HOME BUSINESS 101

Small Business Marketing Tip: Put the Customer First

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Thu, 03 May 2007 12:51:00 +0000

I am a great believer in the keeping to the basics – the totally obvious things that we all learn in "Small Business Marketing 101", and then promptly forget. I often have people come up to me after a speech and say, "This is all blindingly obvious, just common sense." And they are right, but my immediate response is always to say, "So are you doing it…?"

This question is usually followed by a moment of silence before they explain they have moved on to other approaches now. You cannot forget the basics, because if you do you stop marketing. So if you find yourself by the end of this article saying "this is just common sense," do a reality check, and see if you have stopped using your common sense. I know I often do.

The most important basic to remember is that Marketing is an attitude to business that puts the customer first. If you and everyone in your business understands this then everything else about marketing falls into place. You have to make your entire business marketing oriented. It’s seems not to be a popular concept in the west, but we are here to serve our customers. If we don’t they will go elsewhere.

Let me relate a story.

Some years ago, late one Saturday afternoon my eldest daughter remembered she didn’t have any school shoes for the start of term the following Monday. Panic! We rushed to a nearby and surprisingly empty major chain store where three members of staff were wrestling with a till roll. I waited… and waited …and waited…

Eventually I said, "Can you help me please; my daughter needs some new shoes?" A girl looked up surprised and apparently irritated by my presence and pointing across the store said, "The children’s shoes are over there, if you find a style you like I’ll see if we have her size."

I left… and we raced 15 miles to another town (the stores closed at 5.30 pm) where I knew there was a small private shoe store. When I walked into this little double fronted store it was in chaos. They clearly were having a very busy day. There were empty shoe boxes and children everywhere and the owner of the store was on his knees in the middle of the store checking the fit of a pair of shoes.

As the bell on the door rang he looked up and said, "Oh hello, I’ll be with you in just a moment." And he was. I said "My daughter wants fashionable shoes for school but she can destroy a pair of Doc Martins in a week." "I know exactly what you mean," he said, "Let me see what I have." A minute later he returned with two pairs of robust fashionable shoes, one of which my daughter immediately loved.

I have never forgotten that day. This was a man who understood service and delivered it so well that he was able to undercut the chain store prices. He is still in business today 10 years later – the chain store I am pleased to say is not. You have to take this kind of attitude to everything your business does.

I walked into an office once and there was a big poster on the wall.

Rules of Our Business

Rule 1 - The customer is always right

Rule 2 - When the customer is definitely wrong – re-read Rule 1

If you constantly think "how can I make my customers feel great about doing business with me", then they will keep coming back. More importantly they will keep telling their friends and you will tap into one of the most powerful marketing technique of all, viral marketing. Doing business with you will become infectious, and your marketing will be done almost entirely by your existing customer evangelists telling their friends how great you are.
by ricky arundel

Be Your Own Boss — Start Your Own Business

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 15:56:00 +0000

As the job market gets more and more unstable, many people are venturing into setting up their own businesses. It is definitely far more rewarding to start your own business than live with the fear of being laid off. You can be on the driver's seat and take control of your destiny rather than be at the mercy of the bosses. You can also cut out the tension involved with coworkers and office politics. There may be any number of reasons why you would want to start your own business. For instance, if you have a baby, you might want to start your own business to be able to stay at home. Or, you have to care for a spouse, sibling, or parent and need to have the flexibility in your work timings. Working from your home provides that kind of flexibility and you can fulfill other responsibilities without affecting your work life. You can choose from a whole gamut of options to start your business. You can become a retailer or put your expertise to use by becoming a consultant in that chosen area. The business gives you the freedom of choosing the kind of work you always wanted. Thus, it also gives you a chance to live out those dreams... Begin saving towards your goal of starting your own business. Many types of businesses require a monetary investment. Remember the old adage, “you must spend money in order to make money.” Check with your bank to see if you qualify for any business related loans. Furthermore, there are a variety of grants available to individuals interested into opening a home business. Depending on the type of business you wish to start depends on the investment of time and money required. For instance, individuals interested in opening a retail location, restaurant, or hospitality center will need a great investment of individuals interested in running a business from home. Instead, if you decide to run a home business like Avon, Tupperware, Pampered Chef, or Mary Kay, you can sell quality, name brand products from your own home. Such businesses prove to be quite successful for both men and women. And, there is hardly any monetary investment required. All you have to do is host a few home parties, attend shows, or sell over the Internet. You will enjoy the best of both the worlds by working from home. Use your network of friends, family members, and coworkers to build a viable base of clients. Whatever your business, make sure you are flexible enough to adapt it to meet the needs of a variety of clients. Ensuring you market your business to a wide scope of potential customers will ensure a greater potential for success. If you decide to run a business from your home, make sure you delegate a specific area of your home as a business area. Whether this is a table, corner, or entire room, this business only area will ensure you treat your home as a business. Additionally, this business only area will allow other individuals to provide you with privacy necessary to do any business related tasks. Many entrepreneurs find themselves easily distracted by children, friends, spouses, or family members who disturb them during work time.

by: vlad ehrzam

Great Ways to Earn from Home

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 05:22:00 +0000

Some people find it impossible to leave home every day. Others simply prefer to stay at home. For example, mothers with small children may prefer to take care of them than to leave them at childcare while they are at work. Artists may prefer to stay at home and combine art and work. Writers, on the other hand, may want to isolate in the tranquility of the home in order to work uninterrupted. For all these people it will be better to earn from home than to go to work each day.

The fact that you have chosen to earn from home does not give you an unconditional freedom. Veterans in earning from home admit that there are some basic principles and some requirements, which must be followed. Here are given some of these requirements:

Make up a professional agenda. Make an effective personal schedule and be sure you keep it. No matter if, it is rainy outside or whether you feel sleepy, you should not be able to afford yourself to take a rest day. A day off will make you lose momentum. As the saying goes, it is much easier to keep going than to get going. I also remember a physical law which says that “a body in motion stays in motion; a body at rest stays at rest”. If you want to earn from home, you will have to work hard as well. Earning from home does not mean working less....

