You may have heard the phrase "playing to win or playing not to lose." And while it sounds good to say "you're playing to win" in your business, what exactly does that really mean?

Okay, well first off, let's define these phrases. To me, playing to win means playing all out. Going for broke. Leaving nothing on the table. You're putting everything out there to win and holding nothing back.

Playing not to lose means holding something back. Being conservative. Taking some of your chips off the table. Making sure if you don't win, you minimize your losses.

Now is there a time for each of these? Of course. Playing not to lose makes a lot of sense in certain situations. Vegas for instance. Betting your retirement on a spin of the roulette wheel isn't real bright. (Even if by some miraculous chance it works, it's still not too bright.)

And if that's the way you want to approach your business and your life (playing not to lose) then there's nothing wrong with it. You can still be successful playing not to lose.

But typically, if that's your approach, you're not going to play as big as you could be. And you're probably not going to make the kind of money you're capable of.

So how do you know if you're playing to win or playing not to lose? Well, here are a few signs.

Playing to win in your business:

* You take risks (and a lot of those risks other people just don't "get"). Maybe you invest in a high end coaching program or mentorship. Maybe you decide to launch a product that looks on the outside to be a bad idea. Maybe you decide to expand and hire a team even though you really can't afford it right now.

* You take advantage of opportunities even if they don't appear to be a good idea on the surface.

* You turn down opportunities even if on the surface they look perfect. (Ah, didn't think I'd say that, did you?)

* You make decisions from the place you want to be, not necessarily the place you're at now. (Even if that's a really scary place to be.)

Playing not to lose in your business:

* You make decisions based on what you can afford rather than what you need. Okay, a caveat here. I'm NOT saying you should spend your life savings or go into massive debt with no way of paying it off. What I AM saying is sometimes you have to take a risk. For instance, hiring team members. What happens a lot of time is you need the help desperately but you don't quite have the cash flow. If you never take that first step and hire someone, even on a small basis, you'll never free yourself up to start making more money.

* You're ultra careful about the risks you take (or you don't take risks at all)

* You probably aren't marketing as much as you should be because deep down inside, you don't want your business to grow very big (after all, you'd start to lose control of it if it did grow to big). Or you aren't marketing as much because what if it doesn't work? What if you make this big public splash with your marketing and it fails? It's bad enough it doesn't work but now everyone will know it.

* You don't try a lot of new things -- speaking, marketing, etc.

Now, I want to be clear. There's nothing wrong with playing not to lose, but chances are you WILL be playing small. You're going to miss opportunities to get your message and vision out in a big way. You're not going to take chances where you might fall on your face (especially if you fall on your face in a public way).

But, if you decide to play to win, the rules change. Sure you might fall flat on your face in a public way. But you also could be growing a business that makes a huge difference in the world (not to mention makes you a handsome income to boot).

Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting and marketing agency. She helps entrepreneurs become more successful at attracting more clients, selling more products and services and boosting their business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.MichelePW.com.

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Article by Michele DeKinder-Smith

Are you prepared for explosive growth? What will you do when it happens?

Does every entrepreneur seek growth opportunities? Growth can mean more customers, more income, or more opportunities to explore new ideas. Although exciting, growth also brings its challenges, and can spiral out of control if it's not handled properly, causing a setback as big as the potential expansion. Our research shows that the five types of female entrepreneurs have very different attitudes toward business growth (some want it, some don't!) and each will respond to growth opportunities differently. This article will examine the attitudes and reactions of Jane Dough, Merry Jane, and Go Jane Go.

Jane Dough

She is an entrepreneur who enjoys running her business and makes good money. She is comfortable and determined in buying and selling, which may be why she’s five times more likely than the average female business owner to hit the million dollar mark. Jane Dough is clear in her priorities and may be intentionally and actively growing an asset-based or legacy business. It is estimated that 18% of women fall in the category of Jane Dough.

Because Jane Dough is business-minded and pragmatic, she probably has a plan in place for handling growth. In fact, business growth is something she’s striving for, with most Jane Doughs saying they want to grow significantly within the next couple of years. As a result, she has no doubt delegated individual tasks to specific team members, putting her team and her business in an ideal position to take advantage of the appropriate opportunities that come her way. She has a system – and it’s in place and ready to roll.

Although Jane Dough's systematic approach is one of her many strengths, there is a flip side to high levels of delegation. Sometimes Jane Dough relies too much on the system. She moves quickly to fuel her business growth, so she may not always be in touch with what's happening within every functional area. When large opportunities come knocking while Jane Dough is distracted, weaker parts of the system can break down.

The solution: When massive growth arrives - and it will - a Jane Dough entrepreneur should gather her team for a quick check-in, making sure everyone and every system is aligned and ready to do its part in creating success. In doing so, she'll make sure resources are allocated appropriately and can create plans to strengthen any weak spots.

Merry Jane

She tends to be “building a business on the side”—in addition to a day-job, or a focus on family or other pursuits. She doesn’t have a high personal income from her business, but she also tends to be working less than 40 hours a week, and she loves the freedom her business affords her.

Because Merry Jane's focus is more on time freedom than on "big money," major growth opportunities can be a daunting proposition. While many women in this group dream of a day when they land the mega-customer, Merry Jane does not. Although many know they are capable of building a much larger business, now is not the time. During interviews, when asked what they would do if faced with the chance to take on a big new account, most quickly came to the conclusion that unless they could manage the account in their own way and time, they would let the opportunity pass them buy rather than disrupt their lives.

However, many Merry Janes admit they would like their business to be more profitable, wanting more money without much additional work. Therefore, when faced with a growth opportunity, Merry Jane can consider several options:

* She can hire someone to take over some of the more mundane, day-to-day business chores, like bookkeeping and responding to customer e-mails, freeing more of her time to pursue the new business without taking up more time?

* She can pursue the new opportunity at higher rates, therefore increasing her profit. This may mean letting go of less profitable customers or delegating their care to someone else.

* Or, she can stand firm, turning the immediate opportunity down, knowing that at some point in the future, she may have more time available for new customers.

Whatever she decides, Merry Jane should stay true to the reasons she loves her business now so that she doesn't add undue stress and time-pressure to her already busy life.

Go Jane Go

She is passionate about her work, and has no problem marketing and selling herself, so she has plenty of clients—but she’s struggling to keep up with demand. She may be a classic overachiever, taking on volunteer opportunities as well, because she’s eager to make an impact on the world and may really struggle saying “no”. Because she wants to “say yes” to so many people, she may even be in denial about how many hours she actually works during the course of a week. As a result, she may be running herself ragged and feeling guilty about neglecting herself and possibly others who are important to her.

Overall, most Go Jane Go women don't seek out growth opportunities because they are already fairly busy. However, when an opportunity crosses their path, they will feel compelled to "make it work somehow." Go Jane Go truly wants to help those who need her products or services, so it is difficult for her to turn them away. And because she's excellent at multi-tasking, this Jane may underestimate the time that will be required or may justify sacrificing personal time in order to help someone else.

This is why Go Jane Go must be careful not to overwork herself. When faced with a growth opportunity, Go Jane Go will want to think critically about the amount of work she already has scheduled and either "say no," attempt to postpone the project, or delegate some or all of the work. If she is not willing to do so, she will eventually face serious burn out - so it's very important that this Jane be realistic about her available time and energy for new opportunities.

While every female entrepreneur dreams of growth, when it really comes, it can seem like a huge challenge – and though it may be, handling it the right way can create a huge payoff.

About the Author
Michele DeKinder-Smith is the founder of Jane out of the Box, an online resource dedicated to the women entrepreneur community. Discover more incredibly useful information for running a small business by taking the FREE Jane Types Assessment at Jane out of the Box. Offering networking and marketing opportunities, key resources and mentorship from successful women in business, Jane Out of the Box is online at www.janeoutofthebox.com

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Last couple of issues I talked about how either moving too fast or too slow can sabotage your success. (You can read part 1 and 2 here: http://www.michelepw.com/blog ) Today I'm going to talk about a place where entrepreneurs typically move too fast -- launching their product.

I know. You just finished your product or program and you can't wait to start selling it. In fact, if you could, you'd start selling it yesterday!

And it's agonizing waiting to launch your product. You want to be making money NOW, not waiting for weeks or months before you actually see any income. Plus you want to get it into the hands of your ideal clients, they NEED what you're selling. So who has time to sit around waiting to promote? Just get a sales letter up and start selling it, right?

Okay here's the thing. There's a reason why product launches work and there's a reason why you reach more people (and make more money) if you control yourself and do it right.

What's that reason? Urgency.

You see, probably the biggest reason why your ideal clients decide not to buy is lack of urgency. They may like the product, they may know they need it, they may like YOU. And I bet they even INTEND to buy -- just not right now. Right now they have a million other things going on and a bunch of other things they're spending money on but in a few months or a year they will have the time or money to "finally" invest.

Well, we all know how that works out.

The more time and energy you spend building up buzz for your product, the more you'll start creating that urgency. And the more you've built that urgency into your ideal clients' minds, the more likely they'll buy (and USE) your product, thus getting the results they want.

So it's a win-win. You win because you get your product into the world while being paid handsomely for it, and your ideal clients win because they get the help they need to solve their problem.

So how much time should you allow for a product launch? Well it depends on the launch. There are a variety of launch systems out there, and depending on what you want to accomplish (and who your ideal clients are) dictates your launch. But here are some guidelines to get you started:

If you're doing a straight teleclass launch (i.e. a preview call that sells the product or program) I would allow a minimum of a 2 weeks before the preview call. (Note, if you want to get affiliates involved you'll need to allow a lot more time to plan. The more time you give your affiliates to put in their promotional calendars, the more likely you'll get them to actually promote.)

If you're doing more of a "release a special report and/or video" which teases the product by providing information, then you'll need 4-6 weeks. Those take a little longer to get the viral aspect going. Because a preview call has a "date" when the call is, there's built-in urgency, but a special report or video doesn’t necessarily have that.

If you want to use surveys or a contest, you might be able to do it in a couple of weeks but it would help if you had a little longer (2 weeks to do the survey then 2 weeks to do something with the results of the survey).

Remember these are minimum times AND these are how much time to actually PROMOTE. No, you don't have 2 weeks to write a squeeze page, once the squeeze page if up, you need at least 2 weeks to promote. If you wanted to add a couple of weeks to do some other promotions, that's never a bad idea. (Remember, the more you promote the more urgency you build and the more your ideal clients will want to buy.)

Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting and marketing agency. She helps entrepreneurs become more successful at attracting more clients, selling more products and services and boosting their business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.MichelePW.com Copyright 2009 Michele Pariza Wacek.

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Sometimes, smaller is better--just ask the small business entrepreneurs also called micropreneurs flourishing in today's marketplace. A growing set of entrepreneurs are building successful businesses by serving a niche market. Micropreneurs aren't trying to become the next Bill Gates or Larry Ellison. They're thriving small-scale on the strength of a loyal customer base and utilizing social business networking and utility tools to help with sales lead generation.

Micro-Enterprises Rely on E-Commerce Solutions

Micropreneurs are rewriting the rules of small business--and they're relying on the internet to make their business model work. A New York Times feature on startups explains: "the Internet has given people an extraordinary tool not only to market their ideas but also to find business partners and suppliers, and to do all kinds of functions on the cheap: keeping the books, interacting with customers, even turning a small idea into a big idea."Thanks to a range of online small business resources, today's micropreneurs have the resources to build their venture on a shoestring budget.

With minimal upfront investment, you can:

1. Create an Internet storefront for retail sales. E-commerce solutions can create a Web site with point-of-sale (POS) capability. Online POS systems enables secure credit card processing on your site, allowing you to keep the doors open 24/7.

2. Reach your niche market. Online sales lead generation and marketing tools excel at targeting interested consumers and businesses.

3. Communicate with your customers via online business networking tools, a blog, or social networking tools. Social media sites offer powerful resources for finding your needle in the haystack, also known as your niche customers and partners. They can also help you keep in touch; today's customer service agents use online media such as twitter, facebook, tradeseam and email correspondence to connect with the public.

4. Need niche supplies or equipment to launch your niche business? Tradeseam connects entrepreneurs and suppliers of all stripes. You'll find business resources including manufacturing companies, international suppliers, and everything under the sun online.

5. Web-based technology offers a range of resources for small business owners. Time-tracking software and online accounting programs are just two examples of today's affordable, productivity-enhancing business tools.

6.The Internet offers the reach and low startup costs to support a niche business.

7. For many micropreneurs, the Eureka moment--the business idea--derives directly from a personal passion.

The following entrepreneurs built a following--and a profitable business--catering to like-minded individuals.

Specialty Food Carts
El Dorado tacos? Chow Fun to go? More and more specialty food carts are cruising urban neighborhoods, with offbeat menus to serve the random craving. Restaurant consultant Clark Wolf notes: "Mobile food is one of the hottest things going all over the country. Brooklyn has its ribs truck, Manhattan has its dessert trucks, and now Los Angeles has the cupcake patrol."
Specialty food carts rely on social networking tools such as Twitter, Facebook to broadcast their coordinates. The strategy seems to work. L.A.'s Kogi taco truck draws between 300 and 800 by tweeting its location in advance, "setting off a taco-minded flash mob."

