Starting a
Small Business Right!
When starting a small business, there is a right way to proceed. Below are seven basic things to consider, and become expert at, that should help you not only to get off to a great start, but cause your small business to grow into a very rewarding endeavor. Please follow the link below any of the sections to give you a more detailed explanation.
I also include two sections on other, helpful resources for those opening a business. First, for an online business...Skip McGrath's website, Auction Seller's Resource, is rich in information and guidance, especially for starting an eBay business. Second, some suggestions on how to proceed if you find that your attempt at opening a small business is beginning to falter.
Choose a
Small Business Idea Starting a small business can be full of tough decisions. One of the toughest is choosing the best small business for you. I hope the following will help you make a good decision:
Need Some Small Business Ideas? (New Window)
Start Off Small Especially if you are a beginner, start off your quest for starting a small business very small. Every success story start small, then builds. Try selling products at garage sales (new window), flea markets (new window), or selling items or services on eBay (new window). Some important reasons for starting very small are these:
First, your small business can start off very low budget, low cost, and low risk. But at the same time, you will gain experience and a "feel" for what having your own business is like. Rent a space at a flea market ("swap meet" in California) on a Saturday or Sunday and it's like having your own open-air storefront.
Starting off small gives you a chance to make sure that the small business choice you have made is the right one for you without getting yourself into deep debt.
And, you can get a taste of success right away. This is especially true with garage sales where, if you have a good amount of "stuff" around the house, and you live in a locality with a fairly good population, you can do quite well, usually making a few hundred dollars each weekend.
Decide How You Will Finance Your
Small Business One of the most important questions when starting a small business is how to finance it all. My opinion is this: not with credit cards, not with a loan, not with home equity, or anything like that. There is a false assumption floating around that you have to take out a bank loan to finance a new business. That's a very big and well established lie!
Actually, very few small businesses succeed that start out that way and it might be the main reason why so many small businesses fail within the first five years. If you take out a big loan to fund your small business start up, you just might end up losing your business, and in deep debt!
The key to survival when starting a small business is to start out small. Let the profits from the business itself cause the business to grow and drive it forward. But if it can't survive on its own, why use credit with the banks to bolster it up?
What Are the Best Ways to
Finance a Small Business? (New Window)
Write an Initial Business Plan
Actually, I know some people without a business plan at all and they seem to be doing pretty good, but probably not as good as they could. Believe it or not, when I was young and tender and didn't know better, my first small business in gardening and landscaping had no business plan for six years!
Although it can be done, I don't recommend going without one. It's critical that even the smallest small business should have some kind of planning document in order for it to experience its full potential.
When starting a small business, a business plan is extremely important for the following reasons:
More on Writing a Business Plan (New Window)
Establish a Business Identity
Obtain Business Permits
Obtaining a small business license is one of the first things you do when first starting a small business. Actually, there are about five or six legal actions (or pieces of paperwork) that you need to accomplish to properly establish your business identity with the government. Without them the federal, state, and local governments may not regard your business as legitimate. Similar procedures are required in other countries too. For most states in America, the main business permit requirements are:
More on Establishing a Business Identity
Obtaining a Small Business License and Other Permits
(New Window)
Get the Word Out!
Small Business Advertising Traffic through your small business, whether it be a "brick and mortar" type business, an Internet business, or what ever, is your business's life-blood. Without very substantial traffic, you have no business, and it's the key to your small business start up success.
So what is the secret to getting great traffic? First of all, of course, you have to have a great product in high demand. Then, become an expert at advertising your business! The following suggestions are some of the best ways, tried and true ways, that I have learned over the years to attract big traffic to my small businesses.
Some are not at all new or surprising but they have worked for me and many others, if you have a good product that is in demand, they should work for you too!
For more on Small Business Advertising (New Window)
Decide How You Will do Your Small
Business Accounting Small business accounting and bookkeeping is necessary but can get quite complicated. For most small businesses, however, the bookkeeping process can be kept to a simplified format while still meeting all needs of the business and what is required by law. It's my opinion, that, especially for solo entrepreneurs and beginners starting a small business, record keeping should be kept as simple and less time consuming as possible.
For larger businesses with many employees, a more complete bookkeeping and accounting program may be necessary. If you are one of these, you can go to school and learn it really good. But you may want to just learn on your own. There are usually many books at your local library on the subject or you can purchase one online at eBay.com or Amazon.com, with no problem, and probably very cheap.
Would you like to save maximum time learning a simple bookkeeping system at very little cost? You can pick up a copy of Dome Simplified Monthly Bookkeeping Record, written by a certified accountant. Try it, it's as easy as you can get and claims to meet all state and federal law record keeping requirements for those starting a small business.
For More Information on Small
Business Accounting
(New Window)
Article on How to Choose the Best Small Business Accounting Software (New Window)
Skip McGrath's Auction
Seller's Resource If you sell or are planning to sell things on eBay or your own website, Skip McGrath's website Auction Sellers Resource (New Window), is an excellent place to explore for all kinds of valuable information for beginners starting a small business, including starting a small business online, how to start your own eBay business, what sells well on eBay, other eBay selling tips, small business advice, and finding wholesale companies that are selling genuine wholesale merchandise.
Something You Can do if Your
Business Begins to Falter There are many things that can cause a small business to falter and eventually fail, but I'll mention here two of the main ones. The first is too many expenses; the second is insufficient advertising.
Not to long ago, Google changed it's famous (or infamous, to some) algorithm, causing many good websites as well as the targeted bad ones to suffer and decrease in their lifeblood of traffic. Actually, I'm not really sure if it was the algorithm adjustment by Google that caused traffic on my affiliate website also, to start going down. The decrease in traffic could have just been a coincidence in timing, what ever, my site was losing considerable traffic.
My search engine optimization program was not enough to sustain the traffic increase that I was used to. Slowly but surely, my website's traffic was deteriorating and I began to panic! However, I didn't panic to the point that I froze or was in despair. I began to brainstorm the situation I was in. What I decided on was this:
A few months earlier Google had offered me a good chunk of free advertising using their ad program called Google Adwords. I decided to use it. At first, I didn't know how to use Adwords efficiently, but it did bring much welcomed traffic to my site immediately. When I saw the new traffic coming in, it was like a breath of fresh air and relieved the stress.
The more I studied the Adwords Help pages, the more efficiently I was able to use it, and the more traffic came in per dollar spent. I still use Adwords, but now in conjunction with another Google program called Google Adsense and I'm profiting from the exchange. I'll have much more to say in the future on how to use these Google programs, so stay tuned! They are really good programs if used correctly and can help make your small business a success.
More on How to Grow Your Business
Business Growth Strategies
Go From Starting a Small Business Right to Opening a Small Business Home Page
Small Business Right!
When starting a small business, there is a right way to proceed. Below are seven basic things to consider, and become expert at, that should help you not only to get off to a great start, but cause your small business to grow into a very rewarding endeavor. Please follow the link below any of the sections to give you a more detailed explanation.
I also include two sections on other, helpful resources for those opening a business. First, for an online business...Skip McGrath's website, Auction Seller's Resource, is rich in information and guidance, especially for starting an eBay business. Second, some suggestions on how to proceed if you find that your attempt at opening a small business is beginning to falter.
Choose a
Small Business Idea Starting a small business can be full of tough decisions. One of the toughest is choosing the best small business for you. I hope the following will help you make a good decision:
- Ideally, you should have expert knowledge of your business idea. If not, be willing to learn more and more about it, until you actually become an expert. This is very important, because the more you know about your small business idea, the more you will be able to sell it to others, and the more successful you will be.
- It should come from some activity in your life that you really enjoy doing, maybe from your favorite hobby or recreation. For example, if you enjoy fishing and live near an area where there are lots of great places to fish, you could start a small business online, advertising your fishing guide service, or sell new and used fishing equipment, or you could even do both.
- Your idea needs to be something that you are willing to work very hard for. Like most things in life, starting a small business requires time, determination, and hard work. If you are unwilling for this, you might as well forget about owning a small business. You would be better off to go look for a “lazy days of summer” government type job.
Need Some Small Business Ideas? (New Window)
Start Off Small Especially if you are a beginner, start off your quest for starting a small business very small. Every success story start small, then builds. Try selling products at garage sales (new window), flea markets (new window), or selling items or services on eBay (new window). Some important reasons for starting very small are these:
First, your small business can start off very low budget, low cost, and low risk. But at the same time, you will gain experience and a "feel" for what having your own business is like. Rent a space at a flea market ("swap meet" in California) on a Saturday or Sunday and it's like having your own open-air storefront.
Starting off small gives you a chance to make sure that the small business choice you have made is the right one for you without getting yourself into deep debt.
And, you can get a taste of success right away. This is especially true with garage sales where, if you have a good amount of "stuff" around the house, and you live in a locality with a fairly good population, you can do quite well, usually making a few hundred dollars each weekend.
Decide How You Will Finance Your
Small Business One of the most important questions when starting a small business is how to finance it all. My opinion is this: not with credit cards, not with a loan, not with home equity, or anything like that. There is a false assumption floating around that you have to take out a bank loan to finance a new business. That's a very big and well established lie!
Actually, very few small businesses succeed that start out that way and it might be the main reason why so many small businesses fail within the first five years. If you take out a big loan to fund your small business start up, you just might end up losing your business, and in deep debt!
The key to survival when starting a small business is to start out small. Let the profits from the business itself cause the business to grow and drive it forward. But if it can't survive on its own, why use credit with the banks to bolster it up?
What Are the Best Ways to
Finance a Small Business? (New Window)
Write an Initial Business Plan
Actually, I know some people without a business plan at all and they seem to be doing pretty good, but probably not as good as they could. Believe it or not, when I was young and tender and didn't know better, my first small business in gardening and landscaping had no business plan for six years!
Although it can be done, I don't recommend going without one. It's critical that even the smallest small business should have some kind of planning document in order for it to experience its full potential.
When starting a small business, a business plan is extremely important for the following reasons:
- If you need to borrow money or apply for a government grant or a grant from a private organization, they will definitaly require a well written, professional business plan.
- It serves as a brainstorming tool and helps greatly to keep your business organized, growing, and heading in the right direction.
- It can also serve as a valuable part of your record keeping.
More on Writing a Business Plan (New Window)
Establish a Business Identity
Obtain Business Permits
Obtaining a small business license is one of the first things you do when first starting a small business. Actually, there are about five or six legal actions (or pieces of paperwork) that you need to accomplish to properly establish your business identity with the government. Without them the federal, state, and local governments may not regard your business as legitimate. Similar procedures are required in other countries too. For most states in America, the main business permit requirements are:
- Obtain a business license at your local city hall.
- Register for state tax and get a state sales tax ID number; register your business name.
- Register for federal income tax and obtain a federal ID number.
More on Establishing a Business Identity
Obtaining a Small Business License and Other Permits
(New Window)
Get the Word Out!
Small Business Advertising Traffic through your small business, whether it be a "brick and mortar" type business, an Internet business, or what ever, is your business's life-blood. Without very substantial traffic, you have no business, and it's the key to your small business start up success.
So what is the secret to getting great traffic? First of all, of course, you have to have a great product in high demand. Then, become an expert at advertising your business! The following suggestions are some of the best ways, tried and true ways, that I have learned over the years to attract big traffic to my small businesses.
Some are not at all new or surprising but they have worked for me and many others, if you have a good product that is in demand, they should work for you too!
- Make business cards, pass them out to friends, relatives, whoever! Having business cards is a real must. With business cards and your enthusiasm to distribute them, your small business venture can get off to a great start.
- Many news and magazine publications cater to small business. In the 1970s, when starting a small business in landscaping, I began advertising in a small, local Orange County California publication called the Super-Saver. Within two weeks I had all the business I could handle.
- The very popular Craigslist.org offers free advertising!
- The Web advertising service, Google AdWords can be very effective. There are other, similar online advertising services as well.
For more on Small Business Advertising (New Window)
Decide How You Will do Your Small
Business Accounting Small business accounting and bookkeeping is necessary but can get quite complicated. For most small businesses, however, the bookkeeping process can be kept to a simplified format while still meeting all needs of the business and what is required by law. It's my opinion, that, especially for solo entrepreneurs and beginners starting a small business, record keeping should be kept as simple and less time consuming as possible.
For larger businesses with many employees, a more complete bookkeeping and accounting program may be necessary. If you are one of these, you can go to school and learn it really good. But you may want to just learn on your own. There are usually many books at your local library on the subject or you can purchase one online at eBay.com or Amazon.com, with no problem, and probably very cheap.
Would you like to save maximum time learning a simple bookkeeping system at very little cost? You can pick up a copy of Dome Simplified Monthly Bookkeeping Record, written by a certified accountant. Try it, it's as easy as you can get and claims to meet all state and federal law record keeping requirements for those starting a small business.
For More Information on Small
Business Accounting
(New Window)
Article on How to Choose the Best Small Business Accounting Software (New Window)
Skip McGrath's Auction
Seller's Resource If you sell or are planning to sell things on eBay or your own website, Skip McGrath's website Auction Sellers Resource (New Window), is an excellent place to explore for all kinds of valuable information for beginners starting a small business, including starting a small business online, how to start your own eBay business, what sells well on eBay, other eBay selling tips, small business advice, and finding wholesale companies that are selling genuine wholesale merchandise.
Something You Can do if Your
Business Begins to Falter There are many things that can cause a small business to falter and eventually fail, but I'll mention here two of the main ones. The first is too many expenses; the second is insufficient advertising.
Not to long ago, Google changed it's famous (or infamous, to some) algorithm, causing many good websites as well as the targeted bad ones to suffer and decrease in their lifeblood of traffic. Actually, I'm not really sure if it was the algorithm adjustment by Google that caused traffic on my affiliate website also, to start going down. The decrease in traffic could have just been a coincidence in timing, what ever, my site was losing considerable traffic.
My search engine optimization program was not enough to sustain the traffic increase that I was used to. Slowly but surely, my website's traffic was deteriorating and I began to panic! However, I didn't panic to the point that I froze or was in despair. I began to brainstorm the situation I was in. What I decided on was this:
A few months earlier Google had offered me a good chunk of free advertising using their ad program called Google Adwords. I decided to use it. At first, I didn't know how to use Adwords efficiently, but it did bring much welcomed traffic to my site immediately. When I saw the new traffic coming in, it was like a breath of fresh air and relieved the stress.
The more I studied the Adwords Help pages, the more efficiently I was able to use it, and the more traffic came in per dollar spent. I still use Adwords, but now in conjunction with another Google program called Google Adsense and I'm profiting from the exchange. I'll have much more to say in the future on how to use these Google programs, so stay tuned! They are really good programs if used correctly and can help make your small business a success.
More on How to Grow Your Business
Business Growth Strategies
Go From Starting a Small Business Right to Opening a Small Business Home Page
Small Business Ideas
Best Home Business Ideas
How to Choose a Great
Business Idea That's Right For You Below is a list of some small business ideas that I hope will be of great value to you. Most are home business start-ups that are among the best, most profitable, and easiest to start.
Maybe you have found that there are thousands of ideas to choose from and choosing the one just right for you to be a difficult decision to make. However, your choice does not necessarily have to be a difficult one.
Whatever idea you choose, my first suggestion is not to go after an idea that you think is a "popular" one or one of the "hottest new business ideas" out there, that is making money for others, and will therefore make money for you too. That could be your first, and last, mistake! Here are a few suggestions that may help you decide which small business idea is right for you:
Home business idea. The gift basket business (new window), though it requires more in the way of capital and supplies, has great income potential for someone who is artistically inclined.
Take Your Time Choosing
a Business
Below is a list of small business ideas. I suggest you not decide on a definite topic too soon. Planning and doing the necessary research for the best topic is very important if you plan starting a small business.
