; a line that relieves the prospect's fears of making the
wrong decision (such as "Satisfaction Guaranteed") and a demand
that he take immediate action such as "Call NOW!" DON NOT APPROVE
AND DO NOT RUN ANY AD that does not contain all these
ingredients.
Here's an example of an ad that should work very well for you:
ARE BILL COLLECTORS HOUNDING YOU?
Now there's a way to stop those dunning letters and embarrassing
phone calls. Get out of debt com- pletely---without bankruptcy!
Preserve your good credit rating; maintain your present
lifestyle;
worry no more about bill collectors! Just an hour or so of your
time, and your money problems can
be solved! Your satisfaction is guaranteed! Phone 123-4567 right
now
for an appointment.
National Credit Counselors 123 Tenth St City, State.
A classified ad might read:
Solve all your money problems with this easy and completely
legal solution. 100% guaranteed anywhere in the U.S. Call
Consumer Credit Solutions at 123-4567.
At the same time your newspaper ads begin to appear, be sure to
get a press release about your business to the business editors
and consumer advocates at all the newspaper, radio and television
stations in your area. Of help to you in this area will be our
report #3504, The Inside Secrets of Getting Free Publicity For
Your Business.
It's generally not worthwhile to advertise this particular kind
of business on radio and TV, unless you do os on a "per inquiry"
basis. For more details on this approach, see report #3406, How
To Get Free Radio Advertising For Your Company.
After any free radio and Tv talk shows, and newspaper feature
stories about your business, the next best method of spreading
the word about your business will be via the guest speaker route
at civic club meetings. And don't forget the women's clubs. Your
talk to these groups should be "scripted," simply explaining the
alarming number of bankruptcies, the great losses suffered by
business because of bankruptcies; the exasperatingly poor record
of the American people with money management responsibilities; an
urging for support to get "back to the Basics" and teach
practical money management courses in the schools, and by example
in the home. Such talk should bring you a big round of applause
and continuing source of referrals.
To carry this effort just a little further, set up Credit and
Debt Counseling Seminars or Workshops. You can arrange to hold
them in the banquet rooms of well-known restaurants in your area,
meeting rooms at your local community college, fraternal club
meeting halls, motels, or even churches. Generally, it's best to
charge a small fee-- say 45 per couple---because of the suspicion
that you're setting up to sell something when you don't charge an
attendance fee. Most people are aware of the bottom line--that
you are trying to sell them something when you invite them to a
seminar or workshop. However, most feel that when you invite them
to a seminar or workshop. However, most feel when there is a
cover charge, the basic information you'll be giving will be more
useful that given when there's no charge to attend. And if they
have paid some kind of fee, they will be more at ease in
listening and evaluating, without the pressure when they have
come"for free."
Seminars are one of the most lucrative (and fastest) ways of
getting a new business off to a running start. When you stage
seminars, it's imperative that you flood the area with
advertising, being sure to promote the seminar, not the product
that you're really selling.
Your seminar script should be basically the same that I've
outlined for you as a guest speaker, the difference being that
instead of closing with a call for more education in money
management, you briefly outline the simplicity of the "envelope
deposit" system. You then close with an open invitation for those
with particular problems or needing special help to call your
office and set up an appointment for personalized counseling
service.
Even better you officially open for business, you'll want to have
a tentative list of people you can possibly train as employees to
handle the workload as your business grows. Rather than pay these
people a salary, simply give them a commission for each client
they handle. In other words, you can sign a client for $100 over
10 months, sell the account to a factoring company for 80% of the
total, collect $80 in cash immediately, pay your commission
counselor $30, and bank $50 in profit with no real work involved
on your part. And if you have hired a good counselor, you can
rest assured that your client has been well served.
Basically, that's how easy it is to put this kind of business
together and make it start paying off immediately. Remember, you
must be constantly soliciting new customers, and building the
number of customers you or your counselors talk to each day. You
should strive for an average of three counseling sessions per
day, five days per week, before seriously considering additional
help.
At $10 per month from each account, this will give you $150 per
week or a total account billing of $1,500 per week. By factoring
your accounts at 20% for their total value, you'll have an
immediate cash income of $1,200 for the week. The factoring
company will handle all the billing and bookkeeping,
eliminating your need for those services.
The way to success in this business is, however, to keep this
happening EVERY week. It will depend upon your advertising, the
service you give, and the reputation you build.
The prime requisite will be work and perseverance on your part,
but once you're established, with a few commission counselors
working for you, the business can easily gross $150,000 per year
in even small to medium-size cities. You now have the knowledge;
the rest---the action part---is up to you. Best of luck!
How To Start Your Own Credit And Debt Counseling Service
by Tycoon2k
Allstate Real Estate Homes for Sale List With Us - Superior real estate experience. Serving upstate SC and western NC. Buying, selling or building. Acreage lots and commercial property. We are your No.1 Real Estate solution. Our sister company Allstate Log Homes can custom design for you.
The best way to submit your clasified ad... FREE!
1000000 Links
Mister Linker
by Tycoon2k
Here's Another Great Industry To Profit From In 2007
You can start small with a little or no investment, develop it in
your spare time, and parlay it into a $100,000 a year income--all
within the next twelve months or so.
Really, all it takes to move one is an empathy for people, a
basic understanding of money management, and about 500 business
cards, some smart advertising, and you're in business. Your
greatest expense or investment, of course, will be your
advertising.
The first, and most important thing to learn is the "thought
processes" in the minds of the people or firms that lend money.
No one lends money with the thought of foreclosing on the loan
and taking away a borrower's collateral. Whenever the lender is
forced into such a situation, everybody loses. The borrower loses
his possessions, and the lender ends up with about one tenth of
the money he originally loaned out.
Therefore, the lending institution will generally do everything
possible to work with the borrower as long as he continues to
show good faith in attempting to repay the amount of the loan.
The most important thing a borrower should do, once he finds
himself in a financial bind, is get in touch with his creditors
and apprise them of his situation. Usually, the lender will set
up a meeting for an open discussion between himself and the
borrower, in order to adjust or work out a more convenient
repayment schedule.
Most people who borrow money are having money management problems
to begin with, and are actually terrified to death at the thought
of people from the loan company calling them. Although they
generally won't admit it, most are aware that they're having
problems managing their money. They're embarrassed about it, and
instead of openly seeking help, they attempt to cover up the
problem, and then hide from or avoid the very people who want to
help them.
Over the past three years, personal and small business
bankruptcies have been soaring to record levels. At the bottom
line, very few people want to file bankruptcy against their
creditors, because regardless how easy it is, the thought of
having "gone bankrupt" still leaves a stigma.
And this is where you step in with your Professional Credit Debt
Counseling Service. YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE ANY TROUBLE FINDING
CLIENTS.
Remember, step one is always to notify the client's creditors.
This is the first instruction (or job) that you give to the
client after you've heard his story. The borrower should be the
one to notify the creditors, and ideally, he should call each on
the phone, set up a meeting and then discuss with the lender his
current financial situation as well as his plans to rectify the
problems, and resume payments. The plan he'll discuss with the
lender will be the plan you assist him in setting up.
If the borrower is over his head and with no other alternative,
you should immediately advise him to file for relief under " The
Wage Earner's Plan," as explained in Chapter 13 of Federal
Bankruptcy Act. In essence, this "plan" gives the debtor time to
regroup and reorganize his financial situation without hounded by
bill collectors.
Anyone who's capable wages, salaries or commissions, can make use
of this plan. It should in no way be thought of as bankruptcy.
This is simply a court supervised method for a borrower to pay
off his debts. The borrower simply draws up a plan, the lenders
are almost over a three-year period. If the court accepts the
plan, the lenders are almost obligated to accept it. while more
recent bankruptcy laws still leave room for abuse by dishonest
"big business," they fortunately have improved the outlook for
the "little guy."
Your job as a Creditor and Debt Counselor is to meet with the
over extended borrower, listen to his problems, and help him to
plan a budget to live by, and set up a plan for the proper
management of his income that will include money for him to live
on, plus regular payments to his creditors. In the beginning, you
can meet in the borrower's home, pretty much the same way an
insurance agent does. later on, you'll probably want your own
office, but a formal office for your business will never be
absolutely necessary.
Many people are reluctant to be seen walking into a Credit
Counselor's office. Again, there's a personal embarrassment---the
thought of their friends seeing them, and the worry of what other
people will think of them. So if you do opt for an office, make
it as unobtrusive and as confidential as possible. A sign stating
"Money Management Consultant" would be appropriate. Gaining the
confidence and trust of your clients will be the secrets of your
success. And do not underestimate the power of "word-of-mouth"
recommendations by grateful clients.
Follow the methods of the insurance salesman, making everything
as comfortable as possible for your clients. So long as you
listen to your client's problems, and then work with him to plan
a budget he can live with while paying off his bills, you won't
be required to have a license in most states. You simply listen,
assist the borrower in planning a budget, and he administers it
himself. He makes all the contacts with his creditors, and makes
all the payments directly to them. To give you the money and have
you disburse it among his creditors would require a license for
your business.
Step two in your service is to find out the total amount of cash
your client has coming in each month, and on what debts.
Calculate according to his current obligations, how much he needs
for living expenses: Rent or mortgage payments, utilities, food
and clothing. The remainder of his available income is then
budgeted for division among his creditors.
One of the best (and easiest) methods of money management within
a budget is via envelopes. The wage earner marks a different
envelope for each of his obligations. He then makes a
pre-determined amount of deposit in each of these envelopes each
payday.
Thus, if his mortgage were $500 per month, and be brought home
$750 each pay day, you'd probably advise that he "deposit" $250
each payday into the mortgage envelope. And so it would be with
each envelope.
Many people find this kind of system scary in the beginning, but
after they're used it for a month, they swear by it as the only
way to keep bills up to date.
Of course, the most important thing you want to advise your
clients to do is to destroy their credit cards. Best of all, have
them cut them in half, and send them back with a short note
explaining what they are doing and why--getting a handle on their
debts according to their actual income. Basically, that's all
there is to your counseling service.
You'll need a first meeting to hear the problems, and to make
your proposals. A second meeting will be in order to polish and
endorse the planning. Perhaps a third meeting at the end of the
first month to assist them in making their payments from their
obligation envelopes. Finally, you'll want to keep in touch with
them and ask how they are doing from time to time. You'll find
that most of the people you serve today will need your services
again at some time within the next five years--sad, but
statistically true.
It's a "fast track" and ever changing world. People who are poor
money managers today will invariably encounter money problems,
again and again, regardless of how often they get everything paid
off. This is, unfortunately, what keeps the lending institutions
in business, and presents the opportunity for you to become
wealthy as a Professional Credit and Debt Counselor.
You'll need a receipt book. Drop by any large stationary store
and get the most impressive one available. You should charge
$100, more or less, for services, Three counseling sessions, with
the payments at 410 per month spread over ten months is an ideal
arrangement. Explain your fee during your first contact---$100 in
payments of $10 per month over 10 months. You'll find the sound
of a $100 fee affords an intangible degree of respect for your
services, while the explanation of modest $10 monthly payments
closes the sale for you.
Always carry an attache case, and at each meeting, work at the
kitchen or dining room table. if it's a husband and wife, be sure
that each is seated beside you. If it's just one person, have him
or her to your right if you're righthanded; to your left if
you're lefthanded. Never have a client opposite you, across the
table. Round tables are best for empathy, agreement and
cooperation; this has been proven psychologically---just believe
it, and be guided accordingly.
Always carry a yellow legal pad, and have plenty of pencils with
erasers available. The legal pad lends authority to your
knowledge, while leaving plenty of room for alternatives. The
pencils and erasers eliminate the symbolic fear of everything
being "cast in stone," and conveys the feeling of negotiation.
You should be well dressed, a portrayal of the traditional
"financing officer," and yet warm colors to accentuate your
empathy with the problems of your clients. By all means, you
should be sparkling clean and well-groomed. Do not smoke during
your meeting with your client, and always diplomatically refuse
any alcoholic drinks that be offered. Try to "talk" with your
clients. You must never show any signs of disapproval of the
actions that resulted in your clients being in their present
predicament, nor should you sound as if you're lecturing or
speaking to children. Remember--and you can tell your
client--this has happened to many stable, conscientious people.
Maintain an attitude of understanding and sincere desire to help
them out of their current "tight spot." Don't let them get going
on a deprecatory tangent, either. Should they start down the
path, simply tell them, "These things happen to everyone, and
what's done is done; the important thing now is working out the
solution to the problem."
As mentioned earlier, your only real investment to set yourself
up in this business will be your advertising. Even that does not
have to be a "saved up" cash outlay. You can start off by
planning to run a two-column wide by three inch deep
advertisement in your most read area newspaper. Check with the
newspaper office to get the best price on a bulk space contract.
Under this kind of agreement, you sign to pay for a certain
minimum number of column inches for the next year, and as a
result, your rates are considerably lower than those paid by the
infrequent advertiser. Best of all, the newspaper will bill you
after the ad has run, and allow you 30 days from the date of your
billing.
You should plan to run an ad in the newspaper for at least three
days a week, especially in the Sunday editions, every week. You
might also want to run the same ad in several of your weekly
Shoppers Newspapers. Definitely have a flyer made up describing
your services. About once a month, hire 7th or 8th grade school
girls to hand these out for you in the busy shopping centers.
Another good place to hand them out is at the entrance to your
state's employment service offices.
Small 3 by 5 cards announcement cards or descriptive business
cards
on all the bulletin boards in the area will also pull in
business. Finally---and most importantly---just as soon as you
can afford it, an advertisement and listing in the yellow pages
of your telephone directory should be bought. Telephone
directories come out on a regular ( usually annually) schedule,
so check ahead, and anticipate cost and date you may expect
results.
A good place to check for help in writing your advertising is
your area colleges. The students will generally help in exchange
for the opportunity to build a portfolio. There's never a need to
pay the "out-of-sight" high prices demanded for professional
copywriting and advertising design by some agencies, even if you
have the money. All finished ads are unproven, and you have no
guarantee that one is better than another until you begin testing
or using it.
The important element is that your ad says what you want it to
say--that it looks good and makes you feel that it will appeal to
your potential customers--that it instills confidence within you
that it will bring in the customers. Use the "AIDA" formula:
ATTENTION, INTEREST, DESIRE, ACTION!
An attention grabbing headline (or first line)--- a line or
paragraph that definitely appeals to or arouses the self-interest
of your potential customer; "a hooker," or image building
description that causes the prospect to picture how much better
his life will be as a result of availing himself of your
services; a line that relieves the prospect's fears of making the
wrong decision (such as "Satisfaction Guaranteed") and a demand
that he take immediate action such as "Call NOW!" DON NOT APPROVE
AND DO NOT RUN ANY AD that does not contain all these
ingredients.
Here's an example of an ad that should work very well for you:
ARE BILL COLLECTORS HOUNDING YOU?
Now there's a way to stop those dunning letters and embarrassing
phone calls. Get out of debt com- pletely---without bankruptcy!
Preserve your good credit rating; maintain your present
lifestyle;
worry no more about bill collectors! Just an hour or so of your
time, and your money problems can
be solved! Your satisfaction is guaranteed! Phone 123-4567 right
now
for an appointment.
National Credit Counselors 123 Tenth St City, State.
A classified ad might read:
Solve all your money problems with this easy and completely
legal solution. 100% guaranteed anywhere in the U.S. Call
Consumer Credit Solutions at 123-4567.
At the same time your newspaper ads begin to appear, be sure to
get a press release about your business to the business editors
and consumer advocates at all the newspaper, radio and television
stations in your area. Of help to you in this area will be our
report #3504, The Inside Secrets of Getting Free Publicity For
Your Business.
It's generally not worthwhile to advertise this particular kind
of business on radio and TV, unless you do os on a "per inquiry"
basis. For more details on this approach, see report #3406, How
To Get Free Radio Advertising For Your Company.
After any free radio and Tv talk shows, and newspaper feature
stories about your business, the next best method of spreading
the word about your business will be via the guest speaker route
at civic club meetings. And don't forget the women's clubs. Your
talk to these groups should be "scripted," simply explaining the
alarming number of bankruptcies, the great losses suffered by
business because of bankruptcies; the exasperatingly poor record
of the American people with money management responsibilities; an
urging for support to get "back to the Basics" and teach
practical money management courses in the schools, and by example
in the home. Such talk should bring you a big round of applause
and continuing source of referrals.
To carry this effort just a little further, set up Credit and
Debt Counseling Seminars or Workshops. You can arrange to hold
them in the banquet rooms of well-known restaurants in your area,
meeting rooms at your local community college, fraternal club
meeting halls, motels, or even churches. Generally, it's best to
charge a small fee-- say 45 per couple---because of the suspicion
that you're setting up to sell something when you don't charge an
attendance fee. Most people are aware of the bottom line--that
you are trying to sell them something when you invite them to a
seminar or workshop. However, most feel that when you invite them
to a seminar or workshop. However, most feel when there is a
cover charge, the basic information you'll be giving will be more
useful that given when there's no charge to attend. And if they
have paid some kind of fee, they will be more at ease in
listening and evaluating, without the pressure when they have
come"for free."
Seminars are one of the most lucrative (and fastest) ways of
getting a new business off to a running start. When you stage
seminars, it's imperative that you flood the area with
advertising, being sure to promote the seminar, not the product
that you're really selling.
Your seminar script should be basically the same that I've
outlined for you as a guest speaker, the difference being that
instead of closing with a call for more education in money
management, you briefly outline the simplicity of the "envelope
deposit" system. You then close with an open invitation for those
with particular problems or needing special help to call your
office and set up an appointment for personalized counseling
service.
Even better you officially open for business, you'll want to have
a tentative list of people you can possibly train as employees to
handle the workload as your business grows. Rather than pay these
people a salary, simply give them a commission for each client
they handle. In other words, you can sign a client for $100 over
10 months, sell the account to a factoring company for 80% of the
total, collect $80 in cash immediately, pay your commission
counselor $30, and bank $50 in profit with no real work involved
on your part. And if you have hired a good counselor, you can
rest assured that your client has been well served.
Basically, that's how easy it is to put this kind of business
together and make it start paying off immediately. Remember, you
must be constantly soliciting new customers, and building the
number of customers you or your counselors talk to each day. You
should strive for an average of three counseling sessions per
day, five days per week, before seriously considering additional
help.
At $10 per month from each account, this will give you $150 per
week or a total account billing of $1,500 per week. By factoring
your accounts at 20% for their total value, you'll have an
immediate cash income of $1,200 for the week. The factoring
company will handle all the billing and bookkeeping,
eliminating your need for those services.
The way to success in this business is, however, to keep this
happening EVERY week. It will depend upon your advertising, the
service you give, and the reputation you build.
The prime requisite will be work and perseverance on your part,
but once you're established, with a few commission counselors
working for you, the business can easily gross $150,000 per year
in even small to medium-size cities. You now have the knowledge;
the rest---the action part---is up to you. Best of luck!
How To Start Your Own Credit And Debt Counseling Service
by Tycoon2k
Allstate Real Estate Homes for Sale List With Us - Superior real estate experience. Serving upstate SC and western NC. Buying, selling or building. Acreage lots and commercial property. We are your No.1 Real Estate solution. Our sister company Allstate Log Homes can custom design for you.
The best way to submit your clasified ad... FREE!
1000000 Links
Mister Linker
Collections Biz To Rake In BIG$$$$$$$$ in 2007
Collection Biz To Rake In BIG$$$$$$$$ in 2007
Your Own Recession-Proof Collection Service
A collection agency is a business that collect bills, NSF (non
Sufficient Fund) checks or debts for individuals or other
businesses.
One type of collection agency merely collects funds WHEN DUE on
behalf of an absentee owner or company; the other specializes in
collecting overdue accounts-- those the debtors apparently do not
intend to pay. The former is the easiest, but doesn't pay as well
as the latter because there is less work and more competition.
The second type is the most lucrative to the entrepreneur. If you
are one of those who isn't comfortable being a "nice guy" all the
time, this could be it! A collection agency is a business that
offers a good income with hardly any investment and minimal
direct public contact.
Every locality needs a good collection agency. There are people
who simply won't pay their bills unless and until they believe
they must. The companies owed haven't the time, expertise or
determination to collect from people who don't pay their bills
when due.
Often the company person responsible for collecting overdue
accounts has other responsibilities that require a sunny
disposition and the customer-is-always-right attitude.
In fact, most who are appointed to this position are former
clerks who are simply asked to start collecting overdue accounts.
Sometimes a clerk is simply given this duty as an additional
responsibility. These people seldom make good collectors.
Individual companies usually soon become frustrated and willingly
turn their delinquent accounts over to a lawyer or collection
agency. In either case they will then get back only a part of the
original debt, if anything at all.
Their only other choice is to forget (therefore, forgive) the
debt, which encourages the non-payers to continue their practices
-- and perhaps even tell their friends.
Since a collection agency specializes in the collection of
legitimate debts and is so much concerned with keeping a "nice
guy" image, they are more successful
They have a collection plan: a series of letters and/or phone
calls, each a little more demanding; they can go to small claims
court, contact the district or county attorney, or forward
information to credit agencies in the area.
In practice, most agencies have a varied approach, such as the
initial notification by an official looking letter. This is
followed in a few days by a phone call, and then a registered or
certified letter referencing the first two contacts. Next, there
may be a personal visit by a representative to try and "save
their credit."
They learn to use every legal means of collecting delinquent
accounts and usually collect at least part of most accounts.
Financially, they do quite well -- their fees average about half
of the money they collect. Interestingly, the collection agency
receives its share first, because they do the collecting.
Potential customers are any business or individual that gives
credit; the drug store, dentist, travel bureau, even bank and
lawyers (very few lawyers handle collections).
Don't overlook the private sector (just be sure the debt is
legitimate). Maintaining a small ad in the paper (better still,
the phone book) is a good way to keep your name handy for those
who discover they have overdue or "uncollectible" (to them)
accounts on their books.
A quick review of the situation should tell you if the debt is
legitimate and a good prospect for you. You need a signed
contract for every debt. The contract authorizes you to collect
the debt and to take whatever legal actions that may become
necessary to do that. Your contract should make provisions for
lawsuits -- that is, you will recommend when such action should
be taken, but will do so only at the direction of the client (he
is responsible for the cost). The written and signed contract
also serves as your proof that the debt is legitimate.
The first step in starting a collection agency is consult a
lawyer to learn the legal do's and don'ts in your state (this is
very important).
There are federal controls and harassment laws in many (some are
quite stringent) states concerning things like what time of the
day calls can be made, which statements and representatives can
or cannot be made legally, which information you must treat as
confidential, plus any special steps a collector must take in
your state to avoid being liable.
You must be aware of ALL the rules because some of those habitual
delinquents are EXPERTS! While at the lawyer's office, have him
recommend contract working about fees and your legal appointment
as the agent for the specified debt collection, including
authorization to use your best judgement in settling the debt.
Collection agencies routinely have the right to reach an
agreement with the debtor for a settlement when they believe it
is the best thing for the client (something is better than
noting). The experienced collection agent can recognize
situations where settlement is the only practical answer, and
most clients understand this. In this case, the collection agent
also serves as an arbitrator. A tip for the lawyer's office: It
is usually cheaper for a lawyer to "look over" an existing
contract than to write an original. Therefore you should write
(or obtain) a contract that sounds good to you then ask the
lawyer to look it over. They will still charge a fee for their
time and expertise, but it is usually much lower than if they had
to start from "scratch."
If you draft a contract that the lawyer edits and the fee ends up
being half of what it would have been you if he (or his
secretary) drafted it -- they, you and the lawyer have split the
fee (you made as much as he did).
Your collection fee is usually a fixed percentage of the amount
collected, the actual percentage varies with the age of the debt
and the debtor's availability.
It can also be a percentage plus expenses, if they are out of the
ordinary (make these arrangements in advance). Collection fees
normally range from 35 to 50 percent of the amount collected,
regardless of whether all the debt is collect, or if there is a
settlement.. The lower percentage is for debts less than six
months in arrears and the highest for those over a year overdue.
You will need an office (at least a telephone, desk and files),
business cards, and advertisements in the paper and phone book
(under Collections).
Have brochures that describe your service and ask interested
parties to contact you for consultation at their convenience.
Mail or distribute (in person whenever possible) your brochures
in your area.
Arrange with the Chamber of commerce to when new businesses open,
so you can stop by and meet them and leave a brochure.. Contact
all local credit bureaus that are not also collection agencies
and offer to work with them -- they could be a valuable referral
source. Call on as many individual businesses IN PERSON As
possible to explain first hand, your services and answer their
questions. Always leave your card or brochure.
Later on, when you have enough business, you can hire someone on
a commission basis,, to solicit accounts for your service.
If you feel some experience in this area would be good, try
soliciting collection accounts for local or mail order collection
agencies -- or get a job with an agency making collection calls
by phone.. A few weeks of this type of experience would be
equivalent to a fairly expensive school.
a variation or sideline of the collection business could be a
repossession service. In fact, your contract and licenses may
cover both.. Actual recover a vehicle on a commission basis;
another with a truck up large appliance.
Check with banks, finance companies, furniture and appliance
companies -- especially the small ones who are not likely to have
their own means of repossession. It may also be possible to offer
a credit referral service, but ask your lawyer first about what
information you are allowed to divulge and under what
circumstances in your state.
We get pretty mad when someone owes us money, but we must
remember that debtors have rights too and that not all lenders
are totally honest either.
Tip: Consider having your business cards printed either on
Rolodex stock (fairly expensive), or getting a rolodex type
cutter that you can use to notch your cards. Then, put an
attention getting line,logo or color on the top of the card to
attract attention. When secretaries put these cards on their
Rolodex files, your card will "pop out" at them.
The major potential problem area in this business is violating
the law. Most people who get behind in their payments are
law-bidding citizens who are truly sorry they haven't paid. It is
very easy for a collector to go beyond the law with them and they
don't complain.
However,, all it takes is one to document your illegal actions
and you are in trouble! For example, in some states it is illegal
to dun the debtor after he officially advises the collector to
stop calling or sue.
The way to avoid this problem is to follow the previous advice
about checking with a good lawyer on just what is not legal in
your state currently. By doing so, you can reap the benefits of a
good business without suffering needless losses. The bottom line
is that debtors are legally responsible to pay debts they incur
and that lenders are allowed to appoint representatives to
collect those debts if they are not paid in accordance with the
agreement.
In most cases, the merchant who gives credit oriented to selling
-- not collecting. This creates a need (opportunity) for someone
willing to specialize in collecting overdue accounts. Is that
you?
BUSINESS SOURCES, 781 W. Oakland Park Blvd.,Ft Lauderdale, FL
33311. Sells a "course" in debt collecting for $60, which is
refund if you become one of their agents and send a minimum
amount of contracts. The agents solicit collection accounts; the
company does all the collecting (by long distance telephone).
Caution advised with this one.
MORGAN CURTIS ASSOCIATES, 95 Broadway, Hicksville, NY 11801.
Offers training to set up a collection agency.
NATIONAL BOND & COLLECTION, 150 Wells St.,Wiles-Barre, PA 18703,
717/287-6023. Wants agents to solicit accounts for their company
to collect by phone.. Probably good opportunity for people in
northeastern area.
METROPOLITAN FINANCE, 11298-187 W 41st St.,Kansas City, MO 64111.
Wants agents to solicit accounts for collection on commission
basis. Kit - $3.
QUILL CORPORATION, 100 Schelter Rd.,Lincolnshire, IL 60917-4700,
312/634-4800. Office and computer supplies.
ZPS, Box 581, Libertyville, IL 60048-2556. Business cards (raised
print - low prices) and letterhead stationery. Will print your
copy ready logo or design, even whole card.
WALTER DRAKE, 4119 Drake Bldg.,Colorado Springs, CO 80940. Short
run business cards and stationery. No choice of color or style,
but good quality.
NOTE:
The following list somewhat dated
I would reccomend doing key word search.
Collection Biz To Rake In BIG$$$$$$$$ in 2007
by Tycoon2k
Your Own Recession-Proof Collection Service
A collection agency is a business that collect bills, NSF (non
Sufficient Fund) checks or debts for individuals or other
businesses.
One type of collection agency merely collects funds WHEN DUE on
behalf of an absentee owner or company; the other specializes in
collecting overdue accounts-- those the debtors apparently do not
intend to pay. The former is the easiest, but doesn't pay as well
as the latter because there is less work and more competition.
The second type is the most lucrative to the entrepreneur. If you
are one of those who isn't comfortable being a "nice guy" all the
time, this could be it! A collection agency is a business that
offers a good income with hardly any investment and minimal
direct public contact.
Every locality needs a good collection agency. There are people
who simply won't pay their bills unless and until they believe
they must. The companies owed haven't the time, expertise or
determination to collect from people who don't pay their bills
when due.
Often the company person responsible for collecting overdue
accounts has other responsibilities that require a sunny
disposition and the customer-is-always-right attitude.
In fact, most who are appointed to this position are former
clerks who are simply asked to start collecting overdue accounts.
Sometimes a clerk is simply given this duty as an additional
responsibility. These people seldom make good collectors.
Individual companies usually soon become frustrated and willingly
turn their delinquent accounts over to a lawyer or collection
agency. In either case they will then get back only a part of the
original debt, if anything at all.
Their only other choice is to forget (therefore, forgive) the
debt, which encourages the non-payers to continue their practices
-- and perhaps even tell their friends.
Since a collection agency specializes in the collection of
legitimate debts and is so much concerned with keeping a "nice
guy" image, they are more successful
They have a collection plan: a series of letters and/or phone
calls, each a little more demanding; they can go to small claims
court, contact the district or county attorney, or forward
information to credit agencies in the area.
In practice, most agencies have a varied approach, such as the
initial notification by an official looking letter. This is
followed in a few days by a phone call, and then a registered or
certified letter referencing the first two contacts. Next, there
may be a personal visit by a representative to try and "save
their credit."
They learn to use every legal means of collecting delinquent
accounts and usually collect at least part of most accounts.
Financially, they do quite well -- their fees average about half
of the money they collect. Interestingly, the collection agency
receives its share first, because they do the collecting.
Potential customers are any business or individual that gives
credit; the drug store, dentist, travel bureau, even bank and
lawyers (very few lawyers handle collections).
Don't overlook the private sector (just be sure the debt is
legitimate). Maintaining a small ad in the paper (better still,
the phone book) is a good way to keep your name handy for those
who discover they have overdue or "uncollectible" (to them)
accounts on their books.
A quick review of the situation should tell you if the debt is
legitimate and a good prospect for you. You need a signed
contract for every debt. The contract authorizes you to collect
the debt and to take whatever legal actions that may become
necessary to do that. Your contract should make provisions for
lawsuits -- that is, you will recommend when such action should
be taken, but will do so only at the direction of the client (he
is responsible for the cost). The written and signed contract
also serves as your proof that the debt is legitimate.
The first step in starting a collection agency is consult a
lawyer to learn the legal do's and don'ts in your state (this is
very important).
There are federal controls and harassment laws in many (some are
quite stringent) states concerning things like what time of the
day calls can be made, which statements and representatives can
or cannot be made legally, which information you must treat as
confidential, plus any special steps a collector must take in
your state to avoid being liable.
You must be aware of ALL the rules because some of those habitual
delinquents are EXPERTS! While at the lawyer's office, have him
recommend contract working about fees and your legal appointment
as the agent for the specified debt collection, including
authorization to use your best judgement in settling the debt.
Collection agencies routinely have the right to reach an
agreement with the debtor for a settlement when they believe it
is the best thing for the client (something is better than
noting). The experienced collection agent can recognize
situations where settlement is the only practical answer, and
most clients understand this. In this case, the collection agent
also serves as an arbitrator. A tip for the lawyer's office: It
is usually cheaper for a lawyer to "look over" an existing
contract than to write an original. Therefore you should write
(or obtain) a contract that sounds good to you then ask the
lawyer to look it over. They will still charge a fee for their
time and expertise, but it is usually much lower than if they had
to start from "scratch."
If you draft a contract that the lawyer edits and the fee ends up
being half of what it would have been you if he (or his
secretary) drafted it -- they, you and the lawyer have split the
fee (you made as much as he did).
Your collection fee is usually a fixed percentage of the amount
collected, the actual percentage varies with the age of the debt
and the debtor's availability.
It can also be a percentage plus expenses, if they are out of the
ordinary (make these arrangements in advance). Collection fees
normally range from 35 to 50 percent of the amount collected,
regardless of whether all the debt is collect, or if there is a
settlement.. The lower percentage is for debts less than six
months in arrears and the highest for those over a year overdue.
You will need an office (at least a telephone, desk and files),
business cards, and advertisements in the paper and phone book
(under Collections).
Have brochures that describe your service and ask interested
parties to contact you for consultation at their convenience.
Mail or distribute (in person whenever possible) your brochures
in your area.
Arrange with the Chamber of commerce to when new businesses open,
so you can stop by and meet them and leave a brochure.. Contact
all local credit bureaus that are not also collection agencies
and offer to work with them -- they could be a valuable referral
source. Call on as many individual businesses IN PERSON As
possible to explain first hand, your services and answer their
questions. Always leave your card or brochure.
Later on, when you have enough business, you can hire someone on
a commission basis,, to solicit accounts for your service.
If you feel some experience in this area would be good, try
soliciting collection accounts for local or mail order collection
agencies -- or get a job with an agency making collection calls
by phone.. A few weeks of this type of experience would be
equivalent to a fairly expensive school.
a variation or sideline of the collection business could be a
repossession service. In fact, your contract and licenses may
cover both.. Actual recover a vehicle on a commission basis;
another with a truck up large appliance.
Check with banks, finance companies, furniture and appliance
companies -- especially the small ones who are not likely to have
their own means of repossession. It may also be possible to offer
a credit referral service, but ask your lawyer first about what
information you are allowed to divulge and under what
circumstances in your state.
We get pretty mad when someone owes us money, but we must
remember that debtors have rights too and that not all lenders
are totally honest either.
Tip: Consider having your business cards printed either on
Rolodex stock (fairly expensive), or getting a rolodex type
cutter that you can use to notch your cards. Then, put an
attention getting line,logo or color on the top of the card to
attract attention. When secretaries put these cards on their
Rolodex files, your card will "pop out" at them.
The major potential problem area in this business is violating
the law. Most people who get behind in their payments are
law-bidding citizens who are truly sorry they haven't paid. It is
very easy for a collector to go beyond the law with them and they
don't complain.
However,, all it takes is one to document your illegal actions
and you are in trouble! For example, in some states it is illegal
to dun the debtor after he officially advises the collector to
stop calling or sue.
The way to avoid this problem is to follow the previous advice
about checking with a good lawyer on just what is not legal in
your state currently. By doing so, you can reap the benefits of a
good business without suffering needless losses. The bottom line
is that debtors are legally responsible to pay debts they incur
and that lenders are allowed to appoint representatives to
collect those debts if they are not paid in accordance with the
agreement.
In most cases, the merchant who gives credit oriented to selling
-- not collecting. This creates a need (opportunity) for someone
willing to specialize in collecting overdue accounts. Is that
you?
BUSINESS SOURCES, 781 W. Oakland Park Blvd.,Ft Lauderdale, FL
33311. Sells a "course" in debt collecting for $60, which is
refund if you become one of their agents and send a minimum
amount of contracts. The agents solicit collection accounts; the
company does all the collecting (by long distance telephone).
Caution advised with this one.
MORGAN CURTIS ASSOCIATES, 95 Broadway, Hicksville, NY 11801.
Offers training to set up a collection agency.
NATIONAL BOND & COLLECTION, 150 Wells St.,Wiles-Barre, PA 18703,
717/287-6023. Wants agents to solicit accounts for their company
to collect by phone.. Probably good opportunity for people in
northeastern area.
METROPOLITAN FINANCE, 11298-187 W 41st St.,Kansas City, MO 64111.
Wants agents to solicit accounts for collection on commission
basis. Kit - $3.
QUILL CORPORATION, 100 Schelter Rd.,Lincolnshire, IL 60917-4700,
312/634-4800. Office and computer supplies.
ZPS, Box 581, Libertyville, IL 60048-2556. Business cards (raised
print - low prices) and letterhead stationery. Will print your
copy ready logo or design, even whole card.
WALTER DRAKE, 4119 Drake Bldg.,Colorado Springs, CO 80940. Short
run business cards and stationery. No choice of color or style,
but good quality.
NOTE:
The following list somewhat dated
I would reccomend doing key word search.
Collection Biz To Rake In BIG$$$$$$$$ in 2007
by Tycoon2k
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
$5,000/Week Passing Out Special Gifts
$5,000/Week Passing Out Special Gifts
by Tycoon2k Webmaster
Everybody loves Santa Claus because he gives away presents. By
giving away these special presents, you will be warmly regarded
as the Santa Claus of the advertising world, and at the same time
you are earning thousands of dollars for yourself.
The special presents we have in mind are the popular discount
coupon books that save people money at restaurants, hotels,
theaters, bookstores, dry-cleaning establishments and hundreds of
other retail establishments that rely on the general public for
revenues.
For you, these coupon books mean a healthy income with little or
no investment. Funding these giveaways items comes from up front
money provided by the advertisers themselves.
By charging the advertiser for inclusion in the coupon book at
prices as high as $600 per coupon, you can gross thousands of
dollars. The more coupons or advertisers, the more money you
make, and and you may have fifty, one hundred or even more
coupons in the book.
These coupon books are a form of direct response advertising that
encourages the public to move quickly. Firms that cater to the
needs of the public are always looking to expand their customer
base, but advertisers like the coupon approach because it allows
them to control the timing of the discount deal they offer to
potential customers. These might be two-for-one deals, straight
discounts, or a bonus with every purchase.
You work with the advertiser to put the coupon together. The
coupon doesn't have to be fancy; it does have to spell out the
advertiser's deals simply and clearly. It should carry the
address and phone number of the business, as well as a small map,
if necessary. After preliminary approval of the design, you
handle the final design, printing and distribution.