Pedicab
A physically fit duo in Spokane, Washington has pedaled to success with a pedicab service. Cheaper and more eco-friendly than a cab, the bike-based taxi is finding no shortage of riders around the downtown area. To get the wheels rolling in your own leg-powered cab service, you'll need pedicabs, licenses, insurance, and a local marketing campaign. Once you've gained a loyal ridership, you can establish a call center or online-based dispatch service linking riders to your mobile phone.

Guerilla Marketing Agency
Seattle businesses looking to make a unique statement can count on Wexley School for Girls to get the job done. The agency uses off-the-wall guerilla marketing stunts to build publicity for clients. For example, they created a buzz around Copper Mountain ski resort by staging a National Snow Day with improv ski-patrol actors and fake snow. The stunts aren't for everyone; "either you get what Wexley is selling--a very particular sensibility and approach toward marketing--or you don't," comments an admirer. But the agency isn't looking for mass appeal: "Wexley is biting off little pieces, looking to take on a particular niche of a business."
Build your own businesses staging publicity events for businesses. Start with an eye-catching Website Design and online marketing campaign to get the word out. As the costs of running a business come down, micro-enterprises are flourishing. These small businesses focus on a loyal niche, taking advantage of online business networks to communicate with customers, source, distribute, and to manage the venture.

In today's Internet-driven economy, it's no longer necessary to chase the next big thing. A great small idea can take you even further.

Niki is an entrepreneur, business consultant and advisor to several small business entrepreneurs in the San Francisco bay area. She writes extensively on the small business blog and is a frequent contributor to several small business resource and networking sites that offer tools and resources for entrepreneurs and small business owners, including Tradeseam, Dell, Women On Business and Small Business Community.

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http://www.getentrepreneurial.com/images/Unlimited%20Alternative%20to%20Money.jpg

Imagine -- money flowing into your business from all sorts of places. That's what it's like to have multiple streams of income. Your business isn't dependent on one stream of income but instead you can make money from a variety of places.

Is that what your business actually looks like? Or are your streams limited to one or two?

Especially for you service providers out there, I know it can feel a little daunting to think about creating other streams of income. But the reality is, if you don't do it you're really going to be limiting your growth.

So, with that said, if your multiple streams of income look more like trickles or maybe a ditch filled with water, you're in the right place. Below are 3 reasons why you aren't making any money from multiple streams of income and what you can do to fix it.

1. Start selling something other than your services. Okay, this sounds really obvious but we got to start somewhere. And this might be the reason why your business doesn't look the way you'd like it to.

So which category do you fit in? Are you working on the same info product or book for the last 6 years and are (almost!) done with it? Or do you create products the way you change your clothes but you never actually put a marketing system around them so you actually sell a few?

Regardless, you need to stop what you're doing right now and take stock of what you have. If you're still struggling to finish your first product, remember good is good enough, and you're losing money every day you're not selling that product. Ditto for the too many products and no way to sell them. Put a plan together to get them on your site so you can start getting some income in the door.

2. You have info products but they aren't selling terribly well. There could be a number of things wrong, but here are some of the top problems:

* You don't have a sales letter (or the sales letter you have isn't very good)
* You don't have anyone visiting your sales letter on your web site
* You don't have the RIGHT people visiting your sales letter on your web site (i.e. those who would actually be interested in buying your product)
* You're selling something your target market isn't much interested in buying

You may need to hire an expert to help you pinpoint which one (or ones) is the problem.

3. You're not thinking outside the box. There are more ways to get multiple streams of income then selling an info product. There are group programs, licensing, certifications, classes, events and more. Or maybe you need to vary your service offerings or offer a high-ticket program.

There are a lot of different ways you can package what you sell, and depending on your prospect, they might want something different than your usual offerings.

My guess is you have a bunch of loyal fans following you, but if you're not packaging what you offer in a way that's attractive to them, they won't bite. They need to feel like what you're offering is a fit for them.

So try mixing it up. Offer some out of the box things and see what happens. Who knows, you might discover a whole new product line out of it.

About the Author
Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting and marketing agency. She helps entrepreneurs become more successful at attracting more clients, selling more products and services and boosting their business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.MichelePW.com.

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If you’re thinking of switching to VoIP service from a traditional landline based Key, PBX, or hybrid phone system, you’re not alone- businesses of all sizes are beginning to realized the cost-saving benefits of computer/telephony integration. Switching to a VOIP phone is relatively simple- changes can be made quickly and easily, and there is usually very little equipment to purchase.

Whether you’re switching to a business VoIP service or implementing a phone system for the first time, here are a few things you need to consider:

Internet Connectivity

VoIP phone systems use the internet to make and receive calls- you’ll need to make sure your connection and your power supply can support system requirements. Generally, a steady, uninterrupted power supply and a high-speed internet connection are all that’s needed. Your connection should be able to support the added traffic that the system will create. Vendors will ask how many employees will be using the system, how many calls are placed daily, and take into consideration features like auto attendant and call transferring when setting up your internet connection to support your system. You may need to purchase additional routers or install a backup power supply.

VoIP Adapters

If you’re witching to VoIP from a traditional phone system, you can save by purchasing adapters for your current phones. A traditional phone fitted with a VoIP adapter works identically to a VoIP phone. Most adapters are less than $50 each, and are often available in bulk discounts for larger offices. In lieu of adaptors, you can also purchase VoIP phones, headsets, or microphones that can be connected directly to a computer and used in place of a traditional headset. Most business and residential VoIP service providers sell both VoIP-compatible phones and adapters.

VoIP Phones

Voice over Internet Protocol phones are slightly more expensive that VoIP adapters, but are a good investment if you plan to use the system for several years. VoIP phones are easy to use and install- they don’t take any special training to set up. Once installed, they work identically to traditional phones. Most VoIP phones cost at least $100 each, with many vendors offering steep discounts for phones purchased in bulk.

Switching to a VoIP system takes surprisingly little time. Once you’ve decided to make the switch, you can shop around for providers and compare prices for services and equipment. Most providers can also make suggestions about system configuration (i.e., if you need a faster internet connection) during this stage. Once you’ve settled on a service provider and purchased equipment, you can have the new system up and running in less than a week.

About the Author
Merrin Muxlow is a writer, yoga instructor, and law student based in San Diego, California. She writes extensively for Resource Nation, a company that provides resources for business owners, and is a frequent contributor to several sites and programs that offer tools for entrepreneurs, including Dell and BizEquity.

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I just returned from San Diego where I walked my third marathon. It took me 6.5 hours. (I'm not a runner, I'm a walker, and that's averaging between a 14- and 15-minute mile.) Now if you know anything about marathons, you'll know that I'm never going to make the Boston marathon with that time.

In fact, I was beaten by an 86-year-old woman from South Carolina (we were neck and neck for awhile -- she pulled away when I stopped for a bathroom break, beat me by 5 minutes) by a man dressed in a banana suit, by naked man (he whipped off his shorts when he crossed the finish line, although it's probably not fair to compare him to me as he definitely had less wind resistance than I had) and a bunch of guys dressed as Elvis.

My point is if I was doing marathons to win, I would probably be in the depths of despair this week. Lucky for me, I do marathons for other reasons that have nothing to do with speed and everything to do with perseverance.

In fact, I think every business owner and entrepreneur should complete a marathon at least once in their life. No, not because I want partners to share in the torture and agony, but for the same reasons why I do. Let me explain.

I've come to the conclusion that nature has intended for the human body to only travel about 20 miles at any one time. I've decided this based on both science and my own experiences.

Now, I'm not a scientist but here's my understanding of what's going on when you walk a marathon. Your body only has around 2000 calories of ready energy it can use at any one time. How long does it take you to run out of 2000 calories? Oh, about 20 miles. After 20 miles, your body starts attacking your muscle to use as fuel (your body can't burn fat on its own, it can only access the fat through burning something easier, such as carbohydrates or muscle).

At the same time, the hormones your body produces when you run (the ones that are responsible for the "runner's high") are used up. When that happens, the natural pain killer that's part of the runner's high also disappears, so now you feel every bit of the pain your muscles are going through.

In other words, somewhere between mile 20 and 24, your body runs out of ready energy and starts attacking your muscles and also runs out of the hormones that give you extra energy, stamina and pain relief. There's a term for this you might have heard. It's called "hitting the wall." And if you're going to hit the wall, you're going to hit it somewhere between mile 20 and 24.

As someone who has smashed head first into said wall, I can tell you it's not pretty. You can get a second wind at mile 12, 16, even 18. There's no second wind at mile 24.

During every marathon I've done, there comes a time where nothing helps. Nothing. Everything hurts. Everything. You're exhausted. Every muscle in your body is screaming for you to stop. You're keeping your legs moving on sheer grit and determination alone. There's nothing else left.

The only thing that even comes close to helping during this time is the people cheering on the sideline. The ones near the end yelling "You can do it, you're almost there." (Note to spectators, this is the time to lie. Tell the runners or walkers or limpers they're almost there or the next mile marker is around the corner, even if the next mile marker is actually around the corner, up a hill and a half-mile away. You need anything you can grab on to at this time.)

So for all you spectators, yes your cheering really DOES help. Don't let our grumpy expressions fool you. We're hanging on to what you're saying for dear life.

(On another note, the neighbors who live between mile 15 and 16 who every year buy a gazillion oranges, spend hours cutting them up and then MORE hours standing on the street handing them to us as we go by, I only have one thing to say to you -- I'm leaving you in my will.)

Okay, so my hypothesis is the human body is only supposed to walk or run for 20 to 24 miles. And a marathon is 26.2 miles (and yes, that .2 is VERY important -- that .2 of a mile is harder than the first 20). So what that means is you are literally pushing yourself past your body's limits for at least 2.2 miles.

In fact, that's why I think marathons ARE 26.2 miles. Because they push past your physical boundaries.

I suspect this was the discussion back when marathons first came up. The Marathon God was sitting around with the other Greek Gods in Mt Olympus and the conversation went something like this. "Maybe a marathon should be 20.4 miles." "No, no, that's still within their body's limits." "Okay, so how about 28.8?" "No, that's too far. Too many people will drop out or die and that defeats the purpose." "So what about 26.2 miles?" "Perfect, just far enough to push past their boundaries and not so far that they give up or die."

So walking marathons is about pushing past boundaries. If you can push past your body's physical limits with your mind, then you should have no problems pushing past other boundaries with your mind, such as income boundaries or business growth boundaries.

After all, you know it's possible to build a multi-million-dollar (or billion-dollar) business from scratch. You've seen other people do it. And after you walk a marathon, you'll know you can push past boundaries because you've just done it. So therefore, now you know you have the capability to push past whatever boundaries you've set for yourself. You'll have physical, tangible proof of it. (And they even give you a medal when you finish.)

And that, my friends, is why I think every business owner and entrepreneur should walk or run a marathon at least once in their life.

Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting and marketing agency. She helps entrepreneurs become more successful at attracting more clients, selling more products and services and boosting their business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.MichelePW.com.

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Every time I turn on the news I feel like screaming. I am sick and tired of hearing about how bad the economy is. Unemployment is up and is only going to get worse. Banks are in trouble and going under. Real estate is a mess and there is no end in sight. Major corporations are going bankrupt - heck, even the big three automakers may go under.

I hear about how this is the next great depression. I hear about the collapse of the dollar, the collapse of the western world, and the end of society as we know it.

It Isn't As Bad As It Sounds
The sad part is that it isn't all that bad. Yes the economy stinks, but this is only when compared to the amazing boom we experienced in the last decade. Companies have been able to go after the low hanging fruit-heck, there was more lying on the ground than you could pick up!

Just because the ground isn't littered with business anymore doesn't mean that there isn't business out there. You just have to work for it. And the past decade of easy business means that most companies have not made the connections and built relationships. Now they pay the price.

And at the end of the day, now is the time where entrepreneurs can really shine.
No, I'm not crazy. Think about what a true entrepreneur does.

• He connects with his customer


• identifies his needs and problems


• then creates products and services to fill those needs or problems

In other words, he gets paid to solve problems

Now more than ever companies are in trouble. Your customer desperately needs you. No, he isn't spending indiscriminately. But if you solve his problem and help him survive (or thrive) in this downturn he will be your customer for life. And you solve your "slow business" problem at the same time. Only an entrepreneur can do this, and you finally have an advantage over larger companies.

Simple, but Hard to Do
This is a simple concept that is hard to do. I've written several articles that are aimed at this:

• Recessionproof your sales


• How to Thrive in a Recession


• How to Thrive in a Recession - Ignore the News


• How to Thrive in a Recession - It’s All About the Customer


• How to Thrive in a Recession - Working for Someone Else


Brandt Smith is a sales, marketing, public speaking, and professional development expert. Learn about achieving wealth and life balance through entrepreneurship at Wealth and Wisdom, where he is cofounder and senior editor. Their advice on wealth building, personal development, and life balance can help take you to the next level. You can also read more of his thoughts on his blog.

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If you’re starting a business right now, marketing can be one of the first efforts to take a hit. After all, why should you market products aggressively to customers who aren’t ready to spend?

Cutting back on marketing efforts right now is actually a pretty risky move- studies show that companies who increased or maintained marketing budgets during lean times are rewarded with more sales as the economy begins to pick back up. According to McGraw-Hill research, companies who increased or did not change marketing budgets during the ’81-’82 recession saw significantly higher sales growth within five years- over twice as much as those companies that chose to cut back.

So how do you design and implement an online interactive marketing strategy on a shoestring budget? What can you save on when contracting for services? Here’s a quick primer on choosing an online marketing company and forming the contract you want- at a price that’s within your budget.