Take your time, think it carefully through, and then choose with confidence. You might have a good idea of what your small business idea will be right now! However, you want to make sure that you don't choose one that will end up wasting your time, energy, and money.
Here is my wonderful dog Pinkie! I love to show her off. We spend a lot of time visiting parks, and while talking to other dog lovers there I soon discovered that there is a great need for dog groomers (new window), dog sitters (new window), and dog walkers. This type of small business is relatively inexpensive and easy to get into.
If you are thinking about selling a particular product at your own offline retail shop, first consider this: having your own storefront business could be (unless it is an inherited, family owned business) an expensive and many times more difficult small business to start up, for most entrepreneurs, especially if you are a beginner.
Maybe test the popularity of your service or product by listing it online at eBay.com first. Actually, creating a website business or starting a business on eBay, would be easier and far less expensive than opening an offline storefront.
List of Small Business
Ideas Micro
farming Website
Business Gift Basket
Business Market
Gardening Flea Markets Tax Preparation Landscaping
Business Resume
Writing Auto
Detailing Web Page
Design Raising
Chickens Garage Sales Interior
Decorator Affiliate
Marketing Dog
Sitting Bookkeeping
Service Translator/
Interpreter Errand
Service Fitness
Trainer Desktop
Publishing Dog
Grooming Computer
repair Medical
Billing/Coding Selling on
eBay Internet Store Adsense
Business House
Painting Selling on
Craigslist Sewing and
Alterations Music
Teacher Professional Tutor Help People
Connect Sewing and
Alterations Video Prep
Service Wedding
Planner Life Skills
Coach Virtual
Assistant Cost
Cutter Elder
Assistant Swap Meet
Restaurant Mow Lawns
Gardener Open
Small Bank Build
Boomboxes Tour
Service
Best Home Business Ideas
How to Choose a Great
Business Idea That's Right For You Below is a list of some small business ideas that I hope will be of great value to you. Most are home business start-ups that are among the best, most profitable, and easiest to start.
Maybe you have found that there are thousands of ideas to choose from and choosing the one just right for you to be a difficult decision to make. However, your choice does not necessarily have to be a difficult one.
Whatever idea you choose, my first suggestion is not to go after an idea that you think is a "popular" one or one of the "hottest new business ideas" out there, that is making money for others, and will therefore make money for you too. That could be your first, and last, mistake! Here are a few suggestions that may help you decide which small business idea is right for you:
- Your idea should stem from some activity in your life that you already really enjoy doing. You should be so excited about doing it that each morning when you get up it's like "Oh boy, let's go!" For example, using computers and building this website business is more like a favorite hobby to me rather than work.
- You should know at least a lot about your subject and be willing to learn more and more until you become an expert at it. Of course, the more working knowledge you have about your topic, the more confident you will be about it, the richer will be it's content, and the more successfull you will be at building it.
- And last, your choice of small business start up has to meet some kind of need for others, if it does not, nobody will buy it! So research it. Make sure that your business idea will meet people's needs or that it's something that people really want, and preferably, something where the desire for it won't putter-out.
Home business idea. The gift basket business (new window), though it requires more in the way of capital and supplies, has great income potential for someone who is artistically inclined.
Take Your Time Choosing
a Business
Below is a list of small business ideas. I suggest you not decide on a definite topic too soon. Planning and doing the necessary research for the best topic is very important if you plan starting a small business.
Take your time, think it carefully through, and then choose with confidence. You might have a good idea of what your small business idea will be right now! However, you want to make sure that you don't choose one that will end up wasting your time, energy, and money.
Here is my wonderful dog Pinkie! I love to show her off. We spend a lot of time visiting parks, and while talking to other dog lovers there I soon discovered that there is a great need for dog groomers (new window), dog sitters (new window), and dog walkers. This type of small business is relatively inexpensive and easy to get into.
If you are thinking about selling a particular product at your own offline retail shop, first consider this: having your own storefront business could be (unless it is an inherited, family owned business) an expensive and many times more difficult small business to start up, for most entrepreneurs, especially if you are a beginner.
Maybe test the popularity of your service or product by listing it online at eBay.com first. Actually, creating a website business or starting a business on eBay, would be easier and far less expensive than opening an offline storefront.
List of Small Business
Ideas Micro
farming Website
Business Gift Basket
Business Market
Gardening Flea Markets Tax Preparation Landscaping
Business Resume
Writing Auto
Detailing Web Page
Design Raising
Chickens Garage Sales Interior
Decorator Affiliate
Marketing Dog
Sitting Bookkeeping
Service Translator/
Interpreter Errand
Service Fitness
Trainer Desktop
Publishing Dog
Grooming Computer
repair Medical
Billing/Coding Selling on
eBay Internet Store Adsense
Business House
Painting Selling on
Craigslist Sewing and
Alterations Music
Teacher Professional Tutor Help People
Connect Sewing and
Alterations Video Prep
Service Wedding
Planner Life Skills
Coach Virtual
Assistant Cost
Cutter Elder
Assistant Swap Meet
Restaurant Mow Lawns
Gardener Open
Small Bank Build
Boomboxes Tour
Service
The new American dream: starting
a home business
Is a Home Business on
Your Wish List? Starting a home business has never been more popular. According to the Small Business Administration, there are over 24 million home-based businesses operating in the United States, and these businesses make up about 53 percent of all small businesses. Another survey claims that the average income-generating home office household is $63,000 a year (IDC survey).
That makes a home business a very attractive and profitable endeavor! According to a fairly recent Harris poll, 72% of American adults are seriously thinking about starting a home business. How about you?
Whether you are thinking about a part-time home business start up or a full-time one, starting a small business at home is a great idea. Such a venture does require persistence and hard work, but millions of people just like you are successfully starting or operating a home business every day
Some Benefits of Starting
a Business From Home
First Things Needed When Starting
a Home Business When starting a home business, you may need a small business license from your local city hall. If you are selling only used goods obtained from garage sales or flea markets you may not need a business license.
Obtain a sales tax resale number if you are going to purchase merchandise for resale from a wholesale company. Check with your Chamber of Commerce and they will tell you where to obtain a resale number, usually for just a small fee.
Where will the money come from to finance your enterprise? Where is the best small business funding available? From my experience, the best and safest sources of funding is from your savings and from your present job. Another good source is from friends or relatives that you convince and who want to invest in your small business.
If you can avoid it, credit cards and loans are, in my opinion, the worst source of moneyfor most small business start-ups. That's because small business loans and credit cards encourage entrepreneurs to spend more, and overspending, especially for beginners, is a main reason for small business failure.
Depending on the type of small business you are starting, you almost certainly need a computer, at least for bookkeeping, research, and advertising. If your business is computer based, for example, a small business doing Web Sight Design, the computer will be your main piece of equipment. Computers range in price from about $500 to $2500, depending on your needs.
You will need office working area and equipment. For office equipment, you will need a desk, a good arm chair, lamps, file cabinet, computer, combination fax/printer/scanner, and possibly a separate phone line (or cell phone), devoted just for your small business. Depending on your business selection, your office and working space can vary considerably, from under $1000 to $10,000 or much more.
Home business advertising is a must. Without advertising, how will people know about your business? So somehow get the word out with business cards, brochures, flyers, and any way that you can. Craigslist.org and Upillar.com offer free classified ads for those starting a home business.
If you are going to sell on the Internet, pictures are critical. You will need a digital camera, (many cell phone cameras work well enough too), to easily transfer pictures to your website or your listings on eBay, Craigslist, or other advertising website.
You can purchase high quality digital or other photographic equipment on eBay at very reasonable prices. I recommend not buying a cheap digital camera, but invest in a good one. For my own use, I have a Canon that I paid $250 for, it works great, that I bought at a local camera shop.
I also have an old Droid 3 cell phone that takes incredibly good macro close-ups, plus it takes great videos. If you can afford the $400 or so price tag on a Droid or similar that takes photos and videos, I highly recommend doing that. And if you have a Verizon Wireless subscription, you can get this type cell phone for about $100 by signing one of their two year contracts.
Here are Some Great Home Based
Business Ideas Create a Website Business (new window)
Probably the easiest home-based business for most people to create, and the most profitable, is one that is website based, either creating your own website or using an e-commerce site such as eBay or Amazon.com.
Auto Detailing Business (new window)
Do you enjoy cars and making your car look as great as it can be? Then a Mobile Auto Detailing business may be an excellent, high demand small business venture for you!
Dog Grooming Business (new window)
Do you love dogs? Start your business at home as a Dog groomer. This may be just the small business for you. Many dog owners are willing to pay big bucks to have their dogs groomed.
Gift Basket Business (new window)
Start a gift basket business! At least 75% of gift basket businesses can make over $50K per year, 20% can make about $200K according to a survey by Gift Basket Review (www.festivities-pub.com).
Go to Small Business Ideas page for more
ideas on starting a home business
Go from Starting a Home Business to Opening a
Small Business home page
a home business
Is a Home Business on
Your Wish List? Starting a home business has never been more popular. According to the Small Business Administration, there are over 24 million home-based businesses operating in the United States, and these businesses make up about 53 percent of all small businesses. Another survey claims that the average income-generating home office household is $63,000 a year (IDC survey).
That makes a home business a very attractive and profitable endeavor! According to a fairly recent Harris poll, 72% of American adults are seriously thinking about starting a home business. How about you?
Whether you are thinking about a part-time home business start up or a full-time one, starting a small business at home is a great idea. Such a venture does require persistence and hard work, but millions of people just like you are successfully starting or operating a home business every day
Some Benefits of Starting
a Business From Home
- Be your own boss, be more in control of your own destiny. Because you are the one in control, you may be in a better position to produce a positive change in your life and work style, resulting in increased personal fulfillment.
- Starting a home business offers you the liberty to pursue your favorite recreation, can give you a more flexible lifestyle to do the things you want to do most in life.
- Your work is at home, you don't have to "go to work." If family life is a top priority with you, because you are at home much of the day, you can spend much more time with your family.
First Things Needed When Starting
a Home Business When starting a home business, you may need a small business license from your local city hall. If you are selling only used goods obtained from garage sales or flea markets you may not need a business license.
Obtain a sales tax resale number if you are going to purchase merchandise for resale from a wholesale company. Check with your Chamber of Commerce and they will tell you where to obtain a resale number, usually for just a small fee.
Where will the money come from to finance your enterprise? Where is the best small business funding available? From my experience, the best and safest sources of funding is from your savings and from your present job. Another good source is from friends or relatives that you convince and who want to invest in your small business.
If you can avoid it, credit cards and loans are, in my opinion, the worst source of moneyfor most small business start-ups. That's because small business loans and credit cards encourage entrepreneurs to spend more, and overspending, especially for beginners, is a main reason for small business failure.
Depending on the type of small business you are starting, you almost certainly need a computer, at least for bookkeeping, research, and advertising. If your business is computer based, for example, a small business doing Web Sight Design, the computer will be your main piece of equipment. Computers range in price from about $500 to $2500, depending on your needs.
You will need office working area and equipment. For office equipment, you will need a desk, a good arm chair, lamps, file cabinet, computer, combination fax/printer/scanner, and possibly a separate phone line (or cell phone), devoted just for your small business. Depending on your business selection, your office and working space can vary considerably, from under $1000 to $10,000 or much more.
Home business advertising is a must. Without advertising, how will people know about your business? So somehow get the word out with business cards, brochures, flyers, and any way that you can. Craigslist.org and Upillar.com offer free classified ads for those starting a home business.
If you are going to sell on the Internet, pictures are critical. You will need a digital camera, (many cell phone cameras work well enough too), to easily transfer pictures to your website or your listings on eBay, Craigslist, or other advertising website.
You can purchase high quality digital or other photographic equipment on eBay at very reasonable prices. I recommend not buying a cheap digital camera, but invest in a good one. For my own use, I have a Canon that I paid $250 for, it works great, that I bought at a local camera shop.
I also have an old Droid 3 cell phone that takes incredibly good macro close-ups, plus it takes great videos. If you can afford the $400 or so price tag on a Droid or similar that takes photos and videos, I highly recommend doing that. And if you have a Verizon Wireless subscription, you can get this type cell phone for about $100 by signing one of their two year contracts.
Here are Some Great Home Based
Business Ideas Create a Website Business (new window)
Probably the easiest home-based business for most people to create, and the most profitable, is one that is website based, either creating your own website or using an e-commerce site such as eBay or Amazon.com.
Auto Detailing Business (new window)
Do you enjoy cars and making your car look as great as it can be? Then a Mobile Auto Detailing business may be an excellent, high demand small business venture for you!
Dog Grooming Business (new window)
Do you love dogs? Start your business at home as a Dog groomer. This may be just the small business for you. Many dog owners are willing to pay big bucks to have their dogs groomed.
Gift Basket Business (new window)
Start a gift basket business! At least 75% of gift basket businesses can make over $50K per year, 20% can make about $200K according to a survey by Gift Basket Review (www.festivities-pub.com).
Go to Small Business Ideas page for more
ideas on starting a home business
Go from Starting a Home Business to Opening a
Small Business home page
Opening a small business
can be as easy as
starting an eBay business!
Why eBay is Still
a Great Place to
Start an Online Business Having your own small business can be as easy as starting an eBay business, buying and selling at eBay.com, the best online auction marketplace.
eBay was founded in 1995, and is made up of buyers and sellers, regular people like you and me. There is still no place else where starting a small business is made so easy.
Whatever means you choose to sell, online, offline at a storefront, or from a home-based small business, the key factor determining your success will be the amount of traffic you are able to attract to your business.
Even having your own website business does not guarantee instant success, because it will take time, know-how, and hard work to build consistent traffic and a profitable business, probably one or more years.
However, because eBay already has the traffic, when you buy into it, you are immediately buying into all that traffic, and terrific selling tools too!
If you have a good product that people really want, starting an eBay business can be the quickest way to success. There are other great reasons to start an eBay business:
Starting an eBay Business Has Many More Advantages
Getting Started!
How to Sell on eBay
Information On Hot Selling Items on
eBay (New Window)
Article on Starting an eBay Business
Interested in an Ebay Alternative? For Some Best Ebay Alternatives Click Here
Go from Starting an eBay Business to Opening a Small
Business home page
can be as easy as
starting an eBay business!
Why eBay is Still
a Great Place to
Start an Online Business Having your own small business can be as easy as starting an eBay business, buying and selling at eBay.com, the best online auction marketplace.
eBay was founded in 1995, and is made up of buyers and sellers, regular people like you and me. There is still no place else where starting a small business is made so easy.
Whatever means you choose to sell, online, offline at a storefront, or from a home-based small business, the key factor determining your success will be the amount of traffic you are able to attract to your business.
Even having your own website business does not guarantee instant success, because it will take time, know-how, and hard work to build consistent traffic and a profitable business, probably one or more years.
However, because eBay already has the traffic, when you buy into it, you are immediately buying into all that traffic, and terrific selling tools too!
If you have a good product that people really want, starting an eBay business can be the quickest way to success. There are other great reasons to start an eBay business:
Starting an eBay Business Has Many More Advantages
- Starting an eBay business is among the quickest, easiest, and best ways to make money working from home.
- It offers you opportunity to spend your days working within an area that you love. Do you enjoy working with a computer and the challenge of becoming a sales entrepreneur?
- And how about having the ability to choose your own working routine. Once you have made the decision and left behind the old 9-5 routine, you will find yourself able to choose your own work schedule.
- Do you work best in the mornings? Great! You can start bright and early and take the afternoons off. Are you a night owl? Sleep-in each morning, start your eBay work after lunch and work into the evening. Whatever works for you, works for eBay too!
- You could start by selling products on eBay just part time keeping your full time job, selling merchandise in the evenings and generating an well appreciated second income.
Getting Started!
