Ground rules for successfully sell your business

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Sooner or later you are going to exit your business. The question isn't whether or not you will be ready. The sixty four thousand dollar question is whether or not your business will be ready.

It is estimated that seven out of ten privately held businesses have no succession plan to transfer the business to the next generation of owners. What does that mean to you? It means that if you do not currently have a plan in place to transfer your business to family members, existing partners, management or employees, someday you will think about selling your business.

That day might come sooner than you anticipate. Don't make the mistake of thinking that just because you are not currently ready to retire that you have plenty of time to prepare your business for sale.

As a business broker, I have been involved in a number of transactions (and potential transactions) where the business owner wanted to sell, or in some instances, was forced to exit the business earlier than expected. In fact, retirement is NOT the number one reason why businesses sell.

Here is a list of the most common reasons why owners sell (or otherwise discontinue) their businesses:

Burn-out (the number one reason for selling)

Health issues

Personal diversification

Retirement/semi-retirement

Death

Divorce/partner disputes

Business growing too fast

Second generation not up to the task

Loss of market share

TAKE GOOD CARE

The sad truth is that many business owners do not take good care of their most valuable asset: the business. They don't groom someone to continue the business in their absence, and do not keep the business in salable shape during the time they operate the business.

Business owners tend to get too bogged down in the day to day business operations to worry about--or plan for an event that they perceive won't occur until sometime in the distant future; selling the business.

Unfortunately, fate sometimes dictates circumstances beyond your control, and tough decisions must be made. If your business isn't ready to sell when the time comes, what are your alternatives?

1. Liquidation of business assets--may be a solution, but one that usually returns very little money to the business owner. If the business had been an operating business, the underlying assets (except for real estate) may be outdated and of little use to anyone. At auction, the assets will bring only what the attending bidders are willing to pay. In some instances, underlying assets are sold to liquidators (or scrap) for only pennies on the dollar. Liquidation of a going business often occurs where the owners have become ill or disabled, or need to retire and have not planned adequately for their exit from the business.

2. Closing the business--is even less attractive than liquidation. That is because many who find themselves in this situation have a tendency to "put off" liquidating the underlying assets in hope that maybe someone will come along to buy this business. This almost never happens.

BUILD WEALTH NOW BY PLANNING FOR THE SALE OF YOUR BUSINESS

Okay, so you think you have enough to do without throwing more onto the pile. Am I right? That is why I have written this article for you. It provides a "down and dirty" overview of things that you ought to begin thinking about and planning for right now. Doing so will provide you with an additional safety net that will help safeguard your valuable business asset.

Here are just a few of the benefits of planning now:

A planned sale allows for your goals and objectives on your timetable

You may begin to identify potential buyers

You may be able to create an attractive acquisition candidate

You can begin to understand why a buyer may want to buy

You might learn why buyers would not want to buy--and be able to fix the problems

You may begin to realize the worth of your business now, and learn how to increase the value as part of your retirement planning

BUSINESS VALUE HOUSEKEEPING CHECKLIST

Record All Sales

Business owners often invent remarkable ways to beat the tax collector. But the taxman can be a business owner's best friend when it comes to selling one's business. Income taxes are a great investment in the years immediately preceding an anticipated sale of the business.

Paying income tax proves to the buyer AND the banker that your business operations have been profitable.

Nobody wants to pay more income tax. But consider this example: Ronald Bunk systematically underreported business income by an average of $20,000 per year. Assuming a combined tax rate of 40%, Mr. Bunk saved $8,000 in taxes per year. But, the underreported income also reduced the company's earnings base by $20,000 per year. If, for example, the business could be sold for a multiple of 5x the company's reported earning base---the company would sell for $100,000 less ($20,000 average earning base not reported times the price multiple of 5) than it is really worth!

Without considering the time value of money, it would take in excess of twelve years of (illegal) tax savings to make up for the loss of $100,000 in business value. The lesson: In trying to screw the government, business owners often find themselves on the short end of the stick; often in more ways than one.

Eliminate co-mingling of business and non business assets

A common practice among closely held companies is to co-mingle non business assets and expenses with business assets and expenses. I have seen businesses owning motor coaches, boats and airplanes; all reported as business assets. The costs of maintaining and operating the assets were expensed as regular business operating expenses.

It is true that those businesses (not audited by the IRS) are saving a certain amount of income tax, and providing an extra "fringe" benefit for the owners of the company.

Wise business owners should endeavor to separate non business assets from the business in the three to five years before a planned sale of the company. Doing so will make it much easier to accurately measure and reflect the true earning power of the business, as it will be unfettered by the capital investment in non business assets and the associated costs.

Buyers of your business are generally purchasing future income and benefit streams that will be produced by your business. The leaner and more productive your business is--the more it is worth. It is never too early to begin segregating non business assets from your business, as it may take some planning and time.

Do your own due diligence

Some executives of both public and private firms get a physical check-up once a year. Many of these same executives think nothing of having their personal investments reviewed at least once a year, if not more often. Yet, these same prudent executives never consider giving their company an annual physical, unless they are required to by company rules, regulations or some other necessary reason.

Anyone interested in purchasing your business will perform "due diligence" procedures on your business before closing on the purchase. All too often, sellers are surprised at the skeletons purchasers can find in the closet. These skeletons can reduce the value of your company, and in some cases, kill any chance at closing a sale. What skeletons are your company's closets?

Why not give your business a periodic physical? In essence, I am suggesting you would do well to treat your business as if someone else owned it--and you were the potential purchaser. What problems would you discover that could cause you and your advisors to reduce or withdraw your offer?

Spending the time and money to discover and fix your company's problems now will pay huge dividends in the form of increased company value--which is exactly what you want when it's time to sell.

Compliance with taxing and regulatory authorities

Mountains of regulation often seem to impede a company's growth and profitability. Some regulations might seem rather easy to "slight" or ignore.

Take for example one of my recent sellers who swore to me that the business had no regulatory violations of any type. I reminded the seller that anything "hidden in the closet" would most likely be discovered in a buyer's due diligence (investigatory) process. "Nope--no problems of any kind" I was assured.

Well, guess what the buyer's due diligence turned up? Seems the seller had a couple of shipping/storage containers sitting behind the building--which the sellers KNEW were in violation of local zoning ordinances. How did they know? They had received four previous "reminders" from the trustees about the containers, and the need to remove them.

"Why didn't you mention that to me, or disclose that fact on your disclosure statement?" I asked. "Gee, nothing ever happened and the township never did anything--so we just figured it was no big deal." Was the seller's reasoning.

No big deal, except when the purchaser turned up the non compliance issue, it threw a few extra wrinkles into the mix. In that case, the issue was easily resolved (yet, much to the additional cost and chagrin of the sellers). But, sometimes known violations are not so easily remedied. In those instances, a seller runs the risk of blowing a good deal.

What's the bottom line?

Clean up any tax, industry, OSHA, EPA or zoning issues with which your company does not comply.

Organize and keep records available. One never knows when opportunity might knock. If and when it does knock, will you be ready to strike while the iron is hot? How many times have you heard someone say something like, "I'd sell anything, including my business for the right price?"