Evaluate your requirements.
Do you already employ online marketing strategies such as email blasts, customer follow-up emails, or search optimization strategies? If you’re already working with an online marketing firm and are unhappy with the services you’re receiving, the price you’re paying, or both, figure out exactly what you need before you switch or begin to negotiate. Do you want to build relationships, increase brand visibility among certain customer groups, or stay in touch with existing clients? Evaluate your needs before choosing- or choosing to stay with- a company: List the services you want and how much you’re willing to pay.

Re-negotiate.
If your current online marketing firm is meeting your needs, you can still negotiate on price. Most of the time, this means contracting for additional services or a longer term- a better deal in the long run if you’re working with a reputable company. You may be able to get discounted services simply by asking, especially if your contract is about to expire. Trying to re-negotiate your existing contract- if you have one- is a step you should take before looking for a new provider.

Use smart bargaining tactics.
If you’ve narrowed down the field of providers to a few worthy contenders, try to negotiate with each to get the best deal for services. Most vendors are a bit more flexible and open to bargaining near the end of the month or the end of a sales quarter. You can ask for more services, an extended agreement, a payment plan, or any other compromise that reduces your out-of-pocket-cost. Up-front payments (retainers) are usually not negotiable- most vendors will require some monetary outlay before beginning work.

Get a written estimate or service quote.
These usually serve as previews for the final contract. It should be specific, but not too specific- it can be a good idea to split projects into phases if you’re using several different strategies. You should have access to all necessary information (graphics, advertising agreements, affiliate information) in the event that you ever decide to use a different company for later efforts. Make sure that you compare several different service quotes to get an idea of the “going rate” for services- this places you in a better position to negotiate.

Make sure you can track efforts.
Make sure you know how results are tracked. Will you be able to monitor key information (web traffic, conversions, etc.) yourself? Make sure you know how results of the marketing strategy will be measured.

Online marketing is one of the most effective methods of sales generation. Make sure you shop around for a company, compare price quotes, and ask for references. A good firm won’t ever “guarantee” a certain search engine result or output, but will be able to accurately track the results of their efforts. Spending on marketing is effectively investing in future sales- make sure you invest wisely.

Merrin Muxlow is a writer, yoga instructor, and law student based in San Diego, California. She writes extensively for Resource Nation, a company that provides resources for business owners, and is a frequent contributor to several sites and programs that offer tools for entrepreneurs, including Dell and BizEquity.

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What do you need to start a successful business?

It’s a question almost all entrepreneurs have pondered. Do you need a business plan before you start, funding to fall back on, or a detailed strategy for how your company will grow? Nearly half of all small businesses fail within the first year of operation- what’s the difference between those that fail and those that succeed?

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Judi Sheppard Missett, founder of Jazzercise. Missett built Jazzercise from a one-woman operation into an international corporation with over 7500 franchises worldwide. Here’s what I learned from our conversation:

You don’t always need start-up capital. “I didn’t even get a business loan,” she told me- something virtually unheard of in many entrepreneurial circles. This should come as wonderful news for anyone trying to start a business on a lean budget or without the resources they think they need.

Evaluate your costs of doing business, and show smart for the resources you need to get started. For example, you can usually find a great website designer for a few thousand dollars if you shop around and compare quotes. Most of what you really need is accessible without a large nest of start-up money.

Provide what the customer finds valuable… Missett taught a jazz dance class in Chicago that eventually lead to the Jazzercise idea. At first, she instructed with an eye to technique and form –just like she had been taught while training to become a professional performer. When students stopped coming to class, she had that “lightbulb” moment- the students cared more about looking like professional dancers than dancing like them. From then on, Missett taught the kind of class her students wanted- fun, no mirrors, great music, and lots of movement.

Too many business owners come up with an idea and try to find a market. Missett proves that the other way around is usually more successful- listen to what customers want, and figure out a way to give it to them. Do research on customer patterns, find a way to track behavior by hiring an online marketing company or tracking marketing campaigns and sales strategically.

…And be willing to adapt and change to customer needs. Jazzercise has managed to grow in spite of the “fad” element most fitness trends seem to capitalize on, precisely because customers still get what they want- Jazzercise programs now incorporate strength moves, contemporary music, and other elements that customers began to want as the program became more popular.

Planning and development aren’t just for startups. If your customer base is growing or changing, you need to grow and change, too. Use email blasts to keep in touch with customers, and build relationships while your business is growing. Keep your offerings exciting and fun, but consistent with the product customers have grown to love.

Listen for opportunity knocking! As the saying goes, you should be ready to answer when opportunities come pounding on your door. When Missett began teaching in San Diego, many of her students were military spouses who moved to far away cities and wanted to continue the program.. Missett’s husband was familiar VHS video, then just a developing technology, so she videotaped routines for faraway teachers. This effort lead to the formation of what is now JM DigitalWorks, a video production company that is a division of Jazzercise.

Don’t wait to be in the right place at the right time- evaluate the resources you already have, and try to create opportunities for yourself . As Judi Sheppard Missett says, “We are all in the right place at the right time, we just need to be aware of it.”

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One way to gain recognition for your community and build visibility for your business is by earning business awards. Many are self-nominated and fairly easy to apply for. Here’s a quick guide to a few of the best business awards for 2009:

Businesses that have helped jump start our economy by maintaining growth over the past three years are eligible for the Inc. Magazine 500/5000 award. Winners are invited to attend the nationally recognized Inc. 500/5000 conference, and are featured in future magazine and online stories. This award is a great chance to gain visibility for your company and to represent your community- past winners have included social mission companies, tech startups, and beauty product lines- companies in all industries with over $2m in sales for 2008 are encouraged to apply.

For those still working on breaking the $1m mark, the Make Mine a Million $ Business contest, sponsored by Count Me In, is a great way to gain the support you need to meet this benchmark. The contest operates as a “race” to the $1m sales mark, and most participants see sales increase at least 40% over the duration of the competition. The M3 race is open to women owned businesses in one of 15 categories.

Businesses already on the fast track to earn $1m- those with $500,000 or more in sales for 2008, are eligible to enter the Entrepreneur Magazine Small Business Contest. Similar to the 500/5000 conferenceInc. contest, businesses are featured in a future magazine issue or online story. Entrants are also featured on the contest website- a great way to increase visibility for your business even if you aren’t chosen as a winner.

The Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award is given annually by international accounting and consulting firm Ernst and Young. Award recipients may attend special conferences and are invited into a network of past winners and prestigious entrepreneurs. The award is internationally recognized as a great achievement- check out the website and contest rules for more details.

If you don’t have the time for a lengthy application, or don’t have the sales revenue to qualify for one of the larger contests, consider Business.com’s “What Works for Business” contest. Applicants write a quick essay about a challenge they’ve overcome. Any small business owner that has overhauled their website design implemented a new online marketing strategy knows that the small things can sometimes be the toughest to take on- here’s your chance to let other entrepreneurs learn from your success. Prizes for the top essay are awarded monthly.

Finally, Ideablob.com allows you to test out business ideas for the chance to win a $10,000 award. Award money goes toward the costs of implementing the idea- if you need to purchase inventory, equipment (such as a credit card terminal) or business software to get your business off the ground, here’s a great place to get started. Awards are given monthly, and are determined by votes from members of the site’s online community.

Whether you’re a brand-new business or a seasoned business owner, there’s a contest out there for you. Most of the above have spring deadlines, so get going- apply for the award you deserve. Good luck!

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Making the decision to sell a business is an extremely important one but many business owners do not realize just how important it is until it is their business. It is absolutely imperative that you take the time to consider your options before making a decision, regardless of whether you built the business from nothing or bought into it and made it your own. There are plenty of factors to consider but if you decide to sell your business, you should do your research before marketing your business for sale.

There are several tips that could help you when selling your business, and ten of them are outlined below. This information is essential so make sure that you adhere to the following points:

1. Plan Your Exit Strategy – Experts agree that you should always plan ahead when you want to sell the business, and begin to prepare at least three years in advance where possible. This allows you to prepare for the handover, both personally and regarding the business for sale. It will allow you to maximize profit and get your paperwork in order.

2. Prepare The Business – If you want to get a higher price when selling your business, you need to make sure that it is well prepared. Any outstanding issues should be solved, new policies and strategies implemented, and fulfilling training will get you up to 10% more on your business than would otherwise be possible.

3. Disregard Your Own Valuation – You are emotionally involved in your business so any price expectations you place on it would be emotionally affected. As such, you are likely to over inflate the price and no buyer will want to know how much you believe your business is worth. The only valuation that matters is that of a valuation specialist or qualified appraiser.

4. Protect Yourself – Have your attorney draw up a confidentiality agreement with no possible loopholes before you make any disclosures pertaining to the business. This will protect your business no matter what and ensure that you are not stung if any sale falls through.

5. Inform Your Shareholders – Shareholders and other individuals with an interest in the business, such as board members, could actually stop any sale of your business going through. Advising them in advance and taking steps to ensure that their influence is ultimately muted is essential. Failing to do so may leave you with your business in your name along with a huge bill for costs incurred by brokers, accountants, and attorneys.

6. Prepare Your Conditions – Many business owners wait until a bid is made on their businesses before preparing their own terms and this can hold up a potential sale. It may even be the cause for a sale falling through. Preparing your written terms and conditions before you put your business on the market will inform buyers before they place a bid. You will then be able to negotiate.

7. Consider Your Retirement – Selling a business may only be the start of your retirement but it could lead to problems in your personal life. You need to consider what you will do following the sale of your business for your own peace of mind and general health. Do not neglect this point. Although it may not sound important now, it will be following the sale.

8. Do Not Give Priority To Price – You should never look at the sale of your business in immediate financial terms. The bids offered may be distinguished as the highest monetary bid and the lower ones, but accepting the former may mean you lose out. Lower bids may have clauses by which you earn a percentage of profits for so many years or even retain shares, As such, the cash amount should be placed behind the content of the bid terms when you consider them.

9. Full Disclosure – No matter what the weaknesses are for your business, you should always make a full disclosure, including warranties, about the state of your business. Be sure to include “to the best of your knowledge” in your contracts, and qualify all disclosure made so you and your buyer know exactly where you stand.

10. Choose The Deal – Approving a deal structure is of paramount importance when selling your business. You need to ensure that you are completely happy with every aspect of the deal. For example, you may want to retain a certain aspect of technology from your business for your future interests so this should be qualified in the terms. You may also wish to keep certain business interests out of the sale. Whatever your decision, you should always act in your own best interests so only offer the deal that you feel comfortable with.

About the Author:

GlobalBX provides a FREE business for sale exchange connecting business buyers, sellers and lenders. Search over 32,000 businesses for sale and franchise opportunities. Sell a business for free with no listing fees and zero commissions. We have all the top franchises as well as franchise resales. Find franchise reviews and get free franchise information. You can also contact over 300 lenders directly and get a business loan.

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Before you get involved with a franchise and commit to a future within a specific brand or business, there are essential elements of the law that you need to know. That law is determined by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which requires franchisors to present all potential franchisees with a specific document offering disclosures at least ten days before a contract is signed or money changes hands. That agreement is known as the Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC). It is designed to help potential franchisees decide whether an opportunity is the right investment for them and, as such, contains a total of 23 sections.

The Franchisor and its Predecessors and Affiliates – This is the first section and provides specific information about the franchisor. This includes the location, the products / services available, and the experience of personnel working for the company.

Business Experience – This is the second section and it provides you with employment histories for all of the franchise brokers, board members, executives, officers, and management. This is to demonstrate their experience and provides specific information for the previous five years.

Litigation – This is the third section and provides information about any and all litigation that any of the officers, board members, management and executives, as well as the franchisor itself, have previously been involved in. Your attorney should fully investigate any issues arising here.

Bankruptcy – This is the fourth section and is similar to litigation in that it will detail bankruptcy issues instead of litigation proceedings.

Fees – The fifth section informs you of any upfront fees and charges that are applicable to you, including any initial franchising fee that must be paid.

Ongoing Fees – The sixth section details all costs, fees, and payments that are required to be paid following those in section five. This may be royalties, advertising, maintenance, construction, and even staffing costs.

Initial Investment – The seventh section details how much you will need to plough into the business to get it off the ground. These figures are essential for applying for financing and compiling your business plan. Of course, the figures here are typical rather than actual and more of an investment may be required.

Restrictions on Sources of Products and Services – The eighth section is complex on paper but is easy to understand as it details the goods that you are obligated to purchase or lease from the franchisor or its partners. There are often details like the quantities of goods you have to purchase, so you will have an insight into the running of the business.

Franchisee's Obligations – The ninth section details your own personal obligations relating to the business and may or may not include policies, sale figures, training, and the site itself.

Financing – The tenth section will detail an outline of financial plans and arrangements that are available to you as a franchisee.

Franchisor's Obligations – This eleventh section will take some reading as it is easily the longest area of the UFOC. It is also extremely important because it details the franchisor’s obligations to you. It includes various information and all of it is vital to your interests. Pay particular attention to the part outlining the advertising policy.

Territory – The twelfth section of the UFOC details your legal territorial obligations and rights. It outlines whether you have exclusivity or whether you will or may have to share a location with your competition.

Trademarks – The thirteenth section outlines the trademark rights held and whom they actually belong to. It also includes legal details of how the protection works, and thus how and when you will be able to use it.