The appeal to advertisers is that they can reach many more
potential customers at lower cost than they could if they handled
the direct response advertising themselves. Put together a short
contract that sets out what you will deliver to the advertiser,
and a payment schedule. Typically, you should receive about
one-third of the fee up front, one-third when you deliver the
final coupon design for signature approval, and the balance when
the coupon is ready.
If the idea of making money from a product that you can give away
appeals to you, you will find this business rewarding in many
ways.
Starting A Co-Op Coupon Business From Your Home
Mail out coupons, circular and ads for up to 30 clients at
a time on a cooperative basis. Contract to print (have
printed or use provided) and mail out coupons to area
residents and/or businesses on a cooperative, non-competing
basis.
Although you mail offers from several clients at any one
time in the same envelope, you guarantee that only non-
competive offers are contained in any one mailing.
For example, you would not include a 5 cent discount
coupon for potatoes from store A, and another 7 cents from
store B (store A would never do business with you again).
But you could include a free oil change coupon from a
service station with either.
Generally, it is best not to include two of the same type
stores or merchants in the same mailing --even though the
products themselves are not competitors, the merchants are.
Most businesses find it difficult and expensive to send
out their own flyers (advertisements, coupons, etc.), much
less work out the details of coupon discounts.
It requires know-how and is consuming to design a coupon
program and even more so to set up a workable mailing
program for one store.
Most merchants are not particularly talented or experienced
in this department, which makes the job all the more difficult
for them.
The cost of envelopes, manpower to stuff and address them,
rent for the mailing list and postage can quickly add up to
50 cents or more for each piece mailed!
This is why so many local merchants use newspaper inserts,
despite the fact that they are very expensive and not
everyone sees their ads there -- it is cheaper and a lot
less work than trying to do it themselves.
A person in the coupon business will soon become quite
knowledgeable in this type of advertising, which means they
can fulfill a definite need for the merchants in their
community.
This business involves showing merchants in your area how
you can print AND mail their coupons, flyers and ads to an
up-to-date, qualified local mailing list for 3 to 4 cents
per item! Not only will you relieve them of the requirements
to invest a good deal of their (non-expert) time and money,
you will save them as much as 90% of the cost. If you were
a merchant, wouldn't you listen?
You can help design coupons, offer standard models, or
use the client's design -- the possible varieties are
endless.
One plan would be to offer one or two color coupons for
"Windy Bucks" (in Chicago) coupons for discounts and free
introductory services such as 10% a permanent or a free
soda with a meal, two dinners for the price of one, or a
free car wash with a lubrication job.
This is where YOUR imagination needs to "catch fire" --
write down all sorts of ideas and have them ready to suggest
when you need them.
For example, you could have the basic Windy Bucks printed
with black ink on light green paper and then pay the printer
a little extra to insert specific client information red ink
(their name and offer) in red. You could use different
colored paper for several different clients, or even offer
an "exclusive" design or border (at an extra price, of course).
One "buck" could be printed with a five and become $5 towards
the purchase of $50 at Jones Hardware; the next, worth a free
shampoo at Sally's Salon and so forth.
You must promise to mail our a certain number of coupons to
bona fide residents (and/or businesses) within a specified
period of time (say, 30 days) and inform your clients that
although there will probably be others in the same mailing,
there will be NO COMPETING offers OR BUSINESSES (this is
VERY important).
Your printing should be based on your costs, including
printing, postage, paper and of course, your time.
Be sure to scale your offers so the larger the order, the
cheaper the price, AND work out "specials" to offer --
combination orders of either different products and offers
or future mailings.
For example, 1,000 Windy bucks with their info printed in
red, mailed out might be $45 per M; 3,000 - $39; 5,000 -
$37, etc.
Then, a combination of 3 different offers might be offered
at the 3,000 price -- or a contract for 1,000 per month for
five months might be offered at the 5,000 price. These are
just a few examples of many possible ways to offer discounts
that encourage larger orders -- which is your objective
because you not only make more profit; you get better rates
on larger orders too.
One thing you might need is a good mailing list, which is a
viable alternative to the "occupant" approach. You can rent
or purchase one or start accumulating your own.
If you live in a rural or small town area, you can build a
pretty good mailing list from the phone book (use the prefixes
to help determine the zip code).
If you have a computer, you can get a program with ZIP
codes -- or you can look them up in the post office
directory (assuming you don't want to buy one).
Some merchants will have their own mailing lists -- and may
allow you to use them. If so, you could combine theirs with
yours to eventually build a pretty good list. of course, you
can also purchase club and organizational listings, voter
registration lists and keep all addresses of anyone
answering mailed out offers.
A fairly important decision might be necessary in a promotion
like the Windy Bucks example -- you will need to determine if
you want to emphasize your company and idea or simply promote
whatever the clients desire.
Of course, the client's wishes always come first and you may
not have a good promotion idea (yet). If you do, you will be
able to offer some pretty good prices as well as a chance for
merchants to "get on the bandwagon" -- join in a program that
is working. Otherwise, you (and your company name) stay behind
the scenes as an advertising agent that helps design, print
and disseminate your client's materials for their promotion.
In either case, the longer you are at it and the more qualified
will you become -- and the more merchants will want to take
advantage of your experience and services. As the saying goes:
"the harder you work, the luckier you will get."
Before signing up any clients, work out arrangements with a
printer (unless you can do your own). Find out all the
"shortcuts" price breaks and cost of different paper, ink,
color combinations, as well as what sizes the printer can
accommodate and what type of cuts or logos are available (at
what price).
Normally, standard cuts (borders, pointing fingers) are
provided at little or no charge and custom cuts are so much
per square inch.
Note that you can usually save money by having more than one
made at a time. Standard coupons should be in the 3 x 8 inch
range, but always sized so that you can get as many as
possible on a single sheet of standard or legal sized paper
(to save $$).
Your cost for printing good quality single color coupons
should be in the 2 to 5 cents per page range (depending on
quantity, how many prices you check and how well you bargain).
Using colored paper and inks can increase the effect without
much extra cost (in comparison to two colors of ink or color
printing).
Mailing list addresses run about a half cent each; envelopes
one to 7 cents each, postage 10-13 cents, and your bulk
mailing permit about $50 over year after the initial permit.
Printing costs can be lowered by designing and keeping
general formats and merely substituting internal copy for
clients.
One color ink is cheaper than two; black and white is much
cheaper than color, colored paper and/or various ink colors
are cheaper and almost as effective as two color printing
(which requires two "runs" through the press).
Some local printers are quite expensive, while others will
want your business enough to "deal" (The more business you
can bring them, the more "clout" you will have).
If you have or can hire a desktop publishing system, you
can prepare "camera ready" masters that can be reproduced
inexpensively by a photo offset printer (small runs can be
+handled by copy services).
Note that some of your clients will provide their own
material (from their home offices) -- either to copy or
ready to mail. You may also be able to save by compiling
your own mailing lists (see B235).
Finally, you should offer "exclusive" mailings, where you
mail out client's material -- for a significantly price of
course. It may be worth it to a client because you have the
know-how, production facilities and the bulk rate permit.
They certainly don't want to believe their product is not
good! Your advice should always be honest in the sense that
you first advise them on how to be effective; second, how to
save money, and third, according to your profit margin.
You also should be extremely careful not to get in between
rival clients or appear to be favoring one over the other.
Never discuss one client with another (if you talk about one,
you will talk about all of them). Just "steer" them away from
advertising or layouts that would appear to compete directly
through your services.
Finally, be especially wary of "distress orders." Many
businesses, when they are on the brink of disaster will try
to bolster their position through heavy advertising. trouble
is that if it doesn't work, the advertising is added to their
list of unpaid bills. Don't be their "last resort."
BUSINESS SOURCES
BIG CITY LITHOGRAPH, 550 N. Claremont Blvd.,Claremont,
CA 91711. Photo offset printer.
THE PRINTING FACTORY, Box 27, Nesconset, NY 11767.
Printers of mail order materials.
GRAPHICS ARTS TECHNICAL, 4615 Forbes Ave.,Pittsburgh,
PA 15214. Printing supplies for the home printer.
TURNBAUGH PRINT SUPPLY, 104 S. Sporting Hill Rd.,
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055. 717/737/5637. sells new and
used printing presses and supplies.
EMPRINT, 329 Gunkel, Dayton, OH 45410, 513/2523-1452.
Small used offset printing presses.
DOT PASTEUP SUPPLY CO., Box 369, Omaha, NE 68101.
Free catalog of paste-up supplies for making
newsletters, advertisements, flyers, etc.
DUPLIPRINTERS, INC., 222/226 Broadway, Newburgh, NY 12550.
sells kits for in-home printing; sales and dealerships.
Starter kit - $72.
COUP-PAK, 585 Stewart Ave.,Garden City, NY 11530.
Information on an advertising coupon business without
investment.
DOVER PUBLICATIONS, INC., 31 East 2nd St.,Mineola,
NY 11051. Discount books, clip art, stencils, etc.
QUILL CORPORATION, 100 Schelter Rd.,Lincolnshire,
IL 60917-4700, 312/634-4800. Office supplies.
SWEDCO, Box 29, Mooresville, NC 28115. 3 line rubber
stamps - $3; business cards - $13 per thousand.
ZPS, Box 581, Libertyville, IL 60048-2556. Business
cards (raised print - $11.50 per K) and letterhead
stationery. Will print your copy ready logo or design,
even whole card.
WALTER DRAKE, 4119 Drake Bldg.,Colorado Springs,
CO 80940. Short run business cards (250 - $3), stationery,
etc. Good quality, but no choice of style or color.
Note:
The List is somewhat outdated
I would reccomend doing
keyword search to get
updated list
by Tycoon2k Webmaster
Everybody loves Santa Claus because he gives away presents. By
giving away these special presents, you will be warmly regarded
as the Santa Claus of the advertising world, and at the same time
you are earning thousands of dollars for yourself.
The special presents we have in mind are the popular discount
coupon books that save people money at restaurants, hotels,
theaters, bookstores, dry-cleaning establishments and hundreds of
other retail establishments that rely on the general public for
revenues.
For you, these coupon books mean a healthy income with little or
no investment. Funding these giveaways items comes from up front
money provided by the advertisers themselves.
By charging the advertiser for inclusion in the coupon book at
prices as high as $600 per coupon, you can gross thousands of
dollars. The more coupons or advertisers, the more money you
make, and and you may have fifty, one hundred or even more
coupons in the book.
These coupon books are a form of direct response advertising that
encourages the public to move quickly. Firms that cater to the
needs of the public are always looking to expand their customer
base, but advertisers like the coupon approach because it allows
them to control the timing of the discount deal they offer to
potential customers. These might be two-for-one deals, straight
discounts, or a bonus with every purchase.
You work with the advertiser to put the coupon together. The
coupon doesn't have to be fancy; it does have to spell out the
advertiser's deals simply and clearly. It should carry the
address and phone number of the business, as well as a small map,
if necessary. After preliminary approval of the design, you
handle the final design, printing and distribution.
The appeal to advertisers is that they can reach many more
potential customers at lower cost than they could if they handled
the direct response advertising themselves. Put together a short
contract that sets out what you will deliver to the advertiser,
and a payment schedule. Typically, you should receive about
one-third of the fee up front, one-third when you deliver the
final coupon design for signature approval, and the balance when
the coupon is ready.
If the idea of making money from a product that you can give away
appeals to you, you will find this business rewarding in many
ways.
Starting A Co-Op Coupon Business From Your Home
Mail out coupons, circular and ads for up to 30 clients at
a time on a cooperative basis. Contract to print (have
printed or use provided) and mail out coupons to area
residents and/or businesses on a cooperative, non-competing
basis.
Although you mail offers from several clients at any one
time in the same envelope, you guarantee that only non-
competive offers are contained in any one mailing.
For example, you would not include a 5 cent discount
coupon for potatoes from store A, and another 7 cents from
store B (store A would never do business with you again).
But you could include a free oil change coupon from a
service station with either.
Generally, it is best not to include two of the same type
stores or merchants in the same mailing --even though the
products themselves are not competitors, the merchants are.
Most businesses find it difficult and expensive to send
out their own flyers (advertisements, coupons, etc.), much
less work out the details of coupon discounts.
It requires know-how and is consuming to design a coupon
program and even more so to set up a workable mailing
program for one store.
Most merchants are not particularly talented or experienced
in this department, which makes the job all the more difficult
for them.
The cost of envelopes, manpower to stuff and address them,
rent for the mailing list and postage can quickly add up to
50 cents or more for each piece mailed!
This is why so many local merchants use newspaper inserts,
despite the fact that they are very expensive and not
everyone sees their ads there -- it is cheaper and a lot
less work than trying to do it themselves.
A person in the coupon business will soon become quite
knowledgeable in this type of advertising, which means they
can fulfill a definite need for the merchants in their
community.
This business involves showing merchants in your area how
you can print AND mail their coupons, flyers and ads to an
up-to-date, qualified local mailing list for 3 to 4 cents
per item! Not only will you relieve them of the requirements
to invest a good deal of their (non-expert) time and money,
you will save them as much as 90% of the cost. If you were
a merchant, wouldn't you listen?
You can help design coupons, offer standard models, or
use the client's design -- the possible varieties are
endless.
One plan would be to offer one or two color coupons for
"Windy Bucks" (in Chicago) coupons for discounts and free
introductory services such as 10% a permanent or a free
soda with a meal, two dinners for the price of one, or a
free car wash with a lubrication job.
This is where YOUR imagination needs to "catch fire" --
write down all sorts of ideas and have them ready to suggest
when you need them.
For example, you could have the basic Windy Bucks printed
with black ink on light green paper and then pay the printer
a little extra to insert specific client information red ink
(their name and offer) in red. You could use different
colored paper for several different clients, or even offer
an "exclusive" design or border (at an extra price, of course).
One "buck" could be printed with a five and become $5 towards
the purchase of $50 at Jones Hardware; the next, worth a free
shampoo at Sally's Salon and so forth.
You must promise to mail our a certain number of coupons to
bona fide residents (and/or businesses) within a specified
period of time (say, 30 days) and inform your clients that
although there will probably be others in the same mailing,
there will be NO COMPETING offers OR BUSINESSES (this is
VERY important).
Your printing should be based on your costs, including
printing, postage, paper and of course, your time.
Be sure to scale your offers so the larger the order, the
cheaper the price, AND work out "specials" to offer --
combination orders of either different products and offers
or future mailings.
For example, 1,000 Windy bucks with their info printed in
red, mailed out might be $45 per M; 3,000 - $39; 5,000 -
$37, etc.
Then, a combination of 3 different offers might be offered
at the 3,000 price -- or a contract for 1,000 per month for
five months might be offered at the 5,000 price. These are
just a few examples of many possible ways to offer discounts
that encourage larger orders -- which is your objective
because you not only make more profit; you get better rates
on larger orders too.
One thing you might need is a good mailing list, which is a
viable alternative to the "occupant" approach. You can rent
or purchase one or start accumulating your own.
If you live in a rural or small town area, you can build a
pretty good mailing list from the phone book (use the prefixes
to help determine the zip code).
If you have a computer, you can get a program with ZIP
codes -- or you can look them up in the post office
directory (assuming you don't want to buy one).
Some merchants will have their own mailing lists -- and may
allow you to use them. If so, you could combine theirs with
yours to eventually build a pretty good list. of course, you
can also purchase club and organizational listings, voter
registration lists and keep all addresses of anyone
answering mailed out offers.
A fairly important decision might be necessary in a promotion
like the Windy Bucks example -- you will need to determine if
you want to emphasize your company and idea or simply promote
whatever the clients desire.
Of course, the client's wishes always come first and you may
not have a good promotion idea (yet). If you do, you will be
able to offer some pretty good prices as well as a chance for
merchants to "get on the bandwagon" -- join in a program that
is working. Otherwise, you (and your company name) stay behind
the scenes as an advertising agent that helps design, print
and disseminate your client's materials for their promotion.
In either case, the longer you are at it and the more qualified
will you become -- and the more merchants will want to take
advantage of your experience and services. As the saying goes:
"the harder you work, the luckier you will get."
Before signing up any clients, work out arrangements with a
printer (unless you can do your own). Find out all the
"shortcuts" price breaks and cost of different paper, ink,
color combinations, as well as what sizes the printer can
accommodate and what type of cuts or logos are available (at
what price).
Normally, standard cuts (borders, pointing fingers) are
provided at little or no charge and custom cuts are so much
per square inch.
Note that you can usually save money by having more than one
made at a time. Standard coupons should be in the 3 x 8 inch
range, but always sized so that you can get as many as
possible on a single sheet of standard or legal sized paper
(to save $$).
Your cost for printing good quality single color coupons
should be in the 2 to 5 cents per page range (depending on
quantity, how many prices you check and how well you bargain).
Using colored paper and inks can increase the effect without
much extra cost (in comparison to two colors of ink or color
printing).
Mailing list addresses run about a half cent each; envelopes
one to 7 cents each, postage 10-13 cents, and your bulk
mailing permit about $50 over year after the initial permit.
Printing costs can be lowered by designing and keeping
general formats and merely substituting internal copy for
clients.
One color ink is cheaper than two; black and white is much
cheaper than color, colored paper and/or various ink colors
are cheaper and almost as effective as two color printing
(which requires two "runs" through the press).
Some local printers are quite expensive, while others will
want your business enough to "deal" (The more business you
can bring them, the more "clout" you will have).
If you have or can hire a desktop publishing system, you
can prepare "camera ready" masters that can be reproduced
inexpensively by a photo offset printer (small runs can be
+handled by copy services).
Note that some of your clients will provide their own
material (from their home offices) -- either to copy or
ready to mail. You may also be able to save by compiling
your own mailing lists (see B235).
Finally, you should offer "exclusive" mailings, where you
mail out client's material -- for a significantly price of
course. It may be worth it to a client because you have the
know-how, production facilities and the bulk rate permit.
They certainly don't want to believe their product is not
good! Your advice should always be honest in the sense that
you first advise them on how to be effective; second, how to
save money, and third, according to your profit margin.
You also should be extremely careful not to get in between
rival clients or appear to be favoring one over the other.
Never discuss one client with another (if you talk about one,
you will talk about all of them). Just "steer" them away from
advertising or layouts that would appear to compete directly
through your services.
Finally, be especially wary of "distress orders." Many
businesses, when they are on the brink of disaster will try
to bolster their position through heavy advertising. trouble
is that if it doesn't work, the advertising is added to their
list of unpaid bills. Don't be their "last resort."
BUSINESS SOURCES
BIG CITY LITHOGRAPH, 550 N. Claremont Blvd.,Claremont,
CA 91711. Photo offset printer.
THE PRINTING FACTORY, Box 27, Nesconset, NY 11767.
Printers of mail order materials.
GRAPHICS ARTS TECHNICAL, 4615 Forbes Ave.,Pittsburgh,
PA 15214. Printing supplies for the home printer.
TURNBAUGH PRINT SUPPLY, 104 S. Sporting Hill Rd.,
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055. 717/737/5637. sells new and
used printing presses and supplies.
EMPRINT, 329 Gunkel, Dayton, OH 45410, 513/2523-1452.
Small used offset printing presses.
DOT PASTEUP SUPPLY CO., Box 369, Omaha, NE 68101.
Free catalog of paste-up supplies for making
newsletters, advertisements, flyers, etc.
DUPLIPRINTERS, INC., 222/226 Broadway, Newburgh, NY 12550.
sells kits for in-home printing; sales and dealerships.
Starter kit - $72.
COUP-PAK, 585 Stewart Ave.,Garden City, NY 11530.
Information on an advertising coupon business without
investment.
DOVER PUBLICATIONS, INC., 31 East 2nd St.,Mineola,
NY 11051. Discount books, clip art, stencils, etc.
QUILL CORPORATION, 100 Schelter Rd.,Lincolnshire,
IL 60917-4700, 312/634-4800. Office supplies.
SWEDCO, Box 29, Mooresville, NC 28115. 3 line rubber
stamps - $3; business cards - $13 per thousand.
ZPS, Box 581, Libertyville, IL 60048-2556. Business
cards (raised print - $11.50 per K) and letterhead
stationery. Will print your copy ready logo or design,
even whole card.
WALTER DRAKE, 4119 Drake Bldg.,Colorado Springs,
CO 80940. Short run business cards (250 - $3), stationery,
etc. Good quality, but no choice of style or color.
Note:
The List is somewhat outdated
I would reccomend doing
keyword search to get
updated list
HOW TO MAKE MONEY BUYING & SELLING USED CARS & TRUCKS
HOW TO MAKE MONEY BUYING & SELLING USED CARS & TRUCKS
Today, with the average consumer now spending up to $20,400 for a new car, consumers realize the importance of investing in lower-priced used cars. With millions of buyers entering the used vehicle market every year, a wealth of opportunities exists for anyone who is looking for extra income, or a new and lucrative full-time career. The key to making money in this business is to buy low, and sell at a huge profit! This report will show you how to get started down your road to riches!
OPERATING YOUR OWN USED CAR BUSINESS
The goal of many people is just to make a little extra income. If you consider $1,000 to $3,500 or more for a single sale in one month to be "extra income," you could easily make that in your spare time without much effort.
On the other hand, you may be one of those people who want to be their own boss. While it's true that the risks are often greater than if you just worked for someone else, it's just as true that risks and rewards go hand in hand. If you're willing to take the plunge, the potential returns are also greater. If you have a bit of an adventuresome spirit and confidence in your ownlskils and abilities, operating your own used car business may be the ideal way for you to make big, big money!
ADVANTAGES OF OWNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS
The opportunity to express your own ideas and do things exactly as you want is among the primary advantages of operating your own business. The challenge and excitement of running your own operation also ranks high on the list. Another big advantage is that you will receive all the profits generated by your time and efforts. Then the potential exists to develop a part-time business into a full-time career that produces an income you never thought possible.
SKILLS & ABILITIES NEEDED
The same type of personal skills that are necessary to successfully work for someone else are also required to be successful in working for yourself. Personal skills would involve being conscientious, dedicated, determined, and persistent, in addition to possessing good human relations abilities.
There is also another type of skill that is necessary that involves the ability to manage and organize your activities, and possibly those of others if you hire car salespeople to work for you.
This skill should be taken very seriously, because it is these skills that can cause one business to be a huge success while the other is a total failure.
Lastly, you will need technical skills. These are the skills that include the knowledge to perform the activities involved in the used car business. It is this combination of technical, personal, and management skills that will make your operation successful.
GETTING YOUR USED CAR BUSINESS ESTABLISHED
Whether you are operating your business on a part-time basis, people will expect you to provide the type of service any consumer expects. They will also associate the type of service they can expect with the image you create for your business. This image will be impressions you make on others.
For example: Will people perceive you as handling high-, medium-, or low-priced vehicles? Will your used cars appeal mostly to the rich, the poor, or the middle class? Do you sell something for everyone or do you specialize? (Just pickups, just vans, etc.)
Any positive image is fine, as long as you are consistent in everything you do within the scope of that image. The image you create will largely set the tone for all your business activities, including selection of a businesss location, type of vehicles handled, prices charged, etc.
SELECTING A LOCATION
If you are going to buy one or two cars at a time for resale on a part-time basis, then working right from your home shouldnn't pose a problem for you. However, if you intend to eventually have a large, full-time business operation, the most important ingredient that can lead to success or failure can depend on your location. What constitutes a good location varies with the type of business. But in the used car business it means being highly visible in a high traffic area and being situated so that driving customers can get to you. In many cases, the location you consider ideal may not be available or if it is, the cost may not be practical. In that event, you will have to do strong advertising and promotion work to make customers aware of who you are, what you are selling, and where they can find you.
Whether you select a location at your home or in a business district, you must make certain you are operating within city and county zoning ordinances. Zoning ordinances are regulations specifying what each parcel of property within a community can be used for. If the location you decide on is not zoned for the type of business you want to start, you can appeal to the zoning commission to obtain a "zoning variance." If approved, you would be allowed to use the property for your business.
HOW TO LOCATE USED CAR SUPPLIERS
To get started in the "Buy-Low, Sell for Huge Profits" used car business, you will have to locate suppliers. In some cases you will be able to buy directly from individual car owners. At other times you will go to independent auction houses or attend U.S. Government Auction Sales where you can often purchase vehicles for pennies on the dollar.
At independent auction houses vehicle owners have auctioneers sell their vehicle by getting buyers who are at the auction house to bid against one another. Generally, there is a minimum bid set. The person who offers the highest bid over the minimum set has the winning bid. The seller however, also has the right to sell the vehicle below the minimum bid if he chooses. Incredible bargains can be found at independent auction houses.
Independent auction house sles take place throughout the U.S.A., many on a weekly schedule. For additional information of auction house locations refer to your telephone directory under "Auctions" or "Car Auctions," or write to:
National Auto Research N.A.D.A. Used Car Guide Co.
P.O. Box 758 8400 Westpark Drive
Gainesville, GA 30503 McLean, VA 22102-9985
(404) 532-4111 (703) 821-7193
(800) 554-1026 (Except Georgia) (800) 544-6232
(800) 523-3110 (In Virginia)
U.S. GOVERNMENT AUCTIONS
A wide variety of personal property either no longer needed or seized by the Federal Government is periodically placed on public sale.
The Department of Defense and the General Services Administration are the principal Government sales outlets for surplus property. As items become available for public sale, catalogs and other types of announcements are distributed to people who have expressed an interest in bidding on the types of property being offered.
Sales generally are on a competitive bid basis, with the property being sold to the highest bidder. Among the many thousands of items sold are automobiles and other vehicles of every imaginable make and model. In fact, tens of thousands of vehicles are sold by the government at public auctions throughout the country every year!
How can there be so many vehicles for sale? Because the Government is so huge that it's difficult to even comprehend just how much property is amassed for resale. In fact, the government seizes, conficates, and forecloses on property that results in many millions of pieces of property every year, and the numbers continue to grow.
Incredibly, the government isn't like a private business that is interested in making a profit on items it sells. The government is mostly interested in eliminating the enormous stockpiles of seized and surplus vehicles and other properties. As a result, many thousands of vehicles are offered to the public through government auctions at a fraction of their actual values. This is where you can buy just about any model of vehicle you want at super-huge savings, and make incredibly-high resale profits.
HOW TO GET ON THE GOVERNMENT'S
VEHICLE AUCTION MAILING LIST
Both the Government Services Administration(GSA) and the Department of Defense maintain mailing lists on persons interested in seized and surplus property sales. People on these lists are sent catalogs and other sales announcements in advance of sales and are given the opportunity to inspect the vehicles and other property and submit bids.
Each GSA regional office maintains a mailing list for sales of property located in the geographical areas it serves. For general information about sales conducted by GSA, or to be placed on the mailing list, write to any of the following addresses.
The Department of Defense maintains a centralized mailing list for the sales of its property located in the United States. The Defense Surplus Bidders Control Office, Defense Logistics Services Center, Federal Center, Battle Creek, Michigan 49016, maintains this list.
GSA CUSTOMER SERVICE BUREAUS
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION REGION 6
GSA Customer Service Bureau GSA Customer Service Bureau
7th and D Streets, SW 1500 E. Bannister Road
Washington, DC 20407 Kansas City, MO 64131
Serves: District of Columbia, Serves: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri,
nerby Maryland & Virginia Nebraska
REGION 1 REGION 7
GSA Customer Service Bureau GSA Customer Service Bureau
Post Office & Courthouse 819 Taylor Street
Boston, MA 02109 Fort Worth, TX 76102
Serves: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusets, Serves: Arkansas, Louisiana, New
New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
REGION 2 REGION 8
GSA Customer Service Bureau GSA Customer Service Bureau
26 Federal Plaza Bldg. 41-Denver Federal Center
New York, NY 10278 Denver, CO 80225
Serves: New Jersey, New York, Puerto Serves: Colorado, Montana, North
Rico, Virgin Islands Dakota, South Dakota, Utah,
Wyoming
REGION 3
GSA Customer Service Bureau REGION 9
Nineth & Market Streets GSA Customer Service Bureau
Philadelphia, PA 19107 525 Market Street
Serves: Delaware, Pennsylvania, San Francisco, CA 94105
Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia Serves: Samoa, Arizona, California,
Guam, Hawaii, Nevada
REGION 5
GSA Customer Service Bureau REGION 10
230 S. Dearborn Street GSA Customer Service Bureau
Chicago, IL 60604 Auburn, WA 98002
Serves: Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Serves: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon,
Ohio, Wisconsin Washington
HOW TO DETERMINE THE VALUE OF USED VEHICLES
Whether you attend auctions or purchase a vehicle outright from a seller, you must know what it is worth. The best way to determine a vehicle's average market trade-in or wholesale value, average loan or average retail value is, is to subscribe to the N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide, published monthly by the National Automobile Dealer's Used Car Guid Co., 8400 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102-9985. Write for current subscription rates.
N.A.D.A. also publishes guides as followss: Official Older Used Car Guide...Official Wholesale Used Car Trade-in Guide...Official Title & Registration Book...Official Recreation Vehicle Guide...Official Motorcycle/Snowmobile/ATV Personal Watercraft Appraisal Guide...Official Smaller Boat Appraisal Guide...Official Larger Boad Appraisal Guide...Official Mobile Home Appraisal Guide and the Mobile Home Appraisal System.
A weekly used car market guide is also available from: National Auto Research, P.O. Box 758, Gainesville, GA 30503. Write for current subscription rates.
REGIONAL CLASSIFICATIONS
The average values listed in the N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide are based upon reports of actual transactions by dealers and auction houses throughout each area for which a guide is published. A used car guide-book normally includes 1)Domestic Cars; 2)Imported Cars; and 3)Trucks. Manufactures' names are listed alphabetically.
SECURING LICENSES AND PERMITS
City, county, state and/or federal licenses or permits are often required before entering a particular business or service operation. Often, these are issued solely as a fund-raising measure, and are therefore easy to obtain simply by submitting a fee.
On the other hand, licensing is also used as a method of regulating the competency of those entering a particular field and to protect the public from shady operators. In some cases an exam is administered, and moral and financial requirements may need to be met as well.
In the used-car business, most states require that you obtain a dealers license if you are buying and selling vehicles for the purpose of making a profit. However, you are not required to apply for a license if you only make an isolated or occasional sale. You are not considered to be in the business of selling motor vehicles in that event. "Isolated or occasional sales" in many states means "the sale, purchase, or lease of not more than five motor vehicles in a 12 month period".
Once you begin to sell more vehicles for profit than is allowed by your state law on an annual basis, you should apply for a Dealer's License by contacting your State Department of Public Safety or Department of Motor Vehicles.
Check with your attorney or other city officials to determine what licenses and permits are needed. Simply starting up a business without having the proper authorizations can result in severe penalties, and you could be forced to discontinue operations.
Many states, and some cities and counties, require that sales taxes be collected. The stated sales tax permit is available from the State Department of Revenue, City and county permits are available from the tax department in those jurisdictions.
Even though a certian amount of "red-tape" must be tolerated to obtain some licenses and permits, this is usually a one-time occurrence. Then, it's just a matter of simply submitting an annual renewal fee.
NOTE:
And dont forget the POWER of online auctions Ebay Motors alone transacts millions of dollars per mo in used car sales.
BONUS REPORT:
HOW TO PURCHASE YOUR "DREAM HOME" WITH NO CREDIT CHECK
Most real estate salespeople will tell you without hesitation that no-one can purchase real estate without a down-payment or credit check. They will tell you that a credit check is an essential part of the process and that you better have a fistful of cash before you evxer think about buying a home. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth!
Everyday throughout America, tens of thousands of people are acquiring homes without being subjected to a credit check or spending a cent of their own money as a down payment.
The reason why real estate salespeople don't even want to consider real estate transactions that are creatively packeged and don't require cash is obvious! They receive their commissions only when there are cash transactions.
No one should deny a real estate salesperson commisssions. In many cases it is their expertise in the reaal estate field that can help a person find great buys. They know the market in their areas and deserve the commissions they earn. However, in times of high interest rates when money is tight, many are increasingly willing to be creative by allowing their commissions to be paid via a note or by deferred payment. Still, there are even better ways if you want to avoid down payments and credit checks.
HOW A DREAM HOME CAN BE
PURCHASED WITHOUT A CREDIT CHECK
The Vererans Administration(VA) and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), a division of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have been encouraging and promoting home ownership through their agencies for years. When people are denied a home loan by a bank or other lending institution, FHA will insure a home mortgage loan by giving the lending institution a 100% guarantee against any losses that may be incurred if the buyer does not repay the loan. Another benefit of getting a FHA loan is that the interest rates are usually lower than the standard bank rates for home mortages.
The VA will also guarantee a home loan up to 100%, which also allows a buyer to receive a home loan through a bank or other lender. A credit check is required on the "original" buyer of the home, but here's the loophole!
While it is true that from March 11988 onward, all asumbble VA loans require credit approval, the good news is that these changes in credit check approval only apply to those loans that were made "after March, 1988," ALL VA LOANS MADE BEFORE MARCH 1988 ARE STILL ASSUMABLE BY ANYONE REGARDLESS OF THEIR CREDIT!
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION - Scoring systems are adjusted for differences
in geographic locations,. For example, home owndership may not score high
in an area where there is a high incidence of credit problems, reoccurring
employee/employer differences, low income, etc.
EMPLOYMENT - The longer you have been on a job the better.
OCCUPATION - Occupationss can be divided into many categories with
a high to low score within each category for different occupations.
AGE - Older is not considered better until you pass age 40. Under 25 to
the end of your 30's receive the lowest scores. The rational is that people
under 25 haven't proven they are a good credit risk. People in their 30's are
still raising a family, buying a home, and tied down with emormous expenses.
This is also the time most people declare bankruptcy
INCOME - The higher your income the more points you will receive.
TELEPHONE - Having a telephone is an indication of stability. Give
yourself more points.
AGE OF AUTOMOBILE - No auto is a low score, but the newer the vehicle
the higher the score.
DEPENDENTS - One to three indicates responsibility and stability. After
three, points drop rapidly.
CITIZENSHIP STATUS - Non-citizens receive negative points.
BANK ACCOUNTS - You receive high points if you have a checking and
savings account.
CREDIT REFERENCES IN-HOUSE RECORDS - A good payment record
will earn you more points.
CREDIT CARDS - The more major credit cards you have the better.
BANK LOANS - A current bank loan will increase your score.
FINANCE COMPANY LOANS - You will receive negative points for each
finance company loan.
TWO POWERFUL STRATEGIES THAT CAN
GET YOUR APPLICATION APPROVED
Credit checks are requested by banks, lenders, and other creditors to see if there are negative items in your file. The more negative items you have, the less your chances of credit will be. As we have seen, creditors look for stability and reliability in an applicant. A steady source of income will receive a high score, but even more important than an income amount is a creditor's belief and perception that you are both willing and able to pay back a debt.
In other words, even if you fail to pass certain criteria or formulas, your application can still be approved on another level that will get you the credit you want no matter what a scoring system profile says.
Motivated sellers are the best kind to deal with, because they will want to help themselves by helping you. Lack of money or credit shouldn't be your primary concern when purchasing a home. Creative negotiating and positive thinking will get you what you want.
CREATE A DEAL THAT BENEFITS
BOTH YOU AN THE SELLER
Creative negotiating can lead to financing arrangements that benefit both the buyer and the seller. There must be a willingness, however, by both the buyer and seller to give and take, before the most favorable environment for a creative financing situation can be created. For example, if you want to purchase your dream home with nothing down, you might consider paying a little more.
On the other hand, if you are investing money out or your pocket on a down payment, then the sale price and terms should be favorable to you. A smart, yet flexible home buyer can often afford to pay a premium price provided it's not too far out of line with the market value, and he can get attractive terms and no down payment.
FIND OUT WHAT THE SELLER WANTS
Many sellers want a steady income and don't need front money in the form of a down payment. Most buyers never consider asking a seller what they want! If you can guarantee a nice monthly income to someone who prefers a steady check, you can have yourself a nothing-down deal. Find out what the seller really wants!
BUYING WITHOUT CASH MEANS
BECOMING A SUPER NEGOTIATOR
Sometimes you will require super negotiating skills if you decide to buy a home without using your own money. After you have found your dream home, you and the seller will have to sit down and negotiate a final agreement. The following three rules should be followed to enable you to ge the best possible deal:
1) Get the selling price as low as possible.
2) Negotiate a very low down payment, or no down payment agreement.
3) Be aware of all the methods available to you in buying real estate
whereby you would pay some cash, or no cash up front.
The first five of the following options involve some cash up front, the remaining seven do not. At the top of the list the buyer buys out the sellers full equity. At the bottom of the list the buyer pays nothing down and doesn't secure the debt. Somewhere in-between you should be able to agree on a compromise that benefits both parties involved.
BUYING OPTIONS AVAILABLE
TO REAL ESTATE BUYERS & SELLERS
1) Cash to existing mortage
2) Cash to down and refinancing
3) Cash down with seller taking bacy the contract, second mortage,
etc.
4) Some cash plus equity in other property
5) Cash plus mortgage on other property
6) No cash but equity in other property
7) No cash, equity plus mortgage on purchased property
8) No cash, equity plus mortgage on othe property
9) No cash, moortgage on purchased property
10) No cash, mortgage on other property
11) No cash, wrap-around where seller carries paper with or
without a promissory note.
12) No cash, unsecured note for complete equity
NEGOTIATE "LOW" & "LONG" TERMS
Always think in terms of 1) Low Interest; 2) Low Monthly Payments; and 3) Long-Term Payoffs as you develop home buying transactions. Make a transaction benefit you by negotiating hard all the way. Decide ahead of time what your "No-Deal"! cut-off point is. Be prepared to walk away from any deal that goes beyond your low-interest and low-payment cut-off. And remember, the longer the payback terms the better off you will be. High interest rates, high payments, and short-term payoffs can destroy a fledgling financial situation.