Maybe you have even said it yourself. But would you know what paperwork and documents a serious buyer will immediately need in order to pursue the purchase? When a qualified buyer is ready to begin serious due diligence, they will need a variety of company documents.

Following is a partial list of things a buyer will ask for:

o Three to five years income tax returns

o Copies of one to three years quarterly payroll reports

o Three to five years CPA prepared financial statements

o Current year to date financial statements

o Detailed depreciation schedules listing each fixed asset owned by your company

o Corporate Minute Book with updated minutes

o Recent aged accounts receivable trial balance

o Recent aged accounts payable trial balance

o Company organization chart

o Copy of the Summary of Insurance Coverage (provided by your carrier)

o Information about Employee Benefits provided by the company

o Information about Employee Retirement Plans

o Copies of labor contracts

o Copies of other contracts to which the company is a party

o Copies of licenses, registrations for patents, copyrights, trademarks, etc.

The foregoing list is an example of the types of records your company should have up to date and on hand at all times. These records are extremely important to speed the sales process along. Though this advice sounds basic, I often encounter companies whose records are not complete and up to date. This situation can dramatically affect a potential sale.

I suggest using a three ring binder to keep the basic updated records available at all times. This also makes other business needs for the documents much more manageable.

CONCLUSION

You can increase your wealth by knowing a few simple ground rules for successfully selling your business. Just like other owners of closely-held businesses, you know how to operate your business on a day to day, month to month and year to year basis. But your experience in running the business has not prepared you to know how to sell your business.

While the information I provided in this article is not all inclusive, it should help you get started in preparing your business for a successful sale--no mater when the business might be sold.

Grover Rutter has over 30 years' experience advising business owners. A sought after business broker and consultant, Grover is a CPA, Accredited Business Valuator, Certified Valuation Analyst, Business Valuator Accredited in Litigation and an Empire Certified Business Broker. http://www.gruttercpas.com

Corporate logos-your company at a glimpse

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If you are interested in starting your own business, a fitting business logo is mandatory. Business logos not only help you identify your business or products and services, but they also pre-sell your identity. That is, business logos build your brand. And as you are already aware, branding or image building is crucial for any business undertaking.

Your business logo should tell everything that your business stands for in an image, a tagline or a combination of both. Various companies adopt various techniques to achieve the perfect business logo. This is because a business logo is your first, and sometimes the last, impression of your business ideas.

Importance Of Logos

Logos are such an intrinsic part of our lives that we often fail to value their importance. A telephone logo on a signboard tells us there is a phone booth in the vicinity. Water flowing from a tap indicates presence of running water. The three stripe logo outside a shoe store tells you that Adidas shoes are available. The golden arches forming a yummy M outside an eatery tells you that you will get your favorite McDonalds snack inside. One look at the ‘one side bitten into’ apple on a signboard, and you know it is Apple Inc and that you can trust its quality without any hesitation.

Creating or designing business logos are neither child play nor a Herculean task. What you need is clarity of thought, precision in designing and a thorough knowledge of aesthetics. It is good to remember that no two logos depend on the same element of design. McDonalds uses color and shape (bright yellow M on a red background), Apple uses an image (a bitten into apple) and Coca Cola focuses on typeface. But all the three are equally recognizable and unique in their own ways.

Rules Of Business Logos

While deciding on your business logos, lay emphasis on only what your business is all about and what you want to tell the world. Although there are no strict guidelines to design the most effective business logos, yet there are some rules that have been followed down the years.

Business logos differ with industries. Though there is no strict rule, some conventions have been followed since they have worked from inception. Business logos appear in high tech, service oriented and business-to-business industries.

• High tech industries – generally use angular and multi-cornered business logos to convey innovativeness

• Service oriented industries – generally use smooth and rounded business logos to convey friendliness and approachability

• Business-to-business industries – follow the middle path. Their business logos combine the chiseled and rounded look to convey stability and to build trust in the company

Depending on where your business stands on the spectrum, decide on the type of business logo that will work for you.

A Timely Reminder

Your business logos should reflect your business goals, your marketing strategies and your future business prospects.

Just like in the days of emperors and kingdoms, the ‘ring seal’ on letters said it all, your business logos appearing on every letterhead, business card, website, magazine, brochure, pamphlet and hoarding should tell the world of your services. Business logos are one of the prime sellers of your services. According to experts of the trade, there are 6 golden rules of designing business logos:

• Business logos should be honest to the core – this means, you business logos should not look like “something that you came across in the magazine the other day”. It should reflect your personality, your vision and the quality of your services. Be creative by all means, but take care not to miss your target. Make your business logos abstract (any pointer with a swish to signify speed; a high power bulb in the darkness to signify innovation etc). Make sure that your business logos are clear in their intentions.

• Business logos should remain simple – this means, your logo should avoid intricacies. Don’t try to say too much with your business logos. Let them be attention grabbers and bring you business. However, to achieve that, business logos will have to give away something of what your business stands for. Your business logos should represent the UPS of your business.

• Business logos should look best in grand old black and white – if your business logo does not work in black and white, it will not work in any other color on earth. So, try out your business logos in B/W and then work on it to give other color tones.

• Business logos should be aesthetically pleasing, irrespective of size – whether your business logos are seen on business cards or billboards, they should look appealing on both. That is the true test of a successful business logo.

• Business logos should maintain artistic balance – this means, no particular part of your business logo should attract you more than the other. Use of color, line depth and shape should be such that your business logos should be one unified art form.

• Business logos should be placed strategically – depending on who, where and how your product will be used, your business logo should be placed on your product. Pens and pencils have their logos at the rear end because the rear is exposed to the buyer. Automobiles have logos both in the front and the rear. This is because you see both from different positions. When you are walking past a parked car, you notice the logo on the bonnet. If you are behind a car, you get to see the logo at the rear. So, the position of the business logo depends on the position of the object and the amount of exposure it receives.

Why Do You Need Business Logos In The First Place?

You need business logos as much as a scientific experiment needs apparatus. You need business logos to make your business known to one and all. Experiments need apparatus to prove to the whole world what the scientist’s mind has in store for you. Similarly, business logos show what your company stands for.

Experts have identified several reasons for the need of business logos for your organization.

• Creating a brand image not only begins with business logos, it is dictated by them – everything your organization does to create a brand image, begins with your logo. All the tools used for sales and marketing bear your business logo. It is your business logo that reaches every corner of the world. Your brand sells or does it not? Who decides? Your business logos. A swish is one of the simplest business logos today. And it is the best brand creating tool. It is easily remembered as it can be easily reproduced. Simplicity of design, effectiveness of simplicity and ease in remembering make your business logos branded.

• Fastest visual cue to your brand in a time crunched world – in a world that is always running after time, it is not unusual to slow down only in the face of instant gratification and everything that hits your sight. Very few people have the time or the inclination to read your advertisement. But they will definitely have the time and the interest to look into your business logo. So, it is all that you have to capture the market. Give all, subtly and overtly, in your business logos.

Swati Banerjee is the owner of Writing Ink, a web content management firm based out of India, that services clients from across the globe. Please take a minute to visit http://www.writing-ink.com to experience how the bright young minds here make magic with words!

Successfully getting a small business loan

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Working with a bank to obtain a small business loan can be an easy or difficult process, depending on how prepared you are to meet with the lender and discuss your business' situation and needs.