Put on some clothes. The daily care for your external appearance is very important even if you are earning from home. A well-groomed person is much more productive. You have to do the everyday things like shaving, showering and brushing your teeth in order to feel in your normal state while you are earning from home. Never mind that nobody can see you working in pajamas, this is just the opposite of your proper behavior. The pajamas predispose you to sleep not to work.

Try not to be interrupted. May be this is the most difficult to accomplish tasks of all. Ask everyone who is the house to leave you alone in order to be able to work. Each earn from home worker finds this very hard. The spouse, roommate, or other comes to tell you something, somebody calls you on the phone to remind you of something, the children are constantly getting into a mischief and so on. Ask everybody to imagine that you are at a job you had to drive to and treat you the same way, as you do not exist in the house. Ask them whether they will visit you the same way at your workplace. Ask them whether they will call to ask you something about the TV channels for example.

If your efforts appear to be ineffective, try a signal system. Each earn from home worker should try with some kind of signal system. I took a hanging sign “Do Not Disturb” from a hotel and I usually place it on my door. Moreover, I do not pay attention to any knockings, throat-clearings or crocodile tears. Earning from home requires full concentration of mind.

Finally, I feel myself obliged to warn those who are new to earn from home. While searching for “earn from home”, always try to make sure that the job offer you found is not a fraudulent business scheme. Once I read something on a homeworking.com forum – employers are never begging people to work for them. They always offer a particular job and look for a particular person with the needed skills. If a job offer gives no details, have in mind that this may be something wrong. Such type of “jobs” often requires you send money or to invest money. No job should require any money from you. After all, you want to earn from home, not to spend from home!

By: Morgan Hamilton

Keeping and Bringing Customers to Your Business

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 22:02:00 +0000

Business greeting cards are a clever way to introduce and keep contact with your potential customers. It is a perfect sales tool to open door with a prospective customer. There are times when you feel unappreciated. Ask yourself, how often do you feel taken for granted? Now think about your customers and ask yourself, how much are they worth to you? When you send well-presented greeting cards to your customers they feel that they matter to you.

Most businesses focus on quality but remember that relationships make the difference. Keep in mind that people come back when they feel special. So get personal with your customers and they will reward you with more repeat sales and referrals than you can ever imagine.

One of the good things about business greeting cards is that they last. When people receive cards from someone they don’t expect their curiosity is aroused. And after opening your card, chances are they would display it in their offices or living rooms.

There are other reasons why business greeting cards are important in businesses.

1. Oftentimes, they are more effective than initial phone calls. By sending a greeting card you have a reason to make a follow up call a few days after the recipient receives it.
2. It is a good way to keep in touch without being too pushy.
3. The greeting card lets your customers know that you are always there when needed.
4. Your unique or humorous card will be too valuable to toss; thus, they will be a constant reminder that you sent them.

For customers, business greeting cards also have advantages:

1. Your existing clients will think that you take time to think of them.
2. Greeting cards are a non-aggressive way of communicating. A greeting card will not interrupt their activities.
3. Your current and prospective clients will appreciate your effort to stay in touch with them.

The idea is to keep your card short and to the point. Save the lengthy conversation for initial phone contact or meeting.

Really, your greeting card can make your customers feel that you remember them and care about them. These little things are priceless. Just remember how much more difficult and time-consuming it is to find a new client rather than to keep a current one. In the end, taking time to contact your existing and potential customers will pay a lifetime dividend both personally and professionally.

by viojieley

Planning your Home Business

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 06:30:00 +0000

When starting your Home Business, Execute your plan with total commitment and determination. Do not quit even when the obstacles appear unbreachable. Beginning your Home Business may brand you as somewhat of an outcast. Your competition may be the least of your worries, as you will be trying to convince your friends and family members of the validity of your Home business and plan. They may even be expecting you to fail. So be ready foe this and see it as a challenge. An important thing to keep in mind is that your Home Business should be something you definately love. It's this love that will drive you in the hard times. And it's the personal interest in the product or service that will make you effective at selling it. Don't attempt to become an affiliate of a product that you have not used or assessed. You need to be able to answer customers questions...

Your Home Business will certainly require determination and tenacity. You will likely have to make some sacrifices your personal life when starting up your Home Business. In fact, you may have to work relentlessly just to keep up with your competition. 12 hour days and 7 day weeks may be the norm for a while. For Home businesses which are based in a basement or motorhome, you may want to look bigger than you actually are. More people will want to do business with you if you seem established.The internet is great for this. Make sure that the focus is on your customer, not your company. That should be background information, not the focus of your marketing efforts.

If you are not seeing results with your marketing strategy, try something different. If you've given it a good effort and it's simply not giving you the results you're looking for, experiment with another idea. Take an active role in marketing your business, including asking for referrals. Tell your customers that you will do what you can to make sure they are happy, and ask them to pass along your business card to others. You may be pleasantly surprised by the response.

A Few Ways to Grow your Network Marketing Business

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 07:26:00 +0000

If you start your network marketing or multi-level marketing business on a tight budget, as many people do, there are a number of low cost ways to build up your business. Obviously, there are many ways to promote your business if you have a sizeable budget, such a magazine or radio advertising, but we will focus here on the low cost methods. One of the simplest techniques for promoting your mlm business is the simple business card. Mary Christenson, a top earner in network marketing who moved to the United States from New Zealand, said in her book 'Your First Million in Network marketing' that the thing that has brought her the most business over time was her business cards, even outperforming expensive promotion such as Yellow Page advertising.

Another effective method for generating business is to visit stores and other pertinent places of business in your area and ask the owners/managers if they would be willing to sign up a s field rep and carry your producyt or service. If they turn you down, make them an offer: tell them that if they will carry your brochures and/or cards in their place of business you will give them a percentage of the profits generated from their location. Often they will realize they can earn more by becoming a distributor themselves. Bam! You have yourself a new downline distributor. You can also go to a car dealership and ask the salesman if he would like to earn another stream of residual income in a passive way...