INCREDIBLE BARGAINS ARE EVERYWHERE!
It only requires a simple search to find great real estate buys that require no down payments or credit checks. You can start your search by picking up newspapers in and around the area you are interested in. Then carefully review the classified real estate ads and begin contacting both home owners and real estate agents. Don't be afraid to call agents! They might provide the lead that leads you to your dream home. Keep a list of your contacts and note the results. Make a minimum of 3-4 contacts every day. You will know who the really motivated sellers are through conversation. Then, if you are interested, take advantage of the situation and follow through.
HOW YOU CAN PROFIT BY OBTAINING OPTIONS
Obtaining an option to purchase real estate can make you some fast and easy profits. When it comes to real estate, options favor a buyer over the seller 10 to 1!
Here's how an option to buy can make you huge amounts of money:
To begin with, find a piece of property that is priced to sell at under market value. Let's say that the property you decide on is priced at $99,000 but the actual market value is $125,000. And remember, these kinds of bargains are available everywhere! Your next step is to tie up the property with an option, which may or may not require a modest options fee.
Let's say that the property increases in value by only 10% during the period of time you hold your option, which in many parts of the country might be a very modest increase. Now you would have an option to buy property that is now worth $137,500, still for $99,000. Now you have and incredible opportuunity to make a $38,500 profit!
Options are favorable to the buyer over the seller because at the end of the option period, the potential buyer can exercise his option if conditions are favorable and make a tremendous profit from the transaction. On the other hand, he can also walk away from the deal if conditions appear unfavorable.
USE CONTINGENCY CLAUSES WHEREVER NECESSARY
Contingency clauses can give you many advantages when you are ready to make a deal. Contingency clauses can stack real estate agreements in your favor. What you are doing in effect, is specifying certain conditions that allow a contract agreement to be valid.
Basically, there are two reasons for using contingency clauses:
1) The contingency clause is of great importance to the deal; and
2) You simply want more time and are using a contingency clause
to get it.
Some of the typical reasons for these clauses include statements such as:
1) Contingent on buyer arranging suitable financing; 2) Contingent on buyer selling his property before the deal is valid; 3) Contingent on appraisal; 4) Contingent on the buyer's accountant or attorney inspecting all records; or, 5) Contingent on the seller agreeing to your specific terms, etc.
DELAYED DOWN PAYMENT CONSIDERATIONS
If the seller absolutely demands all or part of the down payment in cash, don't exclude the possibility of agreeing on a "Delayed Down Payment." This tactical move should at least be considered, especially if you have already lined up a buyer for a fast resale
DON'T OVERLOOK SELLERS
AS A SOURCE OF INVESTMENT CAPITAL
The same person you are buying property from may also act as your lender. Today, sellers are lending money to buyers in almost half of real estate transactions. The borrowed equity is secuured by either a personal note, or a second or third mortgage. This method amounts to lending money to the buying party.
USE FIRST AND SECOND NOTES INSTEAD OF CASH
When you are ready to purchase your dream home, think in terms of non-cash ways to obtain it. First and second notes can easily serve as the equivalent of cash money. The advantage of using notes in place of money is that you receive 100% of the value of the note. If you wanted to convert a note to cash by selling the note, chances are you would have to accept a discount price on it. This discount could range anywhere from 10% to 30%, depending on the time left on the note, interest, and the history of payments. When buying real estate, it is wise to substitute notes for cash. In this way you can receive 100% value for your paper.
by
Tycoon2k Webmaster
Make Massive Profits In Foreclosures
Today, with the average consumer now spending up to $20,400 for a new car, consumers realize the importance of investing in lower-priced used cars. With millions of buyers entering the used vehicle market every year, a wealth of opportunities exists for anyone who is looking for extra income, or a new and lucrative full-time career. The key to making money in this business is to buy low, and sell at a huge profit! This report will show you how to get started down your road to riches!
OPERATING YOUR OWN USED CAR BUSINESS
The goal of many people is just to make a little extra income. If you consider $1,000 to $3,500 or more for a single sale in one month to be "extra income," you could easily make that in your spare time without much effort.
On the other hand, you may be one of those people who want to be their own boss. While it's true that the risks are often greater than if you just worked for someone else, it's just as true that risks and rewards go hand in hand. If you're willing to take the plunge, the potential returns are also greater. If you have a bit of an adventuresome spirit and confidence in your ownlskils and abilities, operating your own used car business may be the ideal way for you to make big, big money!
ADVANTAGES OF OWNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS
The opportunity to express your own ideas and do things exactly as you want is among the primary advantages of operating your own business. The challenge and excitement of running your own operation also ranks high on the list. Another big advantage is that you will receive all the profits generated by your time and efforts. Then the potential exists to develop a part-time business into a full-time career that produces an income you never thought possible.
SKILLS & ABILITIES NEEDED
The same type of personal skills that are necessary to successfully work for someone else are also required to be successful in working for yourself. Personal skills would involve being conscientious, dedicated, determined, and persistent, in addition to possessing good human relations abilities.
There is also another type of skill that is necessary that involves the ability to manage and organize your activities, and possibly those of others if you hire car salespeople to work for you.
This skill should be taken very seriously, because it is these skills that can cause one business to be a huge success while the other is a total failure.
Lastly, you will need technical skills. These are the skills that include the knowledge to perform the activities involved in the used car business. It is this combination of technical, personal, and management skills that will make your operation successful.
GETTING YOUR USED CAR BUSINESS ESTABLISHED
Whether you are operating your business on a part-time basis, people will expect you to provide the type of service any consumer expects. They will also associate the type of service they can expect with the image you create for your business. This image will be impressions you make on others.
For example: Will people perceive you as handling high-, medium-, or low-priced vehicles? Will your used cars appeal mostly to the rich, the poor, or the middle class? Do you sell something for everyone or do you specialize? (Just pickups, just vans, etc.)
Any positive image is fine, as long as you are consistent in everything you do within the scope of that image. The image you create will largely set the tone for all your business activities, including selection of a businesss location, type of vehicles handled, prices charged, etc.
SELECTING A LOCATION
If you are going to buy one or two cars at a time for resale on a part-time basis, then working right from your home shouldnn't pose a problem for you. However, if you intend to eventually have a large, full-time business operation, the most important ingredient that can lead to success or failure can depend on your location. What constitutes a good location varies with the type of business. But in the used car business it means being highly visible in a high traffic area and being situated so that driving customers can get to you. In many cases, the location you consider ideal may not be available or if it is, the cost may not be practical. In that event, you will have to do strong advertising and promotion work to make customers aware of who you are, what you are selling, and where they can find you.
Whether you select a location at your home or in a business district, you must make certain you are operating within city and county zoning ordinances. Zoning ordinances are regulations specifying what each parcel of property within a community can be used for. If the location you decide on is not zoned for the type of business you want to start, you can appeal to the zoning commission to obtain a "zoning variance." If approved, you would be allowed to use the property for your business.
HOW TO LOCATE USED CAR SUPPLIERS
To get started in the "Buy-Low, Sell for Huge Profits" used car business, you will have to locate suppliers. In some cases you will be able to buy directly from individual car owners. At other times you will go to independent auction houses or attend U.S. Government Auction Sales where you can often purchase vehicles for pennies on the dollar.
At independent auction houses vehicle owners have auctioneers sell their vehicle by getting buyers who are at the auction house to bid against one another. Generally, there is a minimum bid set. The person who offers the highest bid over the minimum set has the winning bid. The seller however, also has the right to sell the vehicle below the minimum bid if he chooses. Incredible bargains can be found at independent auction houses.
Independent auction house sles take place throughout the U.S.A., many on a weekly schedule. For additional information of auction house locations refer to your telephone directory under "Auctions" or "Car Auctions," or write to:
National Auto Research N.A.D.A. Used Car Guide Co.
P.O. Box 758 8400 Westpark Drive
Gainesville, GA 30503 McLean, VA 22102-9985
(404) 532-4111 (703) 821-7193
(800) 554-1026 (Except Georgia) (800) 544-6232
(800) 523-3110 (In Virginia)
U.S. GOVERNMENT AUCTIONS
A wide variety of personal property either no longer needed or seized by the Federal Government is periodically placed on public sale.
The Department of Defense and the General Services Administration are the principal Government sales outlets for surplus property. As items become available for public sale, catalogs and other types of announcements are distributed to people who have expressed an interest in bidding on the types of property being offered.
Sales generally are on a competitive bid basis, with the property being sold to the highest bidder. Among the many thousands of items sold are automobiles and other vehicles of every imaginable make and model. In fact, tens of thousands of vehicles are sold by the government at public auctions throughout the country every year!
How can there be so many vehicles for sale? Because the Government is so huge that it's difficult to even comprehend just how much property is amassed for resale. In fact, the government seizes, conficates, and forecloses on property that results in many millions of pieces of property every year, and the numbers continue to grow.
Incredibly, the government isn't like a private business that is interested in making a profit on items it sells. The government is mostly interested in eliminating the enormous stockpiles of seized and surplus vehicles and other properties. As a result, many thousands of vehicles are offered to the public through government auctions at a fraction of their actual values. This is where you can buy just about any model of vehicle you want at super-huge savings, and make incredibly-high resale profits.
HOW TO GET ON THE GOVERNMENT'S
VEHICLE AUCTION MAILING LIST
Both the Government Services Administration(GSA) and the Department of Defense maintain mailing lists on persons interested in seized and surplus property sales. People on these lists are sent catalogs and other sales announcements in advance of sales and are given the opportunity to inspect the vehicles and other property and submit bids.
Each GSA regional office maintains a mailing list for sales of property located in the geographical areas it serves. For general information about sales conducted by GSA, or to be placed on the mailing list, write to any of the following addresses.
The Department of Defense maintains a centralized mailing list for the sales of its property located in the United States. The Defense Surplus Bidders Control Office, Defense Logistics Services Center, Federal Center, Battle Creek, Michigan 49016, maintains this list.
GSA CUSTOMER SERVICE BUREAUS
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION REGION 6
GSA Customer Service Bureau GSA Customer Service Bureau
7th and D Streets, SW 1500 E. Bannister Road
Washington, DC 20407 Kansas City, MO 64131
Serves: District of Columbia, Serves: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri,
nerby Maryland & Virginia Nebraska
REGION 1 REGION 7
GSA Customer Service Bureau GSA Customer Service Bureau
Post Office & Courthouse 819 Taylor Street
Boston, MA 02109 Fort Worth, TX 76102
Serves: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusets, Serves: Arkansas, Louisiana, New
New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
REGION 2 REGION 8
GSA Customer Service Bureau GSA Customer Service Bureau
26 Federal Plaza Bldg. 41-Denver Federal Center
New York, NY 10278 Denver, CO 80225
Serves: New Jersey, New York, Puerto Serves: Colorado, Montana, North
Rico, Virgin Islands Dakota, South Dakota, Utah,
Wyoming
REGION 3
GSA Customer Service Bureau REGION 9
Nineth & Market Streets GSA Customer Service Bureau
Philadelphia, PA 19107 525 Market Street
Serves: Delaware, Pennsylvania, San Francisco, CA 94105
Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia Serves: Samoa, Arizona, California,
Guam, Hawaii, Nevada
REGION 5
GSA Customer Service Bureau REGION 10
230 S. Dearborn Street GSA Customer Service Bureau
Chicago, IL 60604 Auburn, WA 98002
Serves: Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Serves: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon,
Ohio, Wisconsin Washington
HOW TO DETERMINE THE VALUE OF USED VEHICLES
Whether you attend auctions or purchase a vehicle outright from a seller, you must know what it is worth. The best way to determine a vehicle's average market trade-in or wholesale value, average loan or average retail value is, is to subscribe to the N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide, published monthly by the National Automobile Dealer's Used Car Guid Co., 8400 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102-9985. Write for current subscription rates.
N.A.D.A. also publishes guides as followss: Official Older Used Car Guide...Official Wholesale Used Car Trade-in Guide...Official Title & Registration Book...Official Recreation Vehicle Guide...Official Motorcycle/Snowmobile/ATV Personal Watercraft Appraisal Guide...Official Smaller Boat Appraisal Guide...Official Larger Boad Appraisal Guide...Official Mobile Home Appraisal Guide and the Mobile Home Appraisal System.
A weekly used car market guide is also available from: National Auto Research, P.O. Box 758, Gainesville, GA 30503. Write for current subscription rates.
REGIONAL CLASSIFICATIONS
The average values listed in the N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide are based upon reports of actual transactions by dealers and auction houses throughout each area for which a guide is published. A used car guide-book normally includes 1)Domestic Cars; 2)Imported Cars; and 3)Trucks. Manufactures' names are listed alphabetically.
SECURING LICENSES AND PERMITS
City, county, state and/or federal licenses or permits are often required before entering a particular business or service operation. Often, these are issued solely as a fund-raising measure, and are therefore easy to obtain simply by submitting a fee.
On the other hand, licensing is also used as a method of regulating the competency of those entering a particular field and to protect the public from shady operators. In some cases an exam is administered, and moral and financial requirements may need to be met as well.
In the used-car business, most states require that you obtain a dealers license if you are buying and selling vehicles for the purpose of making a profit. However, you are not required to apply for a license if you only make an isolated or occasional sale. You are not considered to be in the business of selling motor vehicles in that event. "Isolated or occasional sales" in many states means "the sale, purchase, or lease of not more than five motor vehicles in a 12 month period".
Once you begin to sell more vehicles for profit than is allowed by your state law on an annual basis, you should apply for a Dealer's License by contacting your State Department of Public Safety or Department of Motor Vehicles.
Check with your attorney or other city officials to determine what licenses and permits are needed. Simply starting up a business without having the proper authorizations can result in severe penalties, and you could be forced to discontinue operations.
Many states, and some cities and counties, require that sales taxes be collected. The stated sales tax permit is available from the State Department of Revenue, City and county permits are available from the tax department in those jurisdictions.
Even though a certian amount of "red-tape" must be tolerated to obtain some licenses and permits, this is usually a one-time occurrence. Then, it's just a matter of simply submitting an annual renewal fee.
NOTE:
And dont forget the POWER of online auctions Ebay Motors alone transacts millions of dollars per mo in used car sales.
BONUS REPORT:
HOW TO PURCHASE YOUR "DREAM HOME" WITH NO CREDIT CHECK
Most real estate salespeople will tell you without hesitation that no-one can purchase real estate without a down-payment or credit check. They will tell you that a credit check is an essential part of the process and that you better have a fistful of cash before you evxer think about buying a home. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth!
Everyday throughout America, tens of thousands of people are acquiring homes without being subjected to a credit check or spending a cent of their own money as a down payment.
The reason why real estate salespeople don't even want to consider real estate transactions that are creatively packeged and don't require cash is obvious! They receive their commissions only when there are cash transactions.
No one should deny a real estate salesperson commisssions. In many cases it is their expertise in the reaal estate field that can help a person find great buys. They know the market in their areas and deserve the commissions they earn. However, in times of high interest rates when money is tight, many are increasingly willing to be creative by allowing their commissions to be paid via a note or by deferred payment. Still, there are even better ways if you want to avoid down payments and credit checks.
HOW A DREAM HOME CAN BE
PURCHASED WITHOUT A CREDIT CHECK
The Vererans Administration(VA) and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), a division of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have been encouraging and promoting home ownership through their agencies for years. When people are denied a home loan by a bank or other lending institution, FHA will insure a home mortgage loan by giving the lending institution a 100% guarantee against any losses that may be incurred if the buyer does not repay the loan. Another benefit of getting a FHA loan is that the interest rates are usually lower than the standard bank rates for home mortages.
The VA will also guarantee a home loan up to 100%, which also allows a buyer to receive a home loan through a bank or other lender. A credit check is required on the "original" buyer of the home, but here's the loophole!
While it is true that from March 11988 onward, all asumbble VA loans require credit approval, the good news is that these changes in credit check approval only apply to those loans that were made "after March, 1988," ALL VA LOANS MADE BEFORE MARCH 1988 ARE STILL ASSUMABLE BY ANYONE REGARDLESS OF THEIR CREDIT!
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION - Scoring systems are adjusted for differences
in geographic locations,. For example, home owndership may not score high
in an area where there is a high incidence of credit problems, reoccurring
employee/employer differences, low income, etc.
EMPLOYMENT - The longer you have been on a job the better.
OCCUPATION - Occupationss can be divided into many categories with
a high to low score within each category for different occupations.
AGE - Older is not considered better until you pass age 40. Under 25 to
the end of your 30's receive the lowest scores. The rational is that people
under 25 haven't proven they are a good credit risk. People in their 30's are
still raising a family, buying a home, and tied down with emormous expenses.
This is also the time most people declare bankruptcy
INCOME - The higher your income the more points you will receive.
TELEPHONE - Having a telephone is an indication of stability. Give
yourself more points.
AGE OF AUTOMOBILE - No auto is a low score, but the newer the vehicle
the higher the score.
DEPENDENTS - One to three indicates responsibility and stability. After
three, points drop rapidly.
CITIZENSHIP STATUS - Non-citizens receive negative points.
BANK ACCOUNTS - You receive high points if you have a checking and
savings account.
CREDIT REFERENCES IN-HOUSE RECORDS - A good payment record
will earn you more points.
CREDIT CARDS - The more major credit cards you have the better.
BANK LOANS - A current bank loan will increase your score.
FINANCE COMPANY LOANS - You will receive negative points for each
finance company loan.
TWO POWERFUL STRATEGIES THAT CAN
GET YOUR APPLICATION APPROVED
Credit checks are requested by banks, lenders, and other creditors to see if there are negative items in your file. The more negative items you have, the less your chances of credit will be. As we have seen, creditors look for stability and reliability in an applicant. A steady source of income will receive a high score, but even more important than an income amount is a creditor's belief and perception that you are both willing and able to pay back a debt.
In other words, even if you fail to pass certain criteria or formulas, your application can still be approved on another level that will get you the credit you want no matter what a scoring system profile says.
Motivated sellers are the best kind to deal with, because they will want to help themselves by helping you. Lack of money or credit shouldn't be your primary concern when purchasing a home. Creative negotiating and positive thinking will get you what you want.
CREATE A DEAL THAT BENEFITS
BOTH YOU AN THE SELLER
Creative negotiating can lead to financing arrangements that benefit both the buyer and the seller. There must be a willingness, however, by both the buyer and seller to give and take, before the most favorable environment for a creative financing situation can be created. For example, if you want to purchase your dream home with nothing down, you might consider paying a little more.
On the other hand, if you are investing money out or your pocket on a down payment, then the sale price and terms should be favorable to you. A smart, yet flexible home buyer can often afford to pay a premium price provided it's not too far out of line with the market value, and he can get attractive terms and no down payment.
FIND OUT WHAT THE SELLER WANTS
Many sellers want a steady income and don't need front money in the form of a down payment. Most buyers never consider asking a seller what they want! If you can guarantee a nice monthly income to someone who prefers a steady check, you can have yourself a nothing-down deal. Find out what the seller really wants!
BUYING WITHOUT CASH MEANS
BECOMING A SUPER NEGOTIATOR
Sometimes you will require super negotiating skills if you decide to buy a home without using your own money. After you have found your dream home, you and the seller will have to sit down and negotiate a final agreement. The following three rules should be followed to enable you to ge the best possible deal:
1) Get the selling price as low as possible.
2) Negotiate a very low down payment, or no down payment agreement.
3) Be aware of all the methods available to you in buying real estate
whereby you would pay some cash, or no cash up front.
The first five of the following options involve some cash up front, the remaining seven do not. At the top of the list the buyer buys out the sellers full equity. At the bottom of the list the buyer pays nothing down and doesn't secure the debt. Somewhere in-between you should be able to agree on a compromise that benefits both parties involved.
BUYING OPTIONS AVAILABLE
TO REAL ESTATE BUYERS & SELLERS
1) Cash to existing mortage
2) Cash to down and refinancing
3) Cash down with seller taking bacy the contract, second mortage,
etc.
4) Some cash plus equity in other property
5) Cash plus mortgage on other property
6) No cash but equity in other property
7) No cash, equity plus mortgage on purchased property
8) No cash, equity plus mortgage on othe property
9) No cash, moortgage on purchased property
10) No cash, mortgage on other property
11) No cash, wrap-around where seller carries paper with or
without a promissory note.
12) No cash, unsecured note for complete equity
NEGOTIATE "LOW" & "LONG" TERMS
Always think in terms of 1) Low Interest; 2) Low Monthly Payments; and 3) Long-Term Payoffs as you develop home buying transactions. Make a transaction benefit you by negotiating hard all the way. Decide ahead of time what your "No-Deal"! cut-off point is. Be prepared to walk away from any deal that goes beyond your low-interest and low-payment cut-off. And remember, the longer the payback terms the better off you will be. High interest rates, high payments, and short-term payoffs can destroy a fledgling financial situation.
INCREDIBLE BARGAINS ARE EVERYWHERE!
It only requires a simple search to find great real estate buys that require no down payments or credit checks. You can start your search by picking up newspapers in and around the area you are interested in. Then carefully review the classified real estate ads and begin contacting both home owners and real estate agents. Don't be afraid to call agents! They might provide the lead that leads you to your dream home. Keep a list of your contacts and note the results. Make a minimum of 3-4 contacts every day. You will know who the really motivated sellers are through conversation. Then, if you are interested, take advantage of the situation and follow through.
HOW YOU CAN PROFIT BY OBTAINING OPTIONS
Obtaining an option to purchase real estate can make you some fast and easy profits. When it comes to real estate, options favor a buyer over the seller 10 to 1!
Here's how an option to buy can make you huge amounts of money:
To begin with, find a piece of property that is priced to sell at under market value. Let's say that the property you decide on is priced at $99,000 but the actual market value is $125,000. And remember, these kinds of bargains are available everywhere! Your next step is to tie up the property with an option, which may or may not require a modest options fee.
Let's say that the property increases in value by only 10% during the period of time you hold your option, which in many parts of the country might be a very modest increase. Now you would have an option to buy property that is now worth $137,500, still for $99,000. Now you have and incredible opportuunity to make a $38,500 profit!
Options are favorable to the buyer over the seller because at the end of the option period, the potential buyer can exercise his option if conditions are favorable and make a tremendous profit from the transaction. On the other hand, he can also walk away from the deal if conditions appear unfavorable.
USE CONTINGENCY CLAUSES WHEREVER NECESSARY
Contingency clauses can give you many advantages when you are ready to make a deal. Contingency clauses can stack real estate agreements in your favor. What you are doing in effect, is specifying certain conditions that allow a contract agreement to be valid.
Basically, there are two reasons for using contingency clauses:
1) The contingency clause is of great importance to the deal; and
2) You simply want more time and are using a contingency clause
to get it.
Some of the typical reasons for these clauses include statements such as:
1) Contingent on buyer arranging suitable financing; 2) Contingent on buyer selling his property before the deal is valid; 3) Contingent on appraisal; 4) Contingent on the buyer's accountant or attorney inspecting all records; or, 5) Contingent on the seller agreeing to your specific terms, etc.
DELAYED DOWN PAYMENT CONSIDERATIONS
If the seller absolutely demands all or part of the down payment in cash, don't exclude the possibility of agreeing on a "Delayed Down Payment." This tactical move should at least be considered, especially if you have already lined up a buyer for a fast resale
DON'T OVERLOOK SELLERS
AS A SOURCE OF INVESTMENT CAPITAL
The same person you are buying property from may also act as your lender. Today, sellers are lending money to buyers in almost half of real estate transactions. The borrowed equity is secuured by either a personal note, or a second or third mortgage. This method amounts to lending money to the buying party.
USE FIRST AND SECOND NOTES INSTEAD OF CASH
When you are ready to purchase your dream home, think in terms of non-cash ways to obtain it. First and second notes can easily serve as the equivalent of cash money. The advantage of using notes in place of money is that you receive 100% of the value of the note. If you wanted to convert a note to cash by selling the note, chances are you would have to accept a discount price on it. This discount could range anywhere from 10% to 30%, depending on the time left on the note, interest, and the history of payments. When buying real estate, it is wise to substitute notes for cash. In this way you can receive 100% value for your paper.
by
Tycoon2k Webmaster
Make Massive Profits In Foreclosures
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
HOW TO PUBLISH YOUR OWN NEWSLETTER
HOW TO PUBLISH YOUR OWN NEWSLETTER
by tycoon2k Webmaster
With the expansion and diversion of businesses, manufacturers, and even hobbyists into more and more specialized areas of endeavor, there is an increasing need for more information. And newsletters are the high profit way to cash in on that market for specialized information.
You can write and produce your own newsletter from home with a low overhead and potential for high returns. Many newsletter subscriptions range from $25 to $100 per year, some much higher. Even a thousand subscribers will bring in huge earnings.
There are no tried and true methods of making a newsletter successful, but if you investigate the market thoroughly, and are cautious in your moves, you can make a break-even profit turn into a sound income year after year.
You don't have to be a famous business consultant or an insider on the stock market to produce a newsletter. There are many that cater to all types of sports, crafts, health, housing or money making.
The most important aspect of creating a successful newsletter is the market. You need to research who will buy the subscription and how much they are willing to pay. But there are sound methods of testing the market so you can be sure to come out ahead and establish yourself in the field.
If you have a special interest that has a broad following, you might find that a newsletter will be readily accepted and flourish.
What interests or hobbies have you been involved with that can make a lively income for you? If you follow the steps and carefully consider your market, there is no reason why you can't get into the newsletter business too. And you can MAKE IT WORK.
WHAT IS A NEWSLETTER?
A newsletter is a special timely report on a single subject. It is a personalized, concise statement from an expert or person thoroughly familiar with a specialized field. Newsletters are maintained solely by subscriptions; there is no advertising. Most are printed within low budget means, typewritten, from two to eight pages.
The specialized information in newsletters is current, and usually cannot be found elsewhere. They are a logical extension to trade journals and magazines.
Aimed at a select group, they often contain the inside information in the field, hot tips or news scoops that become old news in publications of the trade.
Newsletters are not distributed by newsstands, nor are they meant for the mass market. In fact, the average number of potential readers of newsletters in any one field is relatively small.
Because of their specific information, newsletters can command a high subscription fee. Businesses can afford to spend the money to offer executives top-rate inside information.
There are hundreds of newsletters now being published and distributed in the United States. But there is room for hundreds more. Because of the specialized market, there is often little competition among newsletters, and THERE IS A RISING TREND TOWARDS SUBSCRIBING.
WHY ARE NEWSLETTERS POPULAR?
With all the print media and visual communications in this country, you might think there is a saturated market. And that is true when it comes to general interest mass market publications.
However, the need for specific information in specialized fields is constantly increasing. How can I beat the competition? How does the world news affect my industry? Will a union strike on the other side of the world raise our prices?
The focus of the newsletter is success. Success in business, success in hobbies, success in health and happiness. The information contained in the newsletters motivates readers to follow the advice. What are the best investments? Where are the trade shows? How can I get an edge on winning contests?
There is an endless need for specific knowledge in every field of endeavor. Since there is a high standard of competition within every aspect of our modern life, people search for ways to be in the know, and use that information effectively.
One of the reasons subscription prices can stay high is because people are paying for the knowledge and what might be gained by it. If a two hundred dollar newsletter saves a company thousands of dollars in excellent advice, then it is well worth the price.
WHAT IT TAKES
You can start a newsletter by yourself; you don't need a large staff. A desk at home, a typewriter and a telephone are all the basic tools you need to creat a newsletter. Even when you get into comupterized labels and mass mailings, you still will not need a large space.
You don't need to invest a lot of money to begin a simple newsletter. You may need to put a little out for advertising for subscribers or mailings to introduce your product. And you may need to spend some money on getting the first newsletter printed.
But, if your subscription list builds properly, you'll be able to earn back your initial investments quickly - with some left over.
WHAT TO WRITE ABOUT
The topic you choose has got to be your major interest. You'll be living with it day in and day out for years, so you need to be devoted to the subject. Usually, it's not hard. You probably already have a chosen field of endeavor, or have developed a keen interest in a special hobby or sport. Writing a newsletter is only one more way to demonstrate your interest.
Read any newsletters you can find. What do they talk about? How much do they cost? How long have they been in business? You might want to talk to the publishers of a few to find out how they started and what troubles they encountered. Consider paying them a consulting fee to help you get on your way.
Take a look at all the trade magazines of the topic you'd like to work with. Find out if there are any newsletters already existing in that field. But don't worry - there is usually room for more if you keep to another aspect of the business or endeavor.
Keep up with the current trends in health, money, sports, or social events and styles. What's new with the young people? Or the elderly? There are many retired people actively pursuing hundreds of various interests. How can you tap into that market?
WHO WILL BUY?
The first place to test your newsletter is with associates and colleagues. And, you don't need their sub-scription - just their input. What do they think about your ideas? How much would they pay for a newsletter delivered to their office or home on the subjects that are vital to them?
The target you're aiming at is simply, anyone who will benefit from the information you have. Not only are people in a specific profession hungry for news, but there are people in all sorts of related jobs and organizations seeking specialized knowledge.
Everyone is interested in making or saving money. Although you don't have to focus on investments - there are many such newsletters already - you can point out the benefits of your inside tips on how to find the easiest, or the least expensive, or direct-to-the-source methods of attaining materials for pursuits or sports.
Generally, you have a small audience target - about thirty to fifty thousand people. But even a small percentage of that target will make your newsletter profitable.
Extremely successful topics are new trends where people can't get enough information. Manufacturers, advertisers and entrepreneurs are all searching for the new to exploit. Depending on the subject you choose, tap into those potential subscribers.
WHAT TO CALL IT
The title at the top of the newsletter is the most visual aspect of the publication. It reflects the content and it reflects you.
What title is best for your newsletter? If you are well-known in your field, you can use your own name. Or, think of a few titles that indicate the topic, or use a catch-phrase that sums up the endeavor. Two-word titles work well.
You might use an action title if you're going after sports, or a title that includes the word "money" if that's a main focus of your subject.
Make up a few titles of your own. How do they compare with the titles of other newsletters? Which rings true for your enterprise?Check at the library to be sure your title is original and doesn't duplicate other publications currently on the market. The title is your trademark.
Although newsletters require very little graphic design, illustrations, or an art director on staff, you may want to consult a professional designer to help you with the prototype.
Since the title of the newsletter is so important, it would be worhwhile to have it designed. You'll only need to pay a one-time fee, and you can use it forevermore.
The logo can be very simple. If you have a title that doesn't Àse your name, you might have a company name under or above the title in small print. Although most publications don't place the address under the title, newsletters often do, so potential subscribers know where to write.
Another aspect of the title at the top of the publication is the date and the issue number. These should be considered in the original design. Since a newsletter has timely information, the date of the issue should be easy to find.
The newsletter will be typewritten and photo offset, so an elaborate logo may look out of place. Start out with one color and keep it as homespun and fresh as the news you'll publish.
Avoid fancy type styles or those that are hard to read. And don't go overboard with a clever or cute design. Something simple and clear is what you're after.
STYLE AND FORMAT
A low-budget newsletter is usually one column, typewritten copy, with ample but not wide margins. Anything with two or more columns should be typeset, which is an extra expense you don't need.
The most economical way of printing the newsletter is on one or two 11 x 17 inch pages, printed on both sides, and folded. This will give you a small booklet of four to eight pages, each the standard 8 1/2 x 11 inch size.
You might consider having it three-hole punched. It doesn't cost much to have this done at the printers, and it could be an added feature to encourage subscribers to save the valuable information.
Any graphics should be kept simple, but don't be afraid to use subheads to break up the copy. A few words capitalized or in a larger or darker print help the reader identify the information, and make it easier to read.
Keep enough white space to encourage reading, but fill the pages to make the subscriber feel the newsletter fulfills its promises.
WHAT TO INCLUDE
Consider a copy format that is divided by types of information. For example, you can have a section labeled profiles, another on upcoming events. Perhaps you have a calendar of shows, conventions, or seminars that would concern readers.
There might be sections on various industry policies or unwritten rules. Past events and history are always good fillers. And don't forget humor. Although your newsletter is serious, potent information, no field of endeavor is without its light side.
Don't lock yourself into a format you can't always fulfill. Rather, have these sections available for you to use or not as each issue is written.
And always include subscription information. Your own newsletter is the best way to sell more.
FINDING THE FACTS
Your first few issues won't lack for information, because you already have pages of information to publish. But after that, you'll need renewable sources of copy.
What's new in the industry? Your associates and colleagues are the prime source of undercurrents in the field you write about. Renew and make new contacts - they'll be invaluable for getting information.Are there any correspondents you can use in other parts of the country to give you facts? Perhaps you can work out a financial arrangement with an insider for important information you want to include.
Interviews are important ways to get vital information. If you can't contact the people in the high places, such as presidents or directors, their assistants can be just as - if not more than - valuable in acquiring information.
New trends are found by talking to the workers, or the participants. An employee might describe the wonders of a new machine; an athlete may praise some new equipment. And you don't have to travel to see these people. A good phone voice can unlock many doors.
Don't overlook the obvious - public relations people have a lot of information to disperse. Creating a good rapport with a p.r. person can get you constant timely advice and specialized information.
Talk to people who have nothing to hide. Secretaries often know more details than their bosses. And they usually aren't told to keep projects secret. What they know can fill pages of newsletters.
Follow up on the articles presented in the trade publications. You might be able to use some more in-depth aspects of the same topics they publish. Can you talk to the people they interview? Perhaps you can critique some controversial subject and get someone to present an opposite opinion.
The newsletter is a personal forum. That means that you are welcome to give your personal comments and opinions on anything. However, they can't be egotistical or narrow minded, or you'll lose subscribers.
Trade shows and conventions are your gold. Every person who displays or attends the show is interested in the subject. You could virtually interview everyone and get a complete overview of the industry.
If you are working with a sports topic, meets and events are the place you need to be. Talk to people who arrange them and the broadcasters - they have a lot of background knowledge. You might be able to feature events regularly in the newsletter.
Where are the people who subscribe to the newsletter? What events happen in their towns? If you are writing about an industry, where are the main manufacturing plants? Have their local newspapers written about public opinions about those plants, such as pollution or high employment?
If you have a topic that requires a certain environment, how do the local towns cater to the enthusiasts - especially during a main event?
WRITING COPY
In this publication, you are the authority. Use strong, direct statements with an active voice. Although you are often offering opinion, the content should be factual.
Your readers are intelligent, and experts in the same field you are writing about. You'll need to back up your statements with research. A rule of thumb is that three concurring sources make fact. Although you don't need to be a polished writer, your copy must be easy to read and understand. It should be exciting, filled with lots of bits of information.
The main thrust of the newsletter is enthusiasm. Your subscribers are into the subject you are writing about. Don't be afraid to let them know you love the topic as much as they do. Go ahead - get excited.
If you have chosen a technical subject, you'll need to be an expert in the field. If you are not, have somebody you can call at any time to confirm fact. After all, your newsletter is geared towards the experts, so you have to pull through.
You don't have to do all the writing yourself. You can employ free lancers who collect or write material for the newsletter. The financial arrangement is negotiable. But keep in mind that high quality skills and expert knowledge usually cost.
The success of the newsletter lies with the quality of information you have. Not the quality of writing - the quality of information. If a reader can review an entire copy and say, "I know that," you're not coming through with inside information or new trends.
Quality of information is the dozens of little tidbits of information, expert advice, and tips for success. That is the core of the newsletter, and should be the core of your own interests. That is why you have a unique knowledge to offer, and why your newsletter will be successful.
What interests you? You are the best judge of lively topics, and are the best critic of the newsletter. If you subscribed to this publication, would this be what you'd expect? Are you delivering the full potential of the subject matter?
Above all, is the information practical? Can a person reading the newsletter gain from having acquired that information? Although you are publishing the newsletter for a select group of people, you should direct it to each individual person.
The personal approach is the best attitude to take in both gathering information and in writing copy. Since the newsletter is an informal publication, the copy should read informally - as though you just heard the hot news and are writing it quickly for your best friend to profit by.
GETTING READY FOR PRINTING
Once you have all your copy finished, you need to have it typed. If you are an expert typist with an excellent typewriter, you're ahead of the game. But if not, spend the money necessary for the final copy to be letter perfect. Any errors will reflect on you - even typographical errors.
The first few newsletters you publish will require a lot of trial and error with copy and layout. You'll need to decide how many spaces to leave between the end of a paragraph and the beginning of a subhead, how many spaces to indent, and how big the margins will be.
Think about what is important to the format. Some newsletters use italics or underlined words to emphasize the importance. And some of these overuse these methods publication is also . Always let good taste dictate the layout and style of your publication.
When a whole line is taken up by a few words, or the last half of a hyphenated word, it is called a widow. These look sloppy in any type of publication, so you may rewrite the paragraph to extend or shorten that sentence.
Be careful about carry-overs to the next page. It's very awkward to hyphenate at the bottom of a page, or have only one line at the top of the next, then space for a subhead. As you get more adept at preparing copy, you'll be able to write to fit. And that looks good.
The basic standard for a newsletter is clarity. Can you read the type? Are the ideas well presented and easy to understand? Do the subheads interest and motivate the readers?
The final typed copy is exactly what will be printed. Since photo offset is the least expensive way to print multiple copies of typewritten material, the pages must be clean. Any second color should be indicated with an overlay. This is a sheet of tracing paper taped to the copy with printers instructions written on it and sections circled that need special attention.
For the first year of publication, you won't need to put in any photos - in fact, you may never use photos. But give yourself a long enough time to get established before you go on to more expensive elements.
PRINTING
The least expensive - and most practical - way to print your newsletter is at an instant printers, using photo offset. These small local businesses can print, collate, fold, and stuff into envelopes - all for a reasonable fee.
If you want to use two colors in the newsletter, first have your masthead and perhaps border designs printed in huge quantities. All the black type can later be printed on those two-color pre-printed sheets.