One of the leading causes of business failure is insufficient start-up capital. Ironically, though, lenders rarely approve loan requests for the businesses that have the highest need for a small business loan. Instead, lenders tend to prefer to offer small business loans to those businesses that have been in operation for two or more years.

According to All Business, it is estimated that 95 percent of all entrepreneurs opened their businesses with capital from their own pockets, or from money they borrowed from relatives, friends, or another person in their community. Lenders want to see business owners risk their own funds in the business venture, and often require that the business owner or owners provide a minimum of 25 percent of the capital needed to start a business, and at least that much equity in the business if the business is already in existence. Simply stated, lenders aren't as willing to take a risk when a business owner doesn't even risk their own money in the investment. Businesses with a history demonstrating success in paying their bills for two and a half to three years will have the easiest time obtaining a small business loan because they've proven their ability to meet financial obligations.

Preparing a Small Business Loan Proposal

When preparing to apply for a small business loan, be prepared to face the facts that are against you, and use them in your favor. Persistency is necessary if you want to land a small business loan. Lenders follow certain criteria to determine if the small business loan is a wise investment for the bank. Most importantly, the bank will determine if the small business loan is likely to be repaid. As with other businesses, banks and other lenders must answer to their investors and stockholders, and unpaid loans show instability in the bank or financial institution.

Items compiled into a small business loan request include the following:

- Amount of money requested

- Likeliness of business profitability and demonstration of cash flow needed to service a small business loan

- Collateral, if any is owned by the business

- A reasonable balance between debt and equity

Know Your Banker

Whether you have a start-up small business or an established small business, the first step in obtaining financing through a small business loan is to develop a business relationship with your banker. Consider asking your bank's manager to open a file for your business, and provide quarterly or yearly profit and loss statements. When your business is in need of financing, the bank will already have a file and will be at least somewhat familiar with your operations. When the time comes to apply for a small business loan, approach the banker with a solid business plan to inspire the lender's confidence in your business. Provide information on business operations, marketing efforts, management ability, and financial projections for three years, as well as a cash flow projection and personal balance sheet demonstrating the worthiness of the business.

To prove worthiness for a small business loan, prepare proper documentation. Keep your credit reports as clean as possible. A lender will assume that you operate your business in the same manner that you manage your personal finances. The lower your credit rating, the slimmer your chances are of obtaining a small business loan.

When applying for a small business loan, search for a lender by first approaching the bank or banks in which you currently do business. Since you'll need to share all of your personal and business financial information, it can be beneficial to apply with a financial institution that already has that information on file and is perhaps familiar with your profile and spending habits. If your credit rating is high, your changes are good of being approved for the small business loan.

If you are unable to work with a bank or credit union in which you currently do business, or if you'd prefer not to work with your bank or credit union for your small business loan, look for a lender who wants your business. Search the business section of your local newspapers for special financing offers on small business loans and other loans. These lenders are actively looking for people needing small business loans, and the process of obtaining a small business loan with these types of lenders may be easier and faster. Additionally, check into credit unions. Because credit unions tend to be smaller financial institutions, you may be able to speak directly with a loan decision maker. Larger banks and other types of large lenders may have more rigid rules for small business loans, and the processes that they employ may be more complicated for small business loans.

If, at First, You Don't Succeed

If your first attempt at obtaining a small business loan fails, don't be discouraged. Small business loans are often not approved with the first lender that you approach, and be assured that you're not alone. Especially if you have a start-up business, lenders don't always approve small business loans, even in the most ideal situations. Search for other lenders, or become resourceful and look into other sources for loans rather than a small business loan, including home equity loans and personal loans, both of which can be used for business purposes.

About The Author
Rebecca Game is the founder of Digital Women ?, an online community for women in business. A 30 year entrepreneur and dedicated to helping other women find small business loans. Visit her site: Loans for Women http://www.digital-women.com

Design your tickets so that you can continue to "sell" to your prospects after you leave

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Why Are YOU "Really" In Business?

"I wanted to be an editor or a journalist, I wasn't really interested in being an entrepreneur, but I soon found I had to become an entrepreneur in order to keep my magazine going" - Richard Branson

If you are a true entrepreneur, you will know that to succeed, it helps that you enter a line of business that you naturally enjoy, and would gladly do even if you did not get paid(as tends to happen during start up). The truth however is that you are(I hope) in business to make money in a manner that is profitable - which will in turn enable you stay in THAT business you enjoy, for the long term. To achieve the foregoing purpose, you will need to do cost-effective and results-focused business marketing. One very important - but I believe grossly underutilised tool - for doing that is the Business Card.

I discuss in this article how you as a business owner, can better design your own business cards, to significantly improve your ability to market yourself to those who really need your services and/or products.

Marketing is about creating an impression - a positive impression - in the mind of your intended customer - that YOU or YOUR BUSINESS are more capable of meeting his/her perceived need or want than any others. The more successful you are in creating this impression about yourself/business in the mind of your target audience, the greater the chances that they will choose you over others who may offer the same products and/or services you do. This in effect means, you will be better able to achieve your major business goal of making MORE money, MORE profitably.

This Article Is Meant MAINLY For Non-Employees

Just before I continue, I wish to make the following clarification. The ideas I offer here are mainly for use by self-employed individuals (independent contractors, consultants, entrepreneurs/business owners) - i.e. people who are their own bosses and therefore take decisions that affect how their company is perceived or operates.

For those who work as employees in companies, it is likely that decisions about the type and design of business cards used will be taken with considerations relevant to the company's preferred mode of operation and business vision. I will therefore only say that persons who fall into this latter category, if they find what I say here of potential usefulness to their organisation(e.g. sales/marketing personnel) explore the possibility of bringing it to the attention of appropriate decision makers for consideration.

Is There A Rule Book For Business Card Design?

I am not aware of any rule book that actually spells out what information or details should or should not be on a business card: But if you know of any, I would appreciate your sending me a note about where to find it. :-)

It appears instead, that most people seem to have come to some tacit agreement on the most relevant pieces of information and features to adorn their cards with. Or maybe they just adopted what they found others doing when they entered into business for themselves. Either way, the point I'm making is that I believe each person needs to try and design a business card that works for him/her.

What Does The Conventional Business Card "Say"?

What I would call the conventional business card typically contains information that "says" the following(in addition to some graphics such as a logo, or artistic effects for aestetic appeal):

1. Who you are: Your name/title/business name, and possible qualifications that lend credence to your claims.

2. Contact Info: Phone numbers, postal/physical address, web URL/email(you do have these don't you?).

3. A Tag Line: Punchy phrase about your biz. BUT will these help achieve your purpose?

But the question could be asked: Does the conventionally designed business card work as well as it could be made to? I say NO. I say NO. In fact, after thinking about this issue, I have come to the conclusion that one word best describes the conventional business card - and that's "Passive". It's contents are not designed to be response-generating or action-inducing. I however believe one can adopt a card design that is more "Active" -- hence my efforts at finding an alternative that works, which eventually led to this article being written.

I have always been a bit of a non-conformist - with a penchant for "playing devil's advocate", "rocking the boat", "stirring things up" etc in a bid to challenge others to re-evaluate accepted norms for possible refinement - or total replacement. :-) If I find that the status quo does not offer me what I consider optimal returns towards achievement of a set goal(s), I immediately begin exploring alternative options to adopt, till I find something that gives me the results I want.