How to Sell on eBay
- after registering on eBay, go to http://ebay.com (new window) and before you began selling, do tons of research; if you have not already done so, get to know the eBay.com website thoroughly, in detail, including their fee schedule.
- Know what sells well on eBay. For example, house wares are always selling well (but select any category you want). From any eBay page under the Category pull down menu at top of page (or from menus in left margin), select Home & Garden / Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living / Outdoor Cooking & Eating (use menus in left hand margin to refine search for each selection). Then in left margin of the "Outdoor Cooking & Eating" page, scroll further down and click on "Completed Listings."
- Scroll down and find those items sold that had lots of bids or sales. These will be items that are popular and selling the best. This is one direct and easy way to research and find the types of products that might be the most profitable for you to sell on eBay.
Information On Hot Selling Items on
eBay (New Window)
- Research the sellers of popular items you have found. Study eBay members that are successful (many times these are eBay "Power Sellers") by studying the content and design of their listings.
- Look also for sellers that were not successful and try to determine why they were not successful in selling their item by examining such things as the listings content, style, particular item being sold, and its asking price.
Article on Starting an eBay Business
Interested in an Ebay Alternative? For Some Best Ebay Alternatives Click Here
Go from Starting an eBay Business to Opening a Small
Business home page
How to create a website business starting a home business
make money online!
Create a website business!
Would you like to create a thriving, website business and make money online with not much more than a laptop computer? I've got good news for you! You absolutely can, because millions of people are doing just that right now. And Hey! If they are doing it, why not you?
Creating a website business, either on your own site, such as opening your own online store, is probably the easiest, most profitable, and least expensive way for a starting a home business.
Why is this? Simply because online shopping is increasingly becoming the number one way for most people to find what they need quickly.
There are many ways to make money online, but here are three of the most popular, easiest to set up, and most effective:
Advantages to
Starting a Small Business
on the Web
Website Business
Where Can You Start? Research, become familiar with the business community on the Web. Learn about selling online by observing other small business websites, reading books, or enrolling in adult education or college courses on the subject of starting a small business on the Web or selling on the Internet.
Determine what product or service you would like to sell. The key to success in this business is to produce or locate products of value to people that you can resell for at least double or triple the purchase price yet still be a good buy to your customers.
Automobiles is one of the top items sold on eBay (new window). Many are starting a small business by selling used automobiles on eBay or Craigslist.org (new window). After some planning, deciding on type of website business (for example, an Internet Store, affiliate Marketing Website) and before you actually create a website, there are two basic things you need to do: 1) Register a domain name for your website, and 2) find a good website hosting service.
Creating Web Content For Your Online Business
Starting with a theme you enjoy, the first stage is a “brainstorming” stage and its just that. Relax, let your mind run free and easy, jotting down what ever creative thoughts, ideas, opinions, information, knowledge, or instruction crosses your mind about your theme, without any censoring.
The key here is to be spontaneous. Just scribble thoughts down, on paper, a white board. When out for a walk, carry a CD or tape recorder with you to record great ideas for your page content.
Now put all your "scribbling" together into a rough draft, into a logical order, and using the "5 W's + H" scheme of What, Where, Why, When, Who, and How. Even here, a free and easy approach to your writing is usually best, that is, try not to be like Wikipedia, let your writing flow like a river!
Lastly, scratch out a final draft, looking at your writing with a slightly more critical eye. The main things here are: to look for spelling and grammatical errors and to ask yourself, Does this meet the needs of my visitors? Each page also needs to be, if possible, full of key words and phrases (to please the search engines).
LEARNING HTML WILL HELP YOU BUILD
A GREAT WEBSITE!
BEWARE OF INTERNET SCAMS
Go from Create a Website Business to
Small Business Ideas page
Go from Create a Website Business to Opening a
Small Business home page
make money online!
Create a website business!
Would you like to create a thriving, website business and make money online with not much more than a laptop computer? I've got good news for you! You absolutely can, because millions of people are doing just that right now. And Hey! If they are doing it, why not you?
Creating a website business, either on your own site, such as opening your own online store, is probably the easiest, most profitable, and least expensive way for a starting a home business.
Why is this? Simply because online shopping is increasingly becoming the number one way for most people to find what they need quickly.
There are many ways to make money online, but here are three of the most popular, easiest to set up, and most effective:
- Building an informational, affiliate marketing website (new window) is the easiest and most popular website business to start and make money. How to build an affiliate website, best affiliate programs and networks.
- Creating an internet store (new window) website is also very popular. Includes best, most popular store builders.
- An eBay business (new window) with great ready-made tools.
Advantages to
Starting a Small Business
on the Web
- Small business start-up costs are usually much lower on the Web, especially when compared to traditional ways of marketing.
- Marketing on your own website, and on other websites, for example, on eBay, can be much more profitable when compared to other types of marketing, such as selling from a brick & mortar type storefront shop or a mail order business.
- Overall, it's easier to sell products over the Web. Even One person can handle day-to-day processing of orders.
- It depends on the product line, but the typical annual gross earnings can have a greater potential than many high salary jobs.
- No fixed hours; the Web is open 24/7.
- Your income does not need to stop when you take time off.
- You can specialize in merchandise that would not sell enough to support a shop; sell products or services that express your favorite hobbies or passions.
- Create a website business on a part time basis without leaving your full time job.
Website Business
Where Can You Start? Research, become familiar with the business community on the Web. Learn about selling online by observing other small business websites, reading books, or enrolling in adult education or college courses on the subject of starting a small business on the Web or selling on the Internet.
Determine what product or service you would like to sell. The key to success in this business is to produce or locate products of value to people that you can resell for at least double or triple the purchase price yet still be a good buy to your customers.
Automobiles is one of the top items sold on eBay (new window). Many are starting a small business by selling used automobiles on eBay or Craigslist.org (new window). After some planning, deciding on type of website business (for example, an Internet Store, affiliate Marketing Website) and before you actually create a website, there are two basic things you need to do: 1) Register a domain name for your website, and 2) find a good website hosting service.
- Click Here, if you are looking for free website hosting
- For a great article on starting a home internet business
Creating Web Content For Your Online Business
Starting with a theme you enjoy, the first stage is a “brainstorming” stage and its just that. Relax, let your mind run free and easy, jotting down what ever creative thoughts, ideas, opinions, information, knowledge, or instruction crosses your mind about your theme, without any censoring.
The key here is to be spontaneous. Just scribble thoughts down, on paper, a white board. When out for a walk, carry a CD or tape recorder with you to record great ideas for your page content.
Now put all your "scribbling" together into a rough draft, into a logical order, and using the "5 W's + H" scheme of What, Where, Why, When, Who, and How. Even here, a free and easy approach to your writing is usually best, that is, try not to be like Wikipedia, let your writing flow like a river!
Lastly, scratch out a final draft, looking at your writing with a slightly more critical eye. The main things here are: to look for spelling and grammatical errors and to ask yourself, Does this meet the needs of my visitors? Each page also needs to be, if possible, full of key words and phrases (to please the search engines).
LEARNING HTML WILL HELP YOU BUILD
A GREAT WEBSITE!
BEWARE OF INTERNET SCAMS
Go from Create a Website Business to
Small Business Ideas page
Go from Create a Website Business to Opening a
Small Business home page
Starting a small business in
retail marketing
When I refer to starting a retail marketing business, keep in mind that I'm referring to starting a traditional brick and mortar business, a business type that has a physical rather than an online presence, a store built of real material such as bricks, wood, mortar, metal, and so on, that people can drive their car to, enter a front door, where they can purchase merchandise or subscribe to its service.
Examples of a regular, retail type businesses are boutique shops, department stores, laundromats, movie theaters, restaurants of all sizes, and car dealerships. We know, of course, that there is still a great demand for this type of business. The huge American and European malls are just full of every kind of small and large business of this type imaginable, and one of these might be just right for you!
Research has found that an online business, many home businesses, and other small businesses, such as selling at a Farmers Market or maybe a mobile auto detail business operated from home, have a much greater chance of success. And that's what we want, right? We want to own a small business that has the greatest chance of success!
Why is Starting a Traditional Retail
Business More Difficult?
How to Start a Retail
Business There is still, a big demand for retail-marketing type businesses and we know that 50% of them do not fail within five years! So how does one start a retail business?
The basics of what you will need is about the same as it is for any other business. (Please check out my page on Starting a Small Business Right.) In addition:
Some of these swap-meets are just incredible, especially in Southern California, drawing huge crowds during the summer. Gradually progress into renting or owning a building of your own, and only as you can clearly afford it. Only buy equipment as you absolutely need it.
Go from Retail Marketing to Opening a
Small Business home page
retail marketing
When I refer to starting a retail marketing business, keep in mind that I'm referring to starting a traditional brick and mortar business, a business type that has a physical rather than an online presence, a store built of real material such as bricks, wood, mortar, metal, and so on, that people can drive their car to, enter a front door, where they can purchase merchandise or subscribe to its service.
Examples of a regular, retail type businesses are boutique shops, department stores, laundromats, movie theaters, restaurants of all sizes, and car dealerships. We know, of course, that there is still a great demand for this type of business. The huge American and European malls are just full of every kind of small and large business of this type imaginable, and one of these might be just right for you!
Research has found that an online business, many home businesses, and other small businesses, such as selling at a Farmers Market or maybe a mobile auto detail business operated from home, have a much greater chance of success. And that's what we want, right? We want to own a small business that has the greatest chance of success!
Why is Starting a Traditional Retail
Business More Difficult?
- A business of this type does not have to be harder to start up, depending on which one you choose. But remember this: a traditional retail marketing business will usually require a much greater initial expenditure of money.
- The larger the retail business, the more money you will have to fork out and the longer it will take before you are really earning money from it, maybe up to three years, or even longer.
- According the U.S. Small Business Administration, at least 50% of small businesses fail within five years. Most of those are retail businesses.
How to Start a Retail
Business There is still, a big demand for retail-marketing type businesses and we know that 50% of them do not fail within five years! So how does one start a retail business?
The basics of what you will need is about the same as it is for any other business. (Please check out my page on Starting a Small Business Right.) In addition:
- Be in a financial position to rent or buy a building in a great location.
- You will need more in the way of professional guidance.
- And maybe a good attorney or even a team of attorneys, to keep you out of trouble.
- Purchase More insurance, to protect all that brick & mortar along with all its other retail equipment.
Some of these swap-meets are just incredible, especially in Southern California, drawing huge crowds during the summer. Gradually progress into renting or owning a building of your own, and only as you can clearly afford it. Only buy equipment as you absolutely need it.
Go from Retail Marketing to Opening a
Small Business home page
Do you need a business
plan template?
What is a Business Plan and What Can It Do For You?
Below you will find a business plan template or business plan format, describing the main components of a traditional business plan. It's basic design has been around for many many years, maybe even hundreds, I'm not sure, but it goes way back.
A business plan is important both for you and for others who want to know about your business. It describes your business, it's goals, and financial projections. In short, it serves as your business's resume.
Every business, of course, needs a direction and a strategy. That's what a good business plan will give you. Remember this: a well-written business plan must provide your business with a blueprint for success. Your business plan will also go a long way to help you keep your thinking organized and in perspective.
Your plan does not have to be long and complicated, especially at the beginning. For smaller businesses, keep it as simple and succinct as you can, yet informative. Use it as a living document, try to keep it flexible, modifying it often as needed.
I actually know some small businesses without one and still doing pretty good. However, most business people would agree that every business needs a business plan in order to reach its full potential.
Now you can either purchase business plan software, which might end up saving you some time, or you can save money by creating your own business plan using the standard format.
Along with the template you will need your own word processor and spreadsheet software, maybe Microsoft Excel. If you don't have Excel, you can go to OpenOffice.org (new window) for great, FREE software, I think just as good as the latest expensive version of Microsoft Office.
Our business plan template should help to show you what is considered in today’s often crazy business world to be the main components of a good business plan. Use this template as a guide, a word processor, spreadsheet software, and your own creativity to produce a great business plan.
However, which ever way you choose, creating your own business plan or purchasing business plan software from someone, please realize this: especially for someone first starting a small business, a small business plan is very important, even essential.
There is Help if You Need It! If you plan on qualifying for a bank loan or obtaining grant money for your small business, make sure you are building, eventually, a professional looking business plan. Sorry, go ahead and try! There is just no way around that. That's because the bank or other lending institution you want to borrow from is so incredibly particular, they will probably want to know about every little detail of your proposed business venture before they will even think about forking out money to you.
It's always been that way, but especially now, with the recession we are having. However, I suggest using a simple business plan format, at the beginning of your small business start-up, similar to the one I have below, keeping it as simple as you can. Even though a business plan is necessary, put most of your time and efforts into actually building up the profit making areas of your small business.
If you find that creating a professional looking business plan is harder than you thought, and you feel that you need further help, I have a suggestion for you. I don't know of any better or more popular business plan building software than Business Plan Pro (new window). They make it as easy as possible for you to put together an absolutely terrific, professional business plan, and, in as little time as possible.
They do it by providing hundreds of ready made, complete, perfect business plans, and all you have to do is modify the plan you like best, then changing the content around to suit your particular small business. I am an affiliate of Bplans, but I'm also saying this for your benefit, so you don't get all bogged down creating a business plan. But whatever you choose to do, remember, try to keep it simple.
Here it is, The Basic Business
Plan Template
Executive Summary This is a brief summary of a small business plan, some background information, and main conclusions. It's intended as an aid in decision making and a help for readers other than yourself to quickly understand the business without having to read the entire business plan.
The Executive Summary may be the only part of your small business plan that most readers, like bank representatives or investors, will study, so make it informative and memorable for them.
The first paragraph usually contains specific information concerning the businesses name, where it is located, the nature and purpose of your small business, what it sells (especially new products), potential for growth, and keys to success. It should also contain expected opportunities, and reasons for any competitive advantage you feel your business has.
Business Plan Template
Mission Statement A good mission statement is a critical element in defining your business, and, if necessary, communicate its true goals to customers, employees, owners, and others involved. For example, if you believe customer satisfaction and customer service are important, say so. If you place a high value on fair treatment of employees and that employee creativity should be rewarded, then say that too.
Don't confuse the Mission Statement with the Statement of Objectives. They are both about goals. But the Mission Statement is about fundamental values. The Statement of Objectives is about measurable, expected numbers.
Business Plan Template
Statement of Objectives List specific, measurable business goals, including expected growth rates, sales, profits, but no more than three or four of your most important objectives to emphasize your focus. This needs to show your ability to track progress towards goals and measure results.
Business Plan Template
Keys to Small Business Success Each business has different keys to success. Include here a few key factors that will really make the difference between the success or failure of your small business. What they are for your business depends on who you are and what you offer.
For example for your San Francisco restaurant business, location and parking might be keys to success. For accountants and attorneys, the keys might include professional quality, reliability, and participation in community organizations. Don't let your list of keys to success get too long. Three or four items should be sufficient.
Business Plan Template
Product and Services Describe why you are in business and list your products or services, including prices. Everyone is going to want to know, of course, what you are selling.
Business Plan Template
Market Analysis Text Include here a description of the particular market your business is competing in, for example, "selling automobiles on eBay.com, an online auction website." Be specific. Try to give basic information about the market, briefly but in some depth also.
Include exactly who your target customers are and needs you are fulfilling better than your competitors. You might include a market analysis table, chart, and text.
If you include tables and charts in your business plan, it can add color, understanding, interest, and ease of reading to such business documents. It also gives your small business plan, or other business document, a more professional look.
Use the text to explain the numbers from the Market Analysis Table and Charts (see below). For the numbers in the Market Analysis Table, think about groups of target customers, also sometimes called market segments. For example, students, faculty, and staff are different market segments. So are home offices, small businesses, and large businesses.