Don't go to the expense of elaborate printing until your subscription volume is high and you advance into a different format. Almost any publication you read - newspapers, books, magazines-are printed on large roll presses and require typesetting.
Typesetting is expensive, but it certainly gives a professional finish to publications. Consider, however, if you want your newsletter to be slick. It may detract from its personal approach, and subscribers may drop if it leans towards a magazine.
But, if your subscription list is large and the newsletter is successful, you can find excellent printers who will handle the whole job of typesetting, layout, printing - all the way to mailing.
HOW OFTEN TO PUBLISH
There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding upon a publication schedule. The main one is how fast can you produce a newsletter.
Work backwards. You want a subscriber to receive the newsletter on a certain date. It needs to be in the mail a few days before that. And before that, it will take the printer how many days to deliver the printed materials. How long will it take a typist to finish the copy, and for you to decide on the final layout?
How long will it take you to research and write material for your newsletter? This may be a deciding factor in the size of the publication. Perhaps you'd prefer to get a four page newsletter out every other week rather than an eight-page newsletter out every month.
If your topic is filled with today's news, then you'll want to get that out to your subscribers as fast as possible. Other subjects can be done monthly, bimonthly, or even quarterly. Be careful with infrequent mailings, however, because the subscribers may just forget about it. And what use is a small newsletter only a few times a year?
You must deliver the newsletter on a regular basis. Whatever production schedule you've decide on, keep to it. Later, when it's successful and you have more people to help you with it, you may step up the production and publish more frequently.
GETTING SUBSCRIBERS
Thin about where the people who would want your newsletter are, and go find them. Do you have access to mailing lists directly related to your subject matter? Maybe you already have a small business selling information, or have access to a customer list of people who buy similar information.
You can purchase mailing lists that have every demographic breakdown you can imagine. What is the profile of your potential subscribers? Think about those people, and write down their attributes. Write down the age group, sex, education level, income, where they live, perhaps the type of housing accommodation. A good list broker can work out the best lists to give you results.
A sure way to build up a potential subscriber mailing list is with a drawing at a trade show or convention. You can have cards printed up for people to fill in their names and addresses. All attendees would be interested in the subject matter of your newsletter.
You can take out display ads in the trade magazines that cater to the topic you are pursuing. Include the full details of your newsletter, or use a leader to get inquiries, and send the details later. Especially with the prices of newsletters, you may want to prepare and send out literature and samples rather than go for a low response.
Prepare a direct mail piece that describes the benefits and features of your newsletter and pushes for subscription. You can offer a special free booklet to new subscribers, or a discount. You may include a sample newsletter in the direct mail piece to show how worthwhile the publication is.
Selling newsletters - like any other direct mail or publishing enterprise - takes a lot of testing. You need to test the initial response to the idea of the topic; and the response to the first few newsletters produced.
Pricing is always a tricky aspect of selling information. How high can you price your newsletter and still keep the number of subscribers to make it profitable? You'll find through testing that there's a plateau, and subscriptions will fall off when the price gets too high.
Frequency of publication is also important. Although you may be able to prepare and publish a weekly newsletter, your subscribers may not be able to keep up with reading it, and prefer a monthly subscription.
Any good mailing list should be used over and over. If you know you have a list of prime targets for your newsletter, don't stop with one mailing. Follow through with subsequent offers at certain intervals to catch those who couldn't decide the first time.
MAILING
You can use computer services in your town to have labels printed up, or, if you're only dealing in a small quantity, you can have mailing lists photocopied onto address labels.
After your first success, and after you've paid your initial investment and you've got enough money to expand, make things easy on yourself. The most sophisticated, and the easiest method of mailing to subscribers is by computer.
Nowadays, computers are so commercially popular that they are within almost anybody's budget. And a computer that would store and print out names and addresses need not be expensive.
If the mail is pre-sorted by zip code, you can use a bulk rate for mailing and save money. If your newsletter can meet the specifications, you might even be able to get a special second class rate permit for educational material. Talk with the postal workers to find out what you need to do to comply with these special rates.
BOOKKEEPING
You can keep complete and accurate accounts of your newsletter business by yourself. It's basically broken down into two areas: how much you spend, and how much you make. If you keep track of all your expenses, you'll have an easy time of it at tax time.
Open up a business checking account at your bank. Get to know the bank manager - you may already. Although you can start and maintain a newsletter within a low budget, be sure to figure your costs and risks before you invest too much money, and be sure of a back up to be able to fulfill all the subscriptions.
Maintaining your subscription lists is a task that needs diligence and a head for details. Since each subscriber starts at a different issue, you need to create and continue a method of keeping track of expiring subscriptions.
You'll want to write a standard appeal for renewal to be sent out in plenty of time for subscribers to renew. And you'll have to follow up for those who choose not to renew at the end of their present subscriptions.
The best advice is to get the best advice. Who can help you set up a subscription system? Maybe somebody local is expert at that. Find out who handles subscriptions at a nearby publications, and talk to that person.
WHAT'S LEGAL
Although any business in the United States is subject to the Federal Trade Commission's regulations, a newsletter business is simple.
You don't need a license for this business. However, you should consult with your local Sales Tax office for acquiring a resale tax permit.
The content of the newsletter must be documented by facts if you get into any dispute. If you don't border on libel, you should have no problem with any law suits for the content of your publication. However, consult your attorney if there are any problems with copyright, confidentiality, or access to news.
If you write with integrity, independent of any payoffs by companies or individuals, you'll have no trouble with being on the wrong side of the law.
SUCCESS IS YOURS
Writing and publishing a newsletter is a challenging and exciting way to express yourself. And it will give you prestige and acknowledgment in the community.
You can start the business with virtually no overhead and a small amount of capital, and you can build up to making profits in the six-figure bracket.
A newsletter has a market, and the people who subscribe to it will pay high prices for the information you have. Tap into the market and reap those profits.
There's no news you can't find out about, and there's no industry or type of endeavor in this country today that doesn't have a large group of enthusiasts. How can you find out what they want to know? This is a place to use your resources and use your background.
The actual task of researching, writing, and having a newsletter published is easy. There are no secrets or special tricks or skills you need besides a good nose for the best prices. What is important is coming up with an idea for a newsletter that will sell to a select group who has no specialized information presently available in that or in a similar form.
You've probably got your ideas already. Well, go ahead. Make up a sample newsletter and pass it around. Get a good response? A small sampling is only a good indication that the rest will like it too. Success is around the corner.
If you need specialized LEGAL advice or assistance on this subject, the services of a professional person is recommended.
By
Tycoon2k Webmaster
by tycoon2k Webmaster
With the expansion and diversion of businesses, manufacturers, and even hobbyists into more and more specialized areas of endeavor, there is an increasing need for more information. And newsletters are the high profit way to cash in on that market for specialized information.
You can write and produce your own newsletter from home with a low overhead and potential for high returns. Many newsletter subscriptions range from $25 to $100 per year, some much higher. Even a thousand subscribers will bring in huge earnings.
There are no tried and true methods of making a newsletter successful, but if you investigate the market thoroughly, and are cautious in your moves, you can make a break-even profit turn into a sound income year after year.
You don't have to be a famous business consultant or an insider on the stock market to produce a newsletter. There are many that cater to all types of sports, crafts, health, housing or money making.
The most important aspect of creating a successful newsletter is the market. You need to research who will buy the subscription and how much they are willing to pay. But there are sound methods of testing the market so you can be sure to come out ahead and establish yourself in the field.
If you have a special interest that has a broad following, you might find that a newsletter will be readily accepted and flourish.
What interests or hobbies have you been involved with that can make a lively income for you? If you follow the steps and carefully consider your market, there is no reason why you can't get into the newsletter business too. And you can MAKE IT WORK.
WHAT IS A NEWSLETTER?
A newsletter is a special timely report on a single subject. It is a personalized, concise statement from an expert or person thoroughly familiar with a specialized field. Newsletters are maintained solely by subscriptions; there is no advertising. Most are printed within low budget means, typewritten, from two to eight pages.
The specialized information in newsletters is current, and usually cannot be found elsewhere. They are a logical extension to trade journals and magazines.
Aimed at a select group, they often contain the inside information in the field, hot tips or news scoops that become old news in publications of the trade.
Newsletters are not distributed by newsstands, nor are they meant for the mass market. In fact, the average number of potential readers of newsletters in any one field is relatively small.
Because of their specific information, newsletters can command a high subscription fee. Businesses can afford to spend the money to offer executives top-rate inside information.
There are hundreds of newsletters now being published and distributed in the United States. But there is room for hundreds more. Because of the specialized market, there is often little competition among newsletters, and THERE IS A RISING TREND TOWARDS SUBSCRIBING.
WHY ARE NEWSLETTERS POPULAR?
With all the print media and visual communications in this country, you might think there is a saturated market. And that is true when it comes to general interest mass market publications.
However, the need for specific information in specialized fields is constantly increasing. How can I beat the competition? How does the world news affect my industry? Will a union strike on the other side of the world raise our prices?
The focus of the newsletter is success. Success in business, success in hobbies, success in health and happiness. The information contained in the newsletters motivates readers to follow the advice. What are the best investments? Where are the trade shows? How can I get an edge on winning contests?
There is an endless need for specific knowledge in every field of endeavor. Since there is a high standard of competition within every aspect of our modern life, people search for ways to be in the know, and use that information effectively.
One of the reasons subscription prices can stay high is because people are paying for the knowledge and what might be gained by it. If a two hundred dollar newsletter saves a company thousands of dollars in excellent advice, then it is well worth the price.
WHAT IT TAKES
You can start a newsletter by yourself; you don't need a large staff. A desk at home, a typewriter and a telephone are all the basic tools you need to creat a newsletter. Even when you get into comupterized labels and mass mailings, you still will not need a large space.
You don't need to invest a lot of money to begin a simple newsletter. You may need to put a little out for advertising for subscribers or mailings to introduce your product. And you may need to spend some money on getting the first newsletter printed.
But, if your subscription list builds properly, you'll be able to earn back your initial investments quickly - with some left over.
WHAT TO WRITE ABOUT
The topic you choose has got to be your major interest. You'll be living with it day in and day out for years, so you need to be devoted to the subject. Usually, it's not hard. You probably already have a chosen field of endeavor, or have developed a keen interest in a special hobby or sport. Writing a newsletter is only one more way to demonstrate your interest.
Read any newsletters you can find. What do they talk about? How much do they cost? How long have they been in business? You might want to talk to the publishers of a few to find out how they started and what troubles they encountered. Consider paying them a consulting fee to help you get on your way.
Take a look at all the trade magazines of the topic you'd like to work with. Find out if there are any newsletters already existing in that field. But don't worry - there is usually room for more if you keep to another aspect of the business or endeavor.
Keep up with the current trends in health, money, sports, or social events and styles. What's new with the young people? Or the elderly? There are many retired people actively pursuing hundreds of various interests. How can you tap into that market?
WHO WILL BUY?
The first place to test your newsletter is with associates and colleagues. And, you don't need their sub-scription - just their input. What do they think about your ideas? How much would they pay for a newsletter delivered to their office or home on the subjects that are vital to them?
The target you're aiming at is simply, anyone who will benefit from the information you have. Not only are people in a specific profession hungry for news, but there are people in all sorts of related jobs and organizations seeking specialized knowledge.
Everyone is interested in making or saving money. Although you don't have to focus on investments - there are many such newsletters already - you can point out the benefits of your inside tips on how to find the easiest, or the least expensive, or direct-to-the-source methods of attaining materials for pursuits or sports.
Generally, you have a small audience target - about thirty to fifty thousand people. But even a small percentage of that target will make your newsletter profitable.
Extremely successful topics are new trends where people can't get enough information. Manufacturers, advertisers and entrepreneurs are all searching for the new to exploit. Depending on the subject you choose, tap into those potential subscribers.
WHAT TO CALL IT
The title at the top of the newsletter is the most visual aspect of the publication. It reflects the content and it reflects you.
What title is best for your newsletter? If you are well-known in your field, you can use your own name. Or, think of a few titles that indicate the topic, or use a catch-phrase that sums up the endeavor. Two-word titles work well.
You might use an action title if you're going after sports, or a title that includes the word "money" if that's a main focus of your subject.
Make up a few titles of your own. How do they compare with the titles of other newsletters? Which rings true for your enterprise?Check at the library to be sure your title is original and doesn't duplicate other publications currently on the market. The title is your trademark.
Although newsletters require very little graphic design, illustrations, or an art director on staff, you may want to consult a professional designer to help you with the prototype.
Since the title of the newsletter is so important, it would be worhwhile to have it designed. You'll only need to pay a one-time fee, and you can use it forevermore.
The logo can be very simple. If you have a title that doesn't Àse your name, you might have a company name under or above the title in small print. Although most publications don't place the address under the title, newsletters often do, so potential subscribers know where to write.
Another aspect of the title at the top of the publication is the date and the issue number. These should be considered in the original design. Since a newsletter has timely information, the date of the issue should be easy to find.
The newsletter will be typewritten and photo offset, so an elaborate logo may look out of place. Start out with one color and keep it as homespun and fresh as the news you'll publish.
Avoid fancy type styles or those that are hard to read. And don't go overboard with a clever or cute design. Something simple and clear is what you're after.
STYLE AND FORMAT
A low-budget newsletter is usually one column, typewritten copy, with ample but not wide margins. Anything with two or more columns should be typeset, which is an extra expense you don't need.
The most economical way of printing the newsletter is on one or two 11 x 17 inch pages, printed on both sides, and folded. This will give you a small booklet of four to eight pages, each the standard 8 1/2 x 11 inch size.
You might consider having it three-hole punched. It doesn't cost much to have this done at the printers, and it could be an added feature to encourage subscribers to save the valuable information.
Any graphics should be kept simple, but don't be afraid to use subheads to break up the copy. A few words capitalized or in a larger or darker print help the reader identify the information, and make it easier to read.
Keep enough white space to encourage reading, but fill the pages to make the subscriber feel the newsletter fulfills its promises.
WHAT TO INCLUDE
Consider a copy format that is divided by types of information. For example, you can have a section labeled profiles, another on upcoming events. Perhaps you have a calendar of shows, conventions, or seminars that would concern readers.
There might be sections on various industry policies or unwritten rules. Past events and history are always good fillers. And don't forget humor. Although your newsletter is serious, potent information, no field of endeavor is without its light side.
Don't lock yourself into a format you can't always fulfill. Rather, have these sections available for you to use or not as each issue is written.
And always include subscription information. Your own newsletter is the best way to sell more.
FINDING THE FACTS
Your first few issues won't lack for information, because you already have pages of information to publish. But after that, you'll need renewable sources of copy.
What's new in the industry? Your associates and colleagues are the prime source of undercurrents in the field you write about. Renew and make new contacts - they'll be invaluable for getting information.Are there any correspondents you can use in other parts of the country to give you facts? Perhaps you can work out a financial arrangement with an insider for important information you want to include.
Interviews are important ways to get vital information. If you can't contact the people in the high places, such as presidents or directors, their assistants can be just as - if not more than - valuable in acquiring information.
New trends are found by talking to the workers, or the participants. An employee might describe the wonders of a new machine; an athlete may praise some new equipment. And you don't have to travel to see these people. A good phone voice can unlock many doors.
Don't overlook the obvious - public relations people have a lot of information to disperse. Creating a good rapport with a p.r. person can get you constant timely advice and specialized information.
Talk to people who have nothing to hide. Secretaries often know more details than their bosses. And they usually aren't told to keep projects secret. What they know can fill pages of newsletters.
Follow up on the articles presented in the trade publications. You might be able to use some more in-depth aspects of the same topics they publish. Can you talk to the people they interview? Perhaps you can critique some controversial subject and get someone to present an opposite opinion.
The newsletter is a personal forum. That means that you are welcome to give your personal comments and opinions on anything. However, they can't be egotistical or narrow minded, or you'll lose subscribers.
Trade shows and conventions are your gold. Every person who displays or attends the show is interested in the subject. You could virtually interview everyone and get a complete overview of the industry.
If you are working with a sports topic, meets and events are the place you need to be. Talk to people who arrange them and the broadcasters - they have a lot of background knowledge. You might be able to feature events regularly in the newsletter.
Where are the people who subscribe to the newsletter? What events happen in their towns? If you are writing about an industry, where are the main manufacturing plants? Have their local newspapers written about public opinions about those plants, such as pollution or high employment?
If you have a topic that requires a certain environment, how do the local towns cater to the enthusiasts - especially during a main event?
WRITING COPY
In this publication, you are the authority. Use strong, direct statements with an active voice. Although you are often offering opinion, the content should be factual.
Your readers are intelligent, and experts in the same field you are writing about. You'll need to back up your statements with research. A rule of thumb is that three concurring sources make fact. Although you don't need to be a polished writer, your copy must be easy to read and understand. It should be exciting, filled with lots of bits of information.
The main thrust of the newsletter is enthusiasm. Your subscribers are into the subject you are writing about. Don't be afraid to let them know you love the topic as much as they do. Go ahead - get excited.
If you have chosen a technical subject, you'll need to be an expert in the field. If you are not, have somebody you can call at any time to confirm fact. After all, your newsletter is geared towards the experts, so you have to pull through.
You don't have to do all the writing yourself. You can employ free lancers who collect or write material for the newsletter. The financial arrangement is negotiable. But keep in mind that high quality skills and expert knowledge usually cost.
The success of the newsletter lies with the quality of information you have. Not the quality of writing - the quality of information. If a reader can review an entire copy and say, "I know that," you're not coming through with inside information or new trends.
Quality of information is the dozens of little tidbits of information, expert advice, and tips for success. That is the core of the newsletter, and should be the core of your own interests. That is why you have a unique knowledge to offer, and why your newsletter will be successful.
What interests you? You are the best judge of lively topics, and are the best critic of the newsletter. If you subscribed to this publication, would this be what you'd expect? Are you delivering the full potential of the subject matter?
Above all, is the information practical? Can a person reading the newsletter gain from having acquired that information? Although you are publishing the newsletter for a select group of people, you should direct it to each individual person.
The personal approach is the best attitude to take in both gathering information and in writing copy. Since the newsletter is an informal publication, the copy should read informally - as though you just heard the hot news and are writing it quickly for your best friend to profit by.
GETTING READY FOR PRINTING
Once you have all your copy finished, you need to have it typed. If you are an expert typist with an excellent typewriter, you're ahead of the game. But if not, spend the money necessary for the final copy to be letter perfect. Any errors will reflect on you - even typographical errors.
The first few newsletters you publish will require a lot of trial and error with copy and layout. You'll need to decide how many spaces to leave between the end of a paragraph and the beginning of a subhead, how many spaces to indent, and how big the margins will be.
Think about what is important to the format. Some newsletters use italics or underlined words to emphasize the importance. And some of these overuse these methods publication is also . Always let good taste dictate the layout and style of your publication.
When a whole line is taken up by a few words, or the last half of a hyphenated word, it is called a widow. These look sloppy in any type of publication, so you may rewrite the paragraph to extend or shorten that sentence.
Be careful about carry-overs to the next page. It's very awkward to hyphenate at the bottom of a page, or have only one line at the top of the next, then space for a subhead. As you get more adept at preparing copy, you'll be able to write to fit. And that looks good.
The basic standard for a newsletter is clarity. Can you read the type? Are the ideas well presented and easy to understand? Do the subheads interest and motivate the readers?
The final typed copy is exactly what will be printed. Since photo offset is the least expensive way to print multiple copies of typewritten material, the pages must be clean. Any second color should be indicated with an overlay. This is a sheet of tracing paper taped to the copy with printers instructions written on it and sections circled that need special attention.
For the first year of publication, you won't need to put in any photos - in fact, you may never use photos. But give yourself a long enough time to get established before you go on to more expensive elements.
PRINTING
The least expensive - and most practical - way to print your newsletter is at an instant printers, using photo offset. These small local businesses can print, collate, fold, and stuff into envelopes - all for a reasonable fee.
If you want to use two colors in the newsletter, first have your masthead and perhaps border designs printed in huge quantities. All the black type can later be printed on those two-color pre-printed sheets.
Don't go to the expense of elaborate printing until your subscription volume is high and you advance into a different format. Almost any publication you read - newspapers, books, magazines-are printed on large roll presses and require typesetting.
Typesetting is expensive, but it certainly gives a professional finish to publications. Consider, however, if you want your newsletter to be slick. It may detract from its personal approach, and subscribers may drop if it leans towards a magazine.
But, if your subscription list is large and the newsletter is successful, you can find excellent printers who will handle the whole job of typesetting, layout, printing - all the way to mailing.
HOW OFTEN TO PUBLISH
There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding upon a publication schedule. The main one is how fast can you produce a newsletter.
Work backwards. You want a subscriber to receive the newsletter on a certain date. It needs to be in the mail a few days before that. And before that, it will take the printer how many days to deliver the printed materials. How long will it take a typist to finish the copy, and for you to decide on the final layout?
How long will it take you to research and write material for your newsletter? This may be a deciding factor in the size of the publication. Perhaps you'd prefer to get a four page newsletter out every other week rather than an eight-page newsletter out every month.
If your topic is filled with today's news, then you'll want to get that out to your subscribers as fast as possible. Other subjects can be done monthly, bimonthly, or even quarterly. Be careful with infrequent mailings, however, because the subscribers may just forget about it. And what use is a small newsletter only a few times a year?
You must deliver the newsletter on a regular basis. Whatever production schedule you've decide on, keep to it. Later, when it's successful and you have more people to help you with it, you may step up the production and publish more frequently.
GETTING SUBSCRIBERS
Thin about where the people who would want your newsletter are, and go find them. Do you have access to mailing lists directly related to your subject matter? Maybe you already have a small business selling information, or have access to a customer list of people who buy similar information.
You can purchase mailing lists that have every demographic breakdown you can imagine. What is the profile of your potential subscribers? Think about those people, and write down their attributes. Write down the age group, sex, education level, income, where they live, perhaps the type of housing accommodation. A good list broker can work out the best lists to give you results.
A sure way to build up a potential subscriber mailing list is with a drawing at a trade show or convention. You can have cards printed up for people to fill in their names and addresses. All attendees would be interested in the subject matter of your newsletter.
You can take out display ads in the trade magazines that cater to the topic you are pursuing. Include the full details of your newsletter, or use a leader to get inquiries, and send the details later. Especially with the prices of newsletters, you may want to prepare and send out literature and samples rather than go for a low response.
Prepare a direct mail piece that describes the benefits and features of your newsletter and pushes for subscription. You can offer a special free booklet to new subscribers, or a discount. You may include a sample newsletter in the direct mail piece to show how worthwhile the publication is.
Selling newsletters - like any other direct mail or publishing enterprise - takes a lot of testing. You need to test the initial response to the idea of the topic; and the response to the first few newsletters produced.
Pricing is always a tricky aspect of selling information. How high can you price your newsletter and still keep the number of subscribers to make it profitable? You'll find through testing that there's a plateau, and subscriptions will fall off when the price gets too high.
Frequency of publication is also important. Although you may be able to prepare and publish a weekly newsletter, your subscribers may not be able to keep up with reading it, and prefer a monthly subscription.
Any good mailing list should be used over and over. If you know you have a list of prime targets for your newsletter, don't stop with one mailing. Follow through with subsequent offers at certain intervals to catch those who couldn't decide the first time.
MAILING
You can use computer services in your town to have labels printed up, or, if you're only dealing in a small quantity, you can have mailing lists photocopied onto address labels.
After your first success, and after you've paid your initial investment and you've got enough money to expand, make things easy on yourself. The most sophisticated, and the easiest method of mailing to subscribers is by computer.
Nowadays, computers are so commercially popular that they are within almost anybody's budget. And a computer that would store and print out names and addresses need not be expensive.
If the mail is pre-sorted by zip code, you can use a bulk rate for mailing and save money. If your newsletter can meet the specifications, you might even be able to get a special second class rate permit for educational material. Talk with the postal workers to find out what you need to do to comply with these special rates.
BOOKKEEPING
You can keep complete and accurate accounts of your newsletter business by yourself. It's basically broken down into two areas: how much you spend, and how much you make. If you keep track of all your expenses, you'll have an easy time of it at tax time.
Open up a business checking account at your bank. Get to know the bank manager - you may already. Although you can start and maintain a newsletter within a low budget, be sure to figure your costs and risks before you invest too much money, and be sure of a back up to be able to fulfill all the subscriptions.
Maintaining your subscription lists is a task that needs diligence and a head for details. Since each subscriber starts at a different issue, you need to create and continue a method of keeping track of expiring subscriptions.
You'll want to write a standard appeal for renewal to be sent out in plenty of time for subscribers to renew. And you'll have to follow up for those who choose not to renew at the end of their present subscriptions.
The best advice is to get the best advice. Who can help you set up a subscription system? Maybe somebody local is expert at that. Find out who handles subscriptions at a nearby publications, and talk to that person.
WHAT'S LEGAL
Although any business in the United States is subject to the Federal Trade Commission's regulations, a newsletter business is simple.
You don't need a license for this business. However, you should consult with your local Sales Tax office for acquiring a resale tax permit.
The content of the newsletter must be documented by facts if you get into any dispute. If you don't border on libel, you should have no problem with any law suits for the content of your publication. However, consult your attorney if there are any problems with copyright, confidentiality, or access to news.
If you write with integrity, independent of any payoffs by companies or individuals, you'll have no trouble with being on the wrong side of the law.
SUCCESS IS YOURS
Writing and publishing a newsletter is a challenging and exciting way to express yourself. And it will give you prestige and acknowledgment in the community.
You can start the business with virtually no overhead and a small amount of capital, and you can build up to making profits in the six-figure bracket.
A newsletter has a market, and the people who subscribe to it will pay high prices for the information you have. Tap into the market and reap those profits.
There's no news you can't find out about, and there's no industry or type of endeavor in this country today that doesn't have a large group of enthusiasts. How can you find out what they want to know? This is a place to use your resources and use your background.
The actual task of researching, writing, and having a newsletter published is easy. There are no secrets or special tricks or skills you need besides a good nose for the best prices. What is important is coming up with an idea for a newsletter that will sell to a select group who has no specialized information presently available in that or in a similar form.
You've probably got your ideas already. Well, go ahead. Make up a sample newsletter and pass it around. Get a good response? A small sampling is only a good indication that the rest will like it too. Success is around the corner.
If you need specialized LEGAL advice or assistance on this subject, the services of a professional person is recommended.
By
Tycoon2k Webmaster
HOW TO EARN $1,000 TO $100,000 READING NEWSPAPERS
HOW TO EARN $1,000 TO $100,000 READING NEWSPAPERS
by Tycoon2k
HOW TO EARN $1,000 TO $100,000 READING NEWSPAPERS
Act as a "Finder" - a person who gets a cash fee from the seller and buyer. Example: Suppose you read in the newspapers, or hear about a person who has a million dollar building to sell and you just happen to know of another person who might be interested in this kind of real estate. You then merely contact the seller, tell him you have a potential buyer whom you will introduce to him if the seller will pay you a 2% commission fee.
If he agrees, you introduce the prospective buyer to him - then, if the buyer and seller get together on a deal, you will neatly EARN a $20,000 commission (2% of the selling price). The introduction can be made in person or by mail. And it is possible for you to find hundreds of these opportunities by checking the classified section of the major business papers and local papers.
ESTABLISH AAA CREDIT IN 30 DAYS
To work this plan you need at least $400 to begin. You should borrow this from your friends if necessary. Then go to a bank of your choice and deposit the $400 into a regular passbook savings account.
Wait a few days for the account to be posted and return to the bank to ask for a $400 loan - you offer the passbook as collateral. Since the bank is already holding your $400, you go to another bank open a savings account lending you another $400 and they won't even make a credit check. Then, with your borrowed $400, you go to another bank, open a savings account, return a few days later, borrow $400 from that bank using your passbook as collateral.
Then repeat the process at a third bank with your borrowed $400. Wait a few days to go to a fourth bank where you open this time a CHECKING account. Wait a few days and make a payment on each of the other three loans. A week later, make payments again on the three loans, and continue paying each week until you have almost paid off the balance.
A credit investigation at this point will show you with three active bank loans (which are considered hard to get), a checking account, and a paying history for the three bank loans - with you having paid up in advance. Thus, you have AAA credit in as little as 30 days. From here you go on to apply for loans, credit cards, and other items on credit.
HOW TO RAISE UP TO $50,000 WITH YOUR CREDIT CARDS
Millions of people have an assortment of credit cards in today's almost "cashless" society. With many bank credit cards, and even department store cards, it is possible to apply under the "same name" and obtain TWO OR MORE identical cards bearing only different account numbers. Given the high limits on cards such as American Express ($20,000) and others, it is a simple procedure to raise up to $50,000 by utilizing 30 to 40 credit cards, or less if you use American Express. With the bank cards, you simply obtain a "cash advance" up to your credit limit. With the American Express and Carte Blanche cards, you can charge some merchandise such as gold coins and turn around and sell them at a discount to your friends, neighbors, etc. With enough cards, you can quickly turn any amount of discounted "merchandise" into cash.
Author
Tycoon2k Webmaster
by Tycoon2k
HOW TO EARN $1,000 TO $100,000 READING NEWSPAPERS
Act as a "Finder" - a person who gets a cash fee from the seller and buyer. Example: Suppose you read in the newspapers, or hear about a person who has a million dollar building to sell and you just happen to know of another person who might be interested in this kind of real estate. You then merely contact the seller, tell him you have a potential buyer whom you will introduce to him if the seller will pay you a 2% commission fee.
If he agrees, you introduce the prospective buyer to him - then, if the buyer and seller get together on a deal, you will neatly EARN a $20,000 commission (2% of the selling price). The introduction can be made in person or by mail. And it is possible for you to find hundreds of these opportunities by checking the classified section of the major business papers and local papers.
ESTABLISH AAA CREDIT IN 30 DAYS
To work this plan you need at least $400 to begin. You should borrow this from your friends if necessary. Then go to a bank of your choice and deposit the $400 into a regular passbook savings account.
Wait a few days for the account to be posted and return to the bank to ask for a $400 loan - you offer the passbook as collateral. Since the bank is already holding your $400, you go to another bank open a savings account lending you another $400 and they won't even make a credit check. Then, with your borrowed $400, you go to another bank, open a savings account, return a few days later, borrow $400 from that bank using your passbook as collateral.
Then repeat the process at a third bank with your borrowed $400. Wait a few days to go to a fourth bank where you open this time a CHECKING account. Wait a few days and make a payment on each of the other three loans. A week later, make payments again on the three loans, and continue paying each week until you have almost paid off the balance.
A credit investigation at this point will show you with three active bank loans (which are considered hard to get), a checking account, and a paying history for the three bank loans - with you having paid up in advance. Thus, you have AAA credit in as little as 30 days. From here you go on to apply for loans, credit cards, and other items on credit.
HOW TO RAISE UP TO $50,000 WITH YOUR CREDIT CARDS
Millions of people have an assortment of credit cards in today's almost "cashless" society. With many bank credit cards, and even department store cards, it is possible to apply under the "same name" and obtain TWO OR MORE identical cards bearing only different account numbers. Given the high limits on cards such as American Express ($20,000) and others, it is a simple procedure to raise up to $50,000 by utilizing 30 to 40 credit cards, or less if you use American Express. With the bank cards, you simply obtain a "cash advance" up to your credit limit. With the American Express and Carte Blanche cards, you can charge some merchandise such as gold coins and turn around and sell them at a discount to your friends, neighbors, etc. With enough cards, you can quickly turn any amount of discounted "merchandise" into cash.
Author
Tycoon2k Webmaster
Sunday, January 14, 2007
HOW TO MAKE $5,OOO A MONTH OR MORE WITH GARAGE SALES
HOW TO MAKE $5,OOO A MONTH OR MORE WITH GARAGE SALES
by tycoon2k
In this day and age, everyone seemingly knows how to put together and hold a garage sale. Yet if this is so, why is it that some people are lucky to gross $150 while others consistently make $1,500 or more from their garage sales.
Pick almost any city or town in the country; drive through any middle class neighborhood or residential area on any weekend. You're sure to spot at least a half dozen garage sales. And what's being sold at these garage sales? The accumulated "junk"
that a lot of people no longer use or want taking up space in or around their homes.
Is it hard to hold a profitable garage sale? Not in the least! All it really takes is some of your time, and an awareness of a few merchandising tactics. But to be really prof it able, you must know how, and exercise careful planning.
First, let's look at some of the background. Everyone accumulates items that other people are searching for, and are willing to buy. These items range from discarded or outgrown items of clothing to furniture, tools, knick-knacks, books, pictures and toys.
Start by taking an inventory of all the things you have "just taking up space" around your home. Decide which items you'd be better off getting rid of, and make a list of these things. These are the things you are going to put up for sale. And if you are
honest about what you really want and need, the pile will grow if you look over your house hold a second and third time! Remember that many garage sale offerings are items of merchandise purchased on impulse, and later found to be no t what the buyer wanted. It is the human condition: We discover too late that we don't like or have use for things purchased; we "outgrow" in size or taste articles that once fit, or pleased us. You'll find that many items offered at garage sales are gifts that have been given to the seller, but not really suited to the recipient. In other words, it will be to your benefit, before you stage your first garage sale, to take a week or so to browse through all the garage sales you can find.
The problem is, most people just don't have the time or energy to gather up all the items taking up space around their homes and staging a garage sale to get rid of them. Believe it or not, many people really don't know how to stage a garage sale; and a lot of
people feel that putting on a garage sale is just too much bother and work.
This is where you enter the picture. Your enterprise will be an ongoing garage sale of items donated and collected from those people who lack the initiative to put on garage sales of their own. In other words, you can become a "liquidator of people's junk," via super garage sales that you promote.
We've already suggested that you spend a few weeks visiting the garage sales, swap meets and flea markets in your area. Your purpose will be to see what is being offered for sale; what the people in your area are buying, and how the merchandise is being sold. One of the things to notice is how the merchandise is displayed. You'll also want to notice how the sellers handle customer browsing, and the prices they charge for the merchandise offered. You'll find most items tagged with a price sticker, but generally the seller is open to either price negotiation or a reasonable offer made by the customer.
Begin your enterprise by cleaning out your own attic, closets and basement or garage. Talk with your relatives and friends; tell them what you're doing, and ask for donations (or at least consignments) of unwanted items. It's here that you'll get your first experience in negotiating, and you'll usually get enthusiastic cooperation. You'll find people explaining that they really don't have a use for a specific item, don't want to keep on storing it, but for sentimental or other reasons, they have just hung on to it.
Once you have a little bit of experience, you'll be able to advertise in the newspaper that you purchase garage sale items, or take them on consignment for a percentage of the final sale price.
It's best that the wife or woman of the house handle the garage sale itself - that is, let a woman be the one who greets the potential customers, shows them around, and generally engages them in conversation. If it's a woman staging the garage sale, then arrangements should be made for a second one to "mind the store" while she's out digging up more items for display and sale. And if you are running a really big sale, a second or third per son can be very useful in selling, and just generally keeping an eye on things.
The advertising angle is really quite simple, and shouldn't cost you very much, either. Check area newspapers, and select the one that carries the most ads for garage sales. You shouldn't concern yourself too much with competition from other ads. People
who go to garage sales either go to all of them they can locate, or else only to those within a 3-to-5 mile radius of their homes.
You should run a small classified ad in the newspaper of your choice for about three days in advance, and up through the day of your sale. Once you're operating on a full-time, every-day-of-the-week schedule, you'll want to change your ad schedule and the
style of your advertising. But in getting started, stay with small classified ads simply announcing the fact that you're holding a garage sale, emphasizing that you've got everything from A to Z - something of interest to everyone. Such an ad might read:
BIG GARAGE SALE! Hundreds of interesting items.
Through Saturday, July 16th. (address)
To get ideas on how to write your ad, check your newspapers for a week or two. Cut out all the garage sale ads you can find. Paste them up onto a piece of paper - then with a bit of critical analysis, you will be able to determine how to write a good ad of your own from identifying the good and bad features of the ads you've collected. Keep in mind that the bigger and better your sale, the bigger and better your "getting started" ads should be. Always remember that in order to increase your profits in any business, you must increase rather than decrease your advertising. At the bottom line, you'll find that the greatest single reason for a garage sale failing to turn a profit is the lack of promotion and advertising used to publicize it.
You should also have an old-fashioned "sandwich board" type sign to display in front of your house when your garage sale is open for business. The purpose of course, is to call attention to the fact that you're holding a garage sale and are open for business. This will pull in your neighbors, if you haven't already informed them, and attract people driving by. Sandwich boards are also sometimes set out at key traffic intersections not
far from the site of the garage sale. These will attract attention, and point the way. However, check your local ordinances to be sure that this sort of advertising is permitted.
Another "sign idea" practiced by a few really sharp operators is the old "Burma Shave" type roadside pointers. Here, you simply make up a few cute sayings (verse or one-liners), write them on pieces of cardboard, tack them onto the power poles at about 200 yard intervals on the thoroughfare leading to your garage sale, and you're sure to create a lot of traffic for yourself. People are amused by, and drawn to people who do something a little different, unusual and creative in promoting a sale of any kind.
To come up with some cute verses, simply visit your public library and check out a book on limericks. Adapt the ones that you feel are most humorous, and start making signs. Again, a word of caution before you get too deeply involved: Be sure to check
your local ordinance before you start nailing signs to power poles.
By all means, search out and use all the free bulletin boards in your area. It's better, and usually much more profitable to take the time to make up an attention grabbing circular you can post on these bulletin boards, than just to use a scribbled 3 by 5 card announcement.
Pick up some -transfer lettering;" go through your newspapers and old magazines for interesting illustrations, graphics and pictures; then with a little bit of imagination and flamboyancy, make up an 8 1/2 by 11 poster announcement of your sale. When you
have it pasted up take it to any quick print shop and have them print up 50 or 100 for you. Your cost for this small print order should be well under ten dollars.