Based on the above, the question, for me - as a performance enhancement advocate - on the issue of business cards and how to get the most value from them is: What information do business persons NEED to put on their business cards, to help them MORE successfully achieve their intended purpose for handing such cards out to prospects ?

By the way, with a few possible exceptions, I assume here that the reader - like most people who give out business cards - does so because s/he expects that the cards will further impress(or remind) the recipients to make contact at a later date in relation to the product or service discussed. In my view the business cards many business persons give out are not properly equipped to achieve the full marketing impact potential they possess. Business cards, I believe, can be designed to play a more active - even though silent - role in the marketing and/or selling process.

Think about it this way. Someone you speak with about your work could say "Can I have your card?", possibly because your conversation is interesting enough to them, that they want to be able to contact you at a later date to take it further. However, whether or not you do end up closing a sale with that person could depend on what your card "says"(if at all it has anything to say) to him/her AFTER you've parted ways.

Now, if s/he runs into ANOTHER person who "appears" to offer something similar to what you told him/her you could, s/he might just give that OTHER person the job. But if your card is THE type that "tells"(or reminds) her about specific unique benefits you provide that the OTHER person may not be able to match, s/he is likely to tell the other seller "NO", and come back to you. I say the foregoing here on the assumption that you do actually have a Unique Selling Proposition(USP).

In essence, my argument is that business owners can do a little more thinking to MAKE MORE OBVIOUS, the TANGIBLE BENEFITS they offer, which prospective - and existing - clients would find attractive, and therefore be willing to take ACTION to get. The business owners can then highlight those benefits in form of keywords and phrases on their business cards. Such business cards would subsequently have a greater marketing "impact" on those who receive them, increasing the chances of the prospects making contact at a later date.

A Comparative Analysis Of Two Similar Restaurants With Different "Sales Pitches"

Let's do a little comparative analysis. Say it's 12.30pm and you are driving on a major highway to the next city to do a presentation scheduled for 2.00pm. If you keep driving at the same speed, you estimate you should get into the city in another thirty minutes, leaving you just enough time to check into "Clear View International Hotel", take a shower, change clothes and move into the conference hall on the ground hall of the hotel where the presentation will hold. But you are feeling a bit thirsty and hungry, and worry that there might not be enough time to quickly order something to eat at the hotel(Please bear with me: for some reason, I could not think up a better "excuse" :-)).

Suddenly you get to a junction and notice road signs for two different fast food outlets poisitioned next to each other. For the purpose of this example, we assume that both places actually offer equally quick services and more or less the same variety of foods and drinks. The difference is in the way they describe - on their road signs - what they offer the prospect(traveller), who needs to make up his/her mind.

One sign says "Quik-Caterers! Get Our Quik Travel Meals & Drinks Pack(TM). Wait Max 15 Mins - Or We Pay!". The other says "Welcome To Jazzy Jaff's Fast Foods Restaurant And Bar".

You will agree with me that if many travellers - who are in a hurry - had to decide which fast food restaurant to stop at, they would pick "Quik Caterers" - not because the name sounds better, or more appropriate, but most likely because their road sign offers MORE information - using catchy keywords/phrases - about TANGIBLE BENEFITS the prospective customers can relate to.

Customers are likely to PERCEIVE that "Quik-Catering" is more capable of meeting their NEEDS than "Jazzy Jaff's". Now, imagine the information said to be on the road signs(or some of it) is used on business cards given out by the respective owners of the two restaurants. Chances are that Quik-Catering MD's business card would raise more eyebrows, and probably result in one or two additional queries or comments to him/her(regarding the service described) - creating "openings" for sales conversations to take place.

Look at it this way: Wouldn't you be curious to know(and test?) if Quick-Catering could really deliver on its Wait Max 15 Mins - Or We Pay! promise? It's an attractive - though unusual - offer, but if Quik-Catering only put it on flyers placed on the drinks counter in the restaurant(and not on the road sign or on business cards), less people would get to know about it and stop over.

What Does Your Business Card "Need To Say"?

A business card that keeps "selling" you to your prospect long after you're gone, needs to say what you do in a way that makes those fitting your customer/client profile more likely to realize they actually NEED your product(s) and/or service(s).

You can design your business cards such that they cut down the amount of "work" you need to do to generate potentially valuable sales leads. This is particularly important because many times we come across people who qualify to be our "perfect customers or clients" in first time meeting situations that do not permit lengthy discussions or interactions. So, often times we end up using an elevator speech, answering one or two questions that arise from it, then exchanging business cards.

Some days later, the executive you gave your card to(and who at the same event went on to receive not less than four additional ones from "others like you"), sits in his/her office staring at your card. Among other things, s/he may struggle to recall where/when during that cocktail dinner s/he met you, and what again it was you said you could do for him/her that sounded so good!

This kind of dilemma faces many people who receive the conventional cards I earlier described. Of course s/he sees on the card that you are a CPA, or Certified Coach etc. What s/he does not see on THAT type of card is something(keywords, phrase etc) to help him/her see or recall the "slant" in your offering that sets you apart from others who may offer anything like you do. The result? S/he puts the card back in the desk drawer(or worse: the round filing cabinet - aka "Waste Paper Bin") and (probably) forgets it. Why? Because s/he cannot find a compelling enough reason to take the relationship further by giving you a call.

Think back to the two fast food restaurant signs comparison I did earlier and imagine you are a decision maker for a large company that's trying to choose a caterer to supply snacks to be served at their Annual General Meeting. Looking at the business cards given to you by the MD of Quik-Catering and that of Jazzy Jaff's, all other factors being fairly constant, you are likely to get the "impression" that Quik-Catering will be able to meet your needs more readily, because they sound (from what they say on their road signs and business cards) that they're already thinking along the lines of proving the value YOU seek.

What It Could Look Like: A business card that "sells" you looks different from any your prospect has seen, and creates a lasting impression that sets you apart from the crowd. You can print your information on the front - and leave the back blank, or print on both sides. From testing various designs, I have found that it is useful to leave some blank space on the back for writing answers to "Date We Met?", "Where We Met?", "Notes/Comments" etc prompts that are printed on it.

Actually Jeffery Meyer([http://www.succeedinginbusiness.com]) suggests that you write answers to the earlier listed prompts on the back of cards you get from others - so YOU can remember them, and what they are about. I have taken it a step further and designed cards that let me, "the giver", write that information on the back of cards(which I take with me, as Meyer advises, to important meetings/events) I'm giving out, so as to "help" my prospects remember ME.

Click here to view a web page showing images of sample business card designs that incorporate the features I have discussed in this article(I also offer a FREE downloadable copy of the Corel Draw template I used to create them). Incidentally, my business cards have sort of "evolved" over time as I played around with the ideas I had - until I settled for a particular design/layout. You may also find it useful to let your creativity loose so as to arrive at the best design for your work.