You can recommend that he become a field representative and get some business cards made. If he happens to meet someone who is looking for a business opportunity he can give him a card, preferably with his affiliate web site on it. This is often effective because few people meet more people from so many diverse socioeconomic backgrounds than a car salesman, and as anyone can attest that has been to a car dealer, you often spend hours with that person and get to know them quite well. This a is a perfect passive recruiting environment. The same applies to other types of salespeople. When one of them joins your downline community then you basically have access to their leads and precious client list. If you have a at least several people in your downline and their lead generation has been rather sluggish, you can have a contest: have everyone go out and trade business cards for a whole day. At the end of the day, whoever has the most business cards wins. The prize can be a free dinner, products or whatever you can afford. This is an important one because you will not only be sparking some life into your group but because you will be developing leaders, and the measure of a True Leader is how many other Leaders they have developed and built in their organization. Another thing you can do is produce an inexpensive flyer (it could be black and white) and pin them on every free billboard in town at places like coffee shops, supermarkets, community centers, college common areas and the like. You can even tape them or staple them to bus stops, telephone polls and so on. if you really want to spread the word, also put them under car windshield wipers, mailbox flags and places like that. Make sure your phone number and perhaps your web site is on them as well.

Success Factors

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 14:37:00 +0000

What is the difference between successful people on non-successful people? Are successful people more intelligent or do they just have better opportunities than non-successful people?
I heard Brian Tracy say, "Only Difference between successful people and non successful people is this:
"Everybody thinks about what they want, but successful people think about what they want, and HOW to get it!"
The most important things is the HOW.
The only way I ever accomplish anything is to figure out what it is I want, then how I am going to get it. Ever since wrestling, my life has been driven by goals and what I want in life, the only way I ever achieve anything is by laying out a plan and working on that plan until I accomplish it.
Another way to look at it is to start backwards, think of the house you want to live in, the cars you want to drive, the lifestyle you want your family to live. You have to lay out a game plan to get their, it is not going to miracously show up on your door step someday. This means each day of your life you need to be doing at least one thing that will help you accomplish that goal.
I love how Robert Kiyosaki explains this concept in his book "Rich Dad Poor Dad":
"Because I had two influential fathers, I learned from both of them. I had to think about each dad's advice, and in doing so, I gained valuable insight into the power and effect of one's thoughts on one's life...

For example, one dad had a habit of saying, "I can't afford it." The other dad forbade those words to be used. He insisted I say, "How can I afford it?"
One is a statement, and the other is a question. One lets you off the hook, and the other forces you to think. My soon-to-be-rich dad would explain that by automatically saying the words "I can't afford it," your brain stops working. By asking the question "How can I afford it?" your brain is put to work. He did not mean buy everything you wanted. He was fanatical about exercising your mind, the most powerful computer in the world. "My brain gets stronger every day because I exercise it. The stronger it gets, the more money I can make." He believed that automatically saying "I can't afford it" was a sign of mental laziness."
So remember, the question isn't what you want… It's HOW are you going to get it?

Enjoy Working From Home

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 14:18:00 +0000

In today's economy, it has become harder and harder to make ends meet. The cost of purchasing a home has skyrocketed compared to 10 years ago, not to mention, the steep increases in gas, medical care, day care, college tuition, and the list goes on and on. Unless you are fortunate enough to have a fabulous paying job, you are probably falling behind or maybe even giving up on your dreams. The days of stay at home moms seem to be a distant memory to most of us. We have become a generation of latch key kids and fast food dinners with very little energy at the end of the day to enjoy the good things in life.

It doesn't have to be that way. Working from home is much more feasible than you may think. It is very inexpensive to start a home based business. Take for example: drop shipping on eBay, affiliate programs, data entry and so many more. There are many excellent programs that can get you started with very little money and can put a big cash flow into your bank account! Just by working from home you can give yourself a raise with all of the money you will be saving!

Why not put the profits you earn into your own pocket, instead of the pocket of your boss or company? That's what millions of people are doing right now. You don't need to have a ton of money or special skills to start. I started my business with practically nothing and no computer skills at all! I am making an incredible income from the comfort of my home. I can spend so much more time with my family and friends. I left the days of waking up to an alarm clock and rushing through the day far behind me!

It doesn't have to be a dream to have a home based business. You can make it happen if you try. With the right information it really is possible. If you would like to spend more time with your family and doing the things you enjoy, why not give it a try?

acknowledgement to Russel Brunson

Do We Really Need A Home Based Business?

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 11:45:00 +0000

In strategic planning they always tell you that you must always have a contingency plan. This means that you must create different probable scenarios of what could happen during the process of your original plan, and create a plan for each probable scenario.

Of course a plan is made because we need to reach a certain objective. Our objective in this case is to generate an income that would enable us live a kind of life that we aspire to live.

Since we do not have any money to start a business on our own and generate that kind of income we revert to the usual plan which is to find a job and then find our way up the organizational hierarchy of the corporate structure. Let us see what probable scenarios can come up here:

1) We are very successful and at the top of our game. We are moving up the corporate ladder and our income is nearing our goals and could very soon surpass it.

This is the most dangerous of all scenarios. It is very hard to cross our mind to take a moment and think what if something went wrong and all this success was taken away.

We all know that corporate life is never safe and anything can happen at any time. Even if we succeeded and were able to become at the top level of an organization, one day will come that we will have to retire and stay home. What are we going to do then?

2) We are working very hard but for some reason we do not seem to be progressing. What usually happens here is that we start looking for another job that would satisfy our needs and our growth expectations and plans.

We always think that the other job is greener and our chances there for development are greater. When we finally make the move, we realize that we have ran away from the previous problems with the old job, just to realize that we are facing a completely new set of problems with this new job.

3) We feel that our work is not appreciated and there is danger at any time that we might lose the job that is generating an income for us, and we say "an income" because we are still far away from what we aspire to achieve.

The above are not all the life scenarios that exist; as you may have your own established and successful own business which is not home based or online. Still we would say that diversification into Home Based and specifically Online Business is essential. I would only take the factor of the explosion of the internet and the abundant opportunity that exists there and stop the conversation there.