If you make this circular/poster up with versatility and long-time usage in mind, you can use it over and over again simply by pasting on a new date. In case you feel "left-out" when we talk of "pasting-up" things, this simply means pasting a piece of paper onto the overall page you're putting together.
Say you have made up your circular with a date of Wednesday, May 1st, and want to change it to read Thursday, July 16th. Rather than do the entire thing over, simply write out a new date with your transfer letters on a separate sheet of paper, cut this out to fit in the space occupied by the old date, and paste the new date over the old date. The artwork master is now up to date; the printer does the rest. Incidentally, this is precisely what is meant in mail order and other dealership offers where they furnish you with the basic advertising/promotional material and advise you to "paste over" their name/address with your own.
For paste or glue, drop by just about any stationery store and pick up a tube of "glue stick." This is a small tube of paste, about the size of a tube of lipstick, generally sold for less than one dollar per tube. The tube glue stick works much better than regular glue or paste, and is not as messy as rubber cement.
Your signs have to be effective, but you have to remember to keep them simple. Don't try to cut corners on your signs. Signs announcing and pointing the way to your garage sale should be placed at each intersection within a one mile radius of your sale
location. If it takes 50 signs, then make 50 signs. The important thing is to let people know that you're holding a garage sale.
Signs can be made simply by cutting and using the sides of cardboard boxes, and writing on them with a heavy felt tip marking pen. Make it easy for your signs to be seen, and for people to read what's on them. About all you really need is great big block letters reading "GARAGE SALE," with the street address, and an arrow pointing in that direction. Don't think for a minute that people are going to stop and read a lot of "stuff" you've written on your sign when they are driving by; you just want them to see your sign and proceed in the direction necessary to reach the location of the sale. They'll be moving by your sign too fast to see or read anything else you may have written.
The ads you place, the bulletin board announcements you post, and the signs you put up will bring many people to your garage sale location. A lot of people will drive by slowly and just look, but most will stop to browse around.
But you still have to contend with the huge number of people who just drive by without stopping. So, let's talk about the "inside secrets" of drawing people into your sale, and the merchandising gimmicks that will result in the maximum number of sales for you.
You must call attention to your sale. Don't be shy, bashful or self-conscious about let ting everybody for miles around know that you're having a garage sale. If you could afford to get the Goodyear Blimp to "hover" over your garage sale, then by all means, you should do it!
Some sharp operators do the next best thing. They rent miniature blimps, send them up above the housetops, and tether them there on their sale days. Of course, this giant balloon or miniature blimp has some sort of sign on the side of it, inviting people to your garage sale.
This is one of the strongest available advertising ideas for pulling traffic to a sale of any kind. For more details, write Pie-In-The-Sky Company, PO Box 5267, San Mateo, CA 94402, or explore to see if there is a local outlet for this kind of advertising merchandise for rent.
You have to give your sale some flair. Put some posts up across the front of your property and run some twisted crepe paper between them - or better than crepe paper, run brightly colored ribbons. Invest in some colorful pennants and fly them from temporary flag poles. And don't forget the balloons!
Make your garage sale a fun kind of event, with clusters of balloons anchored to your display tables and racks. Be sure to "float" them well above the heads of your customers as they're browsing through your merchandise displays.
Cover your display tables with colorful cloths. Don't hesitate to use bright colors and busy patterns. Regardless of what you sell, effective display (packaging the event) is still absolutely essential to your success.
The secret to outstanding garage sale profits is in having the widest or largest selection of merchandise. And part of the process is taking great care in displaying and labeling your merchandise.
You cannot simply dump items haphazardly on a table, sit down, and expect to realize great profits. The people doing the most business and holding the most sales are the ones with interesting displays, action and color.
Have as wide a selection of colors as possible in your clothing racks, and mix them for "rainbow" effect. Make sure that your jewelry items shine and sparkle. Arrange them in and on jewelry boxes, jewelry ladders and other items sold for the purpose of showing off jewelry while keeping it neatly organized. Some people have even gone so far as hooking up battery operated lazy susans and arranging their jewelry on these. Having the
jewelry slowly turn on the lazy susan will not only catch the eye, it will catch the light, making an attractive display even more attractive because it sparkles and gleams.
Think about it, and then study the methods of display used by the "rack jobbers" in the stores in your area. These are wire racks that usually hold card packaged items. Such a rack or kind of display would lend itself beautifully for anchoring a cluster of balloons. Keep these things in mind, and build your individual displays as part of the whole. Make it pleasing to the eye as well as convenient for your customers to browse through and select
the items that appeal to them or catch their fancy.
At many garage sales, some of the merchandise (particularly the clothing) is dirty. Notice this when you visit other people's garage sales, and then take it upon yourself to make sure that every item - positively everything you show - is clean and sparkling bright. A bar of soap, a bucket of water, and a few old rags will do wonders for shop tools, garden equipment and bicycles. The same goes for furniture polish on old furniture, and a run through the washing machine for all washable clothing.
It is advisable to determine a price for each item before you set it out for display. Then mark that price on a price tag, and attach a price tag to each item. Your prices should also always be rounded off to more or less even numbers such as: $.25, $.50, $1,
$1.50, $2 and so on. In other words, don't ask for $.35, $.95, or $1.98, or any of that sort of pricing. Almost needless to say, you should always mark everything up by 100% of more. In other words, if you have acquired a particular item for $l, set a price of $2
or more on it. It's also a good idea to mark up your asking price from the bottom-line price you're willing to accept. Basically, the price marked on the price tag at most garage sales is taken as the starting price fro m which the buyer and seller negotiate. Most garage sale promoters price their cheaper items at the bottom line price they will accept, and don't deviate from those prices as shown on the price tag. Then on the more expensive items - $2 and over - they mark up their asking prices by 20 to 40 percent and use that margin for negotiating with the customer.
If you're a little bit shy relative to personal selling, here are a few "inside" secrets that will give you an edge: Always radiate an attitude of friendliness, regardless of the
circumstances or your first impression of the potential buyer. Always smile and say hello in a voice loud enough to be heard. Speak to everyone stopping or dropping by your sale location. Be helpful, but allow the people to browse on their own until they specifically ask you for help. When you're "keeping an eye on your merchandise," be as unobtrusive as possible; no one likes to feel he is being watched too closely. Whenever a customer appears to have made a selection and asks you what you'll take for it, or what kind of a deal you'll make for it, be ready to enter into "friendly negotiations."
Before you open, of course, you will have done your homework and know the value of each item of merchandise you have for sale. Don't ever take a customer's "claimed" value of an item. By the same token, don't listen to a seller, when you're buying items for your sale, when he claims that he's offering you an antique or price less treasure. Sometimes (rarely enough) you'll be able to pick up fantastic treasures for virtually nothing; so by knowing your merchandise, you'll not let "the flag that Betsy Ross made"
slip through your fingers for a song. Be sure to have all possibly really valuable items appraised by authentic dealers. These people are listed in the yellow pages of your telephone directory.
Some of the "extras" that contribute to the success of a garage sale include: Plenty of change, because without proper change, you'll lose a great many sales. A tape measure, because you'll find people often want to know the exact dimensions of some thing (especially furniture) in order to fit it into a certain space they have in mind. Long extension cord and electrical outlet, because your customers will want to "plug in" and try out the mixers, vacuum cleaners, hand tools, or other electrical appliances.
Back for a moment to drawing in those "cruisers" who aren't quite sure they want to park their cars and come browse: Look for some kind of interesting or unusual item to call attention to your sale - something you can set up or park in front of your home during your sale. Some of the displays we've seen along these lines include a horse-drawn surrey; a restored Model T; an old farm plow. Anything of an unusual or interesting nature will do the trick for you. One couple we know put up a display using a manikin dressed in an old-time farm bonnet, long dress and apron. This display depicted a farm woman of old, washing clothes with a scrub board and two steel wash tubs. It's not hard to believe, this display really drew the crowds, and crowds always mean sales!
Go wherever your imagination takes you; you have to be different and distinctive. You'll get lost in the hundreds of garage sales going on all around you if your sales look like the next half dozen.
If you'll take the time to employ a bit of imagination, and set your sales up with the kind of flair we've been talking about, you will not only draw the crowds; you'll be the one reaping the most profits.
As you think of beginning this garage sale business, remember this: It's almost a compulsion with some women to go shopping - to search for interesting, and sometimes rare and valuable items. This fact alone will keep you as busy as you ever want to be,
staging and promoting garage sales. The market is so vast, and the appetite so varied, that anything from a brass bedstead to a used diary of someone's long-forgotten grandmother will sell, and sell fast, at garage sales. Put it all together, use a little imagination, and you'll succeed in a very interesting, challenging endeavor!
BUY AND SELL ONLINE
Emarketing Blog Directory Listing of internet marketing blogs related to making money online and working from home. Find a blog, or submit yours.
by tycoon2k
In this day and age, everyone seemingly knows how to put together and hold a garage sale. Yet if this is so, why is it that some people are lucky to gross $150 while others consistently make $1,500 or more from their garage sales.
Pick almost any city or town in the country; drive through any middle class neighborhood or residential area on any weekend. You're sure to spot at least a half dozen garage sales. And what's being sold at these garage sales? The accumulated "junk"
that a lot of people no longer use or want taking up space in or around their homes.
Is it hard to hold a profitable garage sale? Not in the least! All it really takes is some of your time, and an awareness of a few merchandising tactics. But to be really prof it able, you must know how, and exercise careful planning.
First, let's look at some of the background. Everyone accumulates items that other people are searching for, and are willing to buy. These items range from discarded or outgrown items of clothing to furniture, tools, knick-knacks, books, pictures and toys.
Start by taking an inventory of all the things you have "just taking up space" around your home. Decide which items you'd be better off getting rid of, and make a list of these things. These are the things you are going to put up for sale. And if you are
honest about what you really want and need, the pile will grow if you look over your house hold a second and third time! Remember that many garage sale offerings are items of merchandise purchased on impulse, and later found to be no t what the buyer wanted. It is the human condition: We discover too late that we don't like or have use for things purchased; we "outgrow" in size or taste articles that once fit, or pleased us. You'll find that many items offered at garage sales are gifts that have been given to the seller, but not really suited to the recipient. In other words, it will be to your benefit, before you stage your first garage sale, to take a week or so to browse through all the garage sales you can find.
The problem is, most people just don't have the time or energy to gather up all the items taking up space around their homes and staging a garage sale to get rid of them. Believe it or not, many people really don't know how to stage a garage sale; and a lot of
people feel that putting on a garage sale is just too much bother and work.
This is where you enter the picture. Your enterprise will be an ongoing garage sale of items donated and collected from those people who lack the initiative to put on garage sales of their own. In other words, you can become a "liquidator of people's junk," via super garage sales that you promote.
We've already suggested that you spend a few weeks visiting the garage sales, swap meets and flea markets in your area. Your purpose will be to see what is being offered for sale; what the people in your area are buying, and how the merchandise is being sold. One of the things to notice is how the merchandise is displayed. You'll also want to notice how the sellers handle customer browsing, and the prices they charge for the merchandise offered. You'll find most items tagged with a price sticker, but generally the seller is open to either price negotiation or a reasonable offer made by the customer.
Begin your enterprise by cleaning out your own attic, closets and basement or garage. Talk with your relatives and friends; tell them what you're doing, and ask for donations (or at least consignments) of unwanted items. It's here that you'll get your first experience in negotiating, and you'll usually get enthusiastic cooperation. You'll find people explaining that they really don't have a use for a specific item, don't want to keep on storing it, but for sentimental or other reasons, they have just hung on to it.
Once you have a little bit of experience, you'll be able to advertise in the newspaper that you purchase garage sale items, or take them on consignment for a percentage of the final sale price.
It's best that the wife or woman of the house handle the garage sale itself - that is, let a woman be the one who greets the potential customers, shows them around, and generally engages them in conversation. If it's a woman staging the garage sale, then arrangements should be made for a second one to "mind the store" while she's out digging up more items for display and sale. And if you are running a really big sale, a second or third per son can be very useful in selling, and just generally keeping an eye on things.
The advertising angle is really quite simple, and shouldn't cost you very much, either. Check area newspapers, and select the one that carries the most ads for garage sales. You shouldn't concern yourself too much with competition from other ads. People
who go to garage sales either go to all of them they can locate, or else only to those within a 3-to-5 mile radius of their homes.
You should run a small classified ad in the newspaper of your choice for about three days in advance, and up through the day of your sale. Once you're operating on a full-time, every-day-of-the-week schedule, you'll want to change your ad schedule and the
style of your advertising. But in getting started, stay with small classified ads simply announcing the fact that you're holding a garage sale, emphasizing that you've got everything from A to Z - something of interest to everyone. Such an ad might read:
BIG GARAGE SALE! Hundreds of interesting items.
Through Saturday, July 16th. (address)
To get ideas on how to write your ad, check your newspapers for a week or two. Cut out all the garage sale ads you can find. Paste them up onto a piece of paper - then with a bit of critical analysis, you will be able to determine how to write a good ad of your own from identifying the good and bad features of the ads you've collected. Keep in mind that the bigger and better your sale, the bigger and better your "getting started" ads should be. Always remember that in order to increase your profits in any business, you must increase rather than decrease your advertising. At the bottom line, you'll find that the greatest single reason for a garage sale failing to turn a profit is the lack of promotion and advertising used to publicize it.
You should also have an old-fashioned "sandwich board" type sign to display in front of your house when your garage sale is open for business. The purpose of course, is to call attention to the fact that you're holding a garage sale and are open for business. This will pull in your neighbors, if you haven't already informed them, and attract people driving by. Sandwich boards are also sometimes set out at key traffic intersections not
far from the site of the garage sale. These will attract attention, and point the way. However, check your local ordinances to be sure that this sort of advertising is permitted.
Another "sign idea" practiced by a few really sharp operators is the old "Burma Shave" type roadside pointers. Here, you simply make up a few cute sayings (verse or one-liners), write them on pieces of cardboard, tack them onto the power poles at about 200 yard intervals on the thoroughfare leading to your garage sale, and you're sure to create a lot of traffic for yourself. People are amused by, and drawn to people who do something a little different, unusual and creative in promoting a sale of any kind.
To come up with some cute verses, simply visit your public library and check out a book on limericks. Adapt the ones that you feel are most humorous, and start making signs. Again, a word of caution before you get too deeply involved: Be sure to check
your local ordinance before you start nailing signs to power poles.
By all means, search out and use all the free bulletin boards in your area. It's better, and usually much more profitable to take the time to make up an attention grabbing circular you can post on these bulletin boards, than just to use a scribbled 3 by 5 card announcement.
Pick up some -transfer lettering;" go through your newspapers and old magazines for interesting illustrations, graphics and pictures; then with a little bit of imagination and flamboyancy, make up an 8 1/2 by 11 poster announcement of your sale. When you
have it pasted up take it to any quick print shop and have them print up 50 or 100 for you. Your cost for this small print order should be well under ten dollars.
If you make this circular/poster up with versatility and long-time usage in mind, you can use it over and over again simply by pasting on a new date. In case you feel "left-out" when we talk of "pasting-up" things, this simply means pasting a piece of paper onto the overall page you're putting together.
Say you have made up your circular with a date of Wednesday, May 1st, and want to change it to read Thursday, July 16th. Rather than do the entire thing over, simply write out a new date with your transfer letters on a separate sheet of paper, cut this out to fit in the space occupied by the old date, and paste the new date over the old date. The artwork master is now up to date; the printer does the rest. Incidentally, this is precisely what is meant in mail order and other dealership offers where they furnish you with the basic advertising/promotional material and advise you to "paste over" their name/address with your own.
For paste or glue, drop by just about any stationery store and pick up a tube of "glue stick." This is a small tube of paste, about the size of a tube of lipstick, generally sold for less than one dollar per tube. The tube glue stick works much better than regular glue or paste, and is not as messy as rubber cement.
Your signs have to be effective, but you have to remember to keep them simple. Don't try to cut corners on your signs. Signs announcing and pointing the way to your garage sale should be placed at each intersection within a one mile radius of your sale
location. If it takes 50 signs, then make 50 signs. The important thing is to let people know that you're holding a garage sale.
Signs can be made simply by cutting and using the sides of cardboard boxes, and writing on them with a heavy felt tip marking pen. Make it easy for your signs to be seen, and for people to read what's on them. About all you really need is great big block letters reading "GARAGE SALE," with the street address, and an arrow pointing in that direction. Don't think for a minute that people are going to stop and read a lot of "stuff" you've written on your sign when they are driving by; you just want them to see your sign and proceed in the direction necessary to reach the location of the sale. They'll be moving by your sign too fast to see or read anything else you may have written.
The ads you place, the bulletin board announcements you post, and the signs you put up will bring many people to your garage sale location. A lot of people will drive by slowly and just look, but most will stop to browse around.
But you still have to contend with the huge number of people who just drive by without stopping. So, let's talk about the "inside secrets" of drawing people into your sale, and the merchandising gimmicks that will result in the maximum number of sales for you.
You must call attention to your sale. Don't be shy, bashful or self-conscious about let ting everybody for miles around know that you're having a garage sale. If you could afford to get the Goodyear Blimp to "hover" over your garage sale, then by all means, you should do it!
Some sharp operators do the next best thing. They rent miniature blimps, send them up above the housetops, and tether them there on their sale days. Of course, this giant balloon or miniature blimp has some sort of sign on the side of it, inviting people to your garage sale.
This is one of the strongest available advertising ideas for pulling traffic to a sale of any kind. For more details, write Pie-In-The-Sky Company, PO Box 5267, San Mateo, CA 94402, or explore to see if there is a local outlet for this kind of advertising merchandise for rent.
You have to give your sale some flair. Put some posts up across the front of your property and run some twisted crepe paper between them - or better than crepe paper, run brightly colored ribbons. Invest in some colorful pennants and fly them from temporary flag poles. And don't forget the balloons!
Make your garage sale a fun kind of event, with clusters of balloons anchored to your display tables and racks. Be sure to "float" them well above the heads of your customers as they're browsing through your merchandise displays.
Cover your display tables with colorful cloths. Don't hesitate to use bright colors and busy patterns. Regardless of what you sell, effective display (packaging the event) is still absolutely essential to your success.
The secret to outstanding garage sale profits is in having the widest or largest selection of merchandise. And part of the process is taking great care in displaying and labeling your merchandise.
You cannot simply dump items haphazardly on a table, sit down, and expect to realize great profits. The people doing the most business and holding the most sales are the ones with interesting displays, action and color.
Have as wide a selection of colors as possible in your clothing racks, and mix them for "rainbow" effect. Make sure that your jewelry items shine and sparkle. Arrange them in and on jewelry boxes, jewelry ladders and other items sold for the purpose of showing off jewelry while keeping it neatly organized. Some people have even gone so far as hooking up battery operated lazy susans and arranging their jewelry on these. Having the
jewelry slowly turn on the lazy susan will not only catch the eye, it will catch the light, making an attractive display even more attractive because it sparkles and gleams.
Think about it, and then study the methods of display used by the "rack jobbers" in the stores in your area. These are wire racks that usually hold card packaged items. Such a rack or kind of display would lend itself beautifully for anchoring a cluster of balloons. Keep these things in mind, and build your individual displays as part of the whole. Make it pleasing to the eye as well as convenient for your customers to browse through and select
the items that appeal to them or catch their fancy.
At many garage sales, some of the merchandise (particularly the clothing) is dirty. Notice this when you visit other people's garage sales, and then take it upon yourself to make sure that every item - positively everything you show - is clean and sparkling bright. A bar of soap, a bucket of water, and a few old rags will do wonders for shop tools, garden equipment and bicycles. The same goes for furniture polish on old furniture, and a run through the washing machine for all washable clothing.
It is advisable to determine a price for each item before you set it out for display. Then mark that price on a price tag, and attach a price tag to each item. Your prices should also always be rounded off to more or less even numbers such as: $.25, $.50, $1,
$1.50, $2 and so on. In other words, don't ask for $.35, $.95, or $1.98, or any of that sort of pricing. Almost needless to say, you should always mark everything up by 100% of more. In other words, if you have acquired a particular item for $l, set a price of $2
or more on it. It's also a good idea to mark up your asking price from the bottom-line price you're willing to accept. Basically, the price marked on the price tag at most garage sales is taken as the starting price fro m which the buyer and seller negotiate. Most garage sale promoters price their cheaper items at the bottom line price they will accept, and don't deviate from those prices as shown on the price tag. Then on the more expensive items - $2 and over - they mark up their asking prices by 20 to 40 percent and use that margin for negotiating with the customer.
If you're a little bit shy relative to personal selling, here are a few "inside" secrets that will give you an edge: Always radiate an attitude of friendliness, regardless of the
circumstances or your first impression of the potential buyer. Always smile and say hello in a voice loud enough to be heard. Speak to everyone stopping or dropping by your sale location. Be helpful, but allow the people to browse on their own until they specifically ask you for help. When you're "keeping an eye on your merchandise," be as unobtrusive as possible; no one likes to feel he is being watched too closely. Whenever a customer appears to have made a selection and asks you what you'll take for it, or what kind of a deal you'll make for it, be ready to enter into "friendly negotiations."
Before you open, of course, you will have done your homework and know the value of each item of merchandise you have for sale. Don't ever take a customer's "claimed" value of an item. By the same token, don't listen to a seller, when you're buying items for your sale, when he claims that he's offering you an antique or price less treasure. Sometimes (rarely enough) you'll be able to pick up fantastic treasures for virtually nothing; so by knowing your merchandise, you'll not let "the flag that Betsy Ross made"
slip through your fingers for a song. Be sure to have all possibly really valuable items appraised by authentic dealers. These people are listed in the yellow pages of your telephone directory.
Some of the "extras" that contribute to the success of a garage sale include: Plenty of change, because without proper change, you'll lose a great many sales. A tape measure, because you'll find people often want to know the exact dimensions of some thing (especially furniture) in order to fit it into a certain space they have in mind. Long extension cord and electrical outlet, because your customers will want to "plug in" and try out the mixers, vacuum cleaners, hand tools, or other electrical appliances.
Back for a moment to drawing in those "cruisers" who aren't quite sure they want to park their cars and come browse: Look for some kind of interesting or unusual item to call attention to your sale - something you can set up or park in front of your home during your sale. Some of the displays we've seen along these lines include a horse-drawn surrey; a restored Model T; an old farm plow. Anything of an unusual or interesting nature will do the trick for you. One couple we know put up a display using a manikin dressed in an old-time farm bonnet, long dress and apron. This display depicted a farm woman of old, washing clothes with a scrub board and two steel wash tubs. It's not hard to believe, this display really drew the crowds, and crowds always mean sales!
Go wherever your imagination takes you; you have to be different and distinctive. You'll get lost in the hundreds of garage sales going on all around you if your sales look like the next half dozen.
If you'll take the time to employ a bit of imagination, and set your sales up with the kind of flair we've been talking about, you will not only draw the crowds; you'll be the one reaping the most profits.
As you think of beginning this garage sale business, remember this: It's almost a compulsion with some women to go shopping - to search for interesting, and sometimes rare and valuable items. This fact alone will keep you as busy as you ever want to be,
staging and promoting garage sales. The market is so vast, and the appetite so varied, that anything from a brass bedstead to a used diary of someone's long-forgotten grandmother will sell, and sell fast, at garage sales. Put it all together, use a little imagination, and you'll succeed in a very interesting, challenging endeavor!
BUY AND SELL ONLINE
Emarketing Blog Directory Listing of internet marketing blogs related to making money online and working from home. Find a blog, or submit yours.
HOW TO START YOUR OWN CARPET CLEANING BUSINESS
HOW TO START YOUR OWN CARPET CLEANING BUSINESS
by tycoon2k webmaster
There are two fairly new, and very important conditions existing in the world today that have not only made the carpet cleaning industry a "billion dollar business," but also practically guarantee your success as an entrepreneur in this field.
First, almost all homes and office buildings built since 1960 have wall-to-wall carpeting. Secondly, the replacement costs and the cyclical faltering of the national economy have caused people to want to make what they already own last longer, especially in the case of carpeting, which is a sizeable investment.
Most businesses employ janitors or janitorial services to vacuum their carpets after hours daily, and then "master" carpet cleaners to deep-clean them every three months or so. Homemakers also generally vacuum their carpets perhaps several times a week, and then hope to deep-clean every spring or fall, depending on the kind of household traffic, and on their budgets.
It's true that people everywhere try to save money by handling these jobs themselves. However, empathy with the people, and an understanding of this trend, should be neither cause for alarm nor a deterrent to your success in this business.
Most people are just too busy to handle all their do-it-yourself projects. They continually put off until later any chore that requires special equipment . This is especially true with carpet cleaning, because deep down, they're fearful of botching the job. Thus, they're more than willing to pay an expert or a specialist to do this kind of work for them
It doesn't take any special education, skill or experience to operate a professional-type, deep-cleaning carpet cleaner. Yet, from, your first job onward, you should project the image of a thoroughly experienced expert in your field. And, we're going to show you how you can get started in this business, and make $300 or more per working day, with virtually no investment!
The important part of this business - or any other business - is the owner-operator's "sense of marketing" and salesmanship. Make no mistake about it, all businesses succeed through marketing strategies and salesmanship. You won't be selling a product with this business; you'll be selling a service. And the selling of services is often more difficult than product sales.
Your success in this business will be predicated upon the sales effort put forth. Getting if off the ground will require a great deal of selling expertise on your part. You'll have to sell yourself AND your services.
Therefore, it will be to your benefit to learn all you can about selling. Then, you should continue to add to your knowledge through an ongoing program of learning. Keeping up to date and being aware of successful selling ideas and methods will add to
the total success of any business person.
Even before the acquisition of equipment, you need customers. Your prospects are all the businesses and homes with carpets in your area. Your problem is going to be in reaching these prospects, impressing upon them the benefits of your service, and getting them set up with an appointment for you to do the work.
We have found that the least expensive and most productive method of reaching these people is by way of neighborhood "hand-out" flyers or announcements, delivered door-to-door by Brownies or Cub Scouts, or members of other youth organizations. These flyers are advertisements or announcements of a "Carpet Cleaning Special," printed on 5 1/2 by 8 1/2 sheets of paper that invite the recipients to call you for an appointment.
Study the carpet cleaning service ads in your local newspapers, the yellow pages of your telephone directories, and any similar flyers you may have received or seen. Make a pencil sketch of your own flyer, emphasizing customer benefits and your capabilities of doing the job take your ideas to the advertising class at a local college. Explain your project and ask for volunteer help. In most cases, you'll be favorably impressed with the work, and will only have to pay with a copy of the finished flyer for the student's portfolio, and a recommendation or testimonial about his work for you. Even if there should be a charge for the work you have done at the college, it will be a reasonable one.
Contracting with an advertising agency will probably take longer and will cost a significant amount of money. However, you might be able to contact a staff member who does free-lance work on the side. But you should set a specific date for completion of
the project, and agree to pay no more than half the total estimated cost until the job is finished, and meets with your approval.
The next step is to take this original of your flyer to a printer, and have printed whatever number of copies you want to start. Most quick print shops will be able to print up to 20,000 copies, and deliver in a reasonable time, with nominal costs. If you decide to start with more than 20,000 copies, you will do better by going to a regular commercial printer. Larger quantities that would take a quick print shop all day can be handled by a commercial print shop in a few hours.
While your flyers are being printed, you should be lining up your delivery people - local Brownie or Cub Scout Troops. No big problem here. Either look up their local headquarters office in your phone book or call a friend or two with children about the
right age and ask for the name and phone number of troop leaders. Arrange to pay these scout troops $10 for each thousand circulars they hand out door-to-door.
One other thing before you start handing out your flyers - be sure that you have someone available to answer the phone and set up appointments for you. It's usually best to have a woman do this; it makes the caller think of your service as an established business. You can pay an answering service to handle these calls for you, but if your wife or a friend is available, that would be even better. It is, however, imperative that a "live voice" answer your phone. People have some strange ideas about answering machines, and most businesses find they do much better not using them.
Your "secretary" should have a set pattern of answering your calls, and an appointment book. Usually, your flyer will advertise a special such as "Your living room carpet deep-cleaned for just $20. Get all the ground-in dirt and unpleasant odors out. A professional job by experienced master carpet cleaners, and we can do it all for you tomorrow. Give us a call; set up a carpet cleaning appointment with us now; and we'll have your home sparkling clean, ready for company in no time at all!" This special offer should take you no more than an hour in the customer's home, meaning that your secretary can book appointments for you at the rate of one every ninety minutes or less, depending
on the travel distance between appointments.
By setting your first appointment for 8:30 in the morning, and working thorough the whole day, allowing 30 minutes between appointments, you'll be able to handle seven appointments per day. At $20 per call, you will gross $140 per day. Your secretary
should book you solid from 8:30 through 5:30 each day. Naturally, some people may want you to stop by at a certain time that's already booked. In that case, you set them up for their requested time on an open day. You'll also find that as you gain experience, you can cut down considerably the time it takes you to handle each job, as well as your travel time between jobs, enabling you to book more appointments.
Just as soon as you have job appointments lined up, hurry over to your local carpet cleaner distributor, your local rent-all store, or even some super markets and rent a steam-clean carpet cleaner. Most of the time, you won't have to pay until you return it, but even if you do have to pay at the time you take it, the cost is usually $25 or less for twenty-four hours. Read the directions and make sure you know how to operate it. Then load it into your car, van or pickup, and set out for your first appointment.
You should bear in mind that carpet cleaning is a type of service business that takes you into the homes of your customers. Therefore, how you look, dress, and handle yourself - particularly in the presence of your customers - will have a direct bearing on the success of your business.
Be clean, and conduct yourself in a business like manner at all times. Dress neatly. In fact, one of the best ways to get off to a fast start is to purchase a working uniform from Sears, Ward's or Penney's. Drop by a "pennant shop" and have them make up a special oval name tag which can be sewn over the left breast pocket. At the same time, have them make up a large oval with the name of your business and your phone number to sew on the back of the uniform. When you hire people to help you with the work, outfit them similarly.
Go out of your way to be polite and friendly with your customers, but refrain from being fresh. Avoid getting involved in extended conversations - if you are to keep on schedule, you won't have time for a lot of talk.
Keep your equipment clean, properly maintained, and operating smoothly. Have your supplies organized and within easy reach. Don't allow yourself to be caught in a position where you have to make excuses because the equipment won't function properly, you can't find what you need, or you suddenly find yourself out of certain supplies.
When working these advertising specials, just concentrate on doing the job and moving on to your next customer. If the customer questions you about the cost to do the other rooms, give an estimate and set up a tentative appointment, which you should later confirm with a call-back after checking your schedule. Don't try to sell your complete carpet cleaning services on this first call, but do be sure to leave a business card with the name of your company and your phone number.
Your service is the "deep-down shampoo cleaning" of carpeting in your customers' homes or places of business. Always strive to use the best equipment that's available. Later on - possibly in a month or six weeks - you'll want to buy or lease your own equipment. Your business will grow and flourish as a result of your doing a good and complete job every time. It may take you a few minutes longer - especially when you are learning the equipment and establishing a procedure - but in the end this will pay off with satisfied customers; and a group of satisfied customers is the key to your becoming wealthy in this business.
You want your customers to call you again and again to clean their carpets. Being pleased with your work, they'll spread the word about your service for you, free of charge! And this, of course, will generate an almost unlimited amount of ongoing work for your new business.
The average price to the customer to have a 12 by 18 foot wall-to-wall carpet "shampoo cleaned" is about $50. Your materials to do that size job will cost about $5.
The typical job involves more than just one room, and the average period of time spent on the typical job is about two hours, with an average billing to the customer of $75 - materials for each $75 job cost you about $10 all of which means that with just five appointments per day, five days per week, your gross income before expenses will be approaching $2,000 per week.
Most people who set up carpet cleaning businesses manage to gross $50,000 or more the first year. We've described to you how to get started with virtually no real investment. However, we do advise you to either purchase or lease your own carpet cleaning equipment just as soon as you can possibly afford it.
Several equipment manufacturers have financing plans available. It would be well to check out several of these plans before purchasing your equipment. Even better than the financing plans offered, some of the manufacturers have business start-up programs to help you along the way. They will provide you with a complete carpet cleaning business plan, numerous advertising materials, a regular newsletter featuring business ideas from all
the buyers of their equipment, and low cost supplies.
Before actually starting work in your carpet cleaning business, you should register your business or company name with your county clerk. The cost for this is nominal, and you will receive a registration certificate or card, which you will need to open a bank account in your company name. You should also talk to a few business insurance agents to get complete business insurance against damage to any of your customers' carpets or ac
cidents in their homes. Being able to state "All work fully in sured," will greatly add to your business image.
Think seriously about buying or leasing a van for your service calls. A uniform with the name of your company emblazoned on the back, plus a late model van with your company name neatly painted on the side will do just about as much to build your image and your business as a full page advertisement in the Sunday paper.
On the subject of advertising, so long as you don't erect a sign on your front lawn or your roof, proclaiming for all the world to see the fact that you're operating a carpet cleaning business, you won't have any problems operating your business from your home. Sooner or later though, you'll have to buy a City or county business license. So, the sooner you do this and are approved by the licensing agency in your area, the better you're
going to feel and the more confidence you'll exude in all your business dealings.
Definitely plan to run a quarter page ad in your local business and telephone directories. You'll really be surprised at the number of calls you get from these ads. At least in the beginning, you should run a regular ad in your newspaper. This should be a display ad, at least 2 columns wide by 4 inches deep, and should appear in your Wednesday and Thursday papers. As you become established, it won't be necessary to run more than an ad every other week in your Wednesday papers and before the holidays
such as Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, when people always want to spruce up their residences.
Radio or television advertising really doesn't pull that well for this kind of business when you compare the costs to the number of jobs you get from it. I would suggest, , that you contact these media and try for a trade or barter agreement. You
clean their carpets on a regular basis, and they allow you to store up advertising credit to use in the spring and fall when people are really serious about spring cleaning, and and Christmas preparations.
It's also recommended that you register as a "probationary member" of your Chamber of Commerce. This will add prestige to your business, and enable you to associate on equal terms with the various other business leaders in your community. Joining and attending civic club meetings, participating in their causes and events, will also result in long-range business income for you.
Something else to keep in mind: Get the word about your being in business out to the people in your area. Get the Chamber of Commerce to mention you in their newsletter; send "blurbs" about your business and service to all your area newspapers, TV and radio stations; arrange to put on an all-day demonstration of your work on the carpeting in the covered mall areas in your city's shopping centers, and hand out brochures to all the people watching; rent a booth and hand out brochures at all the home building, remodeling, and home improvement shows. Do the same thing at your county fair, and hold seminars on the care of fine carpets. The ideas for free publicity and promotion are
limitless, so use your imagination and -push" to get your name in the paper and on radio and TV as often as possible.
There's always going to be competition. Some of it will be good for you, and some of it will be bad for you. Accept it as a part of life. Just keep in mind that you're in business because you feel you can do a better job; you can do it more efficiently; and you can do it with greater satisfaction to your customers than anyone else. Be aware of the competition, but don't worry about it. Just stick to your own business plan, and you'll be okay.
Depending on the population of your area, you should be planning for additional carpet cleaning machines and the hiring of people to do the work for you within three to six months - that is, unless your original motive for a business of your own was to see how fast you could work yourself to death. Assuming that all goes well with you, within a couple of years you should have "hired help" running the business while you enjoy the fruits of all the hard work you put in at the outset.
I personally don't see the need for you to even consider buying a franchised operation. There's just too much real help available for the "independent" to go to the considerable expense and obligation of a franchise. Starting from scratch, and as an
independent, this is most assuredly a low-investment, low-overhead type business - the kind we recommend for anyone and everyone who's determined to make it on his own.
A carpet cleaning business of your own is one of the easiest of all small businesses to start. You'll find the initial start-up costs well within your reach, and the margin of profit most astounding! It's an easy business to operate, and yet one that can be called necessary to today's standard of living. It carries a very high rating on all business evaluation stability charts, and it's a business that will grow rapidly to bring you the
monetary rewards you desire.
MARKETING & PROMOTIONS
by tycoon2k webmaster
There are two fairly new, and very important conditions existing in the world today that have not only made the carpet cleaning industry a "billion dollar business," but also practically guarantee your success as an entrepreneur in this field.
First, almost all homes and office buildings built since 1960 have wall-to-wall carpeting. Secondly, the replacement costs and the cyclical faltering of the national economy have caused people to want to make what they already own last longer, especially in the case of carpeting, which is a sizeable investment.
Most businesses employ janitors or janitorial services to vacuum their carpets after hours daily, and then "master" carpet cleaners to deep-clean them every three months or so. Homemakers also generally vacuum their carpets perhaps several times a week, and then hope to deep-clean every spring or fall, depending on the kind of household traffic, and on their budgets.
It's true that people everywhere try to save money by handling these jobs themselves. However, empathy with the people, and an understanding of this trend, should be neither cause for alarm nor a deterrent to your success in this business.
Most people are just too busy to handle all their do-it-yourself projects. They continually put off until later any chore that requires special equipment . This is especially true with carpet cleaning, because deep down, they're fearful of botching the job. Thus, they're more than willing to pay an expert or a specialist to do this kind of work for them
It doesn't take any special education, skill or experience to operate a professional-type, deep-cleaning carpet cleaner. Yet, from, your first job onward, you should project the image of a thoroughly experienced expert in your field. And, we're going to show you how you can get started in this business, and make $300 or more per working day, with virtually no investment!
The important part of this business - or any other business - is the owner-operator's "sense of marketing" and salesmanship. Make no mistake about it, all businesses succeed through marketing strategies and salesmanship. You won't be selling a product with this business; you'll be selling a service. And the selling of services is often more difficult than product sales.
Your success in this business will be predicated upon the sales effort put forth. Getting if off the ground will require a great deal of selling expertise on your part. You'll have to sell yourself AND your services.