A Business Card That Works Will Help You Market More Effectively & Efficiently

Jeffery Meyer once wrote that to avoid the "feast-famine" syndrome that can plague a business which fails to ensure steady inflow of new work, one must continually search for new customers - and "weed out" hopeless prospects who cost you marketing effort, time and expense, but give you no jobs. For instance, he advises that you take the repeated non-return of your phone calls by a prospect as a sign that s/he does not feel a compelling need for your product or service. Instead, divert that marketing energy and expense towards recruiting NEW prospects.

I believe a business card with the right balance of USP information and aesthetic appeal, can help a business owner use his/her business marketing time/effort more effectively and efficiently. This is because s/he will be able to use the card to create opportunities for discussions about useful benefits of the products and services s/he sells, in a way that will impress a prospective client or customer who happens to be looking for such returns.

It is true that "buyers" tend to be undecided when considering a purchase, but when the "seller" points out the USP s/he offers, AND IF they coincide with the buyer's felt needs, the buyer can become quite "sure" of what s/he wants, to the point that other "sellers" would be unable to influence him/her. Think about some products or services that many people use year in and year out(inspite of the presence of many competing brands), and you will find that they do so because certain needs they consider important are being met through the continued use of those products and services.

Designing your business card the way I describe is more likely to result in the card continuing to "sell" you to a prospect, even after you've parted ways with him/her. The card - each time s/he looks at it - will through its contents remind him/her that you offer THAT unique benefit s/he wants or needs. Of course not everyone you give your card to, will call you back to give you work! Life itself is about percentages. So, what I am saying is that a higher percentage of those you give out your cards to, are likely to get a better understanding of what you can do for them(or for someone they know), and so call(or recommend you). You'll consequently get more sales leads, and/or opportunities to close more sales.

Your Cards Cost Money - Aim To Get A Return On Your Investment In Each!

Print Them Cost-Effectively: I believe most individuals who work for themselves might find it more useful to design and print their own business cards in the quantities they require them. Due to the unpredictability of business generally, one or more bits of information on the card you use may change in a way that will make it necessary for you to re-print another set. If you already have thousands of cards printed, and suddenly discover a need to re-print, all the money spent producing the obsolete set would effectively go down the drain.

You can avoid this. If you have a template setup in Corel Draw to print ten standard size business cards on an A4 sized embossed card paper, for instance(and have used colors economically in the design) your home/office printer should be able to generate a set of cards for your use over a few weeks at a time. As your business operations grow, and you become more certain for the long term about the information you have to put on the cards, you may be able to more safely produce larger quantities of cards.

Think Before Giving Them Out: Considering that you would want the cards you give out to have a pleasing appearance, that complements the USP information printed on them, one expects they will not be "cheap" to produce. That's why you may want to make sure every one you give out counts.

If you can form the habit of thinking of your business card units in monetary terms(each of mine costs approximately $0.143 US Dollars equivalent), it might help you decide whether or not to put it in an envelope to just about anyone you're mailing something to, even when you don't know who they are or what they do. That would be like shooting in the dark - only this time you would be doing so, with MONEY!

If I send out twenty five letters in envelopes to different prospects for instance, and put a card in each, I know it implies I have spent at least $3.575 US Dollars(aside from the cost of envelopes, paper, stamps etc).

Business marketing yields better results when properly targetted at the right audience. You could for instance staple your business cards, to letters you are sending out to CEOs of certain organisations you hope will find your products and services potentially useful. Every time I want to give out a card, I ask myself: Am I sure this is going to help me get increased marketing exposure for my work, that could lead to more business? You might want to ask yourself a similar question periodically.

ONE LAST THING: Read Michel Fortin's Ten Commandments E-book

What I have proposed in this article will require anyone who wishes to try out my ideas to re-visit his/her business concepts and philosophies with a view to distilling the "value" s/he is truly capable of delivering to customers. To do this successfully, I want to seriously suggest you download and READ Michel Fortin's "Ten Commandments of Power Positioning" e-book.

Visit his website at http://www.successdoctor.com and learn how you can get a copy of his excellent e-book(I got mine about 4 years ago). It offers many very practical and tested ideas about how you can market yourself or business more effectively to customers, so that they see you as their preferred provider of your product and/or service range.

To accurately define keywords and phrases that best capture the VALUE you can deliver to your customers, the "Divide and Conquer" concept described by Fortin in his e-book, when properly applied, will help you arrive at the most appropriate ones. Fortin also provides practical real-world relevant tips for crafting YOUR OWN tag lines and elevator speeches; developing press kits etc.

Read that e-book(I actually printed mine out and had it sprial bound) from first to last page as many times as you need to fully understand it, and try applying what you learn to your business through the exercises suggested. By the time you are done, you will know what to say about your business(and also HOW to say it) in your speech, and on any of your business marketing media such as business cards, signs, flyers, letterheads, website etc.

Question: How will you judge whether it's working or not?

Answer: (1). If more prospects make contact with you as a result of your re-vamped business marketing - which incorporates your re-designed business cards - THAT will be evidence that it's working. (2). When your newly acquired clients/customers continue to patronise you and DO NOT express any regrets for doing so(by way of product returns or unwillingness to give referrals/repeat business), THAT would reasonably suggest they are satisfied you deliver the value you "promise".

Self-Development/Performance Enhancement Specialist – Tayo Solagbade - works as a Multipreneur, helping individuals/businesses develop and implement strategies to achieve their goals, faster and more profitably. Download your copy of his 25 Articles Ebook from http://www.lulu.com/content/268555. You get full reprint rights for each article.

Visit Tayo's Creative Business Solutions(CB Solutions) mini-site - http://www.cbsolutions.v27.net - to learn how you can get affordable Freelance Writing, Rapid Website Design/CGI Automation, Website Marketing Strategy Development and Custom MS Excel VB Spreadsheet Automation Services.

Your own business: first steps

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What an exciting feeling you must be having at this time. You have finally made the choice to "chuck it all" and go into business for yourself. You dream of the freedom from your unreasonable boss and the wonderful feeling of writing your own paycheck. It's a lifelong journey that has to start at the first step - the very beginning.

It is my goal to take everything all those books say and boil it down to a real action plan that is a simple as it can be. Basically making it like a recipe. You really don't need all that filler; you just need to know how to get started. A bunch of fluff isn't going to help; in fact it slows you down. Instead of reading, you should be doing!

This section will be those most difficult first steps of just getting started. Effectively launching your business and then growing it for success are their own unique steps in the future. For now, I'll have to assume you have an idea already and have researched it enough to know that it is a good idea and has a bunch of customers clamoring for your product or service. Please be sure you have a good quality product and/or superior service. You are not trying to make a quick buck; you want to have a business that lasts.

I also have to assume that you already have some sort of support network in place, trusted friends, professional advisors like accountants and/or lawyers, and a maybe a mentor with excellent opinions. If you don't have them, you can pick them up along the way. But you'll need them all at some point.

You probably want to know what qualifies me for writing about this. Academically, I have an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Marketing. Professionally, I have been a consultant for many entrepreneurs, I worked at a home business franchise company for several years, and I have a few successful entrepreneurial ventures of my own. I even helped my own family launch a very successful online business selling premium pashmina and cashmere products. I'm not a super rich entrepreneur, but I'm successful and happy. My key expertise is online ecommerce, but the following ideas are relevant to starting any type of business.