You can think of all the above scenarios either as separate examples or phases of one person's life cycle. So we need a plan "B," a contingency plan for these scenarios. Of course we can complicate things further by creating a different set of solution plans for each scenario, but that means that we will have to run into writing a long report of about 100 pages.

So let us look at the different probable solutions we have at hand:

1) Investment Options such as stocks and other similar options: This could be a good option for the first scenario, but it is also highly risky. This solution will not cater for the retirement part which involves not having anything to do after you leave work. Still no one can deny that this option could turn out to be extremely rewarding.

2) Always keep yourself in the market so that you can switch jobs at any time. This tactic has many medium and long term disadvantages. But top of mind disadvantages include:

a. Not going anywhere in any organization because you are not giving it enough time.

b. Your chances of finding the next job could gradually diminish as your CV will show the unsteady behavior.

c. You will not concentrate on the job at hand since you are always looking for the better job.

d. And many more disadvantages

3) Have your own business: This option seems very good, but if we are looking at it in terms of investing a lot of money and borrowing from the bank to be able to operate the business, then this stops being a plan "B." This means that you are already changing lanes without even signaling. Although it can be rewarding, but again we have to stress that this is not a contingency plan. This means you are changing your plan.

4) Home Based Business: Now this option is similar to the previous one but with a twist. Because home based business does not require a large investment and does not require your total attention and devotion for it to succeed, you can for sure call it a plan "B" since you are still working at your job. Advantages of this solution:

a. Low and in many cases extremely low initial investment

b. You do not have to work full time

c. Does not require your full attention

d. You can work at your own set hours

e. If anything goes wrong with your original work, then you can shift gears very quickly and you will be able to absorb the shock without any panic.

f. And many more..

All the above advantages could become disadvantages if you don't take your home business seriously. If you keep postponing things you need to do and making it the least of your priorities then this business will not see the light of day.

A home business is a wonderful thing to have working for you especially when you don't need it. Because then you will be working relaxed and enjoying what you are building for your future. You will not be stressed out and wanting it to succeed in one month.

With a home based business you have to be patient and consistent and eventually you will achieve your dreams.

Choosing A Franchise Business

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 10:04:00 +0000

Once you've determined that buying a franchise is the right choice for you, your next decision will be to decide exactly which service or product you want to invest in.

And this decision had be harder than it seems. One of the biggest decisions a would-be entrepreneur has to make is choosing the right franchise system for them. After all, owning and operating a business is a large commitment–-in time, money, and energy-–and nobody wants to be stuck running a business that they don’t like, or that’s not the right fit for them. Someone who doesn’t like cars, for example, might not be happy running an automotive tune and lube franchise.

With a multitude of franchise opportunities out there, how does an entrepreneur choose among them? One good place to start is by taking stock of what you really enjoy doing, and what you want out of your business (and your life). Write down a list of your interests, passions, and desires. What are your hobbies? What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? What kind of jobs have you done in the past? What type of franchise business could you get excited about?

With any luck, you’ll be owning your new franchise for a long, long time, so it’s important to find something that you could enjoy and become passionate about. Many people, for example, have turned a favorite hobby or pursuit into a successful business enterprise. Still others have retired or left jobs they disliked to pursue their passions in a franchise business opportunity.

Many others have turned to their current careers when choosing a franchise. If you've worked in a particular area for many years, you no doubt have a valuable well of knowledge and experience to draw from. What better way to use that experience that in your own business? After all, who hasn't had the feeling that they could "run things a lot better" at their workplace, if only given the chance?

Some additional things to consider when choosing a franchise:

Demand for this product or service
Competition for this product or service
Name recognition of the franchise
Your ability to understand and operate this type of business
Your potential earnings
Training and support offered by the franchisor
Growth potential

Another important consideration (for most people, anyway) is the cost of a franchise. You can count on a significant initial investment, and then you'll need additional capitol for real estate, buying the required equipment, ongoing royalty fees (for up to 10 years), advertising expenses, and other costs.

Before investing in any franchise system, be sure to get a copy of the franchisor's disclosure document. Sometimes this document is called a Franchise Offering Circular. Under the FTC's Franchise Rule, you must receive the document at least 10 business days before you are asked to sign any contract or pay any money to the franchisor. You should read the entire disclosure document. Make sure you understand all of the provisions.

Also, make sure you consult your family before making this important decision. Being the owner can mean long hours at the office, plus the unexpected emergencies that can crop up from time to time, and you'll want to make sure that everyone in your family is on-board and supportive of your decision.

And lastly, seek out the advice of a good franchise attorney before making any commitments. An attorney can point out any potential legal problems you may encounter, and help you analyze the opportunity from an objective and unbiased point of view.

Franchise Directory Showcase

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 09:34:00 +0000

Precision Auto Care Franchise

Franchise Business Types:
Automotive Franchise, Oil Change Franchise, Repair Franchise, Brake Franchise, Muffler Franchise, Tune-up Franchise, Auto Care Franchise

Personal Training Institute Fitness Franchise

Franchise Business Types:
Fitness Franchise, New Franchise, Health Franchise, Health Club Franchise, Personal Training Franchise Womens Fitness Franchise, Ladies Fitness Franchise, Mens Fitness Franchise

New England Hot Dog Company Franchise

Franchise Business Types:
Restaurant Franchise, Food Franchise, Fast Food Franchise, Hot Dog Franchise, Ice Cream Franchise, New Franchise, Fastest Growing Franchise, New England Based Franchise, Fast Food Retail Franchise

Charley’s Grilled Subs Franchise

Franchise Business Types:
Restaurant Franchise, Food Franchise, Top Franchise, Entrepreneur Magazine Franchise 500, Fast Food Franchise, Steak Franchise, Sub Franchise, Sandwich Franchise, Chicken Franchise, Food Court Franchise

Just What Should You Look For In A Franchise?

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 09:03:00 +0000

What is a Franchise?

- An authorization to sell a company's goods or services in a particular place
- A business established or operated under an authorization to sell or distribute a company's goods or services in a particular area.
Why franchise?

There are many reasons why franchising is the best type of operation for the majority of first-time business owners. Most revolve around the increased probability that the business will succeed and provide profits to the owner in a shorter time frame than an independent business. This allows the owner to address her or his personal goals both financially and personally. Here are a few, more detailed, answers to that question.