Business Plan Template
Market Analysis Table Target Market (or Market Segment) Growth 2011 2012 2013 2014 Beginners (Potential Owners) 150% 500 1250 3125 7813 Small Business Owners 120% 400 880 1936 4259 Totals
900 2130 5061 12072 This table is not for actual customers but potential customers. Usually, you will have thousands of potential customers for every one who becomes an actual customer. For example, a coffee house's potential customers are all the people in town aged 15-92. For each segment or group you define, estimate its annual growth rate in whole numbers.
Note: This Market Analysis Table and the Break Even Analysis Table below were produced by me using an HTML editor. You can also produce wonderful graphs using html. If the prospect of having to produce your own graphs and tables from scratch seems daunting to you, there are software programs such as Business Plan Pro, by Palo Alto Software, that will make it much easier to produce a whole Business Plan, with tables and graphs.
Would you like to learn how to build tables like this using HTML? I can tell you for a fact, learning HTML is much easier than you think. It does take some practice but you can learn the basics in only a very few hours, it's fun, and you will be well on your way to being an expert at it. For a free HTML tutorial at Draac.com CLICK HERE! (new window)
Business Plan Template
Market Analysis Chart In this business plan template the Market Analysis Table is used to produce the Market Analysis Chart(s). Use the table and chart(s) to produce the Market Analysis Text (a written interpretation of the table and charts). The chart was produced in Microsoft Office Excel.
Business Plan Template
Management Summary This includes a description of top management and what value they bring to the company as far as skills and experience. If there are many involved in top management, an organization chart showing a flow of responsibility would be helpful.
Many business plans will include here a chart showing a yearly payroll summary for all employees of the business. Also describe, in the Management Summary, the legal structure of your business, that is, what is the legal form of its ownership? Is it a sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership, or other?
Business Plan Template
Financial Forecast An estimate of start-up costs and annual projection of income and expenses using a balance sheet (new window), income statement (new window), and a cash flow statement (new window)
Business Plan Template
Break Even Analysis
The point reached during the business cycle when total costs and total revenue are equal and there is neither profit nor loss is called the break even point. This is nice to know and look forward to because any revenue beyond the break even point is pure profit.
Business Plan Template
Break Even Analysis Table
The Break-Even Analysis Table above can be used to:
The free OpenOffice.org has similar tools and capabilities.
Break-Even Point (in number of sales) = Fixed Costs / (Average Price Per Unit – Average Cost Per Unit)
Any sales above the break-even point are pure profit. Anything below that means you're losing money.
That's about it! Those are really the main components of a great business plan. Remember, a business plan does not have to be long, especially for a beginner, and even for an expert, quality is almost always better than so much quantity. Concentrate on the essentials above, make it informative as you can for others, and a blue-print to success for yourself.
Go from Business Plan Template to Home Page
plan template?
What is a Business Plan and What Can It Do For You?
Below you will find a business plan template or business plan format, describing the main components of a traditional business plan. It's basic design has been around for many many years, maybe even hundreds, I'm not sure, but it goes way back.
A business plan is important both for you and for others who want to know about your business. It describes your business, it's goals, and financial projections. In short, it serves as your business's resume.
Every business, of course, needs a direction and a strategy. That's what a good business plan will give you. Remember this: a well-written business plan must provide your business with a blueprint for success. Your business plan will also go a long way to help you keep your thinking organized and in perspective.
Your plan does not have to be long and complicated, especially at the beginning. For smaller businesses, keep it as simple and succinct as you can, yet informative. Use it as a living document, try to keep it flexible, modifying it often as needed.
I actually know some small businesses without one and still doing pretty good. However, most business people would agree that every business needs a business plan in order to reach its full potential.
Now you can either purchase business plan software, which might end up saving you some time, or you can save money by creating your own business plan using the standard format.
Along with the template you will need your own word processor and spreadsheet software, maybe Microsoft Excel. If you don't have Excel, you can go to OpenOffice.org (new window) for great, FREE software, I think just as good as the latest expensive version of Microsoft Office.
Our business plan template should help to show you what is considered in today’s often crazy business world to be the main components of a good business plan. Use this template as a guide, a word processor, spreadsheet software, and your own creativity to produce a great business plan.
However, which ever way you choose, creating your own business plan or purchasing business plan software from someone, please realize this: especially for someone first starting a small business, a small business plan is very important, even essential.
There is Help if You Need It! If you plan on qualifying for a bank loan or obtaining grant money for your small business, make sure you are building, eventually, a professional looking business plan. Sorry, go ahead and try! There is just no way around that. That's because the bank or other lending institution you want to borrow from is so incredibly particular, they will probably want to know about every little detail of your proposed business venture before they will even think about forking out money to you.
It's always been that way, but especially now, with the recession we are having. However, I suggest using a simple business plan format, at the beginning of your small business start-up, similar to the one I have below, keeping it as simple as you can. Even though a business plan is necessary, put most of your time and efforts into actually building up the profit making areas of your small business.
If you find that creating a professional looking business plan is harder than you thought, and you feel that you need further help, I have a suggestion for you. I don't know of any better or more popular business plan building software than Business Plan Pro (new window). They make it as easy as possible for you to put together an absolutely terrific, professional business plan, and, in as little time as possible.
They do it by providing hundreds of ready made, complete, perfect business plans, and all you have to do is modify the plan you like best, then changing the content around to suit your particular small business. I am an affiliate of Bplans, but I'm also saying this for your benefit, so you don't get all bogged down creating a business plan. But whatever you choose to do, remember, try to keep it simple.
Here it is, The Basic Business
Plan Template
Executive Summary This is a brief summary of a small business plan, some background information, and main conclusions. It's intended as an aid in decision making and a help for readers other than yourself to quickly understand the business without having to read the entire business plan.
The Executive Summary may be the only part of your small business plan that most readers, like bank representatives or investors, will study, so make it informative and memorable for them.
The first paragraph usually contains specific information concerning the businesses name, where it is located, the nature and purpose of your small business, what it sells (especially new products), potential for growth, and keys to success. It should also contain expected opportunities, and reasons for any competitive advantage you feel your business has.
Business Plan Template
Mission Statement A good mission statement is a critical element in defining your business, and, if necessary, communicate its true goals to customers, employees, owners, and others involved. For example, if you believe customer satisfaction and customer service are important, say so. If you place a high value on fair treatment of employees and that employee creativity should be rewarded, then say that too.
Don't confuse the Mission Statement with the Statement of Objectives. They are both about goals. But the Mission Statement is about fundamental values. The Statement of Objectives is about measurable, expected numbers.
Business Plan Template
Statement of Objectives List specific, measurable business goals, including expected growth rates, sales, profits, but no more than three or four of your most important objectives to emphasize your focus. This needs to show your ability to track progress towards goals and measure results.
Business Plan Template
Keys to Small Business Success Each business has different keys to success. Include here a few key factors that will really make the difference between the success or failure of your small business. What they are for your business depends on who you are and what you offer.
For example for your San Francisco restaurant business, location and parking might be keys to success. For accountants and attorneys, the keys might include professional quality, reliability, and participation in community organizations. Don't let your list of keys to success get too long. Three or four items should be sufficient.
Business Plan Template
Product and Services Describe why you are in business and list your products or services, including prices. Everyone is going to want to know, of course, what you are selling.
Business Plan Template
Market Analysis Text Include here a description of the particular market your business is competing in, for example, "selling automobiles on eBay.com, an online auction website." Be specific. Try to give basic information about the market, briefly but in some depth also.
Include exactly who your target customers are and needs you are fulfilling better than your competitors. You might include a market analysis table, chart, and text.
If you include tables and charts in your business plan, it can add color, understanding, interest, and ease of reading to such business documents. It also gives your small business plan, or other business document, a more professional look.
Use the text to explain the numbers from the Market Analysis Table and Charts (see below). For the numbers in the Market Analysis Table, think about groups of target customers, also sometimes called market segments. For example, students, faculty, and staff are different market segments. So are home offices, small businesses, and large businesses.
Business Plan Template
Market Analysis Table Target Market (or Market Segment) Growth 2011 2012 2013 2014 Beginners (Potential Owners) 150% 500 1250 3125 7813 Small Business Owners 120% 400 880 1936 4259 Totals
900 2130 5061 12072 This table is not for actual customers but potential customers. Usually, you will have thousands of potential customers for every one who becomes an actual customer. For example, a coffee house's potential customers are all the people in town aged 15-92. For each segment or group you define, estimate its annual growth rate in whole numbers.
Note: This Market Analysis Table and the Break Even Analysis Table below were produced by me using an HTML editor. You can also produce wonderful graphs using html. If the prospect of having to produce your own graphs and tables from scratch seems daunting to you, there are software programs such as Business Plan Pro, by Palo Alto Software, that will make it much easier to produce a whole Business Plan, with tables and graphs.
Would you like to learn how to build tables like this using HTML? I can tell you for a fact, learning HTML is much easier than you think. It does take some practice but you can learn the basics in only a very few hours, it's fun, and you will be well on your way to being an expert at it. For a free HTML tutorial at Draac.com CLICK HERE! (new window)
Business Plan Template
Market Analysis Chart In this business plan template the Market Analysis Table is used to produce the Market Analysis Chart(s). Use the table and chart(s) to produce the Market Analysis Text (a written interpretation of the table and charts). The chart was produced in Microsoft Office Excel.
Business Plan Template
Management Summary This includes a description of top management and what value they bring to the company as far as skills and experience. If there are many involved in top management, an organization chart showing a flow of responsibility would be helpful.
Many business plans will include here a chart showing a yearly payroll summary for all employees of the business. Also describe, in the Management Summary, the legal structure of your business, that is, what is the legal form of its ownership? Is it a sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership, or other?
Business Plan Template
Financial Forecast An estimate of start-up costs and annual projection of income and expenses using a balance sheet (new window), income statement (new window), and a cash flow statement (new window)
Business Plan Template
Break Even Analysis
The point reached during the business cycle when total costs and total revenue are equal and there is neither profit nor loss is called the break even point. This is nice to know and look forward to because any revenue beyond the break even point is pure profit.
Business Plan Template
Break Even Analysis Table
The Break-Even Analysis Table above can be used to:
- Produce a Break-Even Chart (see below).
- Create a Break Even Sales Level or Break-Even Point, the number of sales needed to just break-even. Any sales beyond the break-even point are pure profit. Anything below that means you're losing money.
- Use the table, break-even point, and chart to produce the Break-Even Analysis Text (a written interpretation or explanation of the table, break-even point, and chart.
The free OpenOffice.org has similar tools and capabilities.
Break-Even Point (in number of sales) = Fixed Costs / (Average Price Per Unit – Average Cost Per Unit)
Any sales above the break-even point are pure profit. Anything below that means you're losing money.
That's about it! Those are really the main components of a great business plan. Remember, a business plan does not have to be long, especially for a beginner, and even for an expert, quality is almost always better than so much quantity. Concentrate on the essentials above, make it informative as you can for others, and a blue-print to success for yourself.
Go from Business Plan Template to Home Page
Finding the Best Small Business Loans and Other Small
Business Financing
Small Business Loans!!!
I don't always recommend obtaining a business loan, because, if you don't know what your doing, you can easily get into big and unnecessary debt. So be careful! seek advice from others you trust, be willing to began your business small.
To illustrate this idea of starting your business small, not long ago I was strolling a Los Angeles, California swap meet and met a lady and her family operating this wonderful Mexican style restaurant. Hey! Their's was a nice, low budget operation with a great layout, their little place was always packed with hungry customers, and they were making big bucks! For a starter, what else could you ask for?
However, if you really want to start that small business and you feel that need to take out a loan, I hope this page will be of great help to you.
The question now is, but where? Well, it does not have to be, but that usually means a bank loan. All banks are not the same, of course, so you'll have to shop around to find one that will accept your loan application and also one that you like.
Many larger banks will not service small business start-ups. However, a small local bank will some times tend to be much more sympathetic to a brand new small business venture.
To search for a bank (large or small) in your area that caters to small business start-ups Follow This link to: BankingGrades.com (new window)
I do my banking at a credit union, and they (for me any way) seem easier to deal with and the overall cost can be sometimes much lower than at a regular bank.
There are many different credit unions, some open to everyone in the community and some are throughout the US. Others are more exclusive. But I hear that Navy Federal Credit Union, www.navyfederal.org (new window), is outstanding, open to all military and their families.
After searching around awhile and, perplexed, and still really don't know where, or what bank, If you live in the USA I suggest contacting the Small Business Administration (new window) and let the experts at small business loans help you decide.
And hey! Their help is free. The SBA specializes in everything from small micro-loans (new window) to large loans depending on your specific needs. Now the SBA does not actually provide the loans, but they can find an approved lending institution that has a loan program that's appropriate just for you.
A very good source of small micro-loans is online at https://zip.kiva.org/borrow (new window), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping small business entrepreneurs in the U.S. and Kenya to find a very small loan.
Other Great Sources of
Small Business Financing Often an excellent source of small business loans will be friends and family, as well as "fools" (in business, anyone willing to make a risky investment). Present them with your business plan and offer them the opportunity to invest in your business. These people are much more likely to invest in a business than institutions such as banks or credit unions.
Free Government Grants For
Small Business
Beware! There are lots of ads out there, especially on the Internet, ads about millions and millions of dollars available in free government grant money for small businesses, free just for the asking. For most small business hopefuls this just isn't true. You are wasting your time and money by going to such websites and subscribing to their offers.
Many, if not most of them, are scams, owned by greedy, dishonest people just out to get your hard earned money, which becomes their easy money, and without giving you any profitable return for it.
But regardless, information about grants should be, and is, readily available, free information. You do not have to pay someone to furnish it to you.
From what I understand, grants for starting a business, for women owned businesses, for minorities, and so on, are mostly provided by some non-profit organizations, some state or local governments, and only if certain specific qualifications are met.
For the safest, best, most reliable and upfront information on small business grants, including government grants for small business and government grants for women, go to the following free resource:
Availability of Goverment Grants
Small Business Administration
(new window)
The Small Business Administration is the largest backer of small businesses in America, having helped over 20 million businesses. The SBA is also the best source you will find for information and help in securing good small business loans.
The SBA does not directly supply loans to small business startup hopefuls. However, they do have a directory that you can use to obtain information from your particular state and local agencie (new window) offering financial help programs for business startups including low-interest loans and government grants.
For local and international small business startup help, government programs and information on securing small business loans, small business grants, or other information on starting a small business visit: http://www.ecodevdirectory.com (new window).
Business Financing
Small Business Loans!!!
I don't always recommend obtaining a business loan, because, if you don't know what your doing, you can easily get into big and unnecessary debt. So be careful! seek advice from others you trust, be willing to began your business small.
To illustrate this idea of starting your business small, not long ago I was strolling a Los Angeles, California swap meet and met a lady and her family operating this wonderful Mexican style restaurant. Hey! Their's was a nice, low budget operation with a great layout, their little place was always packed with hungry customers, and they were making big bucks! For a starter, what else could you ask for?
However, if you really want to start that small business and you feel that need to take out a loan, I hope this page will be of great help to you.
The question now is, but where? Well, it does not have to be, but that usually means a bank loan. All banks are not the same, of course, so you'll have to shop around to find one that will accept your loan application and also one that you like.
Many larger banks will not service small business start-ups. However, a small local bank will some times tend to be much more sympathetic to a brand new small business venture.
To search for a bank (large or small) in your area that caters to small business start-ups Follow This link to: BankingGrades.com (new window)
I do my banking at a credit union, and they (for me any way) seem easier to deal with and the overall cost can be sometimes much lower than at a regular bank.
There are many different credit unions, some open to everyone in the community and some are throughout the US. Others are more exclusive. But I hear that Navy Federal Credit Union, www.navyfederal.org (new window), is outstanding, open to all military and their families.