Therefore, it will be to your benefit to learn all you can about selling. Then, you should continue to add to your knowledge through an ongoing program of learning. Keeping up to date and being aware of successful selling ideas and methods will add to
the total success of any business person.
Even before the acquisition of equipment, you need customers. Your prospects are all the businesses and homes with carpets in your area. Your problem is going to be in reaching these prospects, impressing upon them the benefits of your service, and getting them set up with an appointment for you to do the work.
We have found that the least expensive and most productive method of reaching these people is by way of neighborhood "hand-out" flyers or announcements, delivered door-to-door by Brownies or Cub Scouts, or members of other youth organizations. These flyers are advertisements or announcements of a "Carpet Cleaning Special," printed on 5 1/2 by 8 1/2 sheets of paper that invite the recipients to call you for an appointment.
Study the carpet cleaning service ads in your local newspapers, the yellow pages of your telephone directories, and any similar flyers you may have received or seen. Make a pencil sketch of your own flyer, emphasizing customer benefits and your capabilities of doing the job take your ideas to the advertising class at a local college. Explain your project and ask for volunteer help. In most cases, you'll be favorably impressed with the work, and will only have to pay with a copy of the finished flyer for the student's portfolio, and a recommendation or testimonial about his work for you. Even if there should be a charge for the work you have done at the college, it will be a reasonable one.
Contracting with an advertising agency will probably take longer and will cost a significant amount of money. However, you might be able to contact a staff member who does free-lance work on the side. But you should set a specific date for completion of
the project, and agree to pay no more than half the total estimated cost until the job is finished, and meets with your approval.
The next step is to take this original of your flyer to a printer, and have printed whatever number of copies you want to start. Most quick print shops will be able to print up to 20,000 copies, and deliver in a reasonable time, with nominal costs. If you decide to start with more than 20,000 copies, you will do better by going to a regular commercial printer. Larger quantities that would take a quick print shop all day can be handled by a commercial print shop in a few hours.
While your flyers are being printed, you should be lining up your delivery people - local Brownie or Cub Scout Troops. No big problem here. Either look up their local headquarters office in your phone book or call a friend or two with children about the
right age and ask for the name and phone number of troop leaders. Arrange to pay these scout troops $10 for each thousand circulars they hand out door-to-door.
One other thing before you start handing out your flyers - be sure that you have someone available to answer the phone and set up appointments for you. It's usually best to have a woman do this; it makes the caller think of your service as an established business. You can pay an answering service to handle these calls for you, but if your wife or a friend is available, that would be even better. It is, however, imperative that a "live voice" answer your phone. People have some strange ideas about answering machines, and most businesses find they do much better not using them.
Your "secretary" should have a set pattern of answering your calls, and an appointment book. Usually, your flyer will advertise a special such as "Your living room carpet deep-cleaned for just $20. Get all the ground-in dirt and unpleasant odors out. A professional job by experienced master carpet cleaners, and we can do it all for you tomorrow. Give us a call; set up a carpet cleaning appointment with us now; and we'll have your home sparkling clean, ready for company in no time at all!" This special offer should take you no more than an hour in the customer's home, meaning that your secretary can book appointments for you at the rate of one every ninety minutes or less, depending
on the travel distance between appointments.
By setting your first appointment for 8:30 in the morning, and working thorough the whole day, allowing 30 minutes between appointments, you'll be able to handle seven appointments per day. At $20 per call, you will gross $140 per day. Your secretary
should book you solid from 8:30 through 5:30 each day. Naturally, some people may want you to stop by at a certain time that's already booked. In that case, you set them up for their requested time on an open day. You'll also find that as you gain experience, you can cut down considerably the time it takes you to handle each job, as well as your travel time between jobs, enabling you to book more appointments.
Just as soon as you have job appointments lined up, hurry over to your local carpet cleaner distributor, your local rent-all store, or even some super markets and rent a steam-clean carpet cleaner. Most of the time, you won't have to pay until you return it, but even if you do have to pay at the time you take it, the cost is usually $25 or less for twenty-four hours. Read the directions and make sure you know how to operate it. Then load it into your car, van or pickup, and set out for your first appointment.
You should bear in mind that carpet cleaning is a type of service business that takes you into the homes of your customers. Therefore, how you look, dress, and handle yourself - particularly in the presence of your customers - will have a direct bearing on the success of your business.
Be clean, and conduct yourself in a business like manner at all times. Dress neatly. In fact, one of the best ways to get off to a fast start is to purchase a working uniform from Sears, Ward's or Penney's. Drop by a "pennant shop" and have them make up a special oval name tag which can be sewn over the left breast pocket. At the same time, have them make up a large oval with the name of your business and your phone number to sew on the back of the uniform. When you hire people to help you with the work, outfit them similarly.
Go out of your way to be polite and friendly with your customers, but refrain from being fresh. Avoid getting involved in extended conversations - if you are to keep on schedule, you won't have time for a lot of talk.
Keep your equipment clean, properly maintained, and operating smoothly. Have your supplies organized and within easy reach. Don't allow yourself to be caught in a position where you have to make excuses because the equipment won't function properly, you can't find what you need, or you suddenly find yourself out of certain supplies.
When working these advertising specials, just concentrate on doing the job and moving on to your next customer. If the customer questions you about the cost to do the other rooms, give an estimate and set up a tentative appointment, which you should later confirm with a call-back after checking your schedule. Don't try to sell your complete carpet cleaning services on this first call, but do be sure to leave a business card with the name of your company and your phone number.
Your service is the "deep-down shampoo cleaning" of carpeting in your customers' homes or places of business. Always strive to use the best equipment that's available. Later on - possibly in a month or six weeks - you'll want to buy or lease your own equipment. Your business will grow and flourish as a result of your doing a good and complete job every time. It may take you a few minutes longer - especially when you are learning the equipment and establishing a procedure - but in the end this will pay off with satisfied customers; and a group of satisfied customers is the key to your becoming wealthy in this business.
You want your customers to call you again and again to clean their carpets. Being pleased with your work, they'll spread the word about your service for you, free of charge! And this, of course, will generate an almost unlimited amount of ongoing work for your new business.
The average price to the customer to have a 12 by 18 foot wall-to-wall carpet "shampoo cleaned" is about $50. Your materials to do that size job will cost about $5.
The typical job involves more than just one room, and the average period of time spent on the typical job is about two hours, with an average billing to the customer of $75 - materials for each $75 job cost you about $10 all of which means that with just five appointments per day, five days per week, your gross income before expenses will be approaching $2,000 per week.
Most people who set up carpet cleaning businesses manage to gross $50,000 or more the first year. We've described to you how to get started with virtually no real investment. However, we do advise you to either purchase or lease your own carpet cleaning equipment just as soon as you can possibly afford it.
Several equipment manufacturers have financing plans available. It would be well to check out several of these plans before purchasing your equipment. Even better than the financing plans offered, some of the manufacturers have business start-up programs to help you along the way. They will provide you with a complete carpet cleaning business plan, numerous advertising materials, a regular newsletter featuring business ideas from all
the buyers of their equipment, and low cost supplies.
Before actually starting work in your carpet cleaning business, you should register your business or company name with your county clerk. The cost for this is nominal, and you will receive a registration certificate or card, which you will need to open a bank account in your company name. You should also talk to a few business insurance agents to get complete business insurance against damage to any of your customers' carpets or ac
cidents in their homes. Being able to state "All work fully in sured," will greatly add to your business image.
Think seriously about buying or leasing a van for your service calls. A uniform with the name of your company emblazoned on the back, plus a late model van with your company name neatly painted on the side will do just about as much to build your image and your business as a full page advertisement in the Sunday paper.
On the subject of advertising, so long as you don't erect a sign on your front lawn or your roof, proclaiming for all the world to see the fact that you're operating a carpet cleaning business, you won't have any problems operating your business from your home. Sooner or later though, you'll have to buy a City or county business license. So, the sooner you do this and are approved by the licensing agency in your area, the better you're
going to feel and the more confidence you'll exude in all your business dealings.
Definitely plan to run a quarter page ad in your local business and telephone directories. You'll really be surprised at the number of calls you get from these ads. At least in the beginning, you should run a regular ad in your newspaper. This should be a display ad, at least 2 columns wide by 4 inches deep, and should appear in your Wednesday and Thursday papers. As you become established, it won't be necessary to run more than an ad every other week in your Wednesday papers and before the holidays
such as Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, when people always want to spruce up their residences.
Radio or television advertising really doesn't pull that well for this kind of business when you compare the costs to the number of jobs you get from it. I would suggest, , that you contact these media and try for a trade or barter agreement. You
clean their carpets on a regular basis, and they allow you to store up advertising credit to use in the spring and fall when people are really serious about spring cleaning, and and Christmas preparations.
It's also recommended that you register as a "probationary member" of your Chamber of Commerce. This will add prestige to your business, and enable you to associate on equal terms with the various other business leaders in your community. Joining and attending civic club meetings, participating in their causes and events, will also result in long-range business income for you.
Something else to keep in mind: Get the word about your being in business out to the people in your area. Get the Chamber of Commerce to mention you in their newsletter; send "blurbs" about your business and service to all your area newspapers, TV and radio stations; arrange to put on an all-day demonstration of your work on the carpeting in the covered mall areas in your city's shopping centers, and hand out brochures to all the people watching; rent a booth and hand out brochures at all the home building, remodeling, and home improvement shows. Do the same thing at your county fair, and hold seminars on the care of fine carpets. The ideas for free publicity and promotion are
limitless, so use your imagination and -push" to get your name in the paper and on radio and TV as often as possible.
There's always going to be competition. Some of it will be good for you, and some of it will be bad for you. Accept it as a part of life. Just keep in mind that you're in business because you feel you can do a better job; you can do it more efficiently; and you can do it with greater satisfaction to your customers than anyone else. Be aware of the competition, but don't worry about it. Just stick to your own business plan, and you'll be okay.
Depending on the population of your area, you should be planning for additional carpet cleaning machines and the hiring of people to do the work for you within three to six months - that is, unless your original motive for a business of your own was to see how fast you could work yourself to death. Assuming that all goes well with you, within a couple of years you should have "hired help" running the business while you enjoy the fruits of all the hard work you put in at the outset.
I personally don't see the need for you to even consider buying a franchised operation. There's just too much real help available for the "independent" to go to the considerable expense and obligation of a franchise. Starting from scratch, and as an
independent, this is most assuredly a low-investment, low-overhead type business - the kind we recommend for anyone and everyone who's determined to make it on his own.
A carpet cleaning business of your own is one of the easiest of all small businesses to start. You'll find the initial start-up costs well within your reach, and the margin of profit most astounding! It's an easy business to operate, and yet one that can be called necessary to today's standard of living. It carries a very high rating on all business evaluation stability charts, and it's a business that will grow rapidly to bring you the
monetary rewards you desire.
MARKETING & PROMOTIONS
HOW TO START YOUR OWN MOBILE LOCKSMITHING SERVICE
HOW TO START YOUR OWN MOBILE LOCKSMITHING SERVICE
by tycoon2k webmaster
The locks on the doors of most homes keep the skilled burglar out for about 30 seconds! This is especially true if the only thing slowing him down is a standard key-in-the-knob lock.
Statistically, there's about one residential burglary every 30 seconds in this country. Traditionally, as the economy falters and times get harder, the number tends to rise.
Quite naturally, people are concerned and frightened. As a result, locksmithing is not only one of the new "demand" businesses, it's rapidly becoming one of the more profitable businesses for entrepreneurs with not too much capital to invest .
Today's locksmiths are usually well versed in mathematics and basic electronics. They almost have to be, what with the new types of locks being introduced. Today's locksmith is more likely to be known as a "Security Specialist", than as just ordinary locksmith, as in the past .
Even so, most locksmithing businesses are still one-man operations. In many instances, it's a husband and wife family affair, with the husband handling the mechanical end and the wife the books and financial end of the business. Most of these small operations concentrate on the repair side of the business, and deliberately choose to remain small in size. As we will discuss later, however, this need not be the case; these small businesses can "grow up."
According to the area in which he is located, an established, well organized and trained locksmith may gross between $50,000 and $60,000 per year, using a van as a mobile "workshop," and space in his home as an office. Remember: As the economy turns toward recession, burglaries increase and people become aware of the need for better locks to protect what they own; thus the locksmith enjoys an increased income during hard times.
Just because locksmithing is a "personal" kind of business, and can be started on a shoestring and operated out of the home, that's not to say that a locksmithing service cannot be developed into a million dollar business. On the contrary, there are a number of operations in some of the larger metropolitan areas that have several mobile locksmith vans on the road, in addition to retail store locations. These operations are grossing well into the million dollar figures every year.
It's a matter of desire, determination and personal fulfillment and satisfaction. Attitude, marketing skills and general business knowledge are also positive attributes necessary for real success. Very definitely, the sharp businessman with determined ambition can dominate any market with a modern locksmithing service.
The key ingredient to this business is the utilization of proper marketing and selling skills. It goes without saying: You can know all there is about the mechanical functioning of a business, but without innovative marketing and selling skills, your business will surely flounder.
However, given the marketing know-how, plus persistent sales efforts, you can succeed in this business with the knowledge you can acquire of the technical side. The success of any business is built upon the marketing and sales expertise of its founder,
because after all, "mechanics" can always be hired, if you decide to go that route rather than learn the trade and the business.
Your marketing efforts should stress the theme that your services will allay the fears of your buyers. You want to get across to your prospective customers the sense of security your service will provide. You can make them safe in their own homes; no longer will they have to worry about being rudely awakened in the middle of the night by a burglar rustling around in their house; no longer will they have to worry about coming home to a house that's been cleaned out or ransacked.
Once you understand that fear is a basic human instinct, it's easy to see that virtually everyone can be a prospect for your services as a locksmith. Your potential market includes everyone in your area, because everyone has possessions. So every
homeowner, every apartment dweller, every business owner, all the schools, churches, government institutions, and a wide variety of other commercial and industrial accounts can be yours.
In this day and age, new homeowners and apartment dwellers want the locks changed the day they move in, so that former occupants and other keyholders will not have access to their place. In addition, there will probably be the need for additional keys for each member of the new family, now that new, safer locks have been installed.
Commercial and industrial accounts present an even more lucrative market. Larger companies tend to want their keys "departmentalized," so that office workers can get into the building on weekends, but not into the factory or shipping areas, and vice
versa. Banks and savings institutions frequently need the safe deposit locks changed.
Generally speaking, newcomers to this field should focus their efforts on the commercial and industrial area as soon as possible. The commercial market is vast, and often up for grabs in many areas. In addition, the profit margins in these areas are excellent! With one of these accounts you'll have work paying about $500 or more per visit, compared with $25 to $50 per visit for a residential job. With commercial/industrial accounts, there's also the possibility of ongoing service and maintenance. Definitely, the commercial/industrial business is well worth going after, and can put your business in the black very rapidly. However, it does take aggressiveness, and the determination to
sell these accounts.
Start small. Consider working out of your home in the beginning. Most of today's successful locksmiths began by working out of their homes, with the family car or van outfitted with the tools and equipment needed. Such an approach will enable you to
get started for as little as $1,000. You should be aware however, that this is just a beginning, and not all it's going to take to really establish your business. With this level of investment, you're more or less limited in the business you can handle and the money you can make. Locksmiths who want to make the really big money should be investing all their early profits into more equipment and inventory up to a level where they can offer complete full-service locksmithing. Such a business would require at least $5,000 in equipment, perhaps even $10,000, depending on how many different services you want to offer. This estimate for start-up costs does not include your van or inventory of spare
parts and new locks.
Perhaps a quick word of caution is in order here. You've no doubt seen or heard some of the advertisements promising all kinds of big money to be made with your own locksmithing service; "Just send for the learn-at-home correspondence course , and you'll be home free." It's true that you can earn big money in this business, but as we've noted earlier, without a lot of sharp marketing and selling expertise, plus at least the essential
equipment to handle the kind of work these courses teach, enrolling in one of these courses will put you no further ahead than you are right now. This business requires equipment and knowledge.
You can make excellent money as a locksmith, so long as you operate your business capably and in a professional manner. But without a full line of the equipment required to handle a wide variety of jobs, you will be limiting your total income potential.
The more you invest in quality equipment, the more different kinds of jobs you can handle, and thus the more money you'll be capable of making.
This is definitely a business in which you decide for yourself exactly how far and how fast you want to go. As we've said, some operators are perfectly content to work out of their homes, using a mobile van. They don't want the larger problems involved in hiring employees, or the expense of maintaining a retail location.
But to make the really big money in this business, starting small and working out of your home, you should plan to put more mobile trucks on the road, and as soon as possible, open a retail location. Each mobile van will give you another satellite business, and a retail location will afford you a base headquarters for your mobile vans.
It is of the utmost importance that you build and maintain a professional image as a quality locksmithing operation from the start. Clinging to the craftsman type of image will be of advantage only if you wish to stay in the "Mom and Pop" category.
You should endeavor to handle all jobs as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Outfitting yourself and your help in sharp looking uniforms will help. Making your calls in a clean, well-organized van will also play an important part in the image your customers have of your business. You want your customers to have confidence in your business, and in the quality of work you do for them. When they do, you'll find they are more likely to
pay their bills with fewer reminders.
Think of it like this: A large invoice presented by a man in a clean uniform who drives up in a good looking truck and does quality work is going to be paid more readily than one for $25 presented by a guy in grubby jeans who drove up in a 10-year old decrepit truck.
With so many technological changes occurring within this field on an almost monthly basis, it's to your advantage to stay on top of what's happening within the locksmithing field. This means subscribing to some of the better trade publications. You should be attending the various Locksmithing Association promoted seminars and workshops that offer on-going help in both the technical and financial side of this business. In other words, you should plan to keep yourself up to date with a program of continuous learning.
There are several ways to get started in this business. You can buy an existing operation from a retiring craftsman. Ask him to help you with the technical side of the operation while you spend most of your time actively promoting and managing the business. Or, you can hire the technical help you need, and the sales force to build the business while you do the managing. You can enroll in one of the popular correspondence courses, become involved in the business as you learn from the various trade publications, and progress at your own speed. Our recommendation is that you learn the fiscal and management side of the business, and hire others to handle the mechanical or technical side. Thus the purpose of this report is to indoctrinate you on the business side. To explain the technical details of this business would take volumes, and probably much of the information contained would be out-dated by the time it came off the press.
However, we will provide you with an outline of the most common types of jobs a locksmith should be able to handle.
RECOMBINATION LOCKS: A customer may want to change an existing lock to work off a new key - the most common type of lock being the key-in-the-knob cylinder or pin tumbler lock. When the proper key is inserted in the keyway, spring-loaded pins are pushed up and out of the cylinder, allowing the plug to turn, and opening the lock. When recombinating, you're changing the depth of these pins so that a new key is the only one that will work. Most house, auto and padlocks are the pin-tumbler variety. Different brands of locks use different depths, spaces and keyways. But with a given brand of lock, up to 50,000 variations exist. Thus, it's not always necessary to change to a new lock.
COMBINATING ALIKE: Some customers will have a house or a business with several different locks and keys, none of them alike or using the same key. Sometimes these people will want to change to a system that will require the least number of keys to carry around. Here, you'll be required to change the key coding so that one key works all the locks. Sometimes this requires the installation of common door hardware; however, in most cases, you'll find the same brand of locks are used throughout the building.
MASTERKEYING: Apartment owners and other commercial accounts may want dual key access. This is done by using locks with dual pin tumbler sets. One works with the apartment key, the other with the master key. Keys are spoken of in terms of code numbers. These are sets of digits reflecting the depth of serrations. A given lock in a master key setup might respond, for example, to keys with code numbers 1-2-3-4-5 and 6-7-6-9. Mathematical progressions are used in master keying .
LOCKOUTS: Frequently a person finds himself locked out of his home, office, warehouse, car, etc. Invariably this happens at odd hours of the day or night. So opening locks at odd hours of the day and night will be a role you'll definitely play in the lives
of your customers. A typical pin tumbler lock can generally be picked open in about 30 seconds, using either picks or a single piece of spring steel and good wrist work. All locks have tolerances and variations in manufacture which allow you to push the cylinder pins up out of the way while exerting a turning pressure on the cylinder itself.
AUTOMOBILE LOCKOUTS: This problem occurs frequently and will require a different procedure. A tool called a "Slim Shim" is often used here, and works on most domestic and many foreign cars. This is pushed down between the glass and the weather stripping on the door far enough to reach the back of the lock cylinder on the door. You simply push down or pull up . A "button popper" is also used, worked through the weather stripping on vent windows in the older cars, and angled back to the latch button.
LOCK INSTALLATION: Much of your time will be spent installing new locks and door hardware. In many cases, homeowners and business people will want to upgrade their security with the latest model hard-ware for older homes, offices and other buildings. Many locksmiths get involved in new construction of apartment houses, condominiums, shopping centers, and the like. Often you'll be adding more security to an existing door, such as installing a deadbolt lock .
PANIC BARS AND DOOR CLOSERS: Many locksmiths working the commercial or industrial market get involved in the repair and in stallation of panic bars in public access areas. Panic bars are those large metal bars you push on to open the outside doors of many public buildings. Door closers are those hydraulic devices mounted at the top of these doors which return the door to the closed position after it has been opened.
ALARMS, SAFES and VAULTS: The sale and installation of alarms are a natural adjunct to the locksmith thing business. Many larger locksmithing operations move into this area, which is somewhat specialized. Alarms can be the "perimeter" type, which sound when a door is opened after hours, or "area" alarms. "Space" or "area" protection is generally preferred, and involves infrared, ultrasonic or microwave sensors triggering alarms by detecting movement.
Safe and vault work is another specialty. Some locksmiths have major banks and savings and loan associations as clients. They spend a good deal of their time changing safe deposit box locks and maintaining vaults and the like. Gaining in popularity is the sale and service of safes for home and business use. You will be exposed to all these specialties and to new technology at seminars, conventions and workshops .
HIGH SECURITY work: A typical locksmith is a "general practitioner," while the high-security locksmith is a "specialist." High security work is often done for major corporations, government institutions, large banks, race tracks, museums and wealthy private individuals who desire maximum security. Often this work involves access control systems using card readers or voice print equipment, possibly combined with electronic push-button locks that work off a combination of numbers known only to a very few individuals.
In addition to these major areas of activity, locksmiths the world over do key duplicating and impressioning, which is the replacing of lost keys with custom made copies, and a wide variety of other types of sales, repair and service work.
In order to achieve maximum profitability as a locksmith, you must be able to offer all these services to your customers. Locks and security are of prime concern to your customers, and it follows that when a customer wants help in this area, he wants it taken care of immediately. Thus, you must position yourself to handle his job immediately, or lose him to a locksmith who can take care of his needs on the spot.
Do some market research. Analyze your local market area before you embark upon this business. This can be done via letters to the local locksmithing association, Chamber of Commerce, or even by checking through the yellow pages. As important as
anything else, you'll want to know how many locksmiths are already operating in your area, and how much of the market you can expect to attract with your business. Most industry experts agree that any more than one locksmith for every 30,000 people tends to
saturate the market. However, you should study the operations of the existing locksmiths to determine if you can capture a good portion of the existing market by offering more and better service, especially with a well-planned effort towards the commercial and industrial accounts. In many areas, the established locksmiths have been in business for 20 years or more, and are not interested in expanding their businesses to include the newer and more intricate types of protection available.
Look your market over. Determine if there's been any real effort made to "sell" the market on upgraded protection. Door-to-door sales efforts; direct mail advertising campaigns; local "hard sell" newspaper advertising; home protection and business security
seminars, are angles that can be used to launch your business. These approaches should prove to be especially profitable if the existing locksmiths have been sitting back and letting the people come to them when they have a problem. Get to know the building
contractors and start bidding on the installation of locks on their building projects. You will get your share of the business, even though at first you may get contracts only from the new builders who have not had experience with other locksmiths.
For a fast start in this business, we suggest that you set yourself up with a van and take your business to your customers. It isn't absolutely necessary to buy a van off the showroom floor and outfit it with all the equipment you'll ultimately need for a full service locksmithing business. That would be nice, but it would probably run you close to $50,000 or more. By shopping around, you should be able to pick up a good, late model used van for about $3,000. You might be able to work an even better deal by leasing a new van, and writing off your payments as a business tax deduction. One thing you'll definitely want to consider is a van that has a raised roof in order for you to stand upright in it. After all, you'll be doing most of your work in it, and to have to stoop all the time would soon become quite tiring.
Generally, you can run a workbench down either or both sides of your van, building in adequate storage shelves and drawers under the workbenches. Above the workbenches, and on the sides of the van, peg-board works very well for hanging your tools and key blanks. You'll need 110-volt as well as 12-volt outlets for power. This is accomplished with either a power converter or ready-line generator. Definitely something to think about is the addition of an air conditioning unit.
Whether you do or don't start out with a van, you'll need a variety of equipment. Your first basic investment should be a key duplicating machine. This is the machine you'll be using to take one key and make copies. You'll also need a key-coding machine
which will allow you to turn keys out to new codes. This machine will be essential for the combinating work you'll be doing. These two machines will be the workhorses of your business - the basic machines you'll need to call yourself a locksmith. So shop around
and be sure you get good quality, dependable machines to do the work for you.
You'll also need a wide variety of hand tools such as files, jigs, drills, screwdrivers, micrometer, and mortising tools. You may also want to check out the additional profit potential of your owning a hand key-coding machine. You should also have a pin kit,
plus key blanks, locks, and padlocks. Depending on how aggressively you intend to pursue the different areas of the locksmithing business, you should plan to invest at least $1,000 for a beginning operating inventory of spare parts, locks and key blanks. Before ordering your inventory, work with your area distributors or suppliers to determine the most frequently needed locks and keys.
By creating a professional image, turning out quality work, and having a van that enables you to take your business to the customer, you'll be able to charge accordingly. It's just that simple. Because traditionally, locksmiths have located themselves in "hole-in-the-wall" storefront shops or more recently in shopping center parking lots, most have never charged more than a pittance for their work. In other words, they have been under-
pricing themselves.
The great advantage of being mobile is that you can take your services to the customer, and should be able to charge $25 to $35 per hour (or more) for an installation or repair call. A good way to upgrade your business is to take your services to the upper
income areas, because they not only have more to protect, but are more likely to appreciate the value of your services, and pay promptly.
When pricing the locks you sell, always mark your procurement cost up by at least 30 percent. Thus, if you were to buy locks at a wholesale price of $14 you would charge your customer $18.50 for the lock, plus your installation charge. If a key blank costs you
$1, your price to the customer would be $1.65 plus whatever portion of an hour you figure it takes you to turn it out or duplicate it. What we're saying here is to always consider the base cost of your supplies, plus a profit margin for yourself, and then the installation charge. Thus a two-hour job to install a couple of deadbolt locks, with keys, might run the customer $75 or $80.
The best quality work, and the lowest prices in town, are of no value whatsoever if you have no customers, so you must aggressively seek out customers. Don't wait for them to come to you. Knowledge and concerted efforts in advertising, promotion, and personal sales will bring you customers. As mentioned earlier in this report, you can and should use door-to-door circularizing, direct mail, local newspaper, and seminar type sales efforts. And don't forget the tremendous advantage of using the telephone.
Run an ad in your local papers calling for commission sales people. Hire them to call on homeowners door-to-door and to sell the idea of up-grading their locks. You'll need a preplanned sales program along with a good breakdown on your costs versus
expected income.
Direct mail campaigns can be as simple as making up advertising circulars or flyers and hiring students to deliver them, or hand them out to shoppers in busy shopping centers. The best angle here is to offer a free check of their locks. Show them how easily a burglar could open their doors; and then propose new locks for all their doors at a special price. You should feel no reservation about putting a little fear into the prospect;
remember burglary is real, and frightening!
Local newspaper advertising can be as simple as a regularly run advertisement announcing your business location and phone number. However, it's best used to "splash" a special offer such as the replacement of all key-in-the-knob front door locks with deadbolt locks for half the regular price. Whenever you spend money to advertise, really go after new business. Once you've installed or replaced the lock on one door, it's only natural to check the adequacy of the locks on the other doors, and thus you should be able to realize some real profits from your advertised special offer.
Promoting and selling your services via Home Protection Seminars could work like this: You rent meeting space in a church, school, fraternal organization facilities, or even the meeting room of a popular motel. Run lots of flamboyant advertising in your local papers announcing your seminar. Have brochures made up describing your services. Have your materials arranged so that you will get the name, address and telephone number of everyone who attends. Put on a short half-hour to 45-minute presentation first about the increase in the number of burglaries and the losses sustained, and then follow through with
a presentation describing the proper ways to insure the security of a home or business. Contact your suppliers, and through them you may be able to come up with a slide presentation of a complete program detailing how their line of locks, alarms and other security devices will burglar-proof a home or business. Make sure that everyone in attendance gets one of your brochures, and then have sales people follow up on all who attended.
Via telephone, your sales people can sell homeowners and business owners on a free survey. Commission sales people to make the survey appointments. Then have a commission sales person call on these prospects and make a quick survey, thens it down with them and make recommendations on how they can improve the security of their home or business. From there, it's a natural lead-in to "we call do the job" for (whatever) amount of money.
The seminar and telemarketing angles can be very profitable for you, and if promoted properly, will build your business faster than all other plans put together. The important thing to keep in mind is that you must be aggressive and go out after customers.
By all means, take advantage of the direct mail opportunities. Have a flyer or circular made up elaborating on your services, specifically the upgrading of current security and burglar-proofing of a home or business. Hire students to deliver these door-to-door, and commission sales people to contact and follow up via telephone.
Once you've got your sales efforts to homeowners and local businesses organized, hire a couple of sharp commission sales people to call on the government agencies and institutions such as hospitals and schools. By all means, buy a good-sized display ad
in the yellow pages of your area telephone directory; and if possible, display advertising on buses or commuter trains. Use your knowledge of how easy it is to burglarize most homes and businesses to come up with angles to get your name, and the name of your business, written up in local newspapers and other publications. Make yourself available for interviews by local radio and television talk shows, civic clubs and fraternal organizations.
Innovation and persistence in marketing will be the keys to your immediate success. As we've stated in this report, most locksmiths are craftsmen who do good work, but just don't understand the merchandising and selling opportunities. With the business and marketing skills we've touched upon, plus quality workmanship (which you can hire others to perform for you) should be able to quickly establish a profitable business that will continue to grow and prosper.
Associations, schools and publishers:
Associated Locksmiths of America, Inc.
3003 Live Oak St.
Dallas, TX 75204
National Locksmith Suppliers Association
95 E. Valley Stream Blvd.
Valley Stream, NY 11580
Foley-Belsaw Institute
Box 8525
Kansas City, MO 64141
Locksmith Business Management School
6301 Equitable Road
Emeryville, CA 94608
Security Systems Management School
1500 Cardinal Drive
Little Falls, NJ 07424
Locksmith Ledger
1800 Oakton St.
Des Plaines, IL 60018
SMALL BUSINESS
by tycoon2k webmaster
The locks on the doors of most homes keep the skilled burglar out for about 30 seconds! This is especially true if the only thing slowing him down is a standard key-in-the-knob lock.
Statistically, there's about one residential burglary every 30 seconds in this country. Traditionally, as the economy falters and times get harder, the number tends to rise.
Quite naturally, people are concerned and frightened. As a result, locksmithing is not only one of the new "demand" businesses, it's rapidly becoming one of the more profitable businesses for entrepreneurs with not too much capital to invest .
Today's locksmiths are usually well versed in mathematics and basic electronics. They almost have to be, what with the new types of locks being introduced. Today's locksmith is more likely to be known as a "Security Specialist", than as just ordinary locksmith, as in the past .
Even so, most locksmithing businesses are still one-man operations. In many instances, it's a husband and wife family affair, with the husband handling the mechanical end and the wife the books and financial end of the business. Most of these small operations concentrate on the repair side of the business, and deliberately choose to remain small in size. As we will discuss later, however, this need not be the case; these small businesses can "grow up."
According to the area in which he is located, an established, well organized and trained locksmith may gross between $50,000 and $60,000 per year, using a van as a mobile "workshop," and space in his home as an office. Remember: As the economy turns toward recession, burglaries increase and people become aware of the need for better locks to protect what they own; thus the locksmith enjoys an increased income during hard times.
Just because locksmithing is a "personal" kind of business, and can be started on a shoestring and operated out of the home, that's not to say that a locksmithing service cannot be developed into a million dollar business. On the contrary, there are a number of operations in some of the larger metropolitan areas that have several mobile locksmith vans on the road, in addition to retail store locations. These operations are grossing well into the million dollar figures every year.
It's a matter of desire, determination and personal fulfillment and satisfaction. Attitude, marketing skills and general business knowledge are also positive attributes necessary for real success. Very definitely, the sharp businessman with determined ambition can dominate any market with a modern locksmithing service.
The key ingredient to this business is the utilization of proper marketing and selling skills. It goes without saying: You can know all there is about the mechanical functioning of a business, but without innovative marketing and selling skills, your business will surely flounder.
However, given the marketing know-how, plus persistent sales efforts, you can succeed in this business with the knowledge you can acquire of the technical side. The success of any business is built upon the marketing and sales expertise of its founder,
because after all, "mechanics" can always be hired, if you decide to go that route rather than learn the trade and the business.
Your marketing efforts should stress the theme that your services will allay the fears of your buyers. You want to get across to your prospective customers the sense of security your service will provide. You can make them safe in their own homes; no longer will they have to worry about being rudely awakened in the middle of the night by a burglar rustling around in their house; no longer will they have to worry about coming home to a house that's been cleaned out or ransacked.
Once you understand that fear is a basic human instinct, it's easy to see that virtually everyone can be a prospect for your services as a locksmith. Your potential market includes everyone in your area, because everyone has possessions. So every
homeowner, every apartment dweller, every business owner, all the schools, churches, government institutions, and a wide variety of other commercial and industrial accounts can be yours.
In this day and age, new homeowners and apartment dwellers want the locks changed the day they move in, so that former occupants and other keyholders will not have access to their place. In addition, there will probably be the need for additional keys for each member of the new family, now that new, safer locks have been installed.
Commercial and industrial accounts present an even more lucrative market. Larger companies tend to want their keys "departmentalized," so that office workers can get into the building on weekends, but not into the factory or shipping areas, and vice
versa. Banks and savings institutions frequently need the safe deposit locks changed.
Generally speaking, newcomers to this field should focus their efforts on the commercial and industrial area as soon as possible. The commercial market is vast, and often up for grabs in many areas. In addition, the profit margins in these areas are excellent! With one of these accounts you'll have work paying about $500 or more per visit, compared with $25 to $50 per visit for a residential job. With commercial/industrial accounts, there's also the possibility of ongoing service and maintenance. Definitely, the commercial/industrial business is well worth going after, and can put your business in the black very rapidly. However, it does take aggressiveness, and the determination to
sell these accounts.
Start small. Consider working out of your home in the beginning. Most of today's successful locksmiths began by working out of their homes, with the family car or van outfitted with the tools and equipment needed. Such an approach will enable you to
get started for as little as $1,000. You should be aware however, that this is just a beginning, and not all it's going to take to really establish your business. With this level of investment, you're more or less limited in the business you can handle and the money you can make. Locksmiths who want to make the really big money should be investing all their early profits into more equipment and inventory up to a level where they can offer complete full-service locksmithing. Such a business would require at least $5,000 in equipment, perhaps even $10,000, depending on how many different services you want to offer. This estimate for start-up costs does not include your van or inventory of spare
parts and new locks.
Perhaps a quick word of caution is in order here. You've no doubt seen or heard some of the advertisements promising all kinds of big money to be made with your own locksmithing service; "Just send for the learn-at-home correspondence course , and you'll be home free." It's true that you can earn big money in this business, but as we've noted earlier, without a lot of sharp marketing and selling expertise, plus at least the essential
equipment to handle the kind of work these courses teach, enrolling in one of these courses will put you no further ahead than you are right now. This business requires equipment and knowledge.
You can make excellent money as a locksmith, so long as you operate your business capably and in a professional manner. But without a full line of the equipment required to handle a wide variety of jobs, you will be limiting your total income potential.
The more you invest in quality equipment, the more different kinds of jobs you can handle, and thus the more money you'll be capable of making.
This is definitely a business in which you decide for yourself exactly how far and how fast you want to go. As we've said, some operators are perfectly content to work out of their homes, using a mobile van. They don't want the larger problems involved in hiring employees, or the expense of maintaining a retail location.
But to make the really big money in this business, starting small and working out of your home, you should plan to put more mobile trucks on the road, and as soon as possible, open a retail location. Each mobile van will give you another satellite business, and a retail location will afford you a base headquarters for your mobile vans.
It is of the utmost importance that you build and maintain a professional image as a quality locksmithing operation from the start. Clinging to the craftsman type of image will be of advantage only if you wish to stay in the "Mom and Pop" category.
You should endeavor to handle all jobs as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Outfitting yourself and your help in sharp looking uniforms will help. Making your calls in a clean, well-organized van will also play an important part in the image your customers have of your business. You want your customers to have confidence in your business, and in the quality of work you do for them. When they do, you'll find they are more likely to
pay their bills with fewer reminders.
Think of it like this: A large invoice presented by a man in a clean uniform who drives up in a good looking truck and does quality work is going to be paid more readily than one for $25 presented by a guy in grubby jeans who drove up in a 10-year old decrepit truck.
With so many technological changes occurring within this field on an almost monthly basis, it's to your advantage to stay on top of what's happening within the locksmithing field. This means subscribing to some of the better trade publications. You should be attending the various Locksmithing Association promoted seminars and workshops that offer on-going help in both the technical and financial side of this business. In other words, you should plan to keep yourself up to date with a program of continuous learning.