How to Establish Your Business

This first part is really what most people don't know how to do. It's the fundamental process of actually setting up the business. All the good ideas in the world have to start at the beginning. It's not the fun part, but it has to be done.

It may seem elementary to you, but why haven't you done it yet?

So, let's start from the start.

1) Giving Your Business a Name

Your business' name is important. It is your customers' first impression and your public identity. You probably want to choose a name that is professional, but also may hold some meaning to you and your potential customers. My personal and professional opinion is to not get too elaborate with your name. Make it simple and direct so you don't have to waste a lot of time branding or explaining to your customer just what it is you do or sell.

For example, for my family's business selling pashmina products, we decided to go with The Pashmina Store. There is no question what the business is. Simple and direct...and the URL was available (which is very important).

Most people have a desire to name their business after themselves, using something like their family name, their first name, or their initials. This is a perfectly acceptable; as long as you get the idea across about what it is you are selling. For example, if you are selling raincoats and your name is Smith, you may call your business Smith's Raincoats or even Raincoats by Smith.

Take the time you need to select on a business name that you're happy with, says what you do, and has a good URL for a website. You should run your name choices by your friends and family to gauge their reaction and to get their thoughts.

2) Register Your URL

I know, you just decided on a name and have nothing close to a legal business yet. But I suggest snapping up the best available URL (or web addresses) as soon as you can. In this day and age, your website and the URL will be a large part of you business identity. It will also be the source of your email addresses, so getting a good URL matters. We were lucky enough to get http://www.thepashminastore.com for the pashmina and cashmere business, I hope you are as fortunate for your venture.

It is best to investigate available URLs even as you decide on a company name. Try to get the URL of your exact business name, or as close as possible. I suggest getting a ".com" rather than ".net" or other since that is what most people know.

You can research names and register at websites such as Register.com and GoDaddy.com. There is a small fee, but it is worth it if you are serious about your business. These two services even will help you inexpensively set up and host a website and email service.

3) Your Business' Legal Organization

Next, you will have to determine what legal structure is best for your new business. Early in a business' life, a sole proprietorship is most common. However, it is beneficial to know the different types of legal business structures before you decide for certain. You'll need to know all about them as you grow, in any event.

You'll most likely want to discuss the options with your accountant and/or attorney as well. To get you started, here are the three most common forms of business.

1. Proprietorship. As mentioned earlier, this is the most popular structure when starting a new small business. It is also the easiest to start. In most states and cities, all it typically requires is a D.B.A. ("doing business as") and a tax ID number, which would likely be your Social Security number.

A proprietorship provides you the maximum amount of control over your business...but it also leaves you the most potential liability. In short, you are personally accountable for your business and all of its debts and legal issues.

2. Partnership. This form of business is common if your business requires you to take on a business partner for expert knowledge or financial needs. A partnership is a legal definition of your business relationship and defines which party is responsible for what aspect of the business venture.

For example, you may be the engineering type who can make the product. Another person may be the talkative type who can sell sand in the desert. Yet another person may be the main financial backer. Whatever your circumstances, a partnership allows you to define each person's part in the business and put it down on paper in a legal manner.

3. Corporation. This is the most official and potentially complicated legal form of business. This is also the most expensive type of business entity, but it does provide everyone involved the least amount of liability.

It is very common to start as a proprietorship or partnership and then change to a corporation after the business is established and growing.

4) Business Registration

Again, most likely you will start as a sole proprietorship. The process is very simple and inexpensive. But the process can vary a bit between states and even cities and counties.

The goal here is to get your business name registered as a D.B.A, or "doing business as". You will need this in most areas to open a business checking account. The fees are typically minimal, but vary on your location. Your County Registrar is most likely to be the office you will need to contact to ask about what the process is to get your D.B.A. The methods will vary by location and in some rare instances you may not even have to register. Just be sure to ask about all of the steps to make sure you're covered.

After you have made some calls or used the Internet to find out the steps in your area, you will most likely need to go fill out paperwork at the government office that handles the registration. The good news is that the paperwork is generally light and the wait is not too long. They or you will be responsible for checking to make sure the DBA name is not already taken, and in many cases you will be able to check on the Internet before you even go.

After the paperwork and name check, you will have to pay a fee, which is generally small. Once it is all done, be sure they give you a notarized copy of your registration as you will need it at the bank to open a business bank account and possibly for other things.

I wish to remind you that what I offer are general guidelines and information to help get you started. It is always a good idea to discuss your options with an accountant or lawyer to determine what is best for you and your individual circumstances.

5) Obtaining a Business Address

This is a step that you can skip if you simply plan to use your home address or an existing business location as your address. But in most cases, you'll start working out of your home and probably wish to protect your privacy and create an aura of having a larger business by getting a new business address.

This process is as simple as going to the post office or a private mail box center (PMB) such as The UPS Store. I suggest a PMB over the post office because you can usually use a street address and list your box number as a "suite" to help create a more positive image versus having your address be a P.O. Box number.

6) Your Business Phone Numbers

Like the business address, you can skip this step if you plan on using an existing phone number. But you should consider adding a second phone number to your home or office to be used just for your new business. You can even get what is called an "overlay" and put a new phone number on top of your existing phone. It will go to the same phone as you have now, and in most cases you can assign a different ring tone so you know it is for the business.

A toll-free number is also an important item to have, but you don't have to have it right out of the gate. But studies show that customers are more likely to contact you if you have a toll-free number. They are not that expensive to set up and the charges are based on usage, so if you use it a lot you should be getting more than enough business to cover the expense.

Remember that you phone voice is important. Talk with a smile - the customer can hear that smile. Be sure you have a pleasant and professional sounding message for your voice mail as well. And call back your customers who leave messages as fast as you can. Your competition probably isn't taking care of them fast, so you should.

7) Business Banking Account Formation

Having a separate business banking account is advised since it will help you keep your financial records straight. It will save you a lot of time during tax season to keep your business and personal spending separate. I suggest using a larger bank, such as Bank of America or Wells Fargo, which serves the business community. They will offer a wider range of services and possibly be a good source of business loans to help fund your growth.

You may want to call several banks in your area to compare their small business service options and the associated fees. Once you decide on the right bank for your needs, make sure you know what paperwork to take when you open the account. In most cases they will require at least your notarized D.B.A certificate.

8) Logos, Business Cards, Letterhead and Such

Some people may tell you to invest lots of money upfront to develop a great logo and then put it on expensive letterhead. These people have never started a business on a budget. While you do want to appear professional, you can do just fine with your own computer and printer while you wait to grow big enough to afford such materials.

Most likely your word processing program or other such program already has a letterhead template. That is fine to use for now. Choose a nice font for your new "logo" and use some color for it, if you wish. Do purchase some nice paper to put it on. Then simply print out as needed.

On your letterhead, make sure you get all of your important information across in a professional way. In general, you'll want to include your business name, mailing address, phone number, fax number and email address.

The same goes for business cards and envelopes. You can buy nice envelopes and business card stock and use your existing program templates to create professional materials as needed.

Having a designed logo or company motto on your letterhead is a personal choice. Make sure it looks good and reflects the business. Also make sure it looks good when it is made very big or very small since it will be used in various formats.

The Next Steps

Once you finish Step 8, you're in basic business shape. It is difficult to tell you what to do next since there are so many types of business and different ways to go about it.