After searching around awhile and, perplexed, and still really don't know where, or what bank, If you live in the USA I suggest contacting the Small Business Administration (new window) and let the experts at small business loans help you decide.
And hey! Their help is free. The SBA specializes in everything from small micro-loans (new window) to large loans depending on your specific needs. Now the SBA does not actually provide the loans, but they can find an approved lending institution that has a loan program that's appropriate just for you.
A very good source of small micro-loans is online at https://zip.kiva.org/borrow (new window), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping small business entrepreneurs in the U.S. and Kenya to find a very small loan.
Other Great Sources of
Small Business Financing Often an excellent source of small business loans will be friends and family, as well as "fools" (in business, anyone willing to make a risky investment). Present them with your business plan and offer them the opportunity to invest in your business. These people are much more likely to invest in a business than institutions such as banks or credit unions.
Free Government Grants For
Small Business
Beware! There are lots of ads out there, especially on the Internet, ads about millions and millions of dollars available in free government grant money for small businesses, free just for the asking. For most small business hopefuls this just isn't true. You are wasting your time and money by going to such websites and subscribing to their offers.
Many, if not most of them, are scams, owned by greedy, dishonest people just out to get your hard earned money, which becomes their easy money, and without giving you any profitable return for it.
But regardless, information about grants should be, and is, readily available, free information. You do not have to pay someone to furnish it to you.
From what I understand, grants for starting a business, for women owned businesses, for minorities, and so on, are mostly provided by some non-profit organizations, some state or local governments, and only if certain specific qualifications are met.
For the safest, best, most reliable and upfront information on small business grants, including government grants for small business and government grants for women, go to the following free resource:
Availability of Goverment Grants
Small Business Administration
(new window)
The Small Business Administration is the largest backer of small businesses in America, having helped over 20 million businesses. The SBA is also the best source you will find for information and help in securing good small business loans.
The SBA does not directly supply loans to small business startup hopefuls. However, they do have a directory that you can use to obtain information from your particular state and local agencie (new window) offering financial help programs for business startups including low-interest loans and government grants.
For local and international small business startup help, government programs and information on securing small business loans, small business grants, or other information on starting a small business visit: http://www.ecodevdirectory.com (new window).
How to Get a
Small Business License ?
You might be able obtain a business license and other permits online, but it depends. With most states, you have to obtain them in person. I'm used to doing it “the old fashion way.” I drive to the local City Hall for a license for my business, and then to the State and Federal Buildings for most of the other documents.
Usually, the various buildings and offices where you obtain various business permits are located at the same business complex, in the county you reside in, except for a business license, that you have to get at your local City Hall. The procedures for obtaining these permits are usually as follows but may differ from state to state:
With a sales tax number, you can even buy antiques and collectibles at antique shops without paying the sales tax as long as you eventually plan to resell them. Once you obtain a number, you can buy products at wholesale companies online, as well as at such places as Home Depot, Sam's Club, and Costco without paying any sales tax.
If you still have questions, try going to the Web and searching irs.gov and sba.gov for more information. The small business administration has, not only information on small business permits that you will need, specific for your state, but a wealth of info on starting a small business. They even offer a mentor program and training in small business start-up. As far as I know, it's all free!
Small Business License ?
You might be able obtain a business license and other permits online, but it depends. With most states, you have to obtain them in person. I'm used to doing it “the old fashion way.” I drive to the local City Hall for a license for my business, and then to the State and Federal Buildings for most of the other documents.
Usually, the various buildings and offices where you obtain various business permits are located at the same business complex, in the county you reside in, except for a business license, that you have to get at your local City Hall. The procedures for obtaining these permits are usually as follows but may differ from state to state:
- Decide what will be the legal structure of your business: usually a sole proprietorship, but it can also be a partnership, or a corporation. You will need to know which one it is (it's your choice) before applying for your business permits.
- Purchase a business license at your City Hall.
- It would probably be a very good idea if you also open a business checking and savings account at a bank or credit union. These accounts should be used exclusively for your business. Personally, I tend to have more confidence in credit unions rather than regular banks, such as City Bank or Bank of America, but that's your call. A phone dedicated for business purposes is a good idea also.
- Then you need to register a business name with your state. This name is sometimes called "Doing Business As" or "DBA". While at the state agency, register for state income tax, if necessary, and obtain a sales tax number if you plan on buying wholesale.
- At the Federal Building, obtain a federal tax identification number from the Internal Revenue Service, to register you and your business for federal income tax.
With a sales tax number, you can even buy antiques and collectibles at antique shops without paying the sales tax as long as you eventually plan to resell them. Once you obtain a number, you can buy products at wholesale companies online, as well as at such places as Home Depot, Sam's Club, and Costco without paying any sales tax.
If you still have questions, try going to the Web and searching irs.gov and sba.gov for more information. The small business administration has, not only information on small business permits that you will need, specific for your state, but a wealth of info on starting a small business. They even offer a mentor program and training in small business start-up. As far as I know, it's all free!
Small business accounting
bookkeeping
accurate record keeping
Keep Record Keeping
Simple When opening a Business, don't get into anything real deep. Small business accounting is one of those things. Please don't get me wrong. Keeping great records is not only helpful, but essential to the success of your small business start-up, and required by federal and state laws. However, what I'm saying is this, don't over do it.
You do not have to be a certified public accountant or even go to school to learn what you need, as far bookkeeping, to start a small business. By the way, there is a difference between accounting and bookkeeping but both are used commonly in the small business community to describe general record keeping.
Remember Your Priorities Yes, accurate record keeping is very important. However, make sure that, especially at the beginning of your small business start-up, you are concentrating on the biggest issues for success. For example, say your goal is starting a business on the Internet as an affiliate marketer. You should, of course, concentrate diligently on building an excellent, traffic generating website!
Your business's accounting would consist of: save all business receipts, keep an accurate record of expenditures and earnings. The easiest and least expensive system of record keeping that I know of is one that I used myself for six years and still use! It's called Dome Simplified Monthly Bookkeeping Record, written by Nicholas Picchione, a certified public accountant.
The Easiest Small Business
Accounting System Written by a certified public accountant, Dome Publishing books are easy to use, satisfy state and federal laws for small business record keeping, and are especially suited for those without bookkeeping or accounting experience. Dome also has offline bookkeeping software available meeting all your small business accounting needs. By the way, I'm in no way affiliated with Dome products...this information is for your benefit only.
I also suggest, instead of trying to do your own small business taxes at the end of the year (or at the end of each quarter) to find a good company that will do it for you. This will probably save you a big headache and actually save you money too! There are many good ones around. The only one that I have used for many years and have always been greatly satisfied with is H and R Block.
Some Best Business
Accounting Software If you are looking for some good accounting software, here are some of the more interesting and popular:
FreshBooks Accounting Software, http://freshbooks.com (new window)
Inexpensive accounting software that offers automation and is designed for a micro business with no need for payroll or inventory. For many solo entrepreneurs, this is really worth checking out!
Quickbooks Premier Accounting Software, http://quickbooks.com (new window)
Can be a very complete solution to your small business accounting. This is a popular accounting software, equally suitable for a small solo entrepreneur business, all the way to a small business with many employees.
Go from Small Business Accounting to Starting a Small Business Right page
bookkeeping
accurate record keeping
Keep Record Keeping
Simple When opening a Business, don't get into anything real deep. Small business accounting is one of those things. Please don't get me wrong. Keeping great records is not only helpful, but essential to the success of your small business start-up, and required by federal and state laws. However, what I'm saying is this, don't over do it.
You do not have to be a certified public accountant or even go to school to learn what you need, as far bookkeeping, to start a small business. By the way, there is a difference between accounting and bookkeeping but both are used commonly in the small business community to describe general record keeping.
Remember Your Priorities Yes, accurate record keeping is very important. However, make sure that, especially at the beginning of your small business start-up, you are concentrating on the biggest issues for success. For example, say your goal is starting a business on the Internet as an affiliate marketer. You should, of course, concentrate diligently on building an excellent, traffic generating website!
Your business's accounting would consist of: save all business receipts, keep an accurate record of expenditures and earnings. The easiest and least expensive system of record keeping that I know of is one that I used myself for six years and still use! It's called Dome Simplified Monthly Bookkeeping Record, written by Nicholas Picchione, a certified public accountant.
The Easiest Small Business
Accounting System Written by a certified public accountant, Dome Publishing books are easy to use, satisfy state and federal laws for small business record keeping, and are especially suited for those without bookkeeping or accounting experience. Dome also has offline bookkeeping software available meeting all your small business accounting needs. By the way, I'm in no way affiliated with Dome products...this information is for your benefit only.
I also suggest, instead of trying to do your own small business taxes at the end of the year (or at the end of each quarter) to find a good company that will do it for you. This will probably save you a big headache and actually save you money too! There are many good ones around. The only one that I have used for many years and have always been greatly satisfied with is H and R Block.
Some Best Business
Accounting Software If you are looking for some good accounting software, here are some of the more interesting and popular:
FreshBooks Accounting Software, http://freshbooks.com (new window)
Inexpensive accounting software that offers automation and is designed for a micro business with no need for payroll or inventory. For many solo entrepreneurs, this is really worth checking out!
Quickbooks Premier Accounting Software, http://quickbooks.com (new window)
Can be a very complete solution to your small business accounting. This is a popular accounting software, equally suitable for a small solo entrepreneur business, all the way to a small business with many employees.
Go from Small Business Accounting to Starting a Small Business Right page
Small Business Advertising, a Key to Small Business Success: Get the Word Out! How important is your small business advertising? It means everything! Why? Traffic through your small business, whether it be a "brick and mortar" type business, an Internet business, or what ever, is your business's life-blood. Without substantial traffic, you have no business. Effective advertising and marketing is the key to a healthy flow of traffic and your small business start-up success.
First of all, of course, you have to have a great product that's in demand. Then, make it a point to become an expert at advertising! The suggestions below are some of the best ways, tried and true ways, that I have learned over the years to attract traffic to my small business.
Advertising and Marketing
There is a difference between advertising and marketing. Marketing is a more general term that includes advertising. Both should result in an increase of traffic through your small business and resulting profit.
The object of good marketing techniques is, in a limited sense, anything you do in your business that communicates an awareness of your business to others and what your business can do for them. For example, you:
Some Great Advertising
Companies
Advertising Agencies An advertising agency is an service composed of professionals dedicated to taking care of all your small business advertising needs for a fee. You don't have to worry yourself at all about this critical but time consuming chore of your small business. There are also agencies that will take care of all of your marketing needs.
The important things to consider here are this: advertising and marketing your business can be very time consuming, you want to do it right and in the most profitable way, but your not an expert at it, the advertising agency is.
The challenge for you will be finding an advertising agency that you are satisfied with, working out a plan with them, one tailored to your business, profitable, and within your business's budget.
Go From Small Business Advertising to Opening a Small Business Home page
First of all, of course, you have to have a great product that's in demand. Then, make it a point to become an expert at advertising! The suggestions below are some of the best ways, tried and true ways, that I have learned over the years to attract traffic to my small business.
Advertising and Marketing
There is a difference between advertising and marketing. Marketing is a more general term that includes advertising. Both should result in an increase of traffic through your small business and resulting profit.
The object of good marketing techniques is, in a limited sense, anything you do in your business that communicates an awareness of your business to others and what your business can do for them. For example, you:
- Acquire space at a trade show to build an awareness of your small business, what it is all about, and what it can do for visitors.
- Garner support for your business from someone who has greater influence in the business world, a “super customer,” maybe someone who speaks or presents at an industry conference or someone who writes a blog post on your type of business or even your business itself.
- Build a professionally designed website for your small business. This could drastically increase an awareness of your business to others.
- Placing an ad in a trade publication that offers free shipping on all pet product sales totaling $150 or more.
- You place an ad on the Internet combining your lawn and garden product with other, free complimentary products, a special, limited time offer.
Some Great Advertising
Companies
- Many news and magazine publications cater to small business advertising, some even offering free advertising. In the 1970s, when starting a small business landscaping, I began advertising in a small, local Orange County California publication called the Super-Saver. Within two weeks I had all the business I could handle.
- Google features a Web advertising company, Google AdWords. It can be very effective at bringing in new customers and even growing a regular customer base. There are other, similar online advertising companies as well, for example, many entrepreneurs use advertising on Facebook.
- The very popular Craigslist (craigslist.org) offers free internet advertising locally. I've used Craigslist many times myself, appreciating its free classified ads, and have found it very effective in selling my items quickly. These days free advertising is the way to go.
Advertising Agencies An advertising agency is an service composed of professionals dedicated to taking care of all your small business advertising needs for a fee. You don't have to worry yourself at all about this critical but time consuming chore of your small business. There are also agencies that will take care of all of your marketing needs.
The important things to consider here are this: advertising and marketing your business can be very time consuming, you want to do it right and in the most profitable way, but your not an expert at it, the advertising agency is.
The challenge for you will be finding an advertising agency that you are satisfied with, working out a plan with them, one tailored to your business, profitable, and within your business's budget.
Go From Small Business Advertising to Opening a Small Business Home page
Business growth
How you can take your business to the next level
business growth is a major concern, of course, to entrepreneurs everywhere, especially if your business is new. Here you will find some simple suggestions on what you can do to see your small business prosper.
They can help, make suggestions, and you can learn from their experience, but you must be the master builder, if your business is to reach its full potential.
How you can take your business to the next level
business growth is a major concern, of course, to entrepreneurs everywhere, especially if your business is new. Here you will find some simple suggestions on what you can do to see your small business prosper.
- You have to, of course, have a good product or service, one that's in demand, that people really want. Otherwise, even if you successfully opened your business and have incredible traffic, you're business still may not grow much if your product is not attractive enough to people.
- One of the most important things is to get the word out! Establish a more aggressive advertising campaign, become an advertising pro!
- The thing about having a source of sustained advertising, is that it gives your business a steady stream of life-blood traffic, lots of one-time customers, and even more importantly, a high percentage of customers that are regular patrons.
- Of course, how large this patronage becomes will all depend on how good your advertising campaign and your product or service is.This website has a regular patronage of at least 90%.
- Great places to advertise are Craigslist.org and Google AdWords pay per click. Craigslist is great because, for most advertising, it's absolutely free.
- Google AdWords can be very good, but has a cost, and if not careful, you can waste money there. Here is a BIG TIP on how to use Ad Words: always start your bidding VERY LOW.
- Read their instructions thoroughly, and research until you understand their program sufficiently. However, don't always follow their suggestions on bidding,to bid higher, because you can lose money unnecessarily, especially as a beginner. Become an expert at keyword research and using their keyword tool.
- Re-invest profits from the business, as much as possible, back into the business. You can also acquire this "growth capital" through other means, such as a loan, but I think reinvesting is a much smarter choice, and a necessary habit to get into.
- A suggestion: Especially as a beginner, re-invest at least 50% of your net income from the business back into the business. A good place to re-invest? More advertising and marketing (new window).
- Millions of people discover a business through a search engine on the Internet. If you started your business offline, an online presence would be of great benefit to your business's overall exposure and business growth.
- It's a very smart business strategy to diversify, incorporating as many other products or services as possible into your business. With time you can eliminate unprofitable products/services while adding new, profitable ones.
They can help, make suggestions, and you can learn from their experience, but you must be the master builder, if your business is to reach its full potential.
Yes! a FREE list of genuine
wholesale companies!
The following free list contains some great wholesale companies, including a few wholesale drop shippers, that are easy to deal with, provide exceptional value, are very reliable, and sell in small enough quantities to make it worthwhile for small resellers that want to sell on eBay or elsewhere.
Finding genuine wholesale merchandise is not always that easy. One reason for that is that many wholesalers are "wholesale" in name only. They are actually retailers in disguise, masquerading as true wholesale companies.