Earn what you’re worth

Thousands of franchise owners report they were handicapped in their corporate careers by company policies and supervisors that put a cap on their earnings. When you own your own company, your efforts are rewarded and your personal income shows it!

Satisfaction of Achievement

Many business owners report that seeing their actions turned into reality without stagnating for months in committee meetings (as often happens in big companies) is a major reward of owning their business.

Quicker Start-Up than Independents

A proven plan out-paces an independent’s hit & misses operation almost every time. Looking at just independents that succeed--you'll find that franchises grow quicker, reach break-even sooner and succeed more regularly than others in the same industry as depicted in the accompanying chart

What do I need to know?

Another question that arises is “What do I need to know in building my own franchise?” There are four main ingredients found in each business...

- The product or service that is delivered to its customers.
- The location that the business occupies.
- The amount of capital that was invested or borrowed by the venture.
- The management team that runs the company -You!

How did franchising start?

One of the earliest franchisors was the Singer Sewing Machine® Company, which set up dealers shortly after the Civil War to sell and repair its revolutionary machines throughout the country. Shortly after the turn of the century, Coca-Cola® licensed others to manufacture and distribute its wonderful elixir. Ford Motor Company® later set up dealers to sell and service its products. Of course, McDonald's® is an example of how an entrepreneur (Ray Kroc) could take an idea and quickly spread it coast to coast (and eventually around the world) without starting out with millions of dollars in capital. Many companies turn to franchising as a system for expansion because they recognize that they can grow rapidly with a minimum amount of capital and enlist top-notch partners if the company is willing to share the profits. The company that sells licenses to its system is called the franchisor, while those who open their own units are called franchisees.
Making a choice

Choosing the right franchise can be a confusing process.

First, you must believe in the product or service that the franchise network delivers. Is the niche stable, expanding, long-term, saturated?

Next, you must verify the industry's future. What do the trade papers predict?

Check your aptitude for the job. If you don't enjoy math, an accounting franchise isn't for you, etc. Often outside sources can help here. A personality and aptitude test (similar to those used by major corporations) will help you discover your hidden talents.

Determine the earnings capability. Most franchisors can't provide earnings projections, but you must make an effort to determine your future return.

Confirm the potential earnings and the franchisor's integrity with existing franchisees. Each franchisor will give you a list of its network members.

You should call them to get their confirmation of your projections. If a franchisor (or business opportunity seller) will not give you a list of its franchisees, you should heed the red flashing lights and end discussions.

While this article is just the tip of the iceberg, you can get a good idea why you should start your own franchise, today.

Why Should You Start Your Own Home Business?

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 16:49:00 +0000

Starting a home business is the dream of many people; in fact, it has become the ideal for millions. If you are reading this article, the chances are high that you are one who believes that there is much more to life than just waking up each morning and working the rest of the day for a wage.

There’s nothing wrong with working for a wage, mind you – especially if it pays the bills! However, an increasing number of people are finding that working for someone else is not very rewarding. After all, as an employee it is not likely that you are being compensated according to your real value to the company. In other words, you only get a small percentage of the fruits of your labors – your boss gets the lion’s share.

Once you realize this, you basically have two choices: you can stay on the same path that you’ve been on for many years as an employee, or you can strike out on your own in hopes of getting more out of life.

Deciding between these two extremes is not easy, but you will have to make the choice at some point or another. Do you want to be someone who works for others, or do you want to have other people work for you? Do you want your time and energy to be spent in enriching someone else, or do you want your efforts to benefit you directly? Do you want to spend the rest of your life working for a boss, or as the boss?..

Once you realize that the rewards for employers and employees are significantly different, and that entrepreneurs can expect to have more success than wage earners, then the choice should be easy to make. Having your own home business, being your own boss, and having other people work for you is the key to your long term success. As a wage earner, the amount of money you earn is limited to the number of hours in the day.
Now, let’s say that you decide to start your own Internet home business instead. You decide to market Affiliate Programs. An affiliate program is simply a program in which you earn commissions by selling someone else’s product or service. Affiliate programs can produce a nice stream of auto-pilot residual income 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. By setting up a content rich site, you can eliminate the constraints of the 8 hour work day and never stop making money – even if you barely lift a finger. What you’re doing, of course, is exchanging the time, energy, and skills of other people for money – the highway to becoming rich.

Maintaining Enthusiasm in your Home Business

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 15:22:00 +0000

Before you start your Home Business, and before you lay out a business plan, make sure you are going where your passion leads you, as you will need this enthusiasm to keep you going through the rouph times. And be assured, every young Home Business start-up has these bad times. Probably one of the reasons that there is a relatively high failure rate among new Home Business ventures, actually among all new business ventures, is because the owner did not find his or her passion first. In fact, one of the main elements of success in any Home Business is to find your passion first and then work it into your overall business plan. To be certain, Most successful Home Business owners have a deep passion for their ideas or concepts and generally have strong opinions regarding how customer service should be in general and how each business detail should be handled specifically. This in turns gives them a niche and competitive advantage in the crowded marketplace. And because they know what it is that they love doing, their work becomes their play. Their enthusium simply spills out into all areas of their business...

In order to achieve such a high level of enthusiasm, You have to be completely sure that what you are doing is what you truly want to do and not just merely something that you think you should be doing. And it is crucial that you believe that your business goals can and will happen. You must have the conviction that your goal WILL in fact happen, and not maybe happen. Visualizing your goals and where you want to be in two or three years will also help. You know, picture yourself running your ideal Home Business, being your own business, and generally living the life of your dreams. Picture yourself loving every minute of your work and taking tremendous care over the finest detail. If you do this, then your home business dream will manifest much faster. Picture yourself financially independent with all the money that you need to just enjoy life. Imagine your world being one where there is an unlimited amount of time set aside for friends, spouse, family, traveling, and the other 101 niceties in life. Imagine your Home Business expanding naturally and in perfect harmony with your personal life in every respect.