In general, you'll need to start letting people know about your business and getting customers. This may mean developing a website that sells products or promotes your services. It can be as simple as handing out business cards to everyone you meet. Or maybe it is "pounding the pavement" and meeting people to tell them what you are doing.

But there are a few things to keep in mind that relate to any business. The Nike slogan has it right when they proclaim "Just Do It." Nobody is coming to you, so you have to reach out to them. And it takes time and effort. Yes, you do have to "work" and "sell" no matter what those advertisements may promise for their wonderful business opportunity.

Here's the "secret" to success: You will have to work harder than your competition, treat your customers better than your competition, offer a better product and or service than your competition, just plain be better than the rest. Yes, that is the secret!

My first job out of college was as an executive recruiter, a headhunter. I was successful at this job. In fact, I was one of the tops in the nation. It wasn't because I was naturally better than anyone else, it was because I worked harder and I worked consistently. Have a plan for the day, the week, the month, the year...and do it consistently. Get into a routine and stick to it. You'll get sidetracked along the way, of course, but keeping your efforts consistent will pay off. You'll make you own "luck."

Since you are your own boss, you do have a little luxury to make a schedule that fits your lifestyle. If you want to start at 10:00 AM, or play golf for lunch, or work late at night, that is fine. But stick to the schedule and make it your routine. This will help you get over the initial feelings of being scared and overwhelmed and start getting you comfortable with your new professional life and on your way to success.

Along the way, you'll start to discover what your strengths and weaknesses are. You don't have to be an expert at anything really; you just have to be average to above-average at a lot of things as an entrepreneur. If there are glaring weaknesses in you business skills, you simply have to work at them. You can read a book, take a class, whatever...but you'll naturally get better each and every day just by doing your business.

Finally, do not get so frustrated in the beginning that you quit before you even get started. Depending on what you start with and what (or who) you already know it is going to take some time. Even minimal success is probably going to take several months and maybe a year or more. Make sure you are mentally and financially ready for at least a year.

If you're not ready now, don't worry. You now know the steps and what to expect to even get started. It is better to take you time and be well-prepared than to rush off and make a mistake that you will regret for years to come.

Launching and growing your business are the essential main steps 2 and 3. But those are whole other beasts that are best discussed at another time. Until then, I wish you the best of luck and hope that your new business is an incredible success.

Blair Rhodes is an entrepreneur himself and has helped several people launch their own successful business. After earning an MBA at the University of Texas at Austin, Blair worked as a headhunter, in the movie business, at several successful Internet startups, at a franchise marketing company and as an importer. He currently focuses on his own ventures, including The Pashmina Store and is developing several other ecommerce businesses.

Discovering work ethics in business home

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The Work at Home Nightmare

The work at home entrepreneur has many obstacles to face. Typically the notion begins as we are heading off to a disgruntled job, leaving our kids behind to face a day that we are simply fed up with. It strikes us how wonderful it would be to leave behind the work a day world and provide for our families at home. Once the notion strikes, and it tends to strike hard, we begin the exhaustive search for the perfect work at home business.

How frustrating! There are literally thousands of businesses on one single website that are promising us time and fortunes. If we want to know what they are all about, we have to fork over some hard earned cash only to discover that the business plan is out of our reach or the product is marginal, or it just simply isn't something we can do.

I love those work at home business plans that promise success in one month. You fork over your $49.95 to find out that if you want to make any money you have to chunk down thousands of dollars in advertising, seminars, and product. They guaranteed your money back, didn't they? Ever try to get your money back from one of those work at home business plans? You have to provide proof that you did everything they told you to do, and often a few of those things can never be proven. How do you prove you followed the script when you finally got your first prospect, if you ever get there?

In the end you do what they wanted you to do in the first place and you eat the initially cost as well as any other cost you incurred and you are still stuck with the job you resent. Unfortunately, you can spend a lifetime going through the same revolving door while trying to find a better way. Yet you refuse to give up because you know that there is an answer out there somewhere.

The Work at Home Business Plan Success

You are right. There is a work at home business plan out there that will allow you to work your way to freedom in a relatively short period of time. In fact, there are many. The work at home industry has wised up a bit and the truly competitive business will give you all the information you need to know without forking over a dime.

These particular work at home business plans have discovered that people are tired of being ripped off and lied to, and they decided to do the right thing and actually talk to people. Informed people who make a solid business decision are more likely to stick around and build their work at home business. It just makes sense. Selling people information they can't use only runs for so long before the general work at home industry becomes wise to the scheme.

Here's a basic work at home business plan theory. It's completely my own but I have found that it works. Anything that comes in through your inbox will make someone money. That person needs to have a lot of start up capital and be fairly internet business savvy, but all of those programs are making someone money. I have discovered they won't make me any money. Unless you have ample start up capital they probably won't make you any money either.

Home based business plans that you leave the comfort of your e-mail and go out onto the web searching for are harder to determine. They might make you money but chances are that most will not. Anything that is making promises and then asking for money up front is not a good way to go. How can you be expected to buy something without knowing what it is that you are purchasing? They are giving you no information except that they made some whopping $35,000 last month and you can too if you just follow their simple instructions. If a sales person showed up at your doorstep and tried to sell you something in a brown box but wouldn't tell you what it was, would you buy it? Of course not! Why keep sending money into these programs that are making promises without giving you any information? Because there's a touch of desperation for the person who really wants to build a home based business lifestyle. So we talk ourselves into taking chances.

Any solid home based business will at least tell you what it is they do to make their money. Some will tell you whether they are flipping properties (by the way check your local laws if that interests you, some states or counties have critical laws that make that impossible) or if they are marketing on e-bay or if they are selling candles. Most are learning to at least let you know the product or service up front.

That's a start. The Work at Home Nightmare

The work at home entrepreneur has many obstacles to face. Typically the notion begins as we are heading off to a disgruntled job, leaving our kids behind to face a day that we are simply fed up with. It strikes us how wonderful it would be to leave behind the work a day world and provide for our families at home. Once the notion strikes, and it tends to strike hard, we begin the exhaustive search for the perfect work at home business.

How frustrating! There are literally thousands of businesses on one single website that are promising us time and fortunes. If we want to know what they are all about, we have to fork over some hard earned cash only to discover that the business plan is out of our reach or the product is marginal, or it just simply isn't something we can do.

I love those work at home business plans that promise success in one month. You fork over your $49.95 to find out that if you want to make any money you have to chunk down thousands of dollars in advertising, seminars, and product. They guaranteed your money back, didn't they? Ever try to get your money back from one of those work at home business plans? You have to provide proof that you did everything they told you to do, and often a few of those things can never be proven. How do you prove you followed the script when you finally got your first prospect, if you ever get there?

In the end you do what they wanted you to do in the first place and you eat the initially cost as well as any other cost you incurred and you are still stuck with the job you resent. Unfortunately, you can spend a lifetime going through the same revolving door while trying to find a better way. Yet you refuse to give up because you know that there is an answer out there somewhere.

The Work at Home Business Plan Success

You are right. There is a work at home business plan out there that will allow you to work your way to freedom in a relatively short period of time. In fact, there are many. The work at home industry has wised up a bit and the truly competitive business will give you all the information you need to know without forking over a dime.