There are many wholesale drop shippers that offer name-brand merchandise and will charge you an extra fee, usually monthly, for example, $14.95/month (or more), to join their drop shipping program. Personally, I avoid these, because, at least most of them, are not worth it, usually not fair enough in price to allow you to make a good enough profit on places like eBay or amazon.com.
Always test new sources of wholesale products that you find, even ones on this list below, to make sure they are true wholesale. You can easily do this by comparing their prices with those on eBay.com. To learn how to do it follow this link to my page on Starting an eBay Business. If it is selling well on eBay, then it will should be profitable to sell elsewhere too.
Especially if you are a beginner and low on cash, you will want to be very careful spending your money unnecessarily. Be patient, search for good wholesale drop-shippers that offer quality merchandise and don't charge you an arm and a leg to profit from their website. It may take a while but you will find good ones.
PLEASE NOTE!
If, in the following list of wholesale companies, they require you to buy at least a pallet load of merchandise, always check the cost for shipping a pallet load to you before you buy.
Again, as with all this merchandise, you always want to research the products first on eBay.com to make sure it is selling well.
Liquidation.Com http://liquidation.com
Super buys on name-brand wholesale computers and other great merchandise. They have online sales and wholesale auctions of commercial surplus inventory and government surplus assets in bulk, by truckload, pallet, or package. Their merchandise comes new in a box, customer returns, used/reconditioned. Liquidation.com is a great place to shop for your wholesale needs. Warning: Make sure you always check the shipping cost before bidding or purchasing at Liquidation.Com.
Heritage Seedlings
http://www.heritageseedlings.com
This is a great wholesale source of very small, mostly ornamental, trees and other plants. Heritage specializes in unusual deciduous species. If plants are your business you really should check them out. You won't be disappointed here! Heritage seedlings is a family run organization.
Watch Closeouts.net
http://watchcloseouts.net
Nice selection of new brand-name watches, including Invicta, Seiko, Casio, Timex, Pulsar, Nautica, Kenneth Cole, and many more. Prices are pretty good and true wholesale. Minimum order is 10 watches and $200. They also have a selection of eyewear that includes Tuscany, Stedson, Esprit, Arnette, and more.
JD Closeouts http://www.jdcloseouts.com/info.html
JD Closeouts sells merchandise mostly by pallet, lots, and truckloads, quality surplus merchandise, including a good supply of wholesale computers, wholesale laptops, and other electronics. JD receives excess merchandise, liquidated goods, and store returns from department stores and catalog companies in the United States and then sells this surplus merchandise mostly to eBay sellers and small businesses.
They ship their closeout merchandise throughout the USA and export them around the world. If you can afford to purchase their merchandise by at least the pallet, they are an excellent source of good, cheap products, affording you a high mark-up for selling on eBay, amazon.com, flea markets (swap meets), or where ever.
Silver Source, Wholesale Jewelry http://silversource.com
Silver Source has quality wholesale silver jewelry supplies at excellent prices. They supply a variety of natural wholesale gemstones including amethyst, garnet, and fine grade cubic zirconium. Their cubic zirconium is guaranteed 925 sterling silver purity.
Border Leather http://borderleather.com
Border Leather Corporation began in Tijuana Mexico in the early 1960s. They produce hand-made, high quality leather products at very good wholesale prices. They have a great line of motorcycle leathers and saddlebags that can earn high markups on eBay, as well as hand-made leather purses, belts, backpacks, duffel bags, hats, gun holsters, and much more.
Premier Products International http://www.hotbuy4u.com/index.cfm
An eBay.com Service Provider. Premier Products International was created over twenty years ago. Actually, and I have to admit, they are not as good as they used to be, with not as many products. Their selection used to be much better, but let's wait and see. What they have left is good, including much that is wholesale, name brand merchandise. Premier is very easy to deal with and they have an excellent drop-shipping program. They are well worth checking out.
Killer Beads http://www.Killerbeads.com/index.cfm
Family company of 15 years, youth oriented, international wholesale company and manufacturer of unique, licensed wholesale jewelry, accessories, incense, hemp, and other gifts from around the world.
Accessories Palace http://www.accessoriespalace.com
Has been serving the wholesale merchandise community for over 14 years. They have in stock over 1000 items, including party supplies wholesale, great supply of cheap wholesale jewelry, hair accessories, toys, novelties, bandanas, key chains, poly resin figures, magnets, handbags, cloths, shoes, watches, and much more.
They have a nice selection of Disney license products. All their merchandise is at genuine wholesale prices. One of the best of wholesale companies that supplies great products for store fronts, garage sales, swap meets. Accessories Palace is well worth checking out!
Children's Wholesale http://childrenswholesale.com
Children's Wholesale has a very good selection of children's cloths and wholesale baby gifts. But be careful, they are a little bit high at times. Check out their clearance sales for the best deals. This wholesale distributor is worth checking out.
Get That Wholesale and
Wholesale Central
http://getthatwholesale.com
http://wholesalecentral.com
These are not single wholesale companies, but good, FREE wholesale search engines that you can use to find just about any product that you want. Many eBay power sellers use Get That Wholesale and Wholesale Central all the time. Just click on any one of their product links, for example Cameras, and it will take you to lots of wholesale companies that sell the particular product you are looking for.
The wholesale companies above are some of the best that I've been able to find over the years. However, when using the getthatwholesale.com search engine you are leaving my guidance and suggestions and searching on your own, so beware!
Go from Wholesale Companies to Opening a Small
Business home page
wholesale companies!
The following free list contains some great wholesale companies, including a few wholesale drop shippers, that are easy to deal with, provide exceptional value, are very reliable, and sell in small enough quantities to make it worthwhile for small resellers that want to sell on eBay or elsewhere.
Finding genuine wholesale merchandise is not always that easy. One reason for that is that many wholesalers are "wholesale" in name only. They are actually retailers in disguise, masquerading as true wholesale companies.
There are many wholesale drop shippers that offer name-brand merchandise and will charge you an extra fee, usually monthly, for example, $14.95/month (or more), to join their drop shipping program. Personally, I avoid these, because, at least most of them, are not worth it, usually not fair enough in price to allow you to make a good enough profit on places like eBay or amazon.com.
Always test new sources of wholesale products that you find, even ones on this list below, to make sure they are true wholesale. You can easily do this by comparing their prices with those on eBay.com. To learn how to do it follow this link to my page on Starting an eBay Business. If it is selling well on eBay, then it will should be profitable to sell elsewhere too.
Especially if you are a beginner and low on cash, you will want to be very careful spending your money unnecessarily. Be patient, search for good wholesale drop-shippers that offer quality merchandise and don't charge you an arm and a leg to profit from their website. It may take a while but you will find good ones.
PLEASE NOTE!
If, in the following list of wholesale companies, they require you to buy at least a pallet load of merchandise, always check the cost for shipping a pallet load to you before you buy.
Again, as with all this merchandise, you always want to research the products first on eBay.com to make sure it is selling well.
Liquidation.Com http://liquidation.com
Super buys on name-brand wholesale computers and other great merchandise. They have online sales and wholesale auctions of commercial surplus inventory and government surplus assets in bulk, by truckload, pallet, or package. Their merchandise comes new in a box, customer returns, used/reconditioned. Liquidation.com is a great place to shop for your wholesale needs. Warning: Make sure you always check the shipping cost before bidding or purchasing at Liquidation.Com.
Heritage Seedlings
http://www.heritageseedlings.com
This is a great wholesale source of very small, mostly ornamental, trees and other plants. Heritage specializes in unusual deciduous species. If plants are your business you really should check them out. You won't be disappointed here! Heritage seedlings is a family run organization.
Watch Closeouts.net
http://watchcloseouts.net
Nice selection of new brand-name watches, including Invicta, Seiko, Casio, Timex, Pulsar, Nautica, Kenneth Cole, and many more. Prices are pretty good and true wholesale. Minimum order is 10 watches and $200. They also have a selection of eyewear that includes Tuscany, Stedson, Esprit, Arnette, and more.
JD Closeouts http://www.jdcloseouts.com/info.html
JD Closeouts sells merchandise mostly by pallet, lots, and truckloads, quality surplus merchandise, including a good supply of wholesale computers, wholesale laptops, and other electronics. JD receives excess merchandise, liquidated goods, and store returns from department stores and catalog companies in the United States and then sells this surplus merchandise mostly to eBay sellers and small businesses.
They ship their closeout merchandise throughout the USA and export them around the world. If you can afford to purchase their merchandise by at least the pallet, they are an excellent source of good, cheap products, affording you a high mark-up for selling on eBay, amazon.com, flea markets (swap meets), or where ever.
Silver Source, Wholesale Jewelry http://silversource.com
Silver Source has quality wholesale silver jewelry supplies at excellent prices. They supply a variety of natural wholesale gemstones including amethyst, garnet, and fine grade cubic zirconium. Their cubic zirconium is guaranteed 925 sterling silver purity.
Border Leather http://borderleather.com
Border Leather Corporation began in Tijuana Mexico in the early 1960s. They produce hand-made, high quality leather products at very good wholesale prices. They have a great line of motorcycle leathers and saddlebags that can earn high markups on eBay, as well as hand-made leather purses, belts, backpacks, duffel bags, hats, gun holsters, and much more.
Premier Products International http://www.hotbuy4u.com/index.cfm
An eBay.com Service Provider. Premier Products International was created over twenty years ago. Actually, and I have to admit, they are not as good as they used to be, with not as many products. Their selection used to be much better, but let's wait and see. What they have left is good, including much that is wholesale, name brand merchandise. Premier is very easy to deal with and they have an excellent drop-shipping program. They are well worth checking out.
Killer Beads http://www.Killerbeads.com/index.cfm
Family company of 15 years, youth oriented, international wholesale company and manufacturer of unique, licensed wholesale jewelry, accessories, incense, hemp, and other gifts from around the world.
Accessories Palace http://www.accessoriespalace.com
Has been serving the wholesale merchandise community for over 14 years. They have in stock over 1000 items, including party supplies wholesale, great supply of cheap wholesale jewelry, hair accessories, toys, novelties, bandanas, key chains, poly resin figures, magnets, handbags, cloths, shoes, watches, and much more.
They have a nice selection of Disney license products. All their merchandise is at genuine wholesale prices. One of the best of wholesale companies that supplies great products for store fronts, garage sales, swap meets. Accessories Palace is well worth checking out!
Children's Wholesale http://childrenswholesale.com
Children's Wholesale has a very good selection of children's cloths and wholesale baby gifts. But be careful, they are a little bit high at times. Check out their clearance sales for the best deals. This wholesale distributor is worth checking out.
Get That Wholesale and
Wholesale Central
http://getthatwholesale.com
http://wholesalecentral.com
These are not single wholesale companies, but good, FREE wholesale search engines that you can use to find just about any product that you want. Many eBay power sellers use Get That Wholesale and Wholesale Central all the time. Just click on any one of their product links, for example Cameras, and it will take you to lots of wholesale companies that sell the particular product you are looking for.
The wholesale companies above are some of the best that I've been able to find over the years. However, when using the getthatwholesale.com search engine you are leaving my guidance and suggestions and searching on your own, so beware!
Go from Wholesale Companies to Opening a Small
Business home page
Blog Review for Opening-a-Small-Business.Net Blog Review brings some of the most relevant and best in small business start-up news at both the Opening a Small Business Net website and from the Web. Topics are hand picked, mainly by me, for small business start-up value, and include such topics as small business ideas, small business financing, examples of successful start-ups, starting a home business, and political type news that may be of interest to entrepreneurs. Opinions expressed in articles are not necessarily endorsed by OASB.
Open an Internet Store and Start to Make Money Online Today! Have a favorite product you are just itching to sell on the Web? Learn how you can open an Internet store to earn you big money and see your dreams come true.
Continue reading "Open an Internet Store and Start to Make Money Online Today! "
What is Working: Small BusinessExcellent Must Read Article! Trends you need to know for your small business to grow in 2014. By Huff Post.
Continue reading "What is Working: Small Business"
From Solo Entrepreneur to 2000 Empoyees and $270 MillionHow Hartley Peavey took what he did best, making sound equipment for bands, and built it into a multimillion dollar business.
Continue reading "From Solo Entrepreneur to 2000 Empoyees and $270 Million"
Iraq Veteran Starts Ultra Successful Dog Training BusinessHow Nick White started an ultra successful dog training business on his own, without any formal training, college degree, financial assistance, or help from anyone. His secret? Believing in his own abilities, a life-long love for dogs, and a passion for helping others.
Continue reading "Iraq Veteran Starts Ultra Successful Dog Training Business"
Small Business Growing Marijuana?Yes, the latest in small business news! Thinking about growing marijuana and selling it for your very own small business? There are currently nineteen states in America with legalized medical marijuana, twelve other states regulations on medical marijuana legalization are pending. And what about the sale of marijuana? To my knowledge only Washington and Colorado, but there might be more, and these have tight regulations.
This article is very revealing concerning many problems concerning growing marijuana for profit that maybe you haven't considered.
Continue reading "Small Business Growing Marijuana?"
Do You Need a Loan For Your Small Business? Microlending is a Great Alternative to a Large Bank LoanA very good source of micro loan information is online at kiva.org/kivacity a non-profit organization dedicated to helping small business entrepreneurs to find a loan. Click on link below to go to kiva.org/kivacity website. After finding out what Kiva is all about, scroll to bottom of Kiva home page. Under heading “Using Kiva” click on “Help”. In the search box type in “finding a loan”. Finally, click on “Applying for a Loan” to see information that may help you.
Continue reading "Do You Need a Loan For Your Small Business? Microlending is a Great Alternative to a Large Bank Loan"
Family Owned Business Super SuccessFamily owned business goes nuts! And bananas, then much more. A great example of online business success, how they did it.
Continue reading "Family Owned Business Super Success"
How to Make Money Selling on eBay.comThis is a very informative article for those wanting to sell on eBay. Selling and making a profit on eBay is not nearly as easy as it used to be. However, there is a way if you have plenty of ingenuity and willing to work hard. Eric Holden does a great job describing exactly how to do it.
Continue reading "How to Make Money Selling on eBay.com"
Business Startup Guidlines by Mark CubanMark Cuban, owner of world champion dallas mavericks basketball team, serial entrepreneur, presents his 12 rules for a successful startup.
Continue reading "Business Startup Guidlines by Mark Cuban"
Would You Like to Share Your Experience Starting a Small Business as a Page on My Website?Just click on link below to go to my Contact Me page. Leave your story about your small business start-up experience or a small business idea. Also leave both your email and website addresses. You can also include links to your website or blog. I'll post it as long as I feel your contribution is relevant to my website and of benefit to my readers. It also needs to be at least 350 words in length. Thank you so much!
Continue reading "Would You Like to Share Your Experience Starting a Small Business as a Page on My Website?"
Teen Makes Millions of $$ Selling TrufflesAre you a beginner entrepreneur looking to start a small business? At least two ingredients are necessary for a successful start up: love for your small business idea and a young-at-heart imagination. Here is an excellent article that perfectly illustrates both requirements and more.
Continue reading "Teen Makes Millions of $$ Selling Truffles"
Retail Marketing--Starting a Retail BusinessWe know, of course, that there is still a great demand for this type of business. The huge American and European malls are just full of every kind of small and large business of this type imaginable, and one of these might be just right for you!
Continue reading "Retail Marketing--Starting a Retail Business"
Business Growth StrategiesCongratulations! You have successfully opened your small business, but now what? The emphasis from now on will be for business growth. Here you will find some suggestions on what you can do to see your business prosper.
Continue reading "Business Growth Strategies"
New American Farmers Are In Great DemandAre you thinking about starting a small business in farming or farming as a career? Young farmers will desperately be needed in America within the next few years.