Patents, Copyrights and Proprietary Information – Further to the above section, the fourteenth section covers ownership of patents and copyrights, and the conditions under which you may use them.

Obligation to Participate in the Actual Operation of The Franchise Business – This may sound complex, but the fifteenth section basically outlines whether you have to be involved in the business personally and the extent of your involvement.

Restrictions on What The Franchisee May Sell – Section sixteen outlines the products you will sell if you invest in the franchise, and gives ideas of further products that you may be able to sell at a later date.

Renewal, Termination, Transfer and Dispute Resolution – Section seventeen is there to protect the franchisor and franchisee because it tells you how and why you may be terminated as well as determining your rights. Should a conflict occur, it would also inform you of how to proceed with a complaint or issue.

Public Figures – The eighteenth section highlights the celebrities or public personas that will be involved in any marketing campaigns, as well as the way in which he or she will receive compensation.

Earnings Claims – The nineteenth section of the UFOC is an important one because it details typical profits, sales, and information about other franchisees. This is not required so it may not be there, but if it is not then do some research to satisfy your suspicions because you need to know these figures.

List of Outlets – Section twenty of the UFOC details statistics about the system that the franchisor employs, including the number of outlets and the location details of at least 100 of them. There will also be information about closures and contract terminations over the past three years.

Financial Statements – Category twenty-one of the UFOC relates to the franchisor’s financial background and the full statements of accounts for the previous three years. It also includes the current balance sheet. All of the above has to be certified by an accountant to maintain their validity. Your own accountant should examine them for you.

Contracts And Agreements – Section twenty-two is exactly what it says it is, so be sure to consult with your attorney to ensure that they are in your best interests.

Acknowledgment of Receipt by Respective Franchisee – The final section is literally an acknowledgement that you received the Uniform Franchise Offering Circular and is of no other consequence.

Although the Federal Trade Commission requires that all of the above be sent to you in the form of a Uniform Franchising Offering Circular (UFOC), they will not have reviewed or approved the information within the document. As such, it is your responsibility to check its accuracy via your attorney and make sure that the franchise business is really in your best interests.

About the Author:

GlobalBX provides a FREE business for sale exchange connecting business buyers, sellers and lenders. Search over 32,000 businesses for sale and franchise opportunities. Sell a business for free with no listing fees and zero commissions. We have all the top franchises as well as franchise resales. Find franchise reviews and get free franchise information. You can also contact over 300 lenders directly and get a business loan.

You have two big decisions to make when deliberating over whether to use a franchise opportunity to set up a business. If you have already determined that a franchise may be the way to go for you then you have to choose the right one, but how can you do that?

First, you have to analyze yourself in depth to ensure that you have the personal skills, wants, and needs. You have to know exactly what you are capable of and the extent of your business aspirations. Brainstorming is a handy tool to use in this situation and it is essential that you do so before investigating current franchise opportunities that are available. Starting with industry analysis is the best route because you can then match your skill set to the industry requirements. As such, you can then narrow down your options to a few select industries before assessing whether those franchise options would work in your local geographic area. Only then can you begin to contact the franchisors and create a business plan.

When contacting franchisors about possible opportunities, always ask them to send you franchise information. If they are to be trusted then this should be available at no cost. When you receive the information, be sure to read it extremely carefully, paying attention to every detail. Do not take anything at face value and research every detail given in depth. After all, this is your future and no stone should be left unturned. You can use trade magazines, Internet profiles, professional journals, and annual reports. You should also contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and local authorities to make sure that there are no issues with the franchisor. You should extensively look into the reputation, financial health, growth, management, and day to day running of the business because it will be passed onto you as a franchisee.

When you have digested all of the above information and you are happy with it, ask for details of existing franchisees. It is essential to speak to them because they can give you an accurate viewpoint of how the franchisor runs the business, what the management is like to deal with, insider secrets, how the business is faring, and so on. Any good franchisor will be more than happy to provide this information whereas others may be reticent. Franchisees provide critical information so again only pursue franchises that are accessible. Only then should you assemble a legal team and accountant to answer any legal and financial questions you may have. They will also be able to find any holes that you have yet to discover, thus protecting your own interests.

About the Author:

GlobalBX provides a FREE business for sale exchange connecting business buyers, sellers and lenders. Search over 32,000 businesses for sale and franchise opportunities. Sell a business for free with no listing fees and zero commissions. We have all the top franchises as well as franchise resales. Find franchise reviews and get free franchise information. You can also contact over 300 lenders directly and get a business loan.

Where other businesses struggle, franchise businesses thrive. Wendy’s and McDonald’s are prime examples of successful franchise businesses, and also provide inspiration for those individuals who really want to form their own successful businesses in the future. With a brand behind you and a good idea of what does and does not sell, it is no wonder that you have chosen to consider a franchise.

There are two types of franchises out there. One is the good franchise that takes care of its franchisees, providing training and support throughout. The second type does nothing but take from the franchisee and pushes for profit. There is a third type of franchise and that is the one that will rip off franchisees, taking them for as much money as possible. The latter two are not worth the time, money and energy, whereas the former is extremely desirable.

As such, it is essential that you do your research and investigate a franchise thoroughly before signing a contract or paying out any money. The list of questions below may help you to find the better ones as the answers they will yield will give you enough information to make an informed decision:

1. Have you and your attorney analyzed the franchise agreement in detail and do you both completely agree with the details?

2. Are there any elements or step required of you that would break the law or be to the detriment of yourself or your country?

3. Do the provisions in the franchise agreement give you exclusive territory for the period of your contract? If not, what is the maximum number of franchises that may open in your area?

4. Is this franchisor connected in any way with any other franchise company handling similar products or services?

5. If you answered yes to the above question, what is your protection against the second franchising company?

6. If you decide to end the franchising contract for any reason, what are the provisions for you to pull out of the contract and how much would you have to pay to break the agreement?

7. Are you able to sell your franchise during or at the end of your contract? If you are legally allowed to do so, what are the repercussions related to compensation?

8. What time period represents the duration of your contract and how long has the franchisor actually been in full operation?

9. Does the company offering you this franchise have a reputation for honesty and fair dealing among its franchisees?

10. Has the franchisor shown you any certified figures indicating exact net profits of one or more of its members, and have you personally checked the figures with these people?

11. Are you able to tap into franchisor assistance with training, PR, advertising, capital, credit or merchandising?

12. Are you offered assistance for finding the best location possible in your chosen area?

13. Does the franchising firm have solid financial input to ensure stability and the establishment of goals?

14. Does the franchisor have experienced management, trained in-depth?

15. Can the franchisor do anything above and beyond what you are capable of yourself?

16. Have investigations into your background been carried out and has the franchisor been assured that you are capable of making a profit?

17. Does the state in which you live in have franchising laws in place, and does the franchisor adhere to them completely?

18. How much equity capital will you need to purchase the franchise and operate it until your income equals your expenses?

It is extremely important to answer these questions fully and to your complete satisfaction. If this is the case then you may be extremely eager to become a franchisee. However, you should research all answers to get them verified in several places to ensure that your investment would be a wise one.

Purchasing a franchise can provide you with stability and profits in a short period of time but that is not to say that it is infallible. Less than 20% of all franchises fail so you need to ensure that you do not become a statistic. Information regarding specific franchising ideas can be found in the franchising directories, which are generally available at the local library. This will give you a little assistance to get started but you need to ensure that you are completely happy before committing.

About the Author:

GlobalBX provides a FREE business for sale exchange connecting business buyers, sellers and lenders. Search over 32,000 businesses for sale and franchise opportunities. Sell a business for free with no listing fees and zero commissions. We have all the top franchises as well as franchise resales. Find franchise reviews and get free franchise information. You can also contact over 300 lenders directly and get a business loan.

Franchising has a longer history than many people may imagine but there have been several defining moments during its history. One of the biggest events occurred on October 21, 1979 when the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) introduced the Franchise Rule. This was designed to protect franchisees because it asserted that all US operational franchisors were legally obliged to fully disclose details that all potential franchisees should know before committing to investment.

As such, it enforced FTC standards to ensure that all disclosures contained uniform information that has been prepared to meet the legal criteria. One of the main requirements of this law ensured that there has to be evidence to support any financial details given. This in turn assures all potential franchisees that there is profit to be made and make them fully aware of any pitfalls.

More specifically, the Franchise Rule requires the following information to be disclosed by all franchisors:

(a) The franchisor must declare its affiliates, directors, officers, management and individuals responsible for all areas of the business, such as training, support, and franchising information.

(b) The franchisor must declare whether it or any of its officers, management, and directors have ever been bankrupt or faced lawsuits in the past, even those from before the individual in question joined the business.

(c) The exact amount you are expected to pay in franchise fees and various other associated charges must be disclosed. This includes all immediate and ongoing payments after the franchise contract is signed and the business has opened.

(d) Any and all restrictions on the quality of goods and services that you, as a franchisee, may use. This includes any purchase restrictions that may be in place.

(e) Any help and support that will be offered by the franchisor and any affiliates including financial support.

(f) All restrictions applicable to the goods and services you will be managing and selling, as well as any restrictions that you have to work with when dealing with customers.

(g) Any advantage or guarantees provided regarding the location and locality of the franchise.

(h) The franchise conditions under which your franchise may be terminated, sold on to another franchisee, repurchased, or modified.

(i) Franchisee training programs that are available and any fees associated with them.

(j) The involvement, if any, of celebrities or known figures in the public eye within the business, whether in advertising or behind the scenes.

(k) Site selection assistance that is offered by the franchisor.

(l) The number of present franchises, franchises projected for the future, franchises terminated or not to be renewed, and the number repurchased in the past.

(m) Full financial statement disclosure.

(n) How far you are expected to participate within the franchise operation after becoming a franchisee.

(o) Full disclosure of proof for earnings and profit claims made regarding other franchisees.

(p) Full names and addresses of franchisees that you can talk to.

All of the above legal considerations of franchising must be fully disclosed during initial contact with the representative of the franchise, whether that is a broker or the franchisor him or herself. As soon as the franchise opportunity is discussed, the legal considerations must be fully disclosed. The disclosure must be at least ten days prior to payment or to any franchise or related contract being signed. This pertains to the contract signing itself and also any financial statements changing hands.

The Federal Trade Commission does not require franchisors to register, but depending on the state your franchise may be in, it may have to register on a local level. The Uniform Franchise Circular Offering (UFOC) guidelines have been adopted by most states as a result of their strict disclosure requirements. However, you should never take it for granted that the franchise is registered or offers full disclosure, thus providing you with protection of any kind. You must research the franchisor fully before committing.

About the Author:

GlobalBX provides a FREE business for sale exchange connecting business buyers, sellers and lenders. Search over 32,000 businesses for sale and franchises for sale. Sell your business for sale for free with no listing fees and zero commissions. We have 1000s of franchises as well as franchise resales. Find franchise reviews and get free franchise information. You can also contact over 300 lenders directly and get a business loan.

For any individual looking to capitalize on franchising opportunities and owning a franchise business, there are several advantages to consider. Some of those you may be interested in are outlined below:

The Franchise Business Pros
· Having a brand behind you, whether it is locally or nationally famous, will save you a lot of time and money that would be needed to create your own brand or trademark. You will also attract customers immediately rather than having to advertise extensively.
· You will have an established business framework to work within, which dramatically reduces the risk associated with a startup business.
· You will already have tried and tested suppliers and services at your disposal, which will again save you the time and money associated with finding your own.
· You will receive ongoing support for sales and marketing throughout your franchise ownership. Franchisees often choose to tap into the help that is offered to them throughout their tenure via existing marketing and advertising assistance.
· Franchisees often get comprehensive financial assistance because banks are often more willing to lend money to well-known brands and names than business startups that are completely unknown to consumers. Franchisees may also have access to direct financial assistance from the franchisor.
· The risk of investing in a franchise is lower than it is for a regular business startup. An established concept is much more desirable because there is less risk.
· Continued development opportunities and research will be available. Franchisors tend to choose to tap into information concerning competition in the local area, seasonal goods, demand, and local attitudes.
· You will get business support from your franchisor, which will help to find you the best possible site and enable any construction work that needs to be done in addition to employee training and operational assistance.
· All business procedures and methods that you use will already be tried, tested, and proven to work.
· The quality and desirability of the franchisor products have been proven and come at a certain standard level that is well established.
· You will have the buying power of the franchisor and centralized purchasing at your fingertips, so costs may be reduced as a result of bulk buying savings that are handed down to the franchisee.

In addition to the pros of franchise businesses as outlined above, there are also others that you may want to consider. For example, expansion may come more easily with a franchise business and you may enhance your business interests with additional businesses, either within the franchise or outside of it. This is how dreams of riches become realities.

That is not to say that there are not cons and disadvantages associated with franchise businesses. A few of them are outlined below:

The Franchise Business Cons
· You may lose ultimate control of your business as a result of the established franchise standards that you have to run your business in accordance with. You may also find that you cannot implement your own ideas and initiatives.
· The level of royalties could be as much as 10% or more in select cases, which will of course affect your profits.
· You will have to pay an initial fee to buy into the franchise. It could be as little as $4,000 but may extend up to $50,000 so there is significant initial outlay.
· You will have to pay advertising fees to ensure that your business is recognized as existing in your current location. If the franchisor advertises poorly then your fees are wasted.
· You may have to buy a signage pack from your franchisor. Some franchisors insist on you buying their specific signage and so you may find it extremely expensive.
· If the franchisor gets into difficulties then so do you. As you effectively bear their name then you bear the brunt of a problem, including issues with suppliers.