After you have convinced yourself that your Home Business will be a total success, you then need to go out there and MAKE it happen. When you know exactly what you want you will then be able to go after it and take action. Develop a sense of urgency in your life that you must make it happen, and the subsequent enthusiasm will then make it happen!

Big Money from MLM?

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 14:58:00 +0000

Multi-level marketing businesses number in the thousands. A great many well-known economists are predicting that multi-level or network marketing will become the prevailing method of selling in years to come, indeed at one point in the mid 1990’s it was predicted that by the year 2000 it would be the prevailing form of business on the then fledgling internet.

Many people have joined multi-level marketing programmes and have amassed a small fortune from their hard work. Anyone with a smidgeon of ambition and a reasonable amount of energy can join a multi-level marketing programme and achieve financial freedom. The downside is that you must understand what you're doing and how to go about doing it, or you run the risk of not even covering your initial outlay.

One of the first things to be done is to research multi-level marketing business you intend to join. Ensure it's all that it appears to be, and that its payments to you are on a regular basis and that the merchandise shipping policy meets your requirements. Another commonsense check is to make sure the business concerned is financially stable...

Be sure that the product you're promoting has a large niche in the market. Will it sell itself? Does it have that ‘must have’ quality? Many well-meaning copywriters advise you to select a product, develop a selling strategy and then to work on your strategy. But, this will only put you into the shoes of an over worked shop assistant. One group of products that will sell themselves, and for which there is a global demand, is information products, especially information that explains to people wanting to make money, how to do just that.

Another consideration is ‘ Will this adapt to a mail order?’ This is an important consideration simply because selling via mail is probably one of the most inexpensive and efficient methods of selling there is.

Now we come to actual promotion of your chosen product. You need to write eye-catching headlines and compelling copy followed by the call to action. The source of inspiration for this can be found in trade magazines, newspapers and on the internet. To get good promotional ideas look for advertising for similar products, and if it catches your imagination and makes you want to buy adopt it, but be careful not to breach any copyright.

The next step is to acquire a mailing list of 10,000 or so opportunity seekers, create your initial advertising materials to whet the appetites of the recipients. Then do a test mailing of about 500. If this proves to be satisfactory then send the follow up sales letter to the original 500 and mail to the rest of the list. Mailing lists can be rented from many sources but remember that you want a mailing list of people who have bought or shown interest in a similar product to the one you are promoting.

So how do you convert a multi-level programme into real riches?

1. Research
2. A good product
3. Good advertising copy
4. A targeted mailing list
5. Test mailing
6. Full mailing
7. Patience.

Network Marketing – The Power of Duplication

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 14:33:00 +0000

If you are looking at Network Marketing and/or Multi-level Marketing (MLM), there is no shortage of programs to choose from. Some may be better than others, however, they all have one thing in common; they are all based on the duplication model. The key to huge success with any Network Marketing program is the ability to have the people in your downline produce the same results that you did. Hopefully you produced results to get you to the point of coaching new people as they come in.

Where potential millionaires fail, is that they either: 1. Don’t have a system in place to train new people or 2. They fail to communicate the system. I don’t feel that anybody should do the work for the people in their downline. That doesn’t create a powerful organization. It still takes commitment from everyone in the organization to make it work. What I am talking about is knowing what works and having a system in place to communicate that knowledge to new people as they come in to the business. It’s not just about throwing out a bunch of ideas, it’s about having a systematic approach that anyone can follow. Step by step instructions for success. Then, it is the responsibility of the person passing on the information to coach and/or train the person and the responsibility of the person receiving the information to listen, follow instructions and actually do it.

Most people join MLMs or Network Marketing companies without having a clue as to what to do next. Without a plan or system in place, these people will likely get confused, angry, disappointed, lose all interest and throw up their hands in disgust and claim, “What a bunch hype. This stuff doesn’t work!” It’s like putting together a swingset; as long as you have the instructions, all of the parts, a decent customer support line and a desire to swing, just about anyone can do it. As you are swinging on your new swingset you can tell your neighbors about how to get a swingset of their very own and you can be confident that they will know what to do when the box shows up at their door.

So there you have it. Don’t be afraid of Network Marketing and MLM. Before you join anything, do your due diligence and find out what kind of system is in place and what kind of support you can expect, and then have fun!

The MLM Business Success Model

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 06:45:00 +0000

So you want to be a Multi Level Marketer, eh…well welcome aboard. An MLM business can be very exciting if it’s going in the right direction, but can be very cruel if it goes the other way round. This happens to many people, especially to beginners. Most newcomers are a little skpetical about doing an
MLM business.

Firstly it is the inexperience of talking to unknown people and trying to sell your products or services. In the beginning it is very easy to be at a loss for words when talking about your business or prospecting somebody and I am sure it has happened to most of us. So how do you go about avoiding it?....

Just ask yourself this question: Would you be so nervous and skpetical about your business if you were the owner or president of a large organization. Of course not. So first try to put yourself in that winning frame of mind. It always helps if the person you are trying to pretend is someone you know either personally or someone you admire.

Usually whenever you are faced with a difficult or unknown situation, your mind starts to worry and starts looking for immediate solutions. This might not work since these quick solutions are what got you into these difficult situation. But when you start observing your mentor a little more closely by reading their autobiography, watching their seminars, or studying their training material, you will soon understand how they deal with situations with confidence and determination.

You will then start getting more inspired and lose your inhibitions and skepticism in the process. Your downline will soon start increasing since people like to look up to a confident leader. All the training and and business ideas of your leader will soon become your own since you are always using them in your own practice. You have also learned to add your own input wherever possible.

And above all do not overlook your mentor’s hard work and dedication. Your role model hasn’t got where he is overnight. Try to model their level of commitment, patience and constant learning ability. Also, do try to treat your MLM business like a regular business and not a part-time or side business. Then in a very short time you will see the fruits of success, as your downline starts increasing and you become a leader yourself.