These particular work at home business plans have discovered that people are tired of being ripped off and lied to, and they decided to do the right thing and actually talk to people. Informed people who make a solid business decision are more likely to stick around and build their work at home business. It just makes sense. Selling people information they can't use only runs for so long before the general work at home industry becomes wise to the scheme.

Here's a basic work at home business plan theory. It's completely my own but I have found that it works. Anything that comes in through your inbox will make someone money. That person needs to have a lot of start up capital and be fairly internet business savvy, but all of those programs are making someone money. I have discovered they won't make me any money. Unless you have ample start up capital they probably won't make you any money either.

Home based business plans that you leave the comfort of your e-mail and go out onto the web searching for are harder to determine. They might make you money but chances are that most will not. Anything that is making promises and then asking for money up front is not a good way to go. How can you be expected to buy something without knowing what it is that you are purchasing? They are giving you no information except that they made some whopping $35,000 last month and you can too if you just follow their simple instructions. If a sales person showed up at your doorstep and tried to sell you something in a brown box but wouldn't tell you what it was, would you buy it? Of course not! Why keep sending money into these programs that are making promises without giving you any information? Because there's a touch of desperation for the person who really wants to build a home based business lifestyle. So we talk ourselves into taking chances.

Any solid home based business will at least tell you what it is they do to make their money. Some will tell you whether they are flipping properties (by the way check your local laws if that interests you, some states or counties have critical laws that make that impossible) or if they are marketing on e-bay or if they are selling candles. Most are learning to at least let you know the product or service up front. That's a start.

An ethical home based business will give you contact information, whether it's just an e-mail address or you receive a full address with a phone number. Some ethical home based businesses are starting to encourage people to ask questions before making their decision. That's a benefit for everyone of a Work At Home Businesses.

An ethical home based business may have lead capture page where you are required to insert you name and contact information before entering their website. This is a good thing. By doing this you will receive a phone call from an actual human being who can then answer your questions and give you a feel for whether this is a business that is right for you.

I ran a little test before writing this article. We'll call it the ethical home business test. I entered my name and phone number in forty different lead capture pages and sat back to see how many people would return my call. Within two weeks I had received thirty eight phone calls regarding my interest in an ethical home based business. Out of those thirty only one of them was unprofessional and even in fact rude to me on the phone. The other thirty seven spent the time to answer my questions and all of them gave me both the company's contact information as well as their own.

This is important because we are typically hesitant to enter our personal information on lead capture pages. However, while I did receive follow up e-mails, I did not receive any harassing phone calls or spam related to the experiment. Some of the ethical home based businesses were out of my price range and others did not interest me. But each and every one of them was up front about advertising costs.

Advertising your home based business is vital. You will not be able to get into internet marketing without factoring at least some advertising costs. Depending on the home based business you choose, some encourage fairly high advertising costs, but some are willing to show you ways to advertise with very little out of pocket. It might take a little longer to build your home based business, but the low cost and free methods do work. Advertising your home based business should be something you can comfortably fit into your budget. You are not looking to break the bank, you are looking to find a profitable home based business.

When factoring in your advertising costs for your home based business, also factor in the assistance you will receive from whomever is introducing you to the business. Are they really in it for the long haul or are they simply making promises to you based on what you want to hear? Talk to someone several times before deciding whether or not to join their home based business.

Just because a home based business doesn't offer contact information or charges up front doesn't necessarily mean they are unethical, but the unethical ones definitely don't offer any information and always charge up front. The ethical, solid home based businesses out there that are still using old methods of recruiting are slowly making the shift to better methods because they are seeing that it works well for other. For you that means better quality decisions when looking for the perfect home based business for you.

That, after all, is the whole key to this picture. Most home based businesses will work, but finding the one that will work for you is an entirely different game altogether. A little patience and research will certainly improve your odds of finding the best home based business for you and your family.

Finding the Ethical Home Based Business

Where are the honest and ethical work at home businesses? In my experience, which involves wasting thousands of dollars and years of my time just like everyone else out there, I have found several work at home businesses that are honest, ethical, affordable, and realistic. I'm not going to promote any of them here because I'm not here to influence which business you decide on. But I will tell you where to find the lot of them.

The allworkathomeguide website has some of the best and most solid information available on finding the ethical home based businesses we are talking about. There are nd articles that actually explain the entire business to you before you even click on their link. It is a solid place to start the search for the business that can change your life.

An ethical home based business will give you contact information, whether it's just an e-mail address or you receive a full address with a phone number. Some ethical home based businesses are starting to encourage people to ask questions before making their decision. That's a benefit for everyone.

An ethical home based business may have lead capture page where you are required to insert you name and contact information before entering their website. This is a good thing. By doing this you will receive a phone call from an actual human being who can then answer your questions and give you a feel for whether this is a business that is right for you.

I ran a little test before writing this article. We'll call it the ethical home business test. I entered my name and phone number in forty different lead capture pages and sat back to see how many people would return my call. Within two weeks I had received thirty eight phone calls regarding my interest in an ethical home based business. Out of those thirty only one of them was unprofessional and even in fact rude to me on the phone. The other thirty seven spent the time to answer my questions and all of them gave me both the company's contact information as well as their own.

This is important because we are typically hesitant to enter our personal information on lead capture pages. However, while I did receive follow up e-mails, I did not receive any harassing phone calls or spam related to the experiment. Some of the ethical home based businesses were out of my price range and others did not interest me. But each and every one of them was up front about advertising costs.

Advertising your home based business is vital. You will not be able to get into internet marketing without factoring at least some advertising costs. Depending on the home based business you choose, some encourage fairly high advertising costs, but some are willing to show you ways to advertise with very little out of pocket. It might take a little longer to build your home based business, but the low cost and free methods do work. Advertising your home based business should be something you can comfortably fit into your budget. You are not looking to break the bank, you are looking to find a profitable home based business.

When factoring in your advertising costs for your home based business, also factor in the assistance you will receive from whomever is introducing you to the business. Are they really in it for the long haul or are they simply making promises to you based on what you want to hear? Talk to someone several times before deciding whether or not to join their home based business.

Just because a home based business doesn't offer contact information or charges up front doesn't necessarily mean they are unethical, but the unethical ones definitely don't offer any information and always charge up front. The ethical, solid home based businesses out there that are still using old methods of recruiting are slowly making the shift to better methods because they are seeing that it works well for other. For you that means better quality decisions when looking for the perfect home based business for you.

That, after all, is the whole key to this picture. Most home based businesses will work, but finding the one that will work for you is an entirely different game altogether. A little patience and research will certainly improve your odds of finding the best home based business for you and your family.

Finding the Ethical Home Based Business

Where are the honest and ethical work at home businesses? In my experience, which involves wasting thousands of dollars and years of my time just like everyone else out there, I have found several work at home businesses that are honest, ethical, affordable, and realistic. I'm not going to promote any of them here because I'm not here to influence which business you decide on. But I will tell you where to find the lot of them.

The allworkathomeguide website has some of the best and most solid information available on finding the ethical home based businesses we are talking about. There are nd articles that actually explain the entire business to you before you even click on their link. It is a solid place to start the search for the business that can change your life.

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