Continue reading "New American Farmers Are In Great Demand"
Would You Like to Share Your Experience Starting a Small Business as a Page on My Website?Just click on link below to go to my Contact Me page. Leave your story about your small business start-up experience or a small business idea. Also leave both your email and website addresses. I'll post it as long as I feel your contribution is relevant to my website and of benefit to my readers. It also needs to be about 200 words or more in length. Thank you so much!
Continue reading "Would You Like to Share Your Experience Starting a Small Business as a Page on My Website?"
Big Advantages Becoming Apparent to Resellers Buying From “Made in the USA” ManufacturersAs shipping and labor costs in Asia increase, small apparel manufacturers in the U.S.A., and generally with a higher quality merchandise than what Asia has to offer, are beginning to prosper.
Continue reading "Big Advantages Becoming Apparent to Resellers Buying From “Made in the USA” Manufacturers"
How Your Blog or Website Can Bring You IncomeGreat article about how some are using their blog or website to make income, from $100+ to $100,000+ per year. Yes, some are making amazing profits, but all agree it takes time, patience, determination, and a passion for their particular subject.
Continue reading "How Your Blog or Website Can Bring You Income"
Despite the Bad Economy Hair Cutting is Still Going StrongIn the economic downturn and high unimployment, many, even college grads are turning to being hair stylists and successfully. One salon patron says, “It’s just part of my budget, like keeping the lights on,” said Rochelle Mills, 38, who works at the Department of Justice. “I’ll forgo a lot of things, but not my hair.”
Continue reading "Despite the Bad Economy Hair Cutting is Still Going Strong"
Do You Really Love Dogs? Dog Grooming Might be the Perfect Small Business for You!Not only dog grooming, but dog sitting, dog walking and other pet services, are in high demand, not only in America, but all over the globe! I've tried dog grooming myself in my own neighborhood, and I can tell you it can be a very easy and profitable small business to get into.
Continue reading "Do You Really Love Dogs? Dog Grooming Might be the Perfect Small Business for You!"
Small Business In Cuba!This is a great example of how The Great Recession is not all bad, but good things can happen too! In an effort to transform Cuba's perennially weak economy, small business ownership, and a free-market economy, may be beginning to blossom in Cuba!
Continue reading "Small Business In Cuba!"
Need Extra Income?Are you unemployed or just need some extra income? Here are some side businesses you can consider that are low risk and low cost. Who knows, one of them could even become a new career for you!
Continue reading "Need Extra Income?"
Would You Like to Share Your Experience Starting a Small Business as a Page on My Website?Just click on link below to go to my Contact Me page. Leave your story about your small business start-up experience or a small business idea. Also leave both your email and website addresses. I'll post it as long as I feel your contribution is relevant to my website and of benefit to my readers. It also needs to be about 300 words or more in length. Thank you so much!
Continue reading "Would You Like to Share Your Experience Starting a Small Business as a Page on My Website?"
Are You Making Millions More Than Your Parents?Lessons can be learned from young entrepreneurs that are making it SUPER BIG! How do they do it? They all find a particular small business niche and run with it like a football player would a football.
Continue reading "Are You Making Millions More Than Your Parents?"
What is Keeping America From Job Creation?All Americans, even both Democrats and Republicans, are beginning to recognize the huge and growing regulatory burden, how this flawed government regulatory system is stifling small business, job creation, and holding back our economy.
Continue reading "What is Keeping America From Job Creation?"
For a Free List of Wholesale CompaniesCheck out this FREE list of true wholesale companies! It includes some great wholesale liquidators and wholesale drop shippers. All these companies are easy to deal with, provide exceptional value, are very reliable, and sell in small enough quantities to make it worthwhile for small resellers that want to sell on eBay or elsewhere.
Continue reading "For a Free List of Wholesale Companies"
Do You Think the American Dream is Still Possible?Please read the following news article. It’s not an encouraging article, but it is helpful and enlightening. My own opinion on the present economic situation is that the “American Dream” is still very possible. As a matter of fact it may be more possible today than ever before! The problem right now is that the so called American Dream, though still intact, is buried under a pile of discouragement over unemployment, corporate greed, financial inequality, and dysfunctional government.
Continue reading "Do You Think the American Dream is Still Possible?"
Create a Website BusinessMarketing on eBay, other auction websites (like Amazon.com) or your own website, is much more easy and profitable when compared to traditional ways of marketing, such as selling from a “brick & mortar” type storefront shop or even a mail order business.
Continue reading "Create a Website Business"
Are You financially Fit?Secrets to living well on less than $11,000 per year. Living in much smaller quarters. Scale down and be satisfied with the free things in life.This artical does not specifically talk about small buisiness, but is in keeping with a key theme of my site: you need to think small at first if you are to ever make it big.
Continue reading "Are You financially Fit?"
See New Solar Inovations SlideshowA new solar movement helps to power entrepreneurs and designers, solar-powered machines, including a solar-powered scooter, wheelchair, and soccer ball.
Continue reading "See New Solar Inovations Slideshow"
Would You Like a Free Small Business Plan Template?A professional business plan can be pretty complex. On this page you will find a simple business plan template that will help to show you the main structure and components of a good business plan.
Continue reading "Would You Like a Free Small Business Plan Template?"
Six Ideas For a Mobile Food BusinessIf you want to start a food business, but don't have the dough for a full restaurant, check out these mobile options.
Continue reading "Six Ideas For a Mobile Food Business"
NYC Kitchen for Rent Helps Unemployed Create Small BusinessCan you cook? You don't really have to be a totally experienced cook. Kitchen for Rent is a lifeline for the unemployed.
Continue reading "NYC Kitchen for Rent Helps Unemployed Create Small Business"
Open an Internet Store and Start to Make Money Online Today! Have a favorite product you are just itching to sell on the Web? Learn how you can open an Internet store to earn you big money and see your dreams come true.
Continue reading "Open an Internet Store and Start to Make Money Online Today! "
What is Working: Small BusinessExcellent Must Read Article! Trends you need to know for your small business to grow in 2014. By Huff Post.
Continue reading "What is Working: Small Business"
From Solo Entrepreneur to 2000 Empoyees and $270 MillionHow Hartley Peavey took what he did best, making sound equipment for bands, and built it into a multimillion dollar business.
Continue reading "From Solo Entrepreneur to 2000 Empoyees and $270 Million"
Iraq Veteran Starts Ultra Successful Dog Training BusinessHow Nick White started an ultra successful dog training business on his own, without any formal training, college degree, financial assistance, or help from anyone. His secret? Believing in his own abilities, a life-long love for dogs, and a passion for helping others.
Continue reading "Iraq Veteran Starts Ultra Successful Dog Training Business"
Small Business Growing Marijuana?Yes, the latest in small business news! Thinking about growing marijuana and selling it for your very own small business? There are currently nineteen states in America with legalized medical marijuana, twelve other states regulations on medical marijuana legalization are pending. And what about the sale of marijuana? To my knowledge only Washington and Colorado, but there might be more, and these have tight regulations.
This article is very revealing concerning many problems concerning growing marijuana for profit that maybe you haven't considered.
Continue reading "Small Business Growing Marijuana?"
Do You Need a Loan For Your Small Business? Microlending is a Great Alternative to a Large Bank LoanA very good source of micro loan information is online at kiva.org/kivacity a non-profit organization dedicated to helping small business entrepreneurs to find a loan. Click on link below to go to kiva.org/kivacity website. After finding out what Kiva is all about, scroll to bottom of Kiva home page. Under heading “Using Kiva” click on “Help”. In the search box type in “finding a loan”. Finally, click on “Applying for a Loan” to see information that may help you.
Continue reading "Do You Need a Loan For Your Small Business? Microlending is a Great Alternative to a Large Bank Loan"
Family Owned Business Super SuccessFamily owned business goes nuts! And bananas, then much more. A great example of online business success, how they did it.
Continue reading "Family Owned Business Super Success"
How to Make Money Selling on eBay.comThis is a very informative article for those wanting to sell on eBay. Selling and making a profit on eBay is not nearly as easy as it used to be. However, there is a way if you have plenty of ingenuity and willing to work hard. Eric Holden does a great job describing exactly how to do it.
Continue reading "How to Make Money Selling on eBay.com"
Business Startup Guidlines by Mark CubanMark Cuban, owner of world champion dallas mavericks basketball team, serial entrepreneur, presents his 12 rules for a successful startup.
Continue reading "Business Startup Guidlines by Mark Cuban"
Would You Like to Share Your Experience Starting a Small Business as a Page on My Website?Just click on link below to go to my Contact Me page. Leave your story about your small business start-up experience or a small business idea. Also leave both your email and website addresses. You can also include links to your website or blog. I'll post it as long as I feel your contribution is relevant to my website and of benefit to my readers. It also needs to be at least 350 words in length. Thank you so much!
Continue reading "Would You Like to Share Your Experience Starting a Small Business as a Page on My Website?"
Teen Makes Millions of $$ Selling TrufflesAre you a beginner entrepreneur looking to start a small business? At least two ingredients are necessary for a successful start up: love for your small business idea and a young-at-heart imagination. Here is an excellent article that perfectly illustrates both requirements and more.
Continue reading "Teen Makes Millions of $$ Selling Truffles"
Retail Marketing--Starting a Retail BusinessWe know, of course, that there is still a great demand for this type of business. The huge American and European malls are just full of every kind of small and large business of this type imaginable, and one of these might be just right for you!
Continue reading "Retail Marketing--Starting a Retail Business"
Business Growth StrategiesCongratulations! You have successfully opened your small business, but now what? The emphasis from now on will be for business growth. Here you will find some suggestions on what you can do to see your business prosper.
Continue reading "Business Growth Strategies"
New American Farmers Are In Great DemandAre you thinking about starting a small business in farming or farming as a career? Young farmers will desperately be needed in America within the next few years.
Continue reading "New American Farmers Are In Great Demand"
Would You Like to Share Your Experience Starting a Small Business as a Page on My Website?Just click on link below to go to my Contact Me page. Leave your story about your small business start-up experience or a small business idea. Also leave both your email and website addresses. I'll post it as long as I feel your contribution is relevant to my website and of benefit to my readers. It also needs to be about 200 words or more in length. Thank you so much!
Continue reading "Would You Like to Share Your Experience Starting a Small Business as a Page on My Website?"
Big Advantages Becoming Apparent to Resellers Buying From “Made in the USA” ManufacturersAs shipping and labor costs in Asia increase, small apparel manufacturers in the U.S.A., and generally with a higher quality merchandise than what Asia has to offer, are beginning to prosper.
Continue reading "Big Advantages Becoming Apparent to Resellers Buying From “Made in the USA” Manufacturers"
How Your Blog or Website Can Bring You IncomeGreat article about how some are using their blog or website to make income, from $100+ to $100,000+ per year. Yes, some are making amazing profits, but all agree it takes time, patience, determination, and a passion for their particular subject.
Continue reading "How Your Blog or Website Can Bring You Income"
Despite the Bad Economy Hair Cutting is Still Going StrongIn the economic downturn and high unimployment, many, even college grads are turning to being hair stylists and successfully. One salon patron says, “It’s just part of my budget, like keeping the lights on,” said Rochelle Mills, 38, who works at the Department of Justice. “I’ll forgo a lot of things, but not my hair.”
Continue reading "Despite the Bad Economy Hair Cutting is Still Going Strong"
Do You Really Love Dogs? Dog Grooming Might be the Perfect Small Business for You!Not only dog grooming, but dog sitting, dog walking and other pet services, are in high demand, not only in America, but all over the globe! I've tried dog grooming myself in my own neighborhood, and I can tell you it can be a very easy and profitable small business to get into.
Continue reading "Do You Really Love Dogs? Dog Grooming Might be the Perfect Small Business for You!"
Small Business In Cuba!This is a great example of how The Great Recession is not all bad, but good things can happen too! In an effort to transform Cuba's perennially weak economy, small business ownership, and a free-market economy, may be beginning to blossom in Cuba!
Continue reading "Small Business In Cuba!"
Need Extra Income?Are you unemployed or just need some extra income? Here are some side businesses you can consider that are low risk and low cost. Who knows, one of them could even become a new career for you!
Continue reading "Need Extra Income?"
Would You Like to Share Your Experience Starting a Small Business as a Page on My Website?Just click on link below to go to my Contact Me page. Leave your story about your small business start-up experience or a small business idea. Also leave both your email and website addresses. I'll post it as long as I feel your contribution is relevant to my website and of benefit to my readers. It also needs to be about 300 words or more in length. Thank you so much!
Continue reading "Would You Like to Share Your Experience Starting a Small Business as a Page on My Website?"
Are You Making Millions More Than Your Parents?Lessons can be learned from young entrepreneurs that are making it SUPER BIG! How do they do it? They all find a particular small business niche and run with it like a football player would a football.
Continue reading "Are You Making Millions More Than Your Parents?"
What is Keeping America From Job Creation?All Americans, even both Democrats and Republicans, are beginning to recognize the huge and growing regulatory burden, how this flawed government regulatory system is stifling small business, job creation, and holding back our economy.
Continue reading "What is Keeping America From Job Creation?"
For a Free List of Wholesale CompaniesCheck out this FREE list of true wholesale companies! It includes some great wholesale liquidators and wholesale drop shippers. All these companies are easy to deal with, provide exceptional value, are very reliable, and sell in small enough quantities to make it worthwhile for small resellers that want to sell on eBay or elsewhere.
Continue reading "For a Free List of Wholesale Companies"
Do You Think the American Dream is Still Possible?Please read the following news article. It’s not an encouraging article, but it is helpful and enlightening. My own opinion on the present economic situation is that the “American Dream” is still very possible. As a matter of fact it may be more possible today than ever before! The problem right now is that the so called American Dream, though still intact, is buried under a pile of discouragement over unemployment, corporate greed, financial inequality, and dysfunctional government.
Continue reading "Do You Think the American Dream is Still Possible?"
Create a Website BusinessMarketing on eBay, other auction websites (like Amazon.com) or your own website, is much more easy and profitable when compared to traditional ways of marketing, such as selling from a “brick & mortar” type storefront shop or even a mail order business.
Continue reading "Create a Website Business"
Are You financially Fit?Secrets to living well on less than $11,000 per year. Living in much smaller quarters. Scale down and be satisfied with the free things in life.This artical does not specifically talk about small buisiness, but is in keeping with a key theme of my site: you need to think small at first if you are to ever make it big.
Continue reading "Are You financially Fit?"
See New Solar Inovations SlideshowA new solar movement helps to power entrepreneurs and designers, solar-powered machines, including a solar-powered scooter, wheelchair, and soccer ball.
Continue reading "See New Solar Inovations Slideshow"
Would You Like a Free Small Business Plan Template?A professional business plan can be pretty complex. On this page you will find a simple business plan template that will help to show you the main structure and components of a good business plan.
Continue reading "Would You Like a Free Small Business Plan Template?"
Six Ideas For a Mobile Food BusinessIf you want to start a food business, but don't have the dough for a full restaurant, check out these mobile options.
Continue reading "Six Ideas For a Mobile Food Business"
NYC Kitchen for Rent Helps Unemployed Create Small BusinessCan you cook? You don't really have to be a totally experienced cook. Kitchen for Rent is a lifeline for the unemployed.
Continue reading "NYC Kitchen for Rent Helps Unemployed Create Small Business"
The Author and Website
Thank you for visiting Opening a Small Business! I'm Bobby Thompson, the author of this website.
Want to know more about me and this website?
My experience includes small business start up and is as follows:
I started my own successful eBay business with "Top Rated Seller" and "eBay Power Seller" standings with eBay, and a 100% eBay feedback rating.
I have experience owning my own successful landscaping business.