DXN

Home Business marketing techniques

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 07:31:00 +0000

Marketing, in contrast to advertising, is a long-term effort. It requires a great deal of time and effort compared to some other programs but is perhaps the most important, depending on which product or service is featured in your particular Home Business. The first step in your marketing efforts should be a business plan. And the center of your plans is a specific goal your Home Business is trying to achieve. Marketing is the vehicle that will propel your Home Business toward your goal and make the best possible use of your budget as well as the most effective use of your time...

When you work as an independent consultant or home business, you alone are the sole marketer for your entity. In other words, there is not really a team to call upon for your marketing needs. And yet, you seek the exact same result, which is expanded awareness of the product or service offered by your Home Business. This being the case, then obviously a certain degree of salesmanship is essential in this ultra-competitive marketplace we are currently in, whether you business involves fly fishing in South Dakota or sailing off the South Carolina coastline.

Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of this marketing and salesmanship is the follow-up. Essentially, there is follow up with your current base and second, there is follow up with your potential customers. The fact is many businesses do not consistently follow up with their current customer base. When following up with your potential customers, or prospects, you should get a much better conversion ratio that when you first contacted them. And by no means should you neglect to follow up more than once, if necessary.

You will need to decide how often you would like to follow up with your customers or prospects. You basically want your prospect to not forget about you and to have enouph time to analyze your offer. You should also have some type of tracking system in place. Be ready to send in additional information when a prospect requests it.

Tips on Growing your Home Business

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 07:15:00 +0000

Now that you have left the regular job world to start your Home Business, It should be dawning on you that your success depends on you and you alone. Your Home Business is thus more than likely run on a shoestring budget. All of this means that you are doing essentially everything yourself. You are now CEO, the customer service rep, sales manager and gopher. Basically, you are wearing all of the hats. Think of it as being a Movie Star who decides to direct, produce and edit the movie himself, so that their complete vision makes it on the screen or because their limited budget necessitates it. Just as well since when you start your Home Business you will rarely have many options. Eventually, however, if you continue to do everything yourself you will limit your growth....

Early on, do not launch a full scale marketing campaign until you have the business resources to satisfy the demand available to you. Allow your advertising to grow at the natural pace of your business. As you are starting out, put your profit right back into your business to upgrade infrastructure and service or advertising, etc. This is where your expansion money during the next growth phase of your business will come from. Do not use your Home Business's profits to pay for your personal expenses. Instead, pay yourself a simple salary and then put every penny of profits right back in the business. It takes some discipline to do this, but it will allow business growth.

In the early days of your Home Business, you should probably go with low cost alternatives before incurring sizeable expenditure. So do not buy a new fax machine, answering machine or computer if you can get by with a cheaper used one. Use an accounting software program rather than hiring an accountant if you can. You can also hire temporary help from a temp service, if necessary.

Of course there are numerous things you can do yourself in the beginning that take time but will save you much needed capital. Instead of hiring a Search Engine Optimization firm for your website, for example, you can take a free online tutorial and optimize your site and submit it to the search engines yourself. You can distribute flyers and brochures by hand wherever you can before paying for space.

Finding which Home Business is right for you

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 07:03:00 +0000

I guess we all would like to to get paid for working at something that we would be doing anyway, so starting a Home Business from a hobby or interest is probably ideal. Not only will you be your own boss, you will be doing something you love to do anyway - work isn’t really work if you truly enjoy what you're doing. In addition, if you happen to be selling your own products or designs there is probably more of a chance that you will work harder and have a stronger belief in your product. When you get started, read about how other entrepreneurs have gotten their start. You can get a great deal of books from the library which will give you information about tax and insurance issues for your Home Business....

Your hobby may involve a very specific product or may be something that relates to a certain locality (editors note:whether it be New York City or Kentucky). In this case, you may want to advertise your product in some of the specialized publications that are available on the news- stands or on the web. For many people, turning their hobbies into a Home Business is the perfect way to work for yourself at something that they are already doing - and get paid for it. They also have the flexibility to be in full charge of their working life while working from home.

Next you want to calculate your niche market and think about calling local businesses that may want to do business with you (or may be interested in using your products). You could also get a booth at a local crafts fair. Offer to give away a prize and take names and addresses on your sign-up forms to set up a future mailing list.

Remember to research, network and then research and network some more until you succeed.

How to give the impression of a Big Business while being a small Home Business

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 06:33:00 +0000

As an owner of a small Home Business, it is a good idea to give the impression to your customers and prospective customers that you are an established presence to ensure that you get the same respect (if not more) than the large businesses do. You do this primarily by projecting a professional image. Remember that the larger companies sometimes have large customer service and satisfaction problems precisely because of their size and impersonal nature. There structure is sometimes simply too rigid. This can give the small Home Business owner an advantage when dealing with customer inquries and fulfilment. The small home business owner simply has more flexibility because he or she lacks the Byzantine bureacracy which is the trademark of many large businesses, the same structure which can interfere with effeciently when dealing with customer concerns, complaints and suggestions...

It is very important to note as well that in todays business world of fax machines, web sites, mobile telephones, e-mail and customer feedback forms, pagers, and voice mail, a small Home Business should be able to appear large and professional while retaining the agility and quick reaction time to customer concerns of a smaller Home Business. Today, the home business should have all or most of the tools of a “regular” office to be able to give a good first impression. Consider a website; once built, as long as it looks professional, your "electronic storefront" is on an essentially level playing field as the website of a large company, unlike in a large mall or shopping center where the smaller business is usually at a substantial disadvantage. One thing that is crucial is to have at least two phone lines at home, and a mobile phone as well, if possible. Remember you can route home phone calls to your mobile phone and visa versa. Having a professional image for your home business helps get the customer in the door, but it is the first rate customer service that really keeps them coming back.

How to beat the "Home Business Blues"

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 12:23:00 +0000

If you are new to working a Home Business, you may experience what I like to call "The Home Business Blues" resulting from percieved isolation as you adapt to a new lifestyle. One of the best ways to bust through this is to go out and look for networking opportunities either in your immediate area or outside of it a bit. As an example, join your local Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Association, Networking Club or business resource center. Go to their meetings both to help your business and as a reason to get out of the house. You could meet just the person you need to meet to expand your context and your Business....