In conclusion, although there are some disadvantages with having a franchise business, the positives far outweigh the negatives. The risks of failure are significantly reduced and so there are fewer problems than a brand new startup business. Of course, you should always ensure that the paperwork is in order, and you should complete your research and due diligence before committing because there are no guaranteed profits, and you would ultimately be responsible should the venture fail.

About the Author:

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Article Contributed by Karen S. Sieczka

Do you know where your organization will be in the next 2-5 years? Will it still even exist? If it does, how will it look? One thing is certain, you will need new ideas to survive and thrive--Ideas for new or improved products, better or new services, and ideas to increase productivity and lower production costs.

So, where’s the next great idea? It could be right under your nose and your employees may hold the key. Your employees can be a potential idea goldmine. We just need to give them the tools, the encouragement, and the opportunity to get the idea process flowing.

What would you do with equipment that only worked at 5-10% of its capabilities? Something would need to change, wouldn’t it? It is estimated most of us only use about 5-10% of our brain’s amazing capabilities. So think about how much potential your employees have. Sometimes we forget to tap into this vast resource.

Most people are naturally curious and imaginative but may not feel comfortable sharing or we haven’t encouraged or given them an outlet for creativity. We haven’t asked them for ideas! What a lost opportunity!

So how do we ask? How do we encourage our staff to let the ideas flow? How do we help them build creative muscle? How do we give staff the creative tools they need to think outside the box? There are some simple, low-cost ways to make this happen.

Create friendly, internal competition

Why not create an internal market for ideas, a competitive atmosphere fostering creative thinking? Pose a challenge. Make a competition out of it. Put up a poster or flyer. Use phrases like… in what ways might we… or how could we…? Communicate this challenge to everyone in the organization, at the least, input across different divisions, departments, from different backgrounds. Give a specific starting point for ideas input.

Some workplaces have taken to using a request for proposal or RFP for ideas. Others use a venture planning tool kit containing a series of questions to start the ball rolling such as: Why should we invest in this idea? What are the potential markets for this idea? Is the idea ethically sound? Is it easy to explain? Will it be short or long term in its effect? Is it financially feasible? Will it bring about the desired results?

Build an idea website

Host the input of ideas on a company intranet site devoted to new ideas. or listed on a common network folder because one of the key elements of an idea campaign is that it is collaborative. When others see the ideas being posted, they can become inspired to build on the idea and create new ideas of their own. Advertise heavily that website is available and ready to be used by all.

Put up an idea board

An idea board is as simple as a bulletin board in a frequently visited area such as a cafeteria or break room and has three basic categories: one for issues, problems, or concerns, one for possible answers, and one for management to put information about ideas that were implemented.

For example, an employee is having a recurring problem with a process, he can post it on the board where all staffers can see it, think about it, and offer suggestions to fix or change the process. At certain intervals, management should make a point of collecting the ideas and updating the board to show what was done or used to improve the situation.

Use examples of others’ creativity, innovation, and idea process as a starter

Creativity comes in many varieties. There are myriad examples of ordinary people facing a challenge or need and coming up with a solution or finding a new, improved process for something—an idea, an innovation. They are often known as inventors. It has happened many times throughout history and still happens today.

Want to jumpstart the creative process? Take a closer look at inventors and innovators, both historic and recent. Get to know their stories. Study their methods. Share stories to start a meeting or begin a brainstorming session. Collect stories of your own to use as examples.

Don’t forget to ask for ideas!

Sometimes we forget to ask for ideas; problem is if we don’t ask, they often won’t tell! Most of us have one thing in common at work and in life—we want to use all of our talents but because of fear, ignorance or simply because we were never asked, we hide our potential, let our enthusiasm get trampled, and just spend the work day going through the motions.

As managers and supervisors, we should strive to create an organizational culture that celebrates effort and embraces positive expectations. When staff know it’s okay to try something new, they are more likely to come up with new ideas. Encourage the flow of new ideas with this simple method: ASK for ideas! And then keeping asking for ideas!

Do something with those ideas! Ideas without execution = 0

For those of you in management, here’s another barrier to ideas, never putting them to use. Oh, it’s great to gather all those grand plans your people come up with but do you look at them (or not) and then put them in the “round” file?

Do a little research and think about some of those silly or small ideas that turned into huge moneymakers. Things like Cabbage Patch dolls or the guy who figured out people would rather buy their bread sliced. Consider: Will this idea fill a niche that no one is serving?

It is silly enough to be a fad? Don’t dismiss fads---they can generate big bucks too. Think Pet Rock. Think friendship bracelets. Think Rubik’s Cube. Think Koosh Ball. Think WWJD. So, how much is this “silly” idea worth??????

Remember, an idea with no execution has no value!

If people offer ideas and they never get executed, you can bet the ideas will eventually start drying up because everyone thinks, why bother? They will probably also go to work for a competitor or go on their own and run with it. Get the picture? Steve Wozniak, one of founders of Apple Computer, left his job at HP, to develop the personal computer, after his bosses discouraged the idea. Their loss, huh?

Ideas = money and happier employees stay around longer and produce more!

Cultivate your human talent. It is ready and waiting to be unleashed. Show staff how to build idea muscle, inspire them, and your organization will mine the creative potential within, uncovering the next great idea.

About the Author
Karen S. Sieczka is a training consultant and founder of Growing Great Ideas.com. Her latest training program is Growing Great Ideas: Unleashing Creativity at Work. The program generates ideas, enthusiasm, and teamwork and can be customized to address particular organizational issues or challenges. This article is an excerpt from her new book Growing Great Ideas: Unleashing Creativity at Work, now available at LULU.com for download or print version.

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Internet and local media advertising are useful sources to start up and promote home bookkeeping services. By setting a financial budget for each sales channel the bookkeeper can manage the results to build the bookkeeping services.

There are numerous opportunities to advertise bookkeeping services although not all sources of new business will justify the marketing investment. An essential first step is to determine all potential promotion areas, set an expenditure budget for each and maintain a record of enquiries and fee basis for the bookkeeping services obtained.

Whatever the bookkeeper states in the advertisement it is important to include a reason for a potential client to respond. Key prompts to create response are the promise of savings and initial free meeting or even the offer of free services.

Advertising

Advertising the accounting and bookkeeping services in local newspapers can produce new clients but tends to be marginally profitable. Write the advert copy concisely using keywords to mention specific bookkeeping services of which tax tends to be the most popular and consider all publications within the geographical area.

Generally it would be unusual to find local daily newspapers producing little response, local daily evening papers quite expensive compared with the level of business generated and free papers offering a balance between the level of bookkeeping enquiries generated and the cost of advertising.

Monitor costs and response rates vigilantly as some media adverts will perform badly usually based upon circulation while other advertisements may not be cost effective. When a suitable responsive source is identified reduce advertising costs by taking longer term contracts but not too long as successful response rates can reduce over time.

Advertising accounting and bookkeeping services in local telephone directories in useful but highly competitive and often expensive compared with the actual level of business obtained. Despite the sales pitch from the representatives bookkeeping services are so competitive that the level of response may be limited to less than 5 enquiries per year.

A high proportion of new bookkeeping clients obtained from local advertising tend to come from small clients a number of which respond because they have inadequate accounting records and may also have financial problems. The quality of client obtained by advertising may not be the highest but can be a vital starting point when offering home bookkeeping services.

To improve conversion rates from enquiries focus the initial contact, usually by telephone, in arranging a meeting to discuss the requirements. At that first meeting the bookkeeping services can be presented and the price agreed.

Internet Advertising

Setting up a website provides a shop window for the bookkeeper to present the bookkeeping business in what is a highly competitive area. The bookkeeping website should be optimised for search engine rankings to achieve success. Due to the competitiveness it is difficult to rank high for high volume keywords and higher traffic levels are more likely to be achieved by identifying less popular keywords using keyword volume tools and targeting those words.

To optimise the website include the target keywords in the meta tag title, description and keywords. Ensure the target keywords appear in the text and the title and description have a high level of relevancy to the content on each page.

Writing articles using keywords as anchor texts the bookkeeper can improve search engine ranking. Buying links from link farms should be avoided and can cause a website to be penalised.

The website should state clearly the range of services offered and preferably the expertise in those areas. Submit the website to internet business directories. Submitting to high ranking directories such as DMOZ and manual submissions to specific accounting and bookkeeping directories is beneficial as relevancy is higher.

Pay for click advertising with the major search engines Google, Yahoo and Msn will drive targeted traffic to the website but should be strictly controlled within an acceptable budget.
The amount paid for clicks on specific keywords being monitored on a cost benefit basis and a definitive overall budget set for each campaign. Many of the highest traffic bookkeeping terms are simply not economical but many smaller volume words are overlooked and represent an opportunity to attract some business.

Joining business forums, including the website address in the signature and posting on a regular basis concentrating on assisting other forum users with expert bookkeeping and accounting issues will increase website traffic and also increase networking opportunities with potential clients for the bookkeeping business.

Terry Cartwright qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant and Chartered Company Secretary in 1971. A successful business career followed as Head of Finance for major companies in the UK and several consultancy appointments. In 2006 he created DIY Accounting producing Accounting Software for self employed and small companies that use simple accounts spreadsheets to automate tax returns.

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Article Contributed by Karen S. Sieczka

Think creativity is only for artistic types? Think again; your livelihood and organization may depend on it.

Why bother with creativity at work? Why should you encourage it from your staff? For one thing, promoting creativity at work has many benefits and an organization’s continued survival may depend on it. Most importantly, ideas= $$$$$!

Technology has made the world small. We are all part of a global marketplace calling for constant innovation and reinvention to keep pace with the demand for new products and services. Things change fast, often in the blink of an eye. What worked yesterday and today might not work tomorrow. Success is no longer measured by profit and inventory but through human, intellectual capital.

Today, fresh solutions to problems and inventing new products and services for an ever-changing market is how businesses survive, thrive, and grow. Ideas are the intellectual capital that gives a competitive edge. Embracing creativity allows organizations to find new connection and insights, spot opportunities, and then act on them.

Human talent is the new working capital. The imagination and creativity of the human mind can’t be outsourced. Even old-school Fortune 500 companies have realized human talent is an important asset and are tapping into this resource.

How can doing things the same way as they have always been done lead to different results? Answer: they DON’T! Creativity, ideas, and innovation comes from the introduction of something new or different or changing and refining a process by injecting creative inspiration. It is a fresh way of looking at common issues and a willingness to take some risks.

Just like building muscles, practicing creativity increases problem solving skills and helps ideas flow more easily. If a business doesn’t use its machinery to its full capacity, they are losing money with them. Encourage creativity and use it to a competitive advantage. Ponder this: What human capital does your organization have available? Are you using it to its best potential?

About the Author
Karen S. Sieczka is a training consultant and founder of Growing Great Ideas.com. Her latest training program is Growing Great Ideas: Unleashing Creativity at Work. The program generates ideas, enthusiasm, and teamwork and can be customized to address particular organizational issues or challenges. This article was excerpted from the book Growing Great Ideas: Unleashing Creativity at Work, now available at LULU.com for download or print version.

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YoungEntrepreneur by Chris Simpson: “If you are in a situation where you need to come up with some cash in a hurry, what do you do? Here are some suggestions that can make money fast when you are in a crunch:

1. Hold a garage sale.
Make up a sign or place an ad in your local paper to let people know about your sale. Not only will you have a lot less clutter in your home once the sale is over, but you will have earned some money in the process.

2. Sell unwanted items on eBay.
Another place to dispose of unwanted items is by selling them on eBay. You will have a better chance of selling your things if you include an image on the site.

3. Put an ad on Craigslist.
Placing an ad on Craigslist is another way to sell your stuff for cash. Since Craigslist is divided by city, this is an easy way to target local buyers.

4. Deliver fast food.
Delivering pizzas or Chinese food may not be the most glamorous way to make money in a hurry, but you will get paid cash nightly. In addition, you have the opportunity to make money in tips.

4. Sign up at an employment agency.
If you are looking for work “right now,” consider doing some temporary work. You will get paid every week and it could be a stepping-stone for other, more lucrative work.

5. Sign up for online paid surveys.
Do a little digging to find online survey companies that pay in cash. Skip over the opportunities that only give you an entry in a sweepstakes.

6. Offer childcare services from your home.
If you are at home with your children anyway, you can bring in some money by offering to care for other people’s children as well.

7. Offer to do odd jobs.
If you are able to shovel snow, mow lawns, clean out garages or attics, you should be able to find someone in the neighborhood who needs these types of things done.

There are many ways you can make money fast when you need to. You might decide to sell something you own or use the skills you already have to reach this goal. "The important thing to remember when money gets tight is that you do have options, if you let yourself be creative.”

7 Ways To Make Money In A Hurry [YoungEntrepreneur]

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Article Contributed by Mark G

A very rewarding endeavor could be buying a company that already exists. One of the primary reasons to buy an existing business is to avoid 'start-up' costs. The opening costs of beginning a new business venture can be astronomical, aswell as the costs of advertising, and all of this with no guarantee of making a profit on your investment. You will be able to see the track record of an existing business' income and expenses. Giving you an idea of what you can expect.