Besides my present work on this website, I teach in Oregon. I have degrees in Biological Science and Business Administration from schools in California.
What's faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings with a single bound?
It's Super Dog!
My beautiful pooch and best friend, Pinkie, a very beautiful Pit Bull, Labrador Retriever Mix. Just about wherever I go, Pinkie goes too. She's great protection!
God bless you, and thank you for visiting Opening a Small Business!
About This Website
Opening a Small Business is an informational website dedicated to providing specific, quality guidance to enable anyone interested in starting a small business to do just that.
The aim of this website is to share business successes, unbiased advice, and business know-how, that it will help you in your endeavor to successfully start a small business of your own.
How Can This Website Help You? Show you exactly how to start a small business. There is a small business just for you, one easy to start, give you a more flexible lifestyle, one that will enrich your life in more ways than one.
Tons of small business ideas, ones easy to start and yet very profitable. Examples? For those who really enjoy puttering with their car, an auto detailing business. For those who are smart, artistically inclined, who enjoy sales work, have lots of friends, I suggest this one: a gift basket business for lots of fun and profit!
Go from Meet the Author to Opening a Small Business home page
Thank you for visiting Opening a Small Business! I'm Bobby Thompson, the author of this website.
Want to know more about me and this website?
My experience includes small business start up and is as follows:
I started my own successful eBay business with "Top Rated Seller" and "eBay Power Seller" standings with eBay, and a 100% eBay feedback rating.
I have experience owning my own successful landscaping business.
Besides my present work on this website, I teach in Oregon. I have degrees in Biological Science and Business Administration from schools in California.
What's faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings with a single bound?
It's Super Dog!
My beautiful pooch and best friend, Pinkie, a very beautiful Pit Bull, Labrador Retriever Mix. Just about wherever I go, Pinkie goes too. She's great protection!
God bless you, and thank you for visiting Opening a Small Business!
About This Website
Opening a Small Business is an informational website dedicated to providing specific, quality guidance to enable anyone interested in starting a small business to do just that.
The aim of this website is to share business successes, unbiased advice, and business know-how, that it will help you in your endeavor to successfully start a small business of your own.
How Can This Website Help You? Show you exactly how to start a small business. There is a small business just for you, one easy to start, give you a more flexible lifestyle, one that will enrich your life in more ways than one.
Tons of small business ideas, ones easy to start and yet very profitable. Examples? For those who really enjoy puttering with their car, an auto detailing business. For those who are smart, artistically inclined, who enjoy sales work, have lots of friends, I suggest this one: a gift basket business for lots of fun and profit!
Go from Meet the Author to Opening a Small Business home page
contact Form for Opening a
Small Business
Thank you for visiting Opening a Small Business. Please feel free to use the contact form below if you have questions or special comments. However, because of the greater than expected volume of emails, we may not able to respond to every email with a custom answer. We hope we can answer some of your questions right here, two questions that we are asked the most concern:
We hope the information on our website has been of great value to you. Opening a Small Business is dedicated to helping people just like you to start a small business. All the information on this website is free of any charge whatsoever, except for third-party ads. If you wish to leave feedback, need guidance, or instructions in your small business start up, please let us know. We would be glad to help.
Thanks for Visiting!
Bobby Thompson & Company
Please Note: The 5 or 6 digit code in the lower left corner of Contact box is designed to prevent spammers using automated scripts from sending spam through our e-mail form. Hit the refresh button on your browser if you can not read the code.
Contact Form Please note that all fields followed by an asterisk must be filled in. First Name* E-Mail Address* Country*
Place your text here* Please enter the word that you see below.
Go from Contact Form page to Opening a Small Business home page
Small Business
Thank you for visiting Opening a Small Business. Please feel free to use the contact form below if you have questions or special comments. However, because of the greater than expected volume of emails, we may not able to respond to every email with a custom answer. We hope we can answer some of your questions right here, two questions that we are asked the most concern:
- Looking for a small business loan? Our website is not able to supply a loan directly. But please visit our Small Business Loans and Other Financing page that can supply you with excellent sources for all your financing needs.
- Would you like to start a small business of your own but you are not sure what small business you would like to start or exactly which business is right for you? You can find small business ideas throughout our site, on just about every page, but especially on our Small Business Ideas page. On that same page you will also find information that may help you to choose an idea that is just right for you.
We hope the information on our website has been of great value to you. Opening a Small Business is dedicated to helping people just like you to start a small business. All the information on this website is free of any charge whatsoever, except for third-party ads. If you wish to leave feedback, need guidance, or instructions in your small business start up, please let us know. We would be glad to help.
Thanks for Visiting!
Bobby Thompson & Company
Please Note: The 5 or 6 digit code in the lower left corner of Contact box is designed to prevent spammers using automated scripts from sending spam through our e-mail form. Hit the refresh button on your browser if you can not read the code.
Contact Form Please note that all fields followed by an asterisk must be filled in. First Name* E-Mail Address* Country*
Place your text here* Please enter the word that you see below.
Go from Contact Form page to Opening a Small Business home page
Hello! Welcome to site map
for opening-a-small-business.net
This site map was created to help you navigate through the Opening a Small Business website.
Accounting Software:
This smart decision to invest in an accounting software program will save a lot of trouble and money in the future.
Affiliate Marketing:
By creating your own website you have given yourself a basic tool that is essential to your success in affiliate marketing.
Auto Detailing:
Do you enjoy cars and making your car look as great as it can be? Then Auto Detailing may be an excellent, high demand small business venture for you!
Best Web Hosting Company:
Not all website hosts are the same, it's very important to find the best web hosting company for you.
Bookkeeping Service:
Are you good at handling money and working with numbers? A bookkeeping service might be the perfect small business for you!
Business Financing:
Common Sources of Small Business Financing.
Business Growth:
You've successfully opened a small business but now what? Here are some business tips to see steady, successful business growth.
Business License:
Obtain Your Small Business License and Your Ready to Go!
Business Loan Blues:
Are you having a hard time getting a small business loan? Why not try to start your small business smaller, without a business loan?
Business Plan Template:
Would you like a free business plan template?
Computer Repair Service:
The computer repair business is growing by leaps and bounds!
Site Map For OASB
Contact Form:
How to contact me at Opening a Small Business.
Create a Website Business:
The first steps in how to build a website; build your own website that is profitable.
Desktop Publishing:
Are you good at writing? Desktop Publishing just might be the best occupation for you!
Dog Grooming Business:
Do you love dogs? Dog grooming may be a great small business for you.
Dog Sitting:
Here is another one for dog lovers.
Ebay Alternative:
Have you started a small business on eBay but tired of eBay's ever increasing selling fees and restrictions? Here are some best eBay alternatives.
eBay Business:
An article by Amanda O'Brien. There are many different ways to make money by working from home, but few will offer results as quickly as if you were to start an eBay business.
Site Map For OASB
Errand Service:
An errand service small business can be a terrific way to serve your community as well as generate a great income for you.
Fitness Trainer:
Would you enjoy having all the time you want to work out and get paid for it too? Be a personal fitness trainer!
Flea Markets:
Starting a small business? Flea markets are great places to sell!
Free Website Hosting:
Starting a small business to make money on the Web? Most free web hosts are a waste of time. Still want to design your own website free? Find the best free website hosting.
Garage Sale:
Organizing a garage sale and garage sale tips.
Gift Basket Business:
Start a gift basket business! At least 75% of gift basket businesses can make over $50K per year, 20% can make about $200K.
Home Internet Business:
An article by Jeff Schuman. Jeff says that "anyone can easily achieve success with a home internet business once you know what is required to achieve that goal."
Home Page For Opening a Small Business.Net:
An introduction to small business start-up for beginners. Be your own boss! Create a more flexible lifestyle.
Site Map For OASB
Hot Selling Items on eBay:
Finding the best selling items on eBay is not always easy, but is a necessary pursuit, and a key to successful selling on eBay.
Interior Decorator:
Do you enjoy decorating your home? Interior Decorating might be a great small business for you!
Internet Scams:
Learn to avoid Internet scams.
Internet Store:
Do you have a favorite product you are just itching to sell on the Web? Learn how you can open an Internet store to earn you money and see your dream come true.
Internet Web site Design:
A fast growing and lucrative career for today.
Landscaping Business:
Do you love working outside in your garden? A landscaping business just might be a perfect small business for you!
Learn HTML Basics:
To learn HTML, at least the basics, is very important, even critical, to building a website.
Market Gardening:
The demand for naturally grown food is soaring by as much as 20% per year.
Site Map For OASB
Medical Billing and Coding:
The need for medical billing and coding in the medical profession is still available and is considered by many to be one of the best home based businesses.
Micro farming:
Micro farming often begins with a desire to get closer to nature and return to a simpler life.
Opening a Small Business Blog:
OASB Blog Review For the latest and best in small business news, including small business start up, small business ideas, starting a home business, and much more.
Privacy Policy:
The primary objective of this privacy policy is that visitors to Opening-a-Small-Business.Net would feel confident that their privacy is being protected.
Raising Chickens:
Raising chickens and other free-range livestock organically is a viable business for the small property owner.
Resume Writing:
There is a constant demand for professional resume writers.
Retail Marketing Business:
Start a small business in retail marketing. Malls are just full of every kind of small business and one of these might be just right for you!
Small Business Accounting and Bookkeeping:
Importance of keeping accurate bookkeeping records, some of the best small business accounting software.
Small Business Advertising: The secret to getting great traffic and money for your small business, become an advertising expert.
Small Business Financing:
Best ways to fund your small business, including info about small business start up grants, and the best sources of small business loans.
Site Map For OASB
Small Business Ideas:
A list of some of the best, most profitable small business ideas.
Starting a Home Business:
Enjoy personal freedom and fulfillment with a work from home business.
Starting a Small Business Right:
Valuable tips and suggestions for starting and growing your small business.
Starting an eBay Business:
Start your own eBay business; eBay selling tips.
Tax Preparation Business:
The tax preparation business just keeps growing! Start your own tax preparation service now!
Terms and Conditions:
Statement of our liability limitations.
The Author:
Bob Thompson, author of Opening a Small Business.
Translator or Interpreter:
Do you speak more than one language? Translator or Interpreter would make a rewarding small business!
Website Domain Name:
What is a Website's domain name? How to register a free website domain name.
Site Map For OASB
Wholesale Companies:
A list of genuine wholesale companies, including some wholesale drop shippers.
Go from Site Map to Opening a Small Business home page
for opening-a-small-business.net
This site map was created to help you navigate through the Opening a Small Business website.
Accounting Software:
This smart decision to invest in an accounting software program will save a lot of trouble and money in the future.
Affiliate Marketing:
By creating your own website you have given yourself a basic tool that is essential to your success in affiliate marketing.
Auto Detailing:
Do you enjoy cars and making your car look as great as it can be? Then Auto Detailing may be an excellent, high demand small business venture for you!
Best Web Hosting Company:
Not all website hosts are the same, it's very important to find the best web hosting company for you.
Bookkeeping Service:
Are you good at handling money and working with numbers? A bookkeeping service might be the perfect small business for you!
Business Financing:
Common Sources of Small Business Financing.
Business Growth:
You've successfully opened a small business but now what? Here are some business tips to see steady, successful business growth.
Business License:
Obtain Your Small Business License and Your Ready to Go!
Business Loan Blues:
Are you having a hard time getting a small business loan? Why not try to start your small business smaller, without a business loan?
Business Plan Template:
Would you like a free business plan template?
Computer Repair Service:
The computer repair business is growing by leaps and bounds!
Site Map For OASB
Contact Form:
How to contact me at Opening a Small Business.
Create a Website Business:
The first steps in how to build a website; build your own website that is profitable.
Desktop Publishing:
Are you good at writing? Desktop Publishing just might be the best occupation for you!
Dog Grooming Business:
Do you love dogs? Dog grooming may be a great small business for you.
Dog Sitting:
Here is another one for dog lovers.
Ebay Alternative:
Have you started a small business on eBay but tired of eBay's ever increasing selling fees and restrictions? Here are some best eBay alternatives.
eBay Business:
An article by Amanda O'Brien. There are many different ways to make money by working from home, but few will offer results as quickly as if you were to start an eBay business.
Site Map For OASB
Errand Service:
An errand service small business can be a terrific way to serve your community as well as generate a great income for you.
Fitness Trainer:
Would you enjoy having all the time you want to work out and get paid for it too? Be a personal fitness trainer!
Flea Markets:
Starting a small business? Flea markets are great places to sell!
Free Website Hosting:
Starting a small business to make money on the Web? Most free web hosts are a waste of time. Still want to design your own website free? Find the best free website hosting.
Garage Sale:
Organizing a garage sale and garage sale tips.
Gift Basket Business:
Start a gift basket business! At least 75% of gift basket businesses can make over $50K per year, 20% can make about $200K.
Home Internet Business:
An article by Jeff Schuman. Jeff says that "anyone can easily achieve success with a home internet business once you know what is required to achieve that goal."
Home Page For Opening a Small Business.Net:
An introduction to small business start-up for beginners. Be your own boss! Create a more flexible lifestyle.
Site Map For OASB
Hot Selling Items on eBay:
Finding the best selling items on eBay is not always easy, but is a necessary pursuit, and a key to successful selling on eBay.
Interior Decorator:
Do you enjoy decorating your home? Interior Decorating might be a great small business for you!
Internet Scams:
Learn to avoid Internet scams.
Internet Store:
Do you have a favorite product you are just itching to sell on the Web? Learn how you can open an Internet store to earn you money and see your dream come true.
Internet Web site Design:
A fast growing and lucrative career for today.
Landscaping Business:
Do you love working outside in your garden? A landscaping business just might be a perfect small business for you!
Learn HTML Basics:
To learn HTML, at least the basics, is very important, even critical, to building a website.
Market Gardening:
The demand for naturally grown food is soaring by as much as 20% per year.
Site Map For OASB
Medical Billing and Coding:
The need for medical billing and coding in the medical profession is still available and is considered by many to be one of the best home based businesses.
Micro farming:
Micro farming often begins with a desire to get closer to nature and return to a simpler life.
Opening a Small Business Blog:
OASB Blog Review For the latest and best in small business news, including small business start up, small business ideas, starting a home business, and much more.
Privacy Policy:
The primary objective of this privacy policy is that visitors to Opening-a-Small-Business.Net would feel confident that their privacy is being protected.
Raising Chickens:
Raising chickens and other free-range livestock organically is a viable business for the small property owner.
Resume Writing:
There is a constant demand for professional resume writers.
Retail Marketing Business:
Start a small business in retail marketing. Malls are just full of every kind of small business and one of these might be just right for you!
Small Business Accounting and Bookkeeping:
Importance of keeping accurate bookkeeping records, some of the best small business accounting software.
Small Business Advertising: The secret to getting great traffic and money for your small business, become an advertising expert.
Small Business Financing:
Best ways to fund your small business, including info about small business start up grants, and the best sources of small business loans.
Site Map For OASB
Small Business Ideas:
A list of some of the best, most profitable small business ideas.
Starting a Home Business:
Enjoy personal freedom and fulfillment with a work from home business.
Starting a Small Business Right:
Valuable tips and suggestions for starting and growing your small business.
Starting an eBay Business:
Start your own eBay business; eBay selling tips.
Tax Preparation Business:
The tax preparation business just keeps growing! Start your own tax preparation service now!
Terms and Conditions:
Statement of our liability limitations.
The Author:
Bob Thompson, author of Opening a Small Business.
Translator or Interpreter:
Do you speak more than one language? Translator or Interpreter would make a rewarding small business!
Website Domain Name:
What is a Website's domain name? How to register a free website domain name.
Site Map For OASB
Wholesale Companies:
A list of genuine wholesale companies, including some wholesale drop shippers.
Go from Site Map to Opening a Small Business home page