There are several ways to get started in this business. You can buy an existing operation from a retiring craftsman. Ask him to help you with the technical side of the operation while you spend most of your time actively promoting and managing the business. Or, you can hire the technical help you need, and the sales force to build the business while you do the managing. You can enroll in one of the popular correspondence courses, become involved in the business as you learn from the various trade publications, and progress at your own speed. Our recommendation is that you learn the fiscal and management side of the business, and hire others to handle the mechanical or technical side. Thus the purpose of this report is to indoctrinate you on the business side. To explain the technical details of this business would take volumes, and probably much of the information contained would be out-dated by the time it came off the press.
However, we will provide you with an outline of the most common types of jobs a locksmith should be able to handle.
RECOMBINATION LOCKS: A customer may want to change an existing lock to work off a new key - the most common type of lock being the key-in-the-knob cylinder or pin tumbler lock. When the proper key is inserted in the keyway, spring-loaded pins are pushed up and out of the cylinder, allowing the plug to turn, and opening the lock. When recombinating, you're changing the depth of these pins so that a new key is the only one that will work. Most house, auto and padlocks are the pin-tumbler variety. Different brands of locks use different depths, spaces and keyways. But with a given brand of lock, up to 50,000 variations exist. Thus, it's not always necessary to change to a new lock.
COMBINATING ALIKE: Some customers will have a house or a business with several different locks and keys, none of them alike or using the same key. Sometimes these people will want to change to a system that will require the least number of keys to carry around. Here, you'll be required to change the key coding so that one key works all the locks. Sometimes this requires the installation of common door hardware; however, in most cases, you'll find the same brand of locks are used throughout the building.
MASTERKEYING: Apartment owners and other commercial accounts may want dual key access. This is done by using locks with dual pin tumbler sets. One works with the apartment key, the other with the master key. Keys are spoken of in terms of code numbers. These are sets of digits reflecting the depth of serrations. A given lock in a master key setup might respond, for example, to keys with code numbers 1-2-3-4-5 and 6-7-6-9. Mathematical progressions are used in master keying .
LOCKOUTS: Frequently a person finds himself locked out of his home, office, warehouse, car, etc. Invariably this happens at odd hours of the day or night. So opening locks at odd hours of the day and night will be a role you'll definitely play in the lives
of your customers. A typical pin tumbler lock can generally be picked open in about 30 seconds, using either picks or a single piece of spring steel and good wrist work. All locks have tolerances and variations in manufacture which allow you to push the cylinder pins up out of the way while exerting a turning pressure on the cylinder itself.
AUTOMOBILE LOCKOUTS: This problem occurs frequently and will require a different procedure. A tool called a "Slim Shim" is often used here, and works on most domestic and many foreign cars. This is pushed down between the glass and the weather stripping on the door far enough to reach the back of the lock cylinder on the door. You simply push down or pull up . A "button popper" is also used, worked through the weather stripping on vent windows in the older cars, and angled back to the latch button.
LOCK INSTALLATION: Much of your time will be spent installing new locks and door hardware. In many cases, homeowners and business people will want to upgrade their security with the latest model hard-ware for older homes, offices and other buildings. Many locksmiths get involved in new construction of apartment houses, condominiums, shopping centers, and the like. Often you'll be adding more security to an existing door, such as installing a deadbolt lock .
PANIC BARS AND DOOR CLOSERS: Many locksmiths working the commercial or industrial market get involved in the repair and in stallation of panic bars in public access areas. Panic bars are those large metal bars you push on to open the outside doors of many public buildings. Door closers are those hydraulic devices mounted at the top of these doors which return the door to the closed position after it has been opened.
ALARMS, SAFES and VAULTS: The sale and installation of alarms are a natural adjunct to the locksmith thing business. Many larger locksmithing operations move into this area, which is somewhat specialized. Alarms can be the "perimeter" type, which sound when a door is opened after hours, or "area" alarms. "Space" or "area" protection is generally preferred, and involves infrared, ultrasonic or microwave sensors triggering alarms by detecting movement.
Safe and vault work is another specialty. Some locksmiths have major banks and savings and loan associations as clients. They spend a good deal of their time changing safe deposit box locks and maintaining vaults and the like. Gaining in popularity is the sale and service of safes for home and business use. You will be exposed to all these specialties and to new technology at seminars, conventions and workshops .
HIGH SECURITY work: A typical locksmith is a "general practitioner," while the high-security locksmith is a "specialist." High security work is often done for major corporations, government institutions, large banks, race tracks, museums and wealthy private individuals who desire maximum security. Often this work involves access control systems using card readers or voice print equipment, possibly combined with electronic push-button locks that work off a combination of numbers known only to a very few individuals.
In addition to these major areas of activity, locksmiths the world over do key duplicating and impressioning, which is the replacing of lost keys with custom made copies, and a wide variety of other types of sales, repair and service work.
In order to achieve maximum profitability as a locksmith, you must be able to offer all these services to your customers. Locks and security are of prime concern to your customers, and it follows that when a customer wants help in this area, he wants it taken care of immediately. Thus, you must position yourself to handle his job immediately, or lose him to a locksmith who can take care of his needs on the spot.
Do some market research. Analyze your local market area before you embark upon this business. This can be done via letters to the local locksmithing association, Chamber of Commerce, or even by checking through the yellow pages. As important as
anything else, you'll want to know how many locksmiths are already operating in your area, and how much of the market you can expect to attract with your business. Most industry experts agree that any more than one locksmith for every 30,000 people tends to
saturate the market. However, you should study the operations of the existing locksmiths to determine if you can capture a good portion of the existing market by offering more and better service, especially with a well-planned effort towards the commercial and industrial accounts. In many areas, the established locksmiths have been in business for 20 years or more, and are not interested in expanding their businesses to include the newer and more intricate types of protection available.
Look your market over. Determine if there's been any real effort made to "sell" the market on upgraded protection. Door-to-door sales efforts; direct mail advertising campaigns; local "hard sell" newspaper advertising; home protection and business security
seminars, are angles that can be used to launch your business. These approaches should prove to be especially profitable if the existing locksmiths have been sitting back and letting the people come to them when they have a problem. Get to know the building
contractors and start bidding on the installation of locks on their building projects. You will get your share of the business, even though at first you may get contracts only from the new builders who have not had experience with other locksmiths.
For a fast start in this business, we suggest that you set yourself up with a van and take your business to your customers. It isn't absolutely necessary to buy a van off the showroom floor and outfit it with all the equipment you'll ultimately need for a full service locksmithing business. That would be nice, but it would probably run you close to $50,000 or more. By shopping around, you should be able to pick up a good, late model used van for about $3,000. You might be able to work an even better deal by leasing a new van, and writing off your payments as a business tax deduction. One thing you'll definitely want to consider is a van that has a raised roof in order for you to stand upright in it. After all, you'll be doing most of your work in it, and to have to stoop all the time would soon become quite tiring.
Generally, you can run a workbench down either or both sides of your van, building in adequate storage shelves and drawers under the workbenches. Above the workbenches, and on the sides of the van, peg-board works very well for hanging your tools and key blanks. You'll need 110-volt as well as 12-volt outlets for power. This is accomplished with either a power converter or ready-line generator. Definitely something to think about is the addition of an air conditioning unit.
Whether you do or don't start out with a van, you'll need a variety of equipment. Your first basic investment should be a key duplicating machine. This is the machine you'll be using to take one key and make copies. You'll also need a key-coding machine
which will allow you to turn keys out to new codes. This machine will be essential for the combinating work you'll be doing. These two machines will be the workhorses of your business - the basic machines you'll need to call yourself a locksmith. So shop around
and be sure you get good quality, dependable machines to do the work for you.
You'll also need a wide variety of hand tools such as files, jigs, drills, screwdrivers, micrometer, and mortising tools. You may also want to check out the additional profit potential of your owning a hand key-coding machine. You should also have a pin kit,
plus key blanks, locks, and padlocks. Depending on how aggressively you intend to pursue the different areas of the locksmithing business, you should plan to invest at least $1,000 for a beginning operating inventory of spare parts, locks and key blanks. Before ordering your inventory, work with your area distributors or suppliers to determine the most frequently needed locks and keys.
By creating a professional image, turning out quality work, and having a van that enables you to take your business to the customer, you'll be able to charge accordingly. It's just that simple. Because traditionally, locksmiths have located themselves in "hole-in-the-wall" storefront shops or more recently in shopping center parking lots, most have never charged more than a pittance for their work. In other words, they have been under-
pricing themselves.
The great advantage of being mobile is that you can take your services to the customer, and should be able to charge $25 to $35 per hour (or more) for an installation or repair call. A good way to upgrade your business is to take your services to the upper
income areas, because they not only have more to protect, but are more likely to appreciate the value of your services, and pay promptly.
When pricing the locks you sell, always mark your procurement cost up by at least 30 percent. Thus, if you were to buy locks at a wholesale price of $14 you would charge your customer $18.50 for the lock, plus your installation charge. If a key blank costs you
$1, your price to the customer would be $1.65 plus whatever portion of an hour you figure it takes you to turn it out or duplicate it. What we're saying here is to always consider the base cost of your supplies, plus a profit margin for yourself, and then the installation charge. Thus a two-hour job to install a couple of deadbolt locks, with keys, might run the customer $75 or $80.
The best quality work, and the lowest prices in town, are of no value whatsoever if you have no customers, so you must aggressively seek out customers. Don't wait for them to come to you. Knowledge and concerted efforts in advertising, promotion, and personal sales will bring you customers. As mentioned earlier in this report, you can and should use door-to-door circularizing, direct mail, local newspaper, and seminar type sales efforts. And don't forget the tremendous advantage of using the telephone.
Run an ad in your local papers calling for commission sales people. Hire them to call on homeowners door-to-door and to sell the idea of up-grading their locks. You'll need a preplanned sales program along with a good breakdown on your costs versus
expected income.
Direct mail campaigns can be as simple as making up advertising circulars or flyers and hiring students to deliver them, or hand them out to shoppers in busy shopping centers. The best angle here is to offer a free check of their locks. Show them how easily a burglar could open their doors; and then propose new locks for all their doors at a special price. You should feel no reservation about putting a little fear into the prospect;
remember burglary is real, and frightening!
Local newspaper advertising can be as simple as a regularly run advertisement announcing your business location and phone number. However, it's best used to "splash" a special offer such as the replacement of all key-in-the-knob front door locks with deadbolt locks for half the regular price. Whenever you spend money to advertise, really go after new business. Once you've installed or replaced the lock on one door, it's only natural to check the adequacy of the locks on the other doors, and thus you should be able to realize some real profits from your advertised special offer.
Promoting and selling your services via Home Protection Seminars could work like this: You rent meeting space in a church, school, fraternal organization facilities, or even the meeting room of a popular motel. Run lots of flamboyant advertising in your local papers announcing your seminar. Have brochures made up describing your services. Have your materials arranged so that you will get the name, address and telephone number of everyone who attends. Put on a short half-hour to 45-minute presentation first about the increase in the number of burglaries and the losses sustained, and then follow through with
a presentation describing the proper ways to insure the security of a home or business. Contact your suppliers, and through them you may be able to come up with a slide presentation of a complete program detailing how their line of locks, alarms and other security devices will burglar-proof a home or business. Make sure that everyone in attendance gets one of your brochures, and then have sales people follow up on all who attended.
Via telephone, your sales people can sell homeowners and business owners on a free survey. Commission sales people to make the survey appointments. Then have a commission sales person call on these prospects and make a quick survey, thens it down with them and make recommendations on how they can improve the security of their home or business. From there, it's a natural lead-in to "we call do the job" for (whatever) amount of money.
The seminar and telemarketing angles can be very profitable for you, and if promoted properly, will build your business faster than all other plans put together. The important thing to keep in mind is that you must be aggressive and go out after customers.
By all means, take advantage of the direct mail opportunities. Have a flyer or circular made up elaborating on your services, specifically the upgrading of current security and burglar-proofing of a home or business. Hire students to deliver these door-to-door, and commission sales people to contact and follow up via telephone.
Once you've got your sales efforts to homeowners and local businesses organized, hire a couple of sharp commission sales people to call on the government agencies and institutions such as hospitals and schools. By all means, buy a good-sized display ad
in the yellow pages of your area telephone directory; and if possible, display advertising on buses or commuter trains. Use your knowledge of how easy it is to burglarize most homes and businesses to come up with angles to get your name, and the name of your business, written up in local newspapers and other publications. Make yourself available for interviews by local radio and television talk shows, civic clubs and fraternal organizations.
Innovation and persistence in marketing will be the keys to your immediate success. As we've stated in this report, most locksmiths are craftsmen who do good work, but just don't understand the merchandising and selling opportunities. With the business and marketing skills we've touched upon, plus quality workmanship (which you can hire others to perform for you) should be able to quickly establish a profitable business that will continue to grow and prosper.
Associations, schools and publishers:
Associated Locksmiths of America, Inc.
3003 Live Oak St.
Dallas, TX 75204
National Locksmith Suppliers Association
95 E. Valley Stream Blvd.
Valley Stream, NY 11580
Foley-Belsaw Institute
Box 8525
Kansas City, MO 64141
Locksmith Business Management School
6301 Equitable Road
Emeryville, CA 94608
Security Systems Management School
1500 Cardinal Drive
Little Falls, NJ 07424
Locksmith Ledger
1800 Oakton St.
Des Plaines, IL 60018
SMALL BUSINESS
HOW TO START YOUR OWN DAY CARE CENTER
HOW TO START YOUR OWN DAY CARE CENTER
by tycoon2k webmaster
There's a definite need for day care centers as more and more mothers of pre-school age children are forced to find jobs outside the home. This is due in part to the current economy, and unfortunately, to the high divorce rate, which means mothers who
might ordinarily stay at home and care for their own children must seek income to help make ends meet.
Many experts expect the demand to increase through the turn of the century, and the popularity of this type of business to continue growing from there. They base their forecasts on the fact that more and more young parents have happy memories of the
time they spent in day care centers, and the learning experiences they enjoyed. And again, there is the continuing need or desire of young mothers to work outside the home.
Profitable day care centers are much more than glorified baby-sitting services. Social researchers have found that the most important years in a child's development are those from one to six. Thus, the exposure to the world in which he lives, the in struction he receives, and the habits he forms during those years, definitely affect his ability to learn and properly ad just as he progresses on through his years of formal education.
For mothers of today - usually better educated than their mothers - are more aware of these factors and wanting the best for their children, are demanding the structured pre-school education and learning stimulation offered by modern day care centers. This is an honest desire of the mothers of pre-school age children - even those who aren't forced to work outside the home.
Another thing in your favor: Even though there seems to be a trend for many large companies to finance and operate day care centers for their employees in or close by their factories or office buildings, studies show that most working parents prefer to leave their children closer to home than where they work. Thus, privately operated day care centers in residential neighborhood areas should not be worried too much about competition from the few company operated day care centers.
The first step toward start-up of a profitable day care center is to understand what makes them profitable.
There are a lot of day care centers operating with full enrollments of 35 to 65 children, but just barely breaking even. This is generally the result of regulations imposed by the state government, causing exorbitant overhead costs of operation. Basically, you'll need facilities to handle 150 to 200 children in order to realize annual profits in the "before taxes" bracket of $100,000.
Check with your state and local government regulatory agencies. Many states require day care centers to provide a minimum area per child, both inside and outside the building, plus at least one hot meal per day. A licensed teacher for every 15 to 20 children, and even a licensed nurse on the premises may be required. Be sure to know the regulations in your area, and then design your business plan to meet these regulations.
Actually, you can begin by operating a baby-sitting service, by learning and expanding from your profits, and of course, through the long-term benefits of establishing a quality image. In fact, we recommend that you do start small - with a baby sitting service - and build upon your progressive successes. Unless, of course, you have half a million dollars to invest.
Once you're beyond the baby-sitting stage, out of your home and backyard, beginning to build a real day care facility, you might try locating in your church or one of your area's civic club facilities. Also, you should check out the possibilities of renting or buying a vacant house. A large ranch-style home with a large backyard would probably suit your needs at this stage. But be sure you have zoning approval from your city council before signing a rent lease and finalizing your plans.
You might find, if you have your business plan in order, that a church or labor union will sponsor your business, or even offer financial backing. Arranging some sort of partnership or sponsorship agreement with an established local organization will solve a lot of problems for you, not only in the area of space but in assistance with start-up costs and city-father approval.
Incidentally, a day care center is perhaps the ideal business for absentee ownership or a group of professional investors. Keep this fact in mind as you organize your plan and seek financing. See our business report, How To Raise Money For Starting Your Own
Business.
Generally, a "shoestring entrepreneur" in this business will do very well to locate in a vacant convenience store, or even a vacant grocery store in a larger shopping center. The zoning will be in your favor, plus you'll have adequate parking space, and less expense in partitioning or remodeling the building to suit your needs.
Ideally, your day care center should be located on a main thoroughfare, with the building set back from the street. You should be on the right hand side of the street as the traffic heads towards the major business or industrial areas of your community. In larger metropolitan areas, this would be on the city-side of the "bedroom" communities. In smaller communities, you can locate just about anywhere except in the downtown area.
If at all possible, you should plan your facility similar to a hospital or motel entrance. This would be a driveway from the street to your door, usually under a covered drive-thru, with the driveway continuing back out to the street. Your long-term parking space would then be located in the center of the "U" or between the driveway and the street. You want to strive for the convenience for the parent in being able to drive right up to your door. She can drop off the child with only a few steps into your facility and easy access back onto the main thoroughfare.
Depending on your city sign ordinances and your finances, go all out with your sign. Advertise the name of your day care center, the hours you're open, whether you accept drop-ins, overnighters, or weekenders, and of course, your phone number .
The sign makers and advertising people may strongly advise you against so much wording on your sign, but in this instance, don't listen to them. Your sign should state all essential information, and serve to convince passers-by that you can handle their child-
care problems whenever the need arises.
If you initially locate in, or through the sponsorship of a church or labor union, these people can assist you tremendously by including a mention of your services in their membership bulletins, and by passing out circulars or flyers.
You'll need to decide on your regular day care hours. Generally, these are from 6 a.m. through 6 p.m. You'll also need to decide whether you want to offer breakfast for the children. If so, you'll have to plan for a cook and food supplies for morning meals. We'll discuss kitchen facilities and kitchen help later, but the first decision must be if you will include breakfast. You'll already be set up with kitchen facilities and a cook because you will be serving a noon meal. If you do decide to offer breakfast for those parents not wanting to feed their children at home, you'll be able to add $8 to $12 per week to their billing. By buying your food supplies in bulk, you'll probably be able to realize some savings in overall food costs.
Mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks are required in some states, but even where they're not required, they are pretty much standard fare in most day care centers. Fresh fruit, cookies, and juice are the usual snack foods served in most day care centers.
As mentioned earlier, you'll definitely be providing a hot meal for the children at noon. This entails a cook, dishes, planned menus, food supplies in bulk, and perhaps even small size table and chairs. You'll also have to have kitchen help and facilities for washing the dishes.
These are just some of the important overhead costs you must plan for, and of course you will work to keep them as low as possible. As you should know by now, the greater your overhead, the more children you're going to have to take in, and the more
children you take in, the greater your space requirements.
All profitable day care centers operate according to planned routines. The day is broken down into one-hour segments, with pre-planned curriculam, much the same as classes at a public school.
A typical day begins with a play period from whenever the children arrive until about 9 o'clock. For this, you'll need indoor sand boxes, toys and perhaps a family-sized television set. From 9 to 10, the children are separated into groups - generally by ages - and you hold a reading or story-telling session. The mid-morning snack time is scheduled sometime between 10 to 11. For the younger children, this might include a mid-morning nap. After snack time, a learning session is usually held. Typically, this is the time when guests are invited in to speak or entertain the children.
Work with your Chamber of Commerce, civic clubs, and city administration for guests. Children will especially enjoy visits by policemen, firemen and others who talk to them about citizenship, show films, and teach them about the things they do in the community.
You can also get upperclassmen at your local colleges to visit and demonstrate such things as drawing, working with clay, building with wood, making things out of paper, and hundreds of other talents or skills they might be learning. The important
thing is to bring "outsiders" in to talk to the kids about what goes on in their world.
Noon to 1 o'clock is generally lunch time, and from 1 until 2 is another learning session. During this afternoon learning session, you might offer the rudiments of reading, writing and arithmetic. These teaching chores can be handled by college students studying to be teachers, retired teachers, or unemployed persons with teaching certificates. It's not so much a session to teach proficiency as a time to stimulate interest in formal education. The basic goal of most day care centers is to instill within each child a desire to learn more about the world in which he lives. Thus, each child should be full of plans for "when I get to be six years old and start school, I'm going to..."
About once a week, your afternoon learning session should be a tour or a trip to some place that might be interesting as well as educational for the children. Again, you're making the idea of learning not only interesting, but an exciting ad venture as well.
These trips can be anything from a walk in your immediate neighborhood to loading all the kids into cars or onto buses and taking them to the zoo. Check it out first, but on the whole, you'll find most businesses in your area will welcome opportunities to show the children around their offices or factories. The same thing quite naturally applies to your city offices, fire department, police department, and radio or television stations.
On days when you don't have a trip scheduled, your "learning session" might be a film or program related to nature, particularly animals. The advent of the Video Cassette Recorder has opened endless possibilities in this area. Nap time and snack time will fill a period for younger ones, and books and quiet games will occupy older children who do not take a nap. When the nap period is over, they're allowed to play until their parents
come by to pick them up.
Whenever possible, you should encourage the children to be outside during play periods. If you have lots of playground equipment, you won't necessarily always have to have organized games, but you will have to have a playground supervisor - someone
to watch the children and see that they don't get hurt as they play. You can hire part-time help for this chore, perhaps from the local colleges, for minimum wage. If your city ordinances do not cover the specific age requirements of a playground supervisor, you might be able to hire students from your neighborhood high school. Select all the people you hire relative to their affinity with children and their dependability. Be aware of today's climate of extreme concern in protecting children in day care situations.
Your playground will require a fenced-in area. Drive around and look at the playground equipment in the playyards of your public schools and at day care centers in your area. You should have the basic sandboxes, swings, slides and jungle gyms but in
this area you can be creative and original, provided your equipment meets safety standards.
Some states require that you have a registered nurse on the premises, but generally, the main things needed are medical information from the parents and a written procedure to follow in case of accident or illness. Basically, when a child is injured
or be comes ill, you should take him to the nearest medical center, while another staff person gets in touch with the parents, and explains what happened. If the parent cannot be present at the medical center, all information should be passed on to him/her immediately it is available.
It's a good idea to have all your helpers indoctrinated with basic Red Cross first aid knowledge, and have a well-equipped first aid kit on the premises. As for any requirements relative to a full-time nurse, you should be able to hire registered nurses
who are either not working or looking for extra income. You might be able to "hire the license" of a registered nurse. You pay a small fee to hang her license in your office, and she agrees to be available to serve your needs when you call.
Most day care centers are currently charging from $35 to $65 per child for a five day week, plus $5 to $10 more for the inclusion of breakfast, with another $l per meal when they serve an evening meal to the child. If you do not receive pay in advance, you can very quickly get "in the red." We strong suggest setting up your financial structure and clients' payment schedules with this in mind.
By having your customers pay in advance, you'll eliminate a lot of bookkeeping chores and time, the problems of collections, and you'll have operating funds with which to run the business. A point to stress when asking for payment by the month, in advance,
is that because monthly payments are based on only four weeks of day care, they'll be getting a week of free service every three months.
Every profitable day care center requires a sharp manager or director. This person might be yourself, or someone you hire for the job. Regardless, this person will be the key to your success. The director should have an empathy with people, be an excellent judge of people, be sales oriented, and have an outgoing personality. As much as anything else, this person must have the ability to listen to, and really hear what other people are saying
without the influence of preconceived opinions, or making snap decisions. This person has to have the success of your business in mind at all times, which means building and maintaining an impeccable reputation.
Your director will be responsible for the hiring and supervision of your other help and the budgeting, scheduling and overall day-to-day operation of the business. It is imperative to the success of your business that you have the very best person you can get in this position, regardless of the cost. A good director for a day care center will command a salary equal to teachers in your public schools, plus fringe benefit allowances
such as free enrollment for their children and perhaps medical and dental insurance if you choose to provide group coverage.
When a prospective client calls to ask you about your services, you should explain how you operate, and emphasize your invitation for them to bring their child in so that the two of them can be taken for a tour of your facilities.
Once in the center, your manager or director takes the parent and child on a tour, all the while explaining to parent the advantages of the center's structured learning and play program as compared with everyday run-of-the-mill baby-sitting services. It's important to have the child along, because as he sees the other children at play, he will be drawn to them, and this will greatly influence the parent in deciding that your center is the
right place for his child.
After the tour, steer the parent back into your administrative offices and propose enrollment of the child. Begin by asking where the parent works, what hours and if he or she ever has to work overtime. You then ascertain the hours they'll want to drop off and pick up their child.
Strict procedures are absolutely essential regarding the pick- up of any child. Frightening as it may be to contemplate, we have all read accounts of strangers (or non-custodial parent) kidnapping a child. Printed forms must be provided, and authorization signatures must be compared when anyone other than the legal guardian takes a child from your care. You will learn these requirements from your licensing office. Our advice to you is to follow them meticulously.
You should have a slickly printed, quality brochure showing your rates, your services, an outline of the curriculum, and a statement of your benefit goals for the children.
Check with a legally qualified person about the need for a contract. The parent will probably simply fill out a questionnaire-file card giving address, place of employment,
medical information about the child, and place he or she may be reached in case of emergency.
Most day care centers accept all children between two and six years of age. And there are many nowadays who take infants from six weeks. Of course, your personnel in this situation will be thoroughly oriented in infant care, and you must ascertain if these babies are well when brought in to you. Otherwise, you put yourself in the position of "hospital" care instead of day care.
Generally, children aren't allowed to bring toys from home. You may want to allow the children to bring their own blanket from home for nap time, but if you allowed toys from home you would be opening "Pandora's box" of possible problems relating to sharing and ownership. In light of this, you will want a full complement of appropriate toys and play items in your center.
If you decide to include short-term baby-sitting services, a good idea would be to include within the layout of your facilities a small one-bedroom apartment for a live-in or couple. An older retired couple would be ideal, with the husband serving also as maintenance and handy-man.
Around-the-clock baby-sitting services, in addition to your regular day care center, can add tremendous and immediate cash-flow profits to your business, but correspondingly increase your payroll for qualified personnel. Such services would enable the parents to drop their children off in the evening, and leave them around the clock or over the weekend. There will generally be no need for any planned program because these children will be sleeping during most of the time they're in your care.
As you establish the image and reputation of your day care center, the parents in your area will be much more inclined to leave their children with you for baby-sitting duties. And because you are considered tops in the area of responsibility , you'll be able to charge the very top rate of the baby-sitting fee structure. Keep current with fees charged by other quality businesses similar to yours.
The demand for unplanned or emergency baby-sitting services is very large. Not too many day care centers are aware of this potential for extra profits yet, but the ones that are find that their incomes can increase by 30 percent or more! We certainly
recommend consideration of this idea for anyone involved in a day care service.
Another area that could mean enhanced profits for you is bus or van pick-up service for the children. Of course, this would increase your operating costs (and consequently your fees) but the convenience of pick-up is gaining in popularity. You'll need a custodian for indoor and outdoor cleanup, and if you have access to a bus or van, he could be assigned additional duties as the driver. Some day care centers offering pick-up service for their children contract with local transportation services to provide this service. Be certain of the driving experience of your driver if you contract for this transportation service.
Most day care centers open with very little fanfare or advertising. Generally, even without advertising most are reporting 90 percent capacity enrollment within six months.
With grand opening fanfare, and a strong advertising campaign, you should be able to be at 90 percent capacity within your first six weeks. In an area where a severe short age of day care facilities exists, and with the right advertising and promotion, even sooner.
Your first step should be the door-to-door, hand-out distribution of a quality informative brochure. To save on costs, you can hire students attending advertising classes in your area colleges or even a free lance advertising copywriter to help you with the design and writing of this brochure. However, the bottom line should be that you have a good commercial printer do the printing on the best paper you can afford. All of this has to do with the image you're wanting to create, and the quality of the service the "buyers" feel they're getting for the prices you are charging. Don't skimp on your brochure - you're aiming at people looking for the best place for their children.
You should place at least a two-column by four-inch grand opening display ad in your local newspapers. At the same time, you should place similar ads in the local magazines and other publications catering to the working mother. Send along a group
picture of your staff, and a story about your services with your advertising order. Phone the editors at your local newspapers, radio and TV stations and invite them out to your grand opening.
Be sure to place a "service information" ad in the yellow pages of your telephone directory. This should be the largest size you can afford. And remember that you need to make contact for a yellow page ad well in advance of the release date of the directory.
After your grand opening, and until you attain full capacity, continue to hand out your brochures at the entrances to the office buildings which house companies employing working mothers. Continue to run ads in your local newspaper, although these ads
needn't be quite as large or run as regularly as the grand opening ads. Run an ad in the classified section describing your baby-sitting services.
At your grand opening, offer free refreshments for everyone. Coffee and punch for the adults, with juice for the children, and cookies for everyone. You should have members of your staff circulating among the parents to answer any questions and hand out
brochures about the center.
You can begin small, and expand in stages with your profits. However, you must draw up a long-range plan detailing exactly what you intend to do, and each milestone you'll have to pass before proceeding to your next goal. In this way, you c an succeed and
attain not only the ultimate business, but also the kind of profits planned at the start.
The basic, and bottom line secret to success with your own day care center will be your ability to hold your costs in line while achieving maximum capacity enrollment. You've got the plan, and my best wishes for success!
HOME BASED BUSINESS
by tycoon2k webmaster
There's a definite need for day care centers as more and more mothers of pre-school age children are forced to find jobs outside the home. This is due in part to the current economy, and unfortunately, to the high divorce rate, which means mothers who
might ordinarily stay at home and care for their own children must seek income to help make ends meet.
Many experts expect the demand to increase through the turn of the century, and the popularity of this type of business to continue growing from there. They base their forecasts on the fact that more and more young parents have happy memories of the
time they spent in day care centers, and the learning experiences they enjoyed. And again, there is the continuing need or desire of young mothers to work outside the home.
Profitable day care centers are much more than glorified baby-sitting services. Social researchers have found that the most important years in a child's development are those from one to six. Thus, the exposure to the world in which he lives, the in struction he receives, and the habits he forms during those years, definitely affect his ability to learn and properly ad just as he progresses on through his years of formal education.
For mothers of today - usually better educated than their mothers - are more aware of these factors and wanting the best for their children, are demanding the structured pre-school education and learning stimulation offered by modern day care centers. This is an honest desire of the mothers of pre-school age children - even those who aren't forced to work outside the home.
Another thing in your favor: Even though there seems to be a trend for many large companies to finance and operate day care centers for their employees in or close by their factories or office buildings, studies show that most working parents prefer to leave their children closer to home than where they work. Thus, privately operated day care centers in residential neighborhood areas should not be worried too much about competition from the few company operated day care centers.
The first step toward start-up of a profitable day care center is to understand what makes them profitable.
There are a lot of day care centers operating with full enrollments of 35 to 65 children, but just barely breaking even. This is generally the result of regulations imposed by the state government, causing exorbitant overhead costs of operation. Basically, you'll need facilities to handle 150 to 200 children in order to realize annual profits in the "before taxes" bracket of $100,000.
Check with your state and local government regulatory agencies. Many states require day care centers to provide a minimum area per child, both inside and outside the building, plus at least one hot meal per day. A licensed teacher for every 15 to 20 children, and even a licensed nurse on the premises may be required. Be sure to know the regulations in your area, and then design your business plan to meet these regulations.
Actually, you can begin by operating a baby-sitting service, by learning and expanding from your profits, and of course, through the long-term benefits of establishing a quality image. In fact, we recommend that you do start small - with a baby sitting service - and build upon your progressive successes. Unless, of course, you have half a million dollars to invest.
Once you're beyond the baby-sitting stage, out of your home and backyard, beginning to build a real day care facility, you might try locating in your church or one of your area's civic club facilities. Also, you should check out the possibilities of renting or buying a vacant house. A large ranch-style home with a large backyard would probably suit your needs at this stage. But be sure you have zoning approval from your city council before signing a rent lease and finalizing your plans.
You might find, if you have your business plan in order, that a church or labor union will sponsor your business, or even offer financial backing. Arranging some sort of partnership or sponsorship agreement with an established local organization will solve a lot of problems for you, not only in the area of space but in assistance with start-up costs and city-father approval.
Incidentally, a day care center is perhaps the ideal business for absentee ownership or a group of professional investors. Keep this fact in mind as you organize your plan and seek financing. See our business report, How To Raise Money For Starting Your Own
Business.
Generally, a "shoestring entrepreneur" in this business will do very well to locate in a vacant convenience store, or even a vacant grocery store in a larger shopping center. The zoning will be in your favor, plus you'll have adequate parking space, and less expense in partitioning or remodeling the building to suit your needs.
Ideally, your day care center should be located on a main thoroughfare, with the building set back from the street. You should be on the right hand side of the street as the traffic heads towards the major business or industrial areas of your community. In larger metropolitan areas, this would be on the city-side of the "bedroom" communities. In smaller communities, you can locate just about anywhere except in the downtown area.
If at all possible, you should plan your facility similar to a hospital or motel entrance. This would be a driveway from the street to your door, usually under a covered drive-thru, with the driveway continuing back out to the street. Your long-term parking space would then be located in the center of the "U" or between the driveway and the street. You want to strive for the convenience for the parent in being able to drive right up to your door. She can drop off the child with only a few steps into your facility and easy access back onto the main thoroughfare.
Depending on your city sign ordinances and your finances, go all out with your sign. Advertise the name of your day care center, the hours you're open, whether you accept drop-ins, overnighters, or weekenders, and of course, your phone number .
The sign makers and advertising people may strongly advise you against so much wording on your sign, but in this instance, don't listen to them. Your sign should state all essential information, and serve to convince passers-by that you can handle their child-
care problems whenever the need arises.
If you initially locate in, or through the sponsorship of a church or labor union, these people can assist you tremendously by including a mention of your services in their membership bulletins, and by passing out circulars or flyers.
You'll need to decide on your regular day care hours. Generally, these are from 6 a.m. through 6 p.m. You'll also need to decide whether you want to offer breakfast for the children. If so, you'll have to plan for a cook and food supplies for morning meals. We'll discuss kitchen facilities and kitchen help later, but the first decision must be if you will include breakfast. You'll already be set up with kitchen facilities and a cook because you will be serving a noon meal. If you do decide to offer breakfast for those parents not wanting to feed their children at home, you'll be able to add $8 to $12 per week to their billing. By buying your food supplies in bulk, you'll probably be able to realize some savings in overall food costs.
Mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks are required in some states, but even where they're not required, they are pretty much standard fare in most day care centers. Fresh fruit, cookies, and juice are the usual snack foods served in most day care centers.
As mentioned earlier, you'll definitely be providing a hot meal for the children at noon. This entails a cook, dishes, planned menus, food supplies in bulk, and perhaps even small size table and chairs. You'll also have to have kitchen help and facilities for washing the dishes.
These are just some of the important overhead costs you must plan for, and of course you will work to keep them as low as possible. As you should know by now, the greater your overhead, the more children you're going to have to take in, and the more
children you take in, the greater your space requirements.
All profitable day care centers operate according to planned routines. The day is broken down into one-hour segments, with pre-planned curriculam, much the same as classes at a public school.
A typical day begins with a play period from whenever the children arrive until about 9 o'clock. For this, you'll need indoor sand boxes, toys and perhaps a family-sized television set. From 9 to 10, the children are separated into groups - generally by ages - and you hold a reading or story-telling session. The mid-morning snack time is scheduled sometime between 10 to 11. For the younger children, this might include a mid-morning nap. After snack time, a learning session is usually held. Typically, this is the time when guests are invited in to speak or entertain the children.
Work with your Chamber of Commerce, civic clubs, and city administration for guests. Children will especially enjoy visits by policemen, firemen and others who talk to them about citizenship, show films, and teach them about the things they do in the community.
You can also get upperclassmen at your local colleges to visit and demonstrate such things as drawing, working with clay, building with wood, making things out of paper, and hundreds of other talents or skills they might be learning. The important
thing is to bring "outsiders" in to talk to the kids about what goes on in their world.
Noon to 1 o'clock is generally lunch time, and from 1 until 2 is another learning session. During this afternoon learning session, you might offer the rudiments of reading, writing and arithmetic. These teaching chores can be handled by college students studying to be teachers, retired teachers, or unemployed persons with teaching certificates. It's not so much a session to teach proficiency as a time to stimulate interest in formal education. The basic goal of most day care centers is to instill within each child a desire to learn more about the world in which he lives. Thus, each child should be full of plans for "when I get to be six years old and start school, I'm going to..."
About once a week, your afternoon learning session should be a tour or a trip to some place that might be interesting as well as educational for the children. Again, you're making the idea of learning not only interesting, but an exciting ad venture as well.
These trips can be anything from a walk in your immediate neighborhood to loading all the kids into cars or onto buses and taking them to the zoo. Check it out first, but on the whole, you'll find most businesses in your area will welcome opportunities to show the children around their offices or factories. The same thing quite naturally applies to your city offices, fire department, police department, and radio or television stations.
On days when you don't have a trip scheduled, your "learning session" might be a film or program related to nature, particularly animals. The advent of the Video Cassette Recorder has opened endless possibilities in this area. Nap time and snack time will fill a period for younger ones, and books and quiet games will occupy older children who do not take a nap. When the nap period is over, they're allowed to play until their parents
come by to pick them up.
Whenever possible, you should encourage the children to be outside during play periods. If you have lots of playground equipment, you won't necessarily always have to have organized games, but you will have to have a playground supervisor - someone
to watch the children and see that they don't get hurt as they play. You can hire part-time help for this chore, perhaps from the local colleges, for minimum wage. If your city ordinances do not cover the specific age requirements of a playground supervisor, you might be able to hire students from your neighborhood high school. Select all the people you hire relative to their affinity with children and their dependability. Be aware of today's climate of extreme concern in protecting children in day care situations.