There are quite a few legal things to take into account when buying a up and running business. Initially, you must make sure that you know exactly what you are buying. Have you decided to either acquire the entire business entity or simply buy its assets?

The assets you are planning to purchase, what are they? When making an asset purchase, it is of utmost importance to put in writing precisely what the assets are so once the transaction has
closed there aren't any unforeseen issues. Make a list of the all the physically identifiable assets. For example a photocopier, list of customers, office furniture, etc.. You also should make the list of intangible assets, i.e. the email addresses, phone numbers of the current business. The inaccurate assessment of assets included in the purchase account for many of the business transaction claims that are raised.

Will a landlord agree to you taking over any lease agreements? For some companies the merit of the business includes an affordable lease agreement in a good location. If you are purchasing a business on leased premises, you will need to obtain the consent of the landlord prior to assuming the existing lease. This is almost always contained as a stipulation of the Agreement. When looking to lease office space, a landlord will require, at minimum, your credit history and information about your business experience.

What type of obligations do you have towards the Employees. You need to look and see if the business you are considering buying has a lot of full time or part time employees. If this occurs, you'll be responsible as a subsequent employer for money owed to these employees, including wages, vacation pay, unemployment insurance premiums, and premiums from worker's compensation. Your best choice when considering purchasing a business may be to hire all new employees. The reason is that there maybe a lot of obligations that may come with the existing employees. When buying a small business, some prefer to have a written agreement in which the vendor will terminate all employees before the closing of the deal.

What exactly are the Non-competition clauses? Many times buyers will hammer out an agreement with the seller, which limits the seller's capability contend with them after settling in a similar business. If you decide to purchase a business, the last thing you want is the vendor opening a new shop just a few doors down from the original. If the seller is willing to incorporate a non-competitive stipulation at time closing, this possibility is eradicated.

Remember when considering non-competition covenants, they must not be overly restrictive, or you will not be able to enforce them. It could be a reasonable idea to limit another vendor from opening up a business that is similar to your own for 1 to 5 years following the closing of the deal, and due to these restrictions they must operate within a distance of 1 to 5 kilometers surrounding the present business location, depending on the type of business that is being
sold.

If the seller is unwilling to agree to such terms, it may be best to leave the deal for buying that business on the table and walk away. If you are thinking of buying a business that is already in existence, you need to find the time and effort to sit down with your local attorney. Over the long haul, it could possibly save you thousands of dollars and hours of time.

About the Author
Mark G is a writer and follower of developments in business sales market and broker industry. Visit his sites at canadian businesses for sale
and Quebec
businesses for sale.

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Article contributed by Karen S. Sieczka

Want to encourage your staff to think outside the box? Provide the tools they need to get creative.

An Idea Library is a place where you and your staff can go to look for the seeds of a new idea. Much like a regular library, your idea library houses books, journals, and magazines, and offers comfy seating and a place for quiet reflection. What’s different ? It is on-site and available for use any time writer’s block strikes, a project gets stuck in development, or new concepts just don’t seem to be coming.

It’s easy to get started. Carve out a space where there are few distractions. Add some comfortable seating and a table. Keep some games, colored pencils, and lots of paper available here as well. Now start to scour book stores or your own local library for interesting magazines. Here’s the key: don’t look for anything related to your current industry. You want to stimulate new thinking with books, magazines, catalogs, and periodicals unrelated to your organization’s primary industry. Go for something totally different. This is where is new ideas come from.

Look for opposites of what you do and add those items. If you’re in sales, go toward fashion. If you’re scientific, have materials from the day care industry. Bring in annual reports from non-competitors. What are they doing? How can you apply their expertise to what you do?

Borders Bookstores used a display technique garnered from the retail clothing business to quell lagging book sales. It changed its book displays with covers facing out rather than the traditional spine out approach.

Often great ideas come from adapting ideas from another industry or product line and applying it to your organization. We tend to read the same things and do the same things as our competition so we need to find a way to open the creative floodgates. Want new and unusual ideas? Look to other industries for ideas.

Ask: how can we apply what other industries are doing to what we are doing?

About the Author
Karen S. Sieczka is a training consultant and founder of Growing Great Ideas.com. Her latest training program is Growing Great Ideas: Unleashing Creativity at Work. The program generates ideas, enthusiasm, and teamwork and can be customized to address particular organizational issues or challenges. This article was excerpted from the book, Growing Great Ideas: Unleashing Creativity at Work now available at LULU.com in download or print version.

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Article contributed by Don Daszkowski

Why buy an established business rather than start from scratch? There are many advantages for the entrepreneur.

First of all, there is a savings in time, energy, and money when buying an existing business. The lengthy process of researching and creating business plans and models has already been done for you. Also, if there is financing needed for your purchase, it is not as difficult to obtain since a lenders are more likely to finance a business with a proven track record.

Also, most times, everything is included in the purchase, especially in turnkey or franchise businesses. It is very beneficial for you to inherit the infrastructure that has already been established by the previous owner(s). This not only includes the customers, but suppliers, employees, equipment, and systems as well. It is a good possibility that the previous owner(s) may offer some insight and assistance, therefore making the transition easier.

In addition, the cash flow most likely will start immediately, rather than in an unknown timeframe when starting a brand new business. Profitability is not in question as it would be in a startup. An existing business is probably producing a decent income and also has a solid client base established, therefore maximizing the chances of success by the new owner(s). There are many types of businesses such as restaurants, salons and retail establishments in which you can get a good idea of how well the business is doing in part by the traffic patterns. Speaking with the current owners as well as customers can also help you give you insight into the well-being of the business before you make your purchase.

Even though the business is already established, there is still room for innovation and creativity. It is beneficial of course for you to purchase a business in which you can bring something to the table as far as experience and expertise, whether it is from your own job experience or skills you've gained through a hobby. If you've never owned or managed a business before, it is especially important that you at least have some knowledge of the type of business that you are purchasing. For example, if you've been a stylist in a beauty salon for many years, it is likely that you will be successful taking over an established salon.

Finally, since the business already has a good foundation, you can focus much of your efforts on building and expanding the business. As you become more familiar with your customers' needs and wants, you will have opportunities to add enhancements and improvements, therefore increasing your chances of higher profitability much sooner than you would in a startup business.

About the Author

Don Daszkowski is President and CEO of BusinessMart.com. BusinessMart.com has thousands of businesses for sale, franchises and small business articles. Don is also About.com's Guide to Franchises. About.com is a New York Times Company.

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Article contributed by Michelle Ulrich

1.Social networks – how to work it
a.http://www.craigslist.com
b.http://www.fastpitchnetworking.com
c.http://www.ryze.com
d.Ning.com is a create-your-own social network site

2.Free Classified Ads
a.Backpage
b.Craigslist
c.MySpace – need to be a member with a profile, I believe

3.Teleclasses/Podcasts
a.These can be pre-recorded if you don’t want to interact with others
b.Teleclasses are great for getting the word out about your products/services; guest speakers can promote you to their list and increase your list on a monthly basis
c.Use www.fullcalendar.com to promote teleclasses and events

4.Joint Ventures – co-creation of…
a.New products
b.New teleclasses
c.New workshops
d.New podcasts
e.New ebooks
f.Limitless ideas…

5.Strategic Alliances
a.Promote one another via banner ad exchanges
b.Promote one another via ezine or newsletter mentions

6.Article submissions
a.Write an article – submit online
b.Repurpose into an ezine article or ezine series if article is long
c.Repurpose into a podcast
d.Repurpose into an ebook with additional resources
e.Repurpose into a speech/presentation for live events

7.Ezine submissions
a.Write an ezine – submit online to ezine banks
b.Repurpose into an article
c.Repurpose into a podcast
d.Repurpose into an ebook with additional resources
e.Repurpose into a speech/presentation for live events

8.Ezine with tips, resources, trends
a.Submit to ezine banks for additional subscribers

9.Blog
a.Blog or have someone else blog for you no less than 3x/wk
b.Pick a theme for each month to make it easy
c.Base the theme on your teleclasses and ezine, etc. to make all items/tasks easier to complete

10.Affiliate accounts
a.Amazon – book store, software store, web store, etc.
b.Commission Junction
c.Create your own affiliate account – essentially provides a means for others interested in your product a way for them to make a small percentage while you gain a virtual sales force

11.Blogtalk Radio – 15 mins – longer monologues or full blown radio show; record to podcast
a.Repurpose into an article
b.Repurpose into an ezine piece
c.Repurpose into a podcast
d.Repurpose into an ebook with additional resources
e.Repurpose into a speech/presentation for live events

12.Get involved; share your passion
a.Share your passion with others
i.Online
1.Social networks
2.Forums
3.Message boards
ii.In person
1.Networking
2.Volunteer opportunities in community
3.Church
4.Youth groups
5.Etc.
iii.Don’t forget to share your projects and/or websites with others

About the Author
Michelle Ulrich is the Chief Villager and founder of The Virtual Nation™, an educational destination for Virtual Professionals around the globe. Michelle is an avid believer in giving back to her industry and she does this by offering coaching, teleclasses, resources, and tools, in addition to providing a community of learning, a nation of culture, and a virtual village for her members.

She maintains her private practice where she specializes in working with authors, coaches and speakers who struggle to keep up with e-commerce and new technologies. Clients can check out her services at www.virtualbusinessmarketing.com, while Virtual Assistants can find her over at www.thevirtualnation.com. She can be reached by telephone at (916) 536-9799 in the Pacific time zone.

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One of the best ways to generate more income is to stop selling your expertise by the hour. Your expertise -- knowledge, skills, methods -- are your most valuable assets. By taking your expertise and packaging it in various forms, you can sell your expertise 24/7/365.

So if your knowledge, skills and methods are your most valuable assets, why in the world would I suggest that you give it away as a marketing strategy?? Because giving away your expertise lays the foundation for multiple streams of income. Why this works:

Access to lots of free information is already available and potential customers expect to find it. Making your expertise available enables your *ideal* customers to find you -- among all the free information available, they need to hear it the way *you* say it. Having information that tells them what they need to do isn't the problem for most customers -- implementation is where they need help.

Once potential customers have found your free information, make it easy and enticing to sign up for your email list. Now you've laid the foundation to build a trust relationship, and can start offering them the help with implementation they so desperately need -- and will pay for.

Giving it away effectively and profitably

Use multiple channels and formats. For instance, give away information on your blog, in articles posted on other sites, in free giveaway ebooks, in audio teleclasses and excerpts. Get something in return when possible. Encourage blog visitors to sign up for blog updates via email. Put a subscription box to your newsletter on every page of your website (particularly where you post your newsletters, etc.) For bigger "chunks" of information like ebooks and audios, require that they sign up for your newsletter to get these freebies. In ebooks, make a link to your website prominent at the bottom of each page. Make the give-away process hands-free. Use an autoresponder to handle signups and instant download delivery for your giveaways. Once it's set up, it costs you no more to give away a thousand than it does the first ten.

Plus, potential customers get instant gratification. Leverage from one format to others. Write a blog post. Add more details and turn it into an article (to post on your site, use in your newsletter, and submit to other sites). Take a series of articles and turn them into an ebook. Engage someone to interview you about the content of your ebook and record it. Get help where possible and practical. You can hire a ghostwriter to write articles for you. Your VA can take existing articles and put them into an ebook format and set up the autoresponder and download capabilities. Recordings of classes and interviews don't need to be professionally done when given away for free; many bridge services offer recording capability.

Terri Zwierzynski is a self-employed business strategist and marketing consultant to solo entrepreneurs, and a grassroots promoter of the solo entrepreneur lifestyle. She runs Solo-E.com, the resource website for the self-employed which attracts thousands of solo home business owners monthly from over 100 countries on six continents (and was recently named a finalist for “Website of the Year” in the 4th Annual Stevie® Awards for Women in Business). Terri is also the co-author of 136 Ways To Market Your Small or Solo Business.

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Not long ago I took a trip to Tuscany and spent a week in a cooking class. Before the trip I spent time researching my options. I wanted to know who would be teaching the class, what courses and dishes would be covered, how hand-on the class was, if wine-pairings with the dishes would be addressed and if the class included trips to the local farmer’s markets to select fresh produce. Finding just the right cooking school was important to me because I would be spending a significant amount of money traveling to Italy and I wanted my experience to be well worth my time and effort.

For a woman interested in buying a franchise, evaluating the training a franchise business offers should involve even greater research – after all, this is about your future – not a vacation.

As part of your due diligence when researching a franchise opportunity, find out everything about the training a franchise system provides. A good training program should cover not only the product or service but also setting up the business, marketing, employee management, business procedures, reporting, etc.

The best way to find out about the scope of the training program is to ask existing franchisees. Find out what stood out about the training they received and what they feel could have been covered more completely. Ask them how prepared they felt when they opened their business and what ongoing training they have been provided.

Keep in mind that the franchisees you talk with may have been through various versions of the training program. Problems that existed at one time may have been fixed. Or, you may find that a training program that was fine in a company’s early days is now out-of-date. Be sure to include in your research franchisees who have had the same training you will receive to get an accurate assessment of its value.

Ask current franchisee if they received a training manual and if the information is updated periodically. Also ask if the franchisor offers other training resources such as conference calls, webinars or intranet sites. Ongoing training is important for many companies who adjust their business with changes in the marketplace. If this applies to the business you are reviewing, find out what they do to keep each franchisee up to speed.