If you get "cabin fever", find a reason to go out. You can shop for home business supplies, go to the printers, study the competition by visiting local businesses, or look up something you need to know at the library. Give yourself a day or two to relax and recharge your battery. Alternately, you can also make a date with your spouse, a friend or a prospective client for lunch. Since You must eat, you are not really taking much more time or altering your schedule much, and it will break up your day and give you a new perspective which will probably improve your work productivity since you should feel refreshed.

Do something that you really enjoy that gets you out of the house and around other people during the week and then do it at least once a week. Consider doing a home sales party for your Home Business a minimum of once once per month if you are involved in sales. It gets you out of the house and helps you meet people and possible networking opportunities as well as lets you work your business while having fun and adding variety to it. And remember, your Home Business should be fun!

Getting started on Your Home Business Venture

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 12:12:00 +0000

The difference between a pipe dream and a great idea is simply persistence. Here are few tips to get started on your Home Based Business right away and get on the path to your ultimate goal, beat procrastination and hours of indecision: (1) Get leverage on yourself - tell enough people what your goal is (2) Understand your standard excuses and do not listen to them anymore. (3) Break the goal into bite size chunks and reward yourself on the journey (4) Take a fork in the road and simply get started. This is according according to leading Business Coach Brad Tonini who has just released his latest book "Make It Happen Now!" Brad says that procrastination is paralyzing to peak performance, and it comes from these key reasons: (1) The task is just plain overwhelming (2) You may have a fear of failure or fear of success (3) You seek perfection and so never get started (4) You fear a lack of control (5) You haven't associated sufficient pleasure or pain to the task to get you moving. It is really remarkable how we can talk ourselves right out of things, we create self-doubt in our mind and then we then translate this to negative self talk. The more we make decisive decisions and get started on a new path or one that we have desired, we begin to feel empowered, excited or enthused about making the goal come to fruition...

But the opposite of procrastination is commitment. According to the esteemed James Womack, commitment unlocks the doors to imagination, allows for vision, and gives us the "right stuff" to turn our dreams into reality. Mack R. Douglas was quoted as saying "The achievement of your goal is gauranteed the moment you commit yourself to it". Powerful Stuff indeed. In that same vein, Pearl Buck said, " don't wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has to get down to work". And Albert Einstein said, "Three rules of work (1) out of clutter, find simplicity, (2) from discord, find harmony and (3) in the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity". Remember to always be persistent, that is truly a key. Just do the work everyday and refuse to ever let up. And when you need help, ask for it. Then Keep the momentum going! Don't give up or take anything personally. And speaking of commitment, to be successful in a Home Business, you have to be nothing less than a fanatic who is completely committed to making your Home Business not only a successful venture, but a profound commitment for your entire life. You will only fail if you quit. Keep in mind that this is all about independence from the drudgery of working for someone else your entire life. Work for yourself! Your health may depend on it.

The three phrase lies the method of Success for Home based business

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 11:19:00 +0000

a) Motivation.

Self motivation is the key to success when you start a home based business. You need to possess the ability to push yourself. Your drive and determination will be your factor to succeed.

The level of success that you will achieve depends on the time and effort you are willing to put into your new home business. Your organization, planning and new marketing skills, will be put into practice when you embark on your journey from an idea of a home based business to the reality of your own home based business. Along the way you will gain a wealth of experience that will stand you too good for the rest of your life....

b) Determination

You are now the self owner and must work completely independent. Do you have the drive, the tenacity to persevere with your home based business? Will you be able to invest the necessary time to nurture it, to watch it grow and see it through, from the time it has started to full bloom. Only you are the responsible person for the success of your business, from the time it has started, to the final victory. When you work from the comfort of your own home, it will empower you to achieve many things you were unable to do before. On a beautiful day I now go fishing, which is the time that you relax to the utmost with the chance that you might catch that big one that everybody dreams about.

c) Perseverance

Stay positive, motivated and focused on your home based business, even if you do get negative remarks or derogatory comments. Ignore these words and bear in mind that success is just around the corner. Keep an admirable positive attitude and with the graze of God you will show them what you are made of.

Some helpful tips regarding your Home Business

noreply@blogger.com (anakin) — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 09:40:00 +0000

When starting out on your path to financial independence and freedom from the rat race that a Home Business can provide, there is some conventional pieces of wisdom to consider to help guide you from those that have gone on this journey before you. While you will probably blaze a trail in a way that is unique in it's own way, there are nonetheless some tips that can help anyone that is starting their own business. The first tip regards your taxes: Be careful that you do not over deduct. A good rule of thumb is that deducting expenses which are equal to around 60 percent of your income, or more, may be inviting a tax audit. Another important thing to remember in this vein is that if you employ anyone, be sure to pay all the applicable taxes. You must pay unemployment tax, Social Security and Medicare, and of course withhold federal and state income tax. Another tax tip is to be aware of offer-in-compromise. If you are behind on your personal income taxes, you may be able to get caught up fairly easily with this program. If you are just starting your business and are not a Corporation, you are well advised to form one, in my firm opinion...

There are too many tax advantages not to and perhaps more importantly, you cut down your personal liability to virtually zero. Just talk to a competent professional about which type of corporate entity is best for your needs. When choosing where to incorporate, The majority of Home Businesses are advised to incorporate in a State in which they do the greatest part of their business. Out-of-State incorporation usually results in additional taxes and/or fees. But not setting up a corporation is perhaps one of the the biggest mistakes you can make. As previously mentioned, a corporation is your shield from personal liability and business debts.

Another important facet of success for your Home Business is to have a Mission Statement. This is like your business philosophy, ultimate goal, and long term plan rolled into one. It will be your guiding light and motivation in dark times. One way to look at a Mission Statement is to consider it the spiritual side of your business. All entities have (or should have) spirits, including your Business. Just do it. A Mission Statement for a real estate development business could be "To provide affordable housing to the maximum number of people", for example. Businesses that have clear goals and a clear mission Statement have a better chance of success than businesses that do not, in my opinion. Remember that once you write out your mission statement, it is not set in stone. You can take it out and modify it from time to time. Have a meeting with the other members of your business and decide which Mission Statement is right for you.