Your playground will require a fenced-in area. Drive around and look at the playground equipment in the playyards of your public schools and at day care centers in your area. You should have the basic sandboxes, swings, slides and jungle gyms but in
this area you can be creative and original, provided your equipment meets safety standards.
Some states require that you have a registered nurse on the premises, but generally, the main things needed are medical information from the parents and a written procedure to follow in case of accident or illness. Basically, when a child is injured
or be comes ill, you should take him to the nearest medical center, while another staff person gets in touch with the parents, and explains what happened. If the parent cannot be present at the medical center, all information should be passed on to him/her immediately it is available.
It's a good idea to have all your helpers indoctrinated with basic Red Cross first aid knowledge, and have a well-equipped first aid kit on the premises. As for any requirements relative to a full-time nurse, you should be able to hire registered nurses
who are either not working or looking for extra income. You might be able to "hire the license" of a registered nurse. You pay a small fee to hang her license in your office, and she agrees to be available to serve your needs when you call.
Most day care centers are currently charging from $35 to $65 per child for a five day week, plus $5 to $10 more for the inclusion of breakfast, with another $l per meal when they serve an evening meal to the child. If you do not receive pay in advance, you can very quickly get "in the red." We strong suggest setting up your financial structure and clients' payment schedules with this in mind.
By having your customers pay in advance, you'll eliminate a lot of bookkeeping chores and time, the problems of collections, and you'll have operating funds with which to run the business. A point to stress when asking for payment by the month, in advance,
is that because monthly payments are based on only four weeks of day care, they'll be getting a week of free service every three months.
Every profitable day care center requires a sharp manager or director. This person might be yourself, or someone you hire for the job. Regardless, this person will be the key to your success. The director should have an empathy with people, be an excellent judge of people, be sales oriented, and have an outgoing personality. As much as anything else, this person must have the ability to listen to, and really hear what other people are saying
without the influence of preconceived opinions, or making snap decisions. This person has to have the success of your business in mind at all times, which means building and maintaining an impeccable reputation.
Your director will be responsible for the hiring and supervision of your other help and the budgeting, scheduling and overall day-to-day operation of the business. It is imperative to the success of your business that you have the very best person you can get in this position, regardless of the cost. A good director for a day care center will command a salary equal to teachers in your public schools, plus fringe benefit allowances
such as free enrollment for their children and perhaps medical and dental insurance if you choose to provide group coverage.
When a prospective client calls to ask you about your services, you should explain how you operate, and emphasize your invitation for them to bring their child in so that the two of them can be taken for a tour of your facilities.
Once in the center, your manager or director takes the parent and child on a tour, all the while explaining to parent the advantages of the center's structured learning and play program as compared with everyday run-of-the-mill baby-sitting services. It's important to have the child along, because as he sees the other children at play, he will be drawn to them, and this will greatly influence the parent in deciding that your center is the
right place for his child.
After the tour, steer the parent back into your administrative offices and propose enrollment of the child. Begin by asking where the parent works, what hours and if he or she ever has to work overtime. You then ascertain the hours they'll want to drop off and pick up their child.
Strict procedures are absolutely essential regarding the pick- up of any child. Frightening as it may be to contemplate, we have all read accounts of strangers (or non-custodial parent) kidnapping a child. Printed forms must be provided, and authorization signatures must be compared when anyone other than the legal guardian takes a child from your care. You will learn these requirements from your licensing office. Our advice to you is to follow them meticulously.
You should have a slickly printed, quality brochure showing your rates, your services, an outline of the curriculum, and a statement of your benefit goals for the children.
Check with a legally qualified person about the need for a contract. The parent will probably simply fill out a questionnaire-file card giving address, place of employment,
medical information about the child, and place he or she may be reached in case of emergency.
Most day care centers accept all children between two and six years of age. And there are many nowadays who take infants from six weeks. Of course, your personnel in this situation will be thoroughly oriented in infant care, and you must ascertain if these babies are well when brought in to you. Otherwise, you put yourself in the position of "hospital" care instead of day care.
Generally, children aren't allowed to bring toys from home. You may want to allow the children to bring their own blanket from home for nap time, but if you allowed toys from home you would be opening "Pandora's box" of possible problems relating to sharing and ownership. In light of this, you will want a full complement of appropriate toys and play items in your center.
If you decide to include short-term baby-sitting services, a good idea would be to include within the layout of your facilities a small one-bedroom apartment for a live-in or couple. An older retired couple would be ideal, with the husband serving also as maintenance and handy-man.
Around-the-clock baby-sitting services, in addition to your regular day care center, can add tremendous and immediate cash-flow profits to your business, but correspondingly increase your payroll for qualified personnel. Such services would enable the parents to drop their children off in the evening, and leave them around the clock or over the weekend. There will generally be no need for any planned program because these children will be sleeping during most of the time they're in your care.
As you establish the image and reputation of your day care center, the parents in your area will be much more inclined to leave their children with you for baby-sitting duties. And because you are considered tops in the area of responsibility , you'll be able to charge the very top rate of the baby-sitting fee structure. Keep current with fees charged by other quality businesses similar to yours.
The demand for unplanned or emergency baby-sitting services is very large. Not too many day care centers are aware of this potential for extra profits yet, but the ones that are find that their incomes can increase by 30 percent or more! We certainly
recommend consideration of this idea for anyone involved in a day care service.
Another area that could mean enhanced profits for you is bus or van pick-up service for the children. Of course, this would increase your operating costs (and consequently your fees) but the convenience of pick-up is gaining in popularity. You'll need a custodian for indoor and outdoor cleanup, and if you have access to a bus or van, he could be assigned additional duties as the driver. Some day care centers offering pick-up service for their children contract with local transportation services to provide this service. Be certain of the driving experience of your driver if you contract for this transportation service.
Most day care centers open with very little fanfare or advertising. Generally, even without advertising most are reporting 90 percent capacity enrollment within six months.
With grand opening fanfare, and a strong advertising campaign, you should be able to be at 90 percent capacity within your first six weeks. In an area where a severe short age of day care facilities exists, and with the right advertising and promotion, even sooner.
Your first step should be the door-to-door, hand-out distribution of a quality informative brochure. To save on costs, you can hire students attending advertising classes in your area colleges or even a free lance advertising copywriter to help you with the design and writing of this brochure. However, the bottom line should be that you have a good commercial printer do the printing on the best paper you can afford. All of this has to do with the image you're wanting to create, and the quality of the service the "buyers" feel they're getting for the prices you are charging. Don't skimp on your brochure - you're aiming at people looking for the best place for their children.
You should place at least a two-column by four-inch grand opening display ad in your local newspapers. At the same time, you should place similar ads in the local magazines and other publications catering to the working mother. Send along a group
picture of your staff, and a story about your services with your advertising order. Phone the editors at your local newspapers, radio and TV stations and invite them out to your grand opening.
Be sure to place a "service information" ad in the yellow pages of your telephone directory. This should be the largest size you can afford. And remember that you need to make contact for a yellow page ad well in advance of the release date of the directory.
After your grand opening, and until you attain full capacity, continue to hand out your brochures at the entrances to the office buildings which house companies employing working mothers. Continue to run ads in your local newspaper, although these ads
needn't be quite as large or run as regularly as the grand opening ads. Run an ad in the classified section describing your baby-sitting services.
At your grand opening, offer free refreshments for everyone. Coffee and punch for the adults, with juice for the children, and cookies for everyone. You should have members of your staff circulating among the parents to answer any questions and hand out
brochures about the center.
You can begin small, and expand in stages with your profits. However, you must draw up a long-range plan detailing exactly what you intend to do, and each milestone you'll have to pass before proceeding to your next goal. In this way, you c an succeed and
attain not only the ultimate business, but also the kind of profits planned at the start.
The basic, and bottom line secret to success with your own day care center will be your ability to hold your costs in line while achieving maximum capacity enrollment. You've got the plan, and my best wishes for success!
HOME BASED BUSINESS
HOW TO START YOUR OWN AUTO TUNE-UP SHOP
HOW TO START YOUR OWN AUTO TUNE-UP SHOP
by tycoon2k webmaster
This business idea is one of those recession-proof opportunities that can put you on "easy street." When the economy heats up and inflation increases the cost of living, people become "do-it-yourself" conscious, looking for ways to save money. Whenever the economy falters, people again are searching for methods of saving money and making what they already own last longer.
The marketing principles outlined within this report emphasize the money-making potential of an independent auto tune-up shop in any part of the country. One of the secrets of success in this business is the specialization. No longer do auto owners expect
their neighborhood service station to keep their cars tuned-up and running smoothly.
There are several reasons for the demise of the local "do-it-all" auto mechanic: First, there are very few auto mechanics running service stations anymore. A good journey man auto mechanic can earn much more, without the responsibility, by hiring out to big-time auto dealerships. Most service stations today are simply gas and tire selling outlets operated by the major oil companies who advise you to take your mechanical problems elsewhere for repair. When you do find one with a mechanic on duty, the prices are such that only the very rich can afford them.
There's also the problem of unethical operators. Although many state legislatures have enacted licensing and consumer protection safety measures, the rip-offs continue. The crux of the problem is that most auto owners do not realize they've been taken until after the fact, and then it's too late. After being taken once or twice, many consumers turn to "do-it-yourself" auto repair until they run into the technology and advanced electronics
of the ignition system on today's cars. That's when they'll be needing your help.
It really doesn't take any special education or training to set up an independent auto tune-up shop. Any automotive repair experience you may have will help, but a simple knowledge of basic tune-up procedures is all that's really necessary. In fact, the
important prerequisites will be a strong business sense and an old fashioned "down-home" ability to get along with people.
Remember this fact: In starting and operating this business, it's not mandatory that you be a qualified auto mechanic; but your success will depend upon your ability to "serve others," and upon having a genuine desire and ability to do a good job.
This means remembering faces and names; addressing customers by first names as you get to know them; and listening to them; interacting with their problems achievements. The best way to explain the kind of "people empathy" you need for success in any kind of service business is to think of all your customers as close friends.
You can start this business in your garage - and even on a part-time basis. Run an ad in your local paper:
QUICK IN & OUT AUTO TUNE-UPS... Low cost, guaranteed...
We pick up and deliver... Call Jim at 123-4567
Place a similar ad or notice on all the bulletin boards in your area. To drum up business and get the ball rolling, you could even elicit customers via telephone. Simply start calling people out of the phone book. Tell them that your shop is offering a change-of-season special on auto tune-ups - in and out in less than an hour for $5, plus parts, which usually run less than $10, and then ask them if they'd like for you to pick up and
deliver their car this afternoon or evening.
Another way of managing, building, and promoting your business is via the service stations and auto parts stores in your area. Have posters or signs painted, advertising your "quick in-and-out" tune-up service. Take them around to all the service stations that don't handle auto repairs, and to the auto parts stores, and ask them to put your signs in their windows.
The next thing would be to hand out your business cards wherever you go and to everybody you meet. Give a handful to your friends, and ask them to write their name on the back of the cards and hand them out for you. You could promise them a dollar or two for every customer who brings in a card with their name on it. You'll be quite pleasantly surprised at how fast your business will grow when you take advantage of these promotional methods.
Still another idea is to have advertising circulars made up. Pay some junior high school students to hand them out at busy shopping centers on weekends, especially after the first cold snap or hot spell of the year. If you live in a large metropolitan area, leave off stacks at your downtown parking lots and get the lot attendants to hand them out as the people pay their parking fees.
You should be able to trade tune-up work for free radio advertising, especially after or during any change in the weather. This kind of advertising should work very well for you, so plan on it and use it at those times when people are most likely to be thinking about a tune-up.
You can set this business up very simply and operate it according to the sophisticated time-saving methods of the highly capitalized franchised operations.
This means an electronic check of the ignition system and scientific diagnosis of the engine. Check with the auto parts and tools distributors in your area. They should be able to steer you the national manufacturers or suppliers of the equipment you need.
Here's how to buy the equipment: Decide upon a supplier explain your business plan to him. Tell him you want to finance the cost of the equipment through your local bank with him as your co-signer. Get the bank to draw up the papers, make a layout of
your shop and equipment with the help of your supplier, and that's all there is to it.
After you've electronically checked the ignition, the next step in your quick tune-up procedure is to replace all parts that aren't operating properly. This usually means points, condenser and plugs. In some cases, this may include a new rotor, distributor cap, fuel filter, air cleaner and maybe spark plug wires. Be hesitant to suggest extras beyond the basics until your business is established. Spray some chemical cleaning fluid into and on the carburetor, start the engine, set the timing, make any necessary adjustments - and the job is complete. You charge the customer about $10 for parts, (or according to your cost) plus $5 for labor, and you should be on your way to a good income.
As you become established, and as your customers gain confidence in your work, you'll be able to suggest and sell them such things as new batteries, battery cables, starters, voltage regulators, alternators and sometimes even generators - when these parts are not working properly and need replacement. It's important that you don't sell, or even allow your customers to buy parts from you that are not really needed for continued trouble-
free operation of their vehicles. Another thing: when you do replace a major piece of equipment on a customer's auto, always schedule the replacement work for a time when you're not handling regular in-and-out tune-up customers. In other words, you might
schedule the replacement of a generator for Monday, after advising the customer of the need on Friday. Suggest that he leave the car with you all day, and pick it up on his way home from work. Or he could stop by on his way to work, and you take him to work,
replacing the generator during the day, and pick him up after work.
The charge for replacing major engine components such as suggested should be $10 plus the cost of the replacement part. It's also very important that whenever you contract to do this kind of work, you have the work done and the car ready for your
customer at the time you promise him it'll be ready. No one likes to wait around for the completion of work that was promised to be done at a specific time. By completing the work on time, and having your customer's car properly serviced as promised, you'll
build more long-term loyalty than any fancy advertising, "come-on" gimmicks or rock-bottom prices ever offered.
So the thing to do as you organize your business is to establish accounts - sources of wholesale priced parts - with the major auto parts distributors in your area. You'll want to maintain a general supply of new parts on hand, and not have to worry about paying for them for at least 30 days. In other words , you'll need a cash-flow system that works to your ad vantage .
Your profit will come from developing a standard routine that allows you to move at least four cars through your shop every hour. Some automotive purists may argue that you're only providing a "pep-up" instead of a tune-up, but let them beat their gums. Give each car the same procedure: an electronic check, new points and condenser, then an engine diagnosis, and collect your fee.
Talk with your customers. Get to know them and allow them to get to know you. Then when your engine diagnosis indicates a valve job or a new carburetor you can recommend it to them and they'll trust your judgment.
You, as the operator of a quick tune-up shop, should not volunteer any major mechanical work. Suggest someone whose work you trust. Your customer will appreciate your suggestion and concern. And he'll remain loyal to you for not taking his money and attempting to give him a repair job in an area where you don't specialize.
After all, you're a tune-up specialist - the guy who knows all there is to know about a car's ignition system - the guy who keeps cars running smoothly. By specializing in a particular area of auto repair, and recommending other specialists as needed, you'll
be able to quickly dispel the skepticism many car owners have for independent auto repair shops in general.
An assembly line in-and-out operation will reduce the necessary investment for tools, enable you to hire lower-cost workers, and greatly increase your profit potential by eliminating wasted motion. Keep it simple, routine and according to a definite procedure on every car.
Once you have your business established and a regular following of people who bring their cars to you for regular tune-ups - usually every six months - you can begin thinking about expansion. It's best to hire college students, or "car-crazy" high school students, to work alongside you. Give your customers a chance to recognize and know your help. When you find one who seems to be especially mechanically inclined, take him aside and offer him the title of assistant manager of your shop.
Teach this young man how you want the business to operate; explain where the profit comes from; and assign more of the actual responsibilities to him. Leave him on his own to run the shop for longer periods of time. Be patient; compliment him on his work;
and if you want him to stay with you, give him a raise now and then, and eventually, a percentage of the profits.
Offering him a percentage arrangement will result in even greater profits for you, plus a very strong local image for your business. Because you're "giving him" a part of the business, he'll promote your business to his friends, and through him and his friends, a long line of new customers and a chain of loyalty that could become more valuable to your business than any amount of advertising you could buy.
When you're ready to expand your operation from your garage to a regular commercial location, look for a vacant service station. One of the larger facilities built by a major oil company, located on a strategic corner, will be your best bet.
So long as you operate out of your garage and on a small scale, you probably won't have to worry too much about licenses. That is, providing you get along well with your neighbors, don't clutter up the street with 5 or 10 cars at a time, and don't erect
any kind of sign indicating you're doing business in a residentially zoned neighborhood.
However, once you move into a commercial location, you'll need to register the name of your business with the appropriate local government authority. In most states, this is the office of the county clerk.
If your state has a sales tax, you'll have to check with the state tax commissioner's office to learn the rules on how the collection system operates.
All these licensing offices are in reality offices for tax collecting. Basically, they know nothing about your business, and usually could care less. Their main reason for existence is simply the collection of money for the administration of government in your area. If they should ask you questions relative to the worth of your business, or how much money you will be taking in, always estimate a much lower figure than either the
true worth or those you anticipate. Most license fees are based upon the investment of the entrepreneur and his anticipated income from the new business, and you certainly don't want to start off paying excess taxes.
A good eye-catching sign is vital to the success of any business in a commercial location. The most important requirement for you is visibility. Your sign should be big enough and tall enough for people to see it from several different directions at a distance of at least a half block away. Check with your city ordinances for the sign limitations in the location you select.
Secondly, your sign should immediately state the service you're offering. Hence, a sign that clearly and simply announces "Auto Tune-ups" fits this requirement. However, in order to attract customers into your shop, your sign should "promise" a benefit. It should describe an added benefit to the reader. So, your sign should read: "Rapid Auto Tune-Up!"
Basically, that's all you'll need for a sign, but to "fill it out" you might come up with a special logo or business motto. You can probably get an art student at your local college to design something for little more than the privilege of including it in his or her portfolio. For a business slogan or motto, something along the lines of "Better performance from your car, at a price you can afford," is the kind of thing you want to come up with, and that will do you the most good.
Remember, fast, efficient service and low prices, coupled with a personality that makes the customer feel you're his friend, are the keys to your success. Organize yourself; start slowly and build your customer loyalty; instill these principles in your employees, and you'll be on your way. Study this report again, then act on the recommendations given here.
FYI:
STRIKE IT RICH WITH GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE
Did you know you can get the government to pay up to half of your cost of exploring for 35 different minerals (e.g. antimony, chromite, gold, iron ore, mercury, mica, silver and tin)? To get such help you do not have to be experienced or an expert miner. All you have to do is show ownership, lease, or other sufficient interest in the property to be explored, and that funds are not available from private sources. If you strike it rich, you will have to repay Uncle Sam with a 5% royalty on your production: if nothing is produced there is no obligation. For more information, send for the booklet "Exploration Assistance" available free from: OFFICE OF MINERALS EXPLORATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, WASHINGTON, DC 20240.
by tycoon2k webmaster
This business idea is one of those recession-proof opportunities that can put you on "easy street." When the economy heats up and inflation increases the cost of living, people become "do-it-yourself" conscious, looking for ways to save money. Whenever the economy falters, people again are searching for methods of saving money and making what they already own last longer.
The marketing principles outlined within this report emphasize the money-making potential of an independent auto tune-up shop in any part of the country. One of the secrets of success in this business is the specialization. No longer do auto owners expect
their neighborhood service station to keep their cars tuned-up and running smoothly.
There are several reasons for the demise of the local "do-it-all" auto mechanic: First, there are very few auto mechanics running service stations anymore. A good journey man auto mechanic can earn much more, without the responsibility, by hiring out to big-time auto dealerships. Most service stations today are simply gas and tire selling outlets operated by the major oil companies who advise you to take your mechanical problems elsewhere for repair. When you do find one with a mechanic on duty, the prices are such that only the very rich can afford them.
There's also the problem of unethical operators. Although many state legislatures have enacted licensing and consumer protection safety measures, the rip-offs continue. The crux of the problem is that most auto owners do not realize they've been taken until after the fact, and then it's too late. After being taken once or twice, many consumers turn to "do-it-yourself" auto repair until they run into the technology and advanced electronics
of the ignition system on today's cars. That's when they'll be needing your help.
It really doesn't take any special education or training to set up an independent auto tune-up shop. Any automotive repair experience you may have will help, but a simple knowledge of basic tune-up procedures is all that's really necessary. In fact, the
important prerequisites will be a strong business sense and an old fashioned "down-home" ability to get along with people.
Remember this fact: In starting and operating this business, it's not mandatory that you be a qualified auto mechanic; but your success will depend upon your ability to "serve others," and upon having a genuine desire and ability to do a good job.
This means remembering faces and names; addressing customers by first names as you get to know them; and listening to them; interacting with their problems achievements. The best way to explain the kind of "people empathy" you need for success in any kind of service business is to think of all your customers as close friends.
You can start this business in your garage - and even on a part-time basis. Run an ad in your local paper:
QUICK IN & OUT AUTO TUNE-UPS... Low cost, guaranteed...
We pick up and deliver... Call Jim at 123-4567
Place a similar ad or notice on all the bulletin boards in your area. To drum up business and get the ball rolling, you could even elicit customers via telephone. Simply start calling people out of the phone book. Tell them that your shop is offering a change-of-season special on auto tune-ups - in and out in less than an hour for $5, plus parts, which usually run less than $10, and then ask them if they'd like for you to pick up and
deliver their car this afternoon or evening.
Another way of managing, building, and promoting your business is via the service stations and auto parts stores in your area. Have posters or signs painted, advertising your "quick in-and-out" tune-up service. Take them around to all the service stations that don't handle auto repairs, and to the auto parts stores, and ask them to put your signs in their windows.
The next thing would be to hand out your business cards wherever you go and to everybody you meet. Give a handful to your friends, and ask them to write their name on the back of the cards and hand them out for you. You could promise them a dollar or two for every customer who brings in a card with their name on it. You'll be quite pleasantly surprised at how fast your business will grow when you take advantage of these promotional methods.
Still another idea is to have advertising circulars made up. Pay some junior high school students to hand them out at busy shopping centers on weekends, especially after the first cold snap or hot spell of the year. If you live in a large metropolitan area, leave off stacks at your downtown parking lots and get the lot attendants to hand them out as the people pay their parking fees.
You should be able to trade tune-up work for free radio advertising, especially after or during any change in the weather. This kind of advertising should work very well for you, so plan on it and use it at those times when people are most likely to be thinking about a tune-up.
You can set this business up very simply and operate it according to the sophisticated time-saving methods of the highly capitalized franchised operations.
This means an electronic check of the ignition system and scientific diagnosis of the engine. Check with the auto parts and tools distributors in your area. They should be able to steer you the national manufacturers or suppliers of the equipment you need.
Here's how to buy the equipment: Decide upon a supplier explain your business plan to him. Tell him you want to finance the cost of the equipment through your local bank with him as your co-signer. Get the bank to draw up the papers, make a layout of
your shop and equipment with the help of your supplier, and that's all there is to it.
After you've electronically checked the ignition, the next step in your quick tune-up procedure is to replace all parts that aren't operating properly. This usually means points, condenser and plugs. In some cases, this may include a new rotor, distributor cap, fuel filter, air cleaner and maybe spark plug wires. Be hesitant to suggest extras beyond the basics until your business is established. Spray some chemical cleaning fluid into and on the carburetor, start the engine, set the timing, make any necessary adjustments - and the job is complete. You charge the customer about $10 for parts, (or according to your cost) plus $5 for labor, and you should be on your way to a good income.
As you become established, and as your customers gain confidence in your work, you'll be able to suggest and sell them such things as new batteries, battery cables, starters, voltage regulators, alternators and sometimes even generators - when these parts are not working properly and need replacement. It's important that you don't sell, or even allow your customers to buy parts from you that are not really needed for continued trouble-
free operation of their vehicles. Another thing: when you do replace a major piece of equipment on a customer's auto, always schedule the replacement work for a time when you're not handling regular in-and-out tune-up customers. In other words, you might
schedule the replacement of a generator for Monday, after advising the customer of the need on Friday. Suggest that he leave the car with you all day, and pick it up on his way home from work. Or he could stop by on his way to work, and you take him to work,
replacing the generator during the day, and pick him up after work.
The charge for replacing major engine components such as suggested should be $10 plus the cost of the replacement part. It's also very important that whenever you contract to do this kind of work, you have the work done and the car ready for your
customer at the time you promise him it'll be ready. No one likes to wait around for the completion of work that was promised to be done at a specific time. By completing the work on time, and having your customer's car properly serviced as promised, you'll
build more long-term loyalty than any fancy advertising, "come-on" gimmicks or rock-bottom prices ever offered.
So the thing to do as you organize your business is to establish accounts - sources of wholesale priced parts - with the major auto parts distributors in your area. You'll want to maintain a general supply of new parts on hand, and not have to worry about paying for them for at least 30 days. In other words , you'll need a cash-flow system that works to your ad vantage .
Your profit will come from developing a standard routine that allows you to move at least four cars through your shop every hour. Some automotive purists may argue that you're only providing a "pep-up" instead of a tune-up, but let them beat their gums. Give each car the same procedure: an electronic check, new points and condenser, then an engine diagnosis, and collect your fee.
Talk with your customers. Get to know them and allow them to get to know you. Then when your engine diagnosis indicates a valve job or a new carburetor you can recommend it to them and they'll trust your judgment.
You, as the operator of a quick tune-up shop, should not volunteer any major mechanical work. Suggest someone whose work you trust. Your customer will appreciate your suggestion and concern. And he'll remain loyal to you for not taking his money and attempting to give him a repair job in an area where you don't specialize.
After all, you're a tune-up specialist - the guy who knows all there is to know about a car's ignition system - the guy who keeps cars running smoothly. By specializing in a particular area of auto repair, and recommending other specialists as needed, you'll
be able to quickly dispel the skepticism many car owners have for independent auto repair shops in general.
An assembly line in-and-out operation will reduce the necessary investment for tools, enable you to hire lower-cost workers, and greatly increase your profit potential by eliminating wasted motion. Keep it simple, routine and according to a definite procedure on every car.
Once you have your business established and a regular following of people who bring their cars to you for regular tune-ups - usually every six months - you can begin thinking about expansion. It's best to hire college students, or "car-crazy" high school students, to work alongside you. Give your customers a chance to recognize and know your help. When you find one who seems to be especially mechanically inclined, take him aside and offer him the title of assistant manager of your shop.
Teach this young man how you want the business to operate; explain where the profit comes from; and assign more of the actual responsibilities to him. Leave him on his own to run the shop for longer periods of time. Be patient; compliment him on his work;
and if you want him to stay with you, give him a raise now and then, and eventually, a percentage of the profits.
Offering him a percentage arrangement will result in even greater profits for you, plus a very strong local image for your business. Because you're "giving him" a part of the business, he'll promote your business to his friends, and through him and his friends, a long line of new customers and a chain of loyalty that could become more valuable to your business than any amount of advertising you could buy.
When you're ready to expand your operation from your garage to a regular commercial location, look for a vacant service station. One of the larger facilities built by a major oil company, located on a strategic corner, will be your best bet.
So long as you operate out of your garage and on a small scale, you probably won't have to worry too much about licenses. That is, providing you get along well with your neighbors, don't clutter up the street with 5 or 10 cars at a time, and don't erect
any kind of sign indicating you're doing business in a residentially zoned neighborhood.
However, once you move into a commercial location, you'll need to register the name of your business with the appropriate local government authority. In most states, this is the office of the county clerk.
If your state has a sales tax, you'll have to check with the state tax commissioner's office to learn the rules on how the collection system operates.
All these licensing offices are in reality offices for tax collecting. Basically, they know nothing about your business, and usually could care less. Their main reason for existence is simply the collection of money for the administration of government in your area. If they should ask you questions relative to the worth of your business, or how much money you will be taking in, always estimate a much lower figure than either the
true worth or those you anticipate. Most license fees are based upon the investment of the entrepreneur and his anticipated income from the new business, and you certainly don't want to start off paying excess taxes.
A good eye-catching sign is vital to the success of any business in a commercial location. The most important requirement for you is visibility. Your sign should be big enough and tall enough for people to see it from several different directions at a distance of at least a half block away. Check with your city ordinances for the sign limitations in the location you select.
Secondly, your sign should immediately state the service you're offering. Hence, a sign that clearly and simply announces "Auto Tune-ups" fits this requirement. However, in order to attract customers into your shop, your sign should "promise" a benefit. It should describe an added benefit to the reader. So, your sign should read: "Rapid Auto Tune-Up!"
Basically, that's all you'll need for a sign, but to "fill it out" you might come up with a special logo or business motto. You can probably get an art student at your local college to design something for little more than the privilege of including it in his or her portfolio. For a business slogan or motto, something along the lines of "Better performance from your car, at a price you can afford," is the kind of thing you want to come up with, and that will do you the most good.
Remember, fast, efficient service and low prices, coupled with a personality that makes the customer feel you're his friend, are the keys to your success. Organize yourself; start slowly and build your customer loyalty; instill these principles in your employees, and you'll be on your way. Study this report again, then act on the recommendations given here.
FYI:
STRIKE IT RICH WITH GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE
Did you know you can get the government to pay up to half of your cost of exploring for 35 different minerals (e.g. antimony, chromite, gold, iron ore, mercury, mica, silver and tin)? To get such help you do not have to be experienced or an expert miner. All you have to do is show ownership, lease, or other sufficient interest in the property to be explored, and that funds are not available from private sources. If you strike it rich, you will have to repay Uncle Sam with a 5% royalty on your production: if nothing is produced there is no obligation. For more information, send for the booklet "Exploration Assistance" available free from: OFFICE OF MINERALS EXPLORATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, WASHINGTON, DC 20240.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
HOW TO START A DATING and ESCORT SERVICE
HOW TO START A DATING and ESCORT SERVICE
by Tycoon2k Webmaster
Starting and operating a successful Dating and Escort Service can bring in $60,000 or more per year for the sharp, aggressive, imaginative business person. The secret to success with a business of this kind is advertising that presents your services with a "show business" flair - while still maintaining good taste.
Most successful Escort Services are natural expansions of businesses begun originally as Introduction and Dating Services.
To get started, you need an impressive looking application form. Research into a number of successful operations seems to indicate that a four-page application works well.
This should be typeset with an attractive letterhead or company masthead on 11 by 17 inch paper, folded in half to give the impression of a "personnel file." Your best paper colors are either pale blue or ivory. The better paper stock you can afford, the more impressive your application will be - giving a greater aura of credibility to your business, and thus to prospective clients.
In addition to the usual questions such as name, address, telephone number, marital status, place of employment, hobbies, likes and dislikes, your application should contain:
**** A short personality test which can be obtained with a bit of research at your
public library. For ideas, samples, and even tests you can use intact, be sure
to check some of the modern women's magazines. And don't discount the
idea of registering at an already established business of this type; or possibly
you can see their application form without actually involving yourself any
further. Or inquire among friends and acquaintances who have registered
with a dating or escort service.
**** Near the end of the application, you should include a short paragraph
pointing up the fact that your organization, in addition to bringing people
together as a dating service, also provides an escort service for out-of-town
visitors and local non-members. You then pose the question: "Would you
be interested in these kinds of dates, which would include all expenses, and
a minimum fee of $25 for what usually amounts to a very delightful time
with an interesting person. Your only obligation ever is to be your usual
charming self, and enjoy."
**** Just before or above the blank for your applicant's signature, include a legal
disclaimer to any responsibilities or promises implied and/or not specifically
stated within the application.
The building in which you locate: For this one, you'll need a store-front office, and it should be in a better part of the business district in your city. Try to select a site that is
upbeat and attractive without being "jivey" - one that would appeal to the more conservative or mature as well as the younger generation. Many of your clients are going to be mature, and be reminded, the mature, intelligent sector of our society is "getting younger" and more vigorous, "still interested in life" more than in years past. In other words, the section where you locate should reflect a modern attitude, but with solid values.
The reception area of your office should be large and comfortable, with as expensive a look as you can manage. Your receptionist is very important - very. She should be attractive, with a vivacious and outgoing personality. She should be able to quickly put your prospective clients at ease, and generally make them feel that belonging to your group is going to be the beginning of happier times, fun, and lasting friendships.
You should have at least two expensive looking picture scrapbooks on the coffee table in your reception room. These you can fill with portrait or candid shots of your members and clients. These pictures can pose a problem for you while you are in the beginning stages - so don't hesitate to gather pictures of various relatives, friends who are not necessarily located in your area - or even visit a nearby campus and ask if you can take
pictures of some of their best looking men and women. You will need to get a release signed by each one, and you simply explain that you are putting together a picture display book of terrific looking people in the area for the promotion of your business, and their names and any other information will not be publicized or released.
After your prospective client has filled out the application, the next step is a personal interview. Your office should be cozy and comfortable, but business-like, and you should arrange for uninterrupted time in complete privacy with each person.
You should use the interview to go over the application, answer any questions, and close the membership sale. You also use this interview as the basis of your estimate of the kind of person most likely to match this client. Be empathetic with your clients; you are going to meet people who are tired of the "dating game" as it is usually played out in singles bars and unproductive groups they had joined before. You might get added help in the area of interviewing by writing for advertising material and brochures from similar services in other areas, adapting any techniques you like to your own interviewing process.
Most escort services we looked into publish a monthly newsletter with tidbits of information and gossip about members. Who's doing what; job changing; who's travelling where; plus a listing of upcoming events and activities. Listing the names of new members is also a good idea, and quotes from members who are active and enjoying the service. Some of these newsletters feature "girl and guy of the month," with lots of pictures - "on
the town," involved in hobbies at home, and candid shots in everyday life. Usually, the escort service itself will sponsor an "all membership" party about once every three months to introduce other members and project a sense of "family" and belonging.
by Tycoon2k Webmaster
Starting and operating a successful Dating and Escort Service can bring in $60,000 or more per year for the sharp, aggressive, imaginative business person. The secret to success with a business of this kind is advertising that presents your services with a "show business" flair - while still maintaining good taste.
Most successful Escort Services are natural expansions of businesses begun originally as Introduction and Dating Services.
To get started, you need an impressive looking application form. Research into a number of successful operations seems to indicate that a four-page application works well.
This should be typeset with an attractive letterhead or company masthead on 11 by 17 inch paper, folded in half to give the impression of a "personnel file." Your best paper colors are either pale blue or ivory. The better paper stock you can afford, the more impressive your application will be - giving a greater aura of credibility to your business, and thus to prospective clients.
In addition to the usual questions such as name, address, telephone number, marital status, place of employment, hobbies, likes and dislikes, your application should contain:
**** A short personality test which can be obtained with a bit of research at your
public library. For ideas, samples, and even tests you can use intact, be sure
to check some of the modern women's magazines. And don't discount the
idea of registering at an already established business of this type; or possibly
you can see their application form without actually involving yourself any
further. Or inquire among friends and acquaintances who have registered
with a dating or escort service.
**** Near the end of the application, you should include a short paragraph
pointing up the fact that your organization, in addition to bringing people
together as a dating service, also provides an escort service for out-of-town
visitors and local non-members. You then pose the question: "Would you
be interested in these kinds of dates, which would include all expenses, and
a minimum fee of $25 for what usually amounts to a very delightful time
with an interesting person. Your only obligation ever is to be your usual
charming self, and enjoy."
**** Just before or above the blank for your applicant's signature, include a legal
disclaimer to any responsibilities or promises implied and/or not specifically
stated within the application.
The building in which you locate: For this one, you'll need a store-front office, and it should be in a better part of the business district in your city. Try to select a site that is
upbeat and attractive without being "jivey" - one that would appeal to the more conservative or mature as well as the younger generation. Many of your clients are going to be mature, and be reminded, the mature, intelligent sector of our society is "getting younger" and more vigorous, "still interested in life" more than in years past. In other words, the section where you locate should reflect a modern attitude, but with solid values.
The reception area of your office should be large and comfortable, with as expensive a look as you can manage. Your receptionist is very important - very. She should be attractive, with a vivacious and outgoing personality. She should be able to quickly put your prospective clients at ease, and generally make them feel that belonging to your group is going to be the beginning of happier times, fun, and lasting friendships.
You should have at least two expensive looking picture scrapbooks on the coffee table in your reception room. These you can fill with portrait or candid shots of your members and clients. These pictures can pose a problem for you while you are in the beginning stages - so don't hesitate to gather pictures of various relatives, friends who are not necessarily located in your area - or even visit a nearby campus and ask if you can take
pictures of some of their best looking men and women. You will need to get a release signed by each one, and you simply explain that you are putting together a picture display book of terrific looking people in the area for the promotion of your business, and their names and any other information will not be publicized or released.
After your prospective client has filled out the application, the next step is a personal interview. Your office should be cozy and comfortable, but business-like, and you should arrange for uninterrupted time in complete privacy with each person.
You should use the interview to go over the application, answer any questions, and close the membership sale. You also use this interview as the basis of your estimate of the kind of person most likely to match this client. Be empathetic with your clients; you are going to meet people who are tired of the "dating game" as it is usually played out in singles bars and unproductive groups they had joined before. You might get added help in the area of interviewing by writing for advertising material and brochures from similar services in other areas, adapting any techniques you like to your own interviewing process.
Most escort services we looked into publish a monthly newsletter with tidbits of information and gossip about members. Who's doing what; job changing; who's travelling where; plus a listing of upcoming events and activities. Listing the names of new members is also a good idea, and quotes from members who are active and enjoying the service. Some of these newsletters feature "girl and guy of the month," with lots of pictures - "on
the town," involved in hobbies at home, and candid shots in everyday life. Usually, the escort service itself will sponsor an "all membership" party about once every three months to introduce other members and project a sense of "family" and belonging.
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