An addition source of training may come from periodic conferences held by the franchisor. Besides providing additional education about the product or service, conferences offer franchisees an excellent opportunity to connect and network with other franchisees in the system. A network of peers is one of franchising’s invaluable resources so be sure to ask if this is an opportunity the franchisor provides.

Although this is less of a problem today than in the past, some industries may have an “old boy’s club” mentality among franchisees. You will be able to tell by reading the UFOC if there are other woman franchisees. Include some women in your due diligence calls so you can get an idea of the business culture and the prevailing attitude towards woman franchisees.

Many franchisors will have field support personnel who are available to be at your site during your grand opening and at periodic intervals during your first year in business or longer. Having someone right there to answer your questions may help calm your first-day jitters so find out if this a serviced provided by the franchisor.

If, after your franchise investigation process is completed, you don’t feel the offered training will adequately prepare you to run your new business, it’s time to step back and look at other opportunities. As reported in the August 2006 Franchising World magazine, a recent study by FRANdata found nearly 2500 franchise concepts in 18 different industries and almost 900 of these concepts were started over the past three years. You don’t have to compromise – if one company does not have the training you are looking for, there are sure to be many other companies who can meet your needs.

I’m happy to report that the cooking school in Tuscany exceeded my expectations and I left there able to prepare a number of authentic and delicious Italian dishes. Had I not researched the available schools so thoroughly, I might have been very disappointed with my choice.

To get full value for your investment in a franchise business, the training should answer all your questions and set you up as a confident and successful owner.

Franchisee training should include:

• Everything you need to know about the product or service
• Everything about using/protecting the brand
• How to find your business location
• How to negotiate a lease
• How you complete the permits and buildout
• How to find, hire and manage employees
• How to market your product or service
• How to keep books and records for the business
• The reporting requirements and processes
• Where to get the equipment needed for the business
• How or where to buy supplies and inventory
• How to get help when you have a problem

Kimberley Ellis is the President of Bison.com, a leading online resource for franchise and business opportunities. She has been quoted as an industry expert in USA Today, Wall Street Journal and a variety of local and regional publications regarding trends in business and franchising. Kim combines her entrepreneurial spirit with a diverse background in marketing and operation to help others succeed in franchising.

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If you are considering a franchise as your next career move, you probably already understand a number of the benefits to being a part of a franchise system. However, as each franchisor will offer different levels of assistance, it can be confusing to someone trying to evaluate a potential franchise purchase.

Since the value of a franchise is that the system has been developed to have replicable results, you will want any system you evaluate to score high in those areas that are important to the success of your unit.

Location – Location – Location
If your franchise is going to be site-dependent, the franchisor should, at a minimum, provide guidelines for selection of a site and the general terms of a lease agreement applicable to this type of location. Some franchisors will provide company personnel who will help you search for and select a site while some even work with national real estate brokers to find the best properties. If your franchisor provides help in site selection and lease negotiation, you are working with a good company.

Build-out Assistance
A typical franchise will provide each franchisee with instructions for the design and lay-out of the store along with details of where to purchase the components. As group buying power an important benefit of being part of a franchise company, you should expect to pay less for these components as a franchisee than if you purchased them as a sole proprietor.

At the high end of franchisor build-out assistance are those companies with design groups who help the franchise design the store, sometimes with such high-tech devices as CAD (computer-aided design) systems. Also, some franchisors will even hire a construction team to do the build-out and then deliver the components right to the new business.

Initial Training
The majority of franchised businesses do not require a new franchisee to have previous industry experience, primarily because they believe they can train a person with good business acuity to run the business successfully. A good training program is therefore essential. Most franchise companies will bring the franchisee to corporate headquarters for classroom training and some will allow time for hands-on training at a nearby franchise unit or corporate store.

This initial training should cover all aspects of the operations of the business, including book-keeping, record-keeping, operations, recruiting and retaining employees, and finding customers. The franchisee should receive an operations manual and get answers to any remaining questions she may have so that she feels confident she will be able to get her business up and running.

Some franchisors will provide corporate or field personnel to work side-by-side with the franchisee during grand opening and during the first week of operations, ensuring the franchisee has mastered the training and achieves a comfort level with the business. Franchisors that are willing to train a franchisee’s manager along with a franchisee are providing a value-added service.

On-going Training and Assistance
A good franchise business will continue to improve and evolve with time and the addition of new units and on-going training is often a necessity. Similarly, a good franchisor will offer continuing educational opportunities to franchisees as well as providing on-going assistance as needed. Many franchisors provide a help-line for issues that come up in the field and some will make regular visits to the franchisee’s location. A company that provides conferences or other opportunities for a franchisee to connect with fellow owners has the best interests of their franchisees in mind as these opportunities allow for creative problem-solving, the sharing of best practices and can reenergize the business focus.

Marketing Expertise
Your franchisor should provide you with a complete marketing plan for your new business that covers grand opening through at least the first 3-6 months. Since the franchisor has every reason to want you to succeed, a savvy franchisor will do much more. Many will provide you with the actual marketing materials, professionally produced. These may include pieces such as posters, banners, direct mail postcards, newspaper ads, and maybe TV and radio spots, all of which can be customized for your location.

Permits, Compliances and Other Legal Issues
Depending on the type of business, you may also need assistance in dealing with local governmental agencies for various permits. If your franchise involves food or beverage, there are numerous health-code compliance issues you will need to handle. Your franchisor should provide help in these areas so that your opening is not held up waiting for permits to come through.

There are several ways to find out how the franchisor handles these support items. The first, of course, is that you will want to ask questions about each as part of your investigation into the business. The second step is to talk to existing franchisees about the support they received and how well prepared they were to open and run the business.

Be sure to ask these franchisees if they felt there was anything missing from the training and support they received and if there is anything they wish had been more complete or done differently. If the company you are investigating scores well with these franchisees, you can be confident you will be happy with the support they will provide to you.

Kimberley Ellis is the President of Bison.com, a leading online resource for franchise and business opportunities. She has been quoted as an industry expert in USA Today, Wall Street Journal and a variety of local and regional publications regarding trends in business and franchising. Kim combines her entrepreneurial spirit with a diverse background in marketing and operation to help others succeed in franchising.

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Recently Brett Favre, the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, broke the all-time NFL touchdown record. As a fan of football and Green Bay (I grew up in Wisconsin) I've had the opportunity to watch Favre over the years, and I also realized how his career provides some valuable business-building lessons.

How? Because success is success, whether you've built a multi-billion dollar company, written a dozen best-selling novels or are a famous quarterback. Many of the same mindset and principles are the same no matter how the success manifests itself. What's nice about sports is first, it's public (the games are televised and the players are forever being interviewed so you can get to know them a little) and second, you can see things unfold in a short amount of a time. An entire game is completed in 3 hours, compared to business where you don't always see success or failure that fast (although sometimes it feels like it!)

That said, this is the second of a 2-part article where I'll share a total of 6 principles (both good and bad) you can learn from Favre to become a more successful business owner.

1. Favre is a great leader.

Right now, the Packers are the youngest team in the NFL and they have a 7-1 record. To further put this feat into perspective, they have no running game to speak of. If you don't follow football, let me explain. There are 2 ways for an offense to move a football down the field -- you run and you pass. If you don't have anyone who can run the football, you pass. And you end up being lopsided because all you do is pass, and defenders KNOW all you're going to do is pass, and it's harder to fool them. Despite that, Favre is successfully throwing the ball down the field and the receivers are successfully catching it.

How can this be? Because Favre is busy coaching and leading those young receivers. His experience is making up for the lack of experience surrounding him. And it's working.

As an entrepreneur and business owner, you need to be a leader as well. In fact, when you start building a team, that's what your team is going to expect from you. A vendor once told me she had left her previous position because the owner had lost his vision. Your team wants you to have that vision, that's what draws them to you. They want to be a part of something bigger. So give them that.

2. Favre is still passionate about the game.

Favre is 38 years old, which is about 207 in NFL years, and still plays like a kid. It's clear how much he loves to play. Sadly, because he's surrounded by guys playing for fame and money, it truly makes him stand out. (When he was one touchdown pass away from breaking the record, he told an interviewer "it's not going to make any difference if I break the record and we don't win the game." And after he broke it, and did his celebration, he was back on the sidelines looking at photos and getting ready to get back on the field. That's true passion.)

You need to be passionate about what you do. When you are, it's obvious. People are drawn to you and want to work with you based on that passion. Plus, when you are passionate, you're having fun. (The Packers are probably having the most fun of any NFL team right now.) And, in the end, isn't having fun what's it all about?

3. Favre does what needs to be done to win.

It doesn't happen too often anymore (now that Favre almost needs a walker to get on the field) but Favre used to block. Yes, the quarterback would occasionally get out there and throw a good block to get the running game going. This is pretty much unheard of, quarterbacks blocking, because it increases the odds they can get hurt. Yet Favre would do it. And, when it worked, he'd be the first one jumping up and congratulating the runner.

He does what needs to be done to win. He doesn't worry about his record or his ego or what else is going on, just as long as the Packers are winning.

As a business owner, this is especially poignant. One of the biggest differences between successful people and unsuccessful people is successful people do what needs to be done to be successful. Not just the fun stuff. Not just what they feel like doing. They do the things unsuccessful people don't or won't do. And ultimately, that makes them more successful.

Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting and marketing agency. She helps entrepreneurs become more successful at attracting more clients, selling more products and services and boosting their business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.MichelePW.com.

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Recently Brett Favre, the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, broke the all-time NFL touchdown record. As a fan of football and Green Bay (I grew up in Wisconsin) I've had the opportunity to watch Favre over the years, and I also realized how his career provides some valuable business-building lessons.

How? Because success is success, whether you've built a multi-billion dollar company, written a dozen best-selling novels or are a famous quarterback. Many of the same mindset and principles are the same no matter how the success manifests itself. What's nice about sports is first, it's public (the games are televised and the players are forever being interviewed so you can get to know them a little) and second, you can see things unfold in a short amount of a time. An entire game is completed in 3 hours, compared to business where you don't always see success or failure that fast (although sometimes it feels like it!)

That said, this is where I'll share the first 3 of a total of 6 principles (both good and bad) you can learn from Favre to become a more successful business owner.

1. Favre is willing to take chances.

Watch Favre any given Sunday and you'll see him throw into double coverage, triple coverage, or just in the general direction of a player wearing green and gold. And, more times then it should, it works. The receiver makes this spectacular catch and the rest of us all wonder how on earth he pulled it off.

That's what successful people do. They take chances. They see an opportunity and they seize it. And they do it fast. They make a decision and it's done. They see an opening between the defenders and they whip the ball in there for an amazing play.

2. Favre's greatest strength is also his greatest weakness.

As a Green Bay fan, you end up holding your breath as you watch Favre throw. Because it's a toss up whether you'll be cheering a spectacular throw or groaning because he just threw an interception.

It's really no surprise that 2 weeks after he broke the touchdown record, he also broke the record for most NFL interceptions. And, I'm sure he's not done piling up either the touchdown throws or the interceptions. (In fact, his very first throw in the NFL was an interception that was run back for a touchdown.)

Why does he throw so many interceptions? Because of that willingness to take chances. He makes throws he has no business making, and sometimes it bites him.

Now, there are two lessons here to learn. One is, keep an eye on your greatest strengths because if you overuse them, they're also your greatest weaknesses. I'm not saying don't capitalize on your strengths, I'm saying keep your eyes open and be willing to admit when your strength has led you down the wrong path (and be willing to do something about it.)

The other lesson is of perseverance. Would Favre had broken the NFL record for touchdown passes if he allowed all those interceptions to get him down? No. And not only that, it never even stopped him from taking chances. He'll throw an interception, get right back into the game and take the same chance.

Not all the chances or opportunities you take in your business are going to work out. You'll have losses and set backs and heartaches and everything else. And what you have to learn to do is not allow it to stop you. Sure, maybe the chance you seized yesterday was a total disaster, but that doesn't mean the chance you seize tomorrow will be the best thing that ever happened in your business. And if you let yesterday's failure prevent you from tomorrow's success, you'll never break that touchdown record.

3. Favre plays to win, not to not lose.

Favre wants to win. Period. That's why he takes chances. That's why he makes throws he has no business making. Because he's out there to win. He's not out there to not lose the game.

This may sound like a subtle difference, but it's actually huge. When you play to not lose, what happens? You suddenly get very conservative on the chances you take, the opportunities you go after, and even all the choices you make. If you're playing to win, now it's a whole different ball game. Even just saying it, playing to win, has a whole different energy level. It feels more alive, more passionate. Now you're making entirely different choices because you want to win -- not to not lose.

Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting and marketing agency. She helps entrepreneurs become more successful at attracting more clients, selling more products and services and boosting their business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.MichelePW.com.

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We see and hear about a large number of franchises and Multi-level Marketing (MLM) businesses and I am often asked if these are good for the retired person. So let us take a look at them one at a time.

Franchises are frequently larger companies having numerous employees, a fixed retail location with the high overhead associated with this, require high up front fees, normally require a full marketing plan and budget as part of the commitment and most are year around full time businesses. That is in direct opposition to everything I have tried to warn seniors of in my book “Baby Boomers’ Official Guide to Retirement Income”. While franchises may make good sense as a business, it is not normally a good idea for a part-time or seasonal business for a retiree. But I spend time each week looking over the business models of any new franchise that I can find on the Internet.

Franchises are mostly very successful business and new franchises are in sectors that are growing. These companies do their screening well. Looking at their information, will provide you with typical startup costs of the business and will help you budget your business if you decide to enter the business sector even if you make a number of changes to the business plan. The franchises sometimes provide you the demographic information to locate the business but this is information that you will need to help identify your customers. You can use much of their information to analyze and plan your business.

MLM businesses have gotten a bad name since many of these businesses use high-pressure tactics to make their “members” buy and sell more products. These businesses get their name since a member will get a large commission from product they sell, a smaller commission from products sold by newer members that they have brought into the organization under them and an even smaller commission from sales the people the newer members they have brought in under them and so on. Many even have minimum monthly purchases even when the members are not selling that much in product. So dangerous inventory buildups leave unsuccessful member with a basement full of product. I have seen statistics that suggest that well over 90% of the participants do not make significant money from these ventures. But they do work for the aggressive sales people. The large earners in these systems are ones that bring in people in the organization under them. The large commissions are made by developing a large network organization below you and not by selling the product yourself.

When talking with someone from a MLM organization you will normally hear 2 phrases. The first is that they will deny that they are a MLM organization. They may have some slight change in their organization, such as having customers buy product on-line and they just get a referral fee and fees from their network organization, so they deny they are a MLM organization. Many times they do not provide clear information about the total costs of their products and try to get you to accept that they are “competitive” or below the store price.

So MLM organizations are not all bad but most are bad. So do your research carefully before becoming involved.

This new weekly column, 101 New Business Ideas for Retirees, is compiled specially for GetEntrepreneurial.com readers by Stan Spector. View all articles in this column by Stan Spector.

Stan Spector is the author of “Baby Boomers’ Official Guide to Retirement Income - Over 100 Part-time or Seasonal Businesses for the New Retiree”. The book's website can be found at StanSpector.com.

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Most seniors are worried about being an entrepreneur and want to avoid making a big mistake that might deplete their retirement savings. The businesses mentioned in my book are just to that point. You can’t make a tragic financial mistake if you have only invested a few thousand dollars. Look for businesses that are service oriented, which frequently require a lot of your time as the main investment but not a lot of your money. You may lose 1000 hours of your time but only a little of your money.

Many businesses go astray when the market for their product and the price they feel they need to sell it for doesn’t materialize. If you have already signed a multi-year, store lease for your sales, you could be stuck with thousands of dollars in rent, utility bills and other fixed costs. If you have a product you want to sell, find a temporary venue such as a public market or a summer festival that you can try selling it at. You may have to pay $200 to $300 for a day or weekend space but you can set up a table to sell your product. If your sales are not overwhelming, you should reconsider making that product into a business. When you sell at the booth, you will get a lot of honest feedback on what customers think of the product and the price. Listen to them; it may save you from a big mistake.

Can you rent some of the equipment needed to operate your business with no long-term commitment. You may have to pay too much to rent the equipment to make much profit, but it will help you gauge your market size and will allow you to determine if you really want to do this for a significant portion of your retirement time.

Go work with someone who is already in the business you want to start. You may have to go a distance away from the location you envision for your business but you can learn a lot from a little on-the-job experience.

Start a hobby business. I’m a rock hound and I envision collecting valuable minerals (gold, rubies, sapphires, emeralds) and fossils and selling them for my retirement business. If my business is not successful, I will probably continue spending my time collecting valuable minerals and fossils and keeping them in my private collection. So in trying a hobby business, I will be doing what I would otherwise do for fun. I might even get some tax breaks for trying it as a business.

This new weekly column, 101 New Business Ideas for Retirees, is compiled specially for GetEntrepreneurial.com readers by Stan Spector. View all articles in this column by Stan Spector.

Stan Spector is the author of “Baby Boomers’ Official Guide to Retirement Income - Over 100 Part-time or Seasonal Businesses for the New Retiree”. The book's website can be found at StanSpector.com.

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We’ve all heard people saying this but do you realize this is an opportunity for a business? Serving a busy customer could be just the thing needed to make your business a success.

Most two-earner families, after taking the children to soccer practice and music lessons just don’t have the time or energy to do many of the things that they think would be nice to do. But many times the do have the disposable income to have the services done by someone they know and trust.

Whether it’s making fruit cakes with their personal label on it, doing their landscaping, cooking specialty dinners for some family member with special dietary restrictions, or cleaning up on the inside or outside of their houses, they may let a trusted neighbor perform a service for them even if they wouldn’t feel right about letting a professional company do this work for them. A friend or neighbor makes the decision to hire someone easier. These people are the easiest groups to market to because they are your family, friends and neighbors. They already know you or will recognize your picture from the neighborhood. Distribute those magnetic business cards with your picture on it listing all of your services to your potential clients to hang on the refrigerator.

But don’t forget about that busy small business owner. He is in the same rut wishing he had a department to do all of those business services that are not essential to day-to-day operations but are robbing him of some of his profits. These entrepreneurs all wish they had the time to bid out some of the services and products that they buy or use but they really don’t have the time to do it. Send out a letter opener, stapler or other desk item with your business card on it calling out what types of services you provide so it will be right in front of them each day. It may be putting together a marketing campaign for them, searching for the lowest cost utility or phone suppliers for their need or checking around to alternative wholesalers for the goods that they sell. All these could make a good part-time business for you and after you develop some specialized knowledge in your areas, you will find ways of saving them more money and doing it quicker for them.

This new weekly column, 101 New Business Ideas for Retirees, is compiled specially for GetEntrepreneurial.com readers by Stan Spector. View all articles in this column by Stan Spector.

Stan Spector is the author of “Baby Boomers’ Official Guide to Retirement Income - Over 100 Part-time or Seasonal Businesses for the New Retiree”. The book's website can be found at StanSpector.com.

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Mass produced services are only economical at a fixed location where installed equipment can be used to save time in the service. The other end of the spectrum is customized service at a location where the customer wants it to be performed.

Simple services like automotive repairs are almost always done at a garage or repair center since some of the services require lifts and special equipment. But providing some of the basic car repair services can be done with equipment in your truck and this service can be performed at a health club or a large company’s parking lot while you customer is exercising, working or at their home. Most customers will only hire this type of service if the price is about the same as what they will pay at a fixed location or slightly more. It is easy to meet this condition with certain services since your business will have no rent or utilities to pay. The market for this service may not be huge but it may be large enough to support a loan practitioner.

Computer services become difficult for the customer at a fixed location and certain system problems must be solved in place. So we are seeing a rise in the number of single person computer repair businesses.

As you go through your days and months, look for of what kind of service people or businesses hate going to a fixed location to get the service and then try to start a business around providing that service at the customer’s location. This concept is not new. I remember when I was a child, there was a person who had an old school bus and drove around neighborhoods selling groceries for people who didn’t want to run out. This may no longer be a good business but back then families only had one car and the home keeper needed this since they couldn’t run up to the neighborhood store to prepare dinner. I still have that response mechanism going for the daily ringing of the ice cream man’s bell when he drives through our neighborhood during the summer.

Oil changes and lubrication for cars, computer repair, dry cleaning and laundry delivery services to health clubs or office buildings, personal training at home, lawn mower and snow blower repair in your garage and computer printer inks refills in a truck outside large office buildings on a fixed weekly schedule are all lucrative areas to explore. But don’t let this small list limit your ideas. Think of other ideas. There are hundreds. If you think of a good one, go to the forum on my web site and let me know your ideas so I can spread the word around.

This new weekly column, 101 New Business Ideas for Retirees, is compiled specially for GetEntrepreneurial.com readers by Stan Spector. View all articles in this column by Stan Spector.

Stan Spector is the author of “Baby Boomers’ Official Guide to Retirement Income - Over 100 Part-time or Seasonal Businesses for the New Retiree”. The book's website can be found at StanSpector.com.

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You can’t read any magazine without seeing some reference to the effects of the coming retirement of the baby boom generation. That is just the type of opportunity that entrepreneurs are looking for to create a new business around.

Think of all of the services these people will need. Some of them will need to have more of the work around the house or apartment done for them and they will pay a fair price if you make it convenient for them. This group of clients will also be loyal to businesses that provide good service to them and can be trusted for being on time and sending reliable people to do the work. They also favor the same person coming each time to help them and do not care much for services that have a high turnover in personnel. This is ideal for the sole practitioner. This group will also refer you to their friends if they like your service.

Routine services such as laundry, house cleaning, shopping and driving these people to their medial appointments, are all highly desired. Non-routine services are also needed for when these seniors move to a new location requiring sorting, packing, furniture layouts, running garage sales to sell off the excess materials. But servicing this client base requires additional care to receive their satisfaction. Even the Real Estate industry has training courses devoted to teaching agents how to work with the senior population and achieve high customer satisfaction.

This group is also easy to reach with your advertisement. There are a number of publications in each city for this group of people. There are also community events directed to this group where advertising can be directed. Bulletin boards can be used for your business card with a message at many of the living situations where these people live.

But before entering any of these businesses check into licensing requirements in your city and state to determine if licensing, bonding or special insurance is required for the service you are going to provide.

This new weekly column, 101 New Business Ideas for Retirees, is compiled specially for GetEntrepreneurial.com readers by Stan Spector. View all articles in this column by Stan Spector.

Stan Spector is the author of “Baby Boomers’ Official Guide to Retirement Income - Over 100 Part-time or Seasonal Businesses for the New Retiree”. The book's website can be found at StanSpector.com.

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Local public access TV stations may be the best kept secret in America. Where else can you get free access to training, equipment, support and the local airwaves all in one location? For small businesses, local access TV is an opportunity to produce your own TV show, become known in the community and build your reputation as an expert in your field. Local access or community media, is also known as “PEG” access, as in:

1. Public – Stations open to the community for local programming
2. Educational – Stations dedicated to educational or school-related programming
3. Government – Government access channels for town meetings and city business

It’s the "public" channel that offers the most potential, and here’s how to maximize it:

Check your local listings

Not every town has all three “PEG” outlets, but with over 3,000 community media centers across the country, chances are there’s one near you. Check your town’s Web site or contact your town hall. Another misconception: You do not necessarily have to live in the town to utilize their community access station. Most access centers are eager for new producers and new programs. FYI: The Alliance for Community Media is a national, non-profit organization that promotes and supports public access TV. They maintain an extensive database and links to local access centers. Look for your town there.

Get free training

Most community media access centers provide frequent producer orientations, equipment training and studio instruction. The focus is typically on getting you up and running in one or two sessions. Volunteers and producers are the life blood of public access, so you’ll find plenty of accommodating help.

Go make TV!

As long as you’re armed with an idea, you’re ready to produce a show. If you’re not quite ready for your close up, start by assisting with another show, or by being a guest on another’s producer’s program. There’s no shortage of opportunities in front or behind the camera, so just dive in. The Alliance for Community Media’s online bookstore also features books and videos for additional training or inspiration.

Fix it in post

You can produce your program “live to tape,” if you’re doing a talk show or just want to do your show “on the fly.” In most cases, you’re probably going to want to edit your tape. Post production is where you can make your program look more professional by editing mistakes, inserting graphics or adding music. Most home computers now include basic editing or movie-making software, and those starter programs are relatively easy to master. iMovie is ideal if you’re on a Mac; Windows Movie Maker is adequate if you’re on a PC platform. When you’re ready for more professional editing, bump up to Final Cut Pro for the Mac or Adobe Premiere for the PC.

Promote and distribute

Once your show is complete, find out from your public access station when it’s going to air so you can promote your premiere! You may find that they run it several time per week. In addition to the local airing, you should definitely consider expanding your distribution. One way to extend your reach is to ask your channel to “bicycle,” or share your show with other access centers. A more direct approach is to upload your show to free video hosting sites such as YouTube or VideoEgg.com. Most video sites restrict uploads by file size (100MB) or length. Yo go beyond the obvious sites like YouTube and Google Video, and upload your video (or shorter clips) to Blip.tv and Veoh.com. These are very-user friendly, free video hosting sites with lots of great features.

Here are a few more suggestions to keep in mind:

• Public Access TV need not be cheesy. The technology and equipment have come a long way – so take advantage of the resources available.

• Expand your video from local public access to the Internet. Web users are downloading 7 billion videos per month!

• Be sure to save your video as an electronic file for the web, such as a Quicktime movie (.mov), or a Windows movie (.wmv). After you upload your video, many video sites will provide the HTML code so you can embed your video on your own website.

• A study by the Wharton School of Business reports that video can be 600% more effective in communicating a message than print. Tap into that power!

Lou Bortone is an award-winning writer and video producer with over 20 years experience in marketing, branding and promotion. As an online video expert, Lou helps entrepreneurs create video for the web at www.TheOnlineVideoGuy.com. In addition, Lou works as a freelance writer and professional ghostwriter, with a ghostwriting site at www.GhostwriteForYou.com and a blog at www.GhostwriteGuru.com.

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There are a lot of businesses out there that are competing for the customers. You are looking for a way to attract a loyal few customers for your small retirement business. You are also trying to attract them with some unique feature of your business instead of doing a large amount of advertising and the billing that comes from advertising. This approach of specializing will keep your business small, which is one of our goals, but will differentiate you from the pack.

An example is auto repairs. There are hundreds of shops in your area that will work on almost any type of car. They stock some frequently used parts and work with auto parts dealers to get immediate delivery of common parts for commonly owned vehicles. But it is not so easy if you have a 1960’s Porsche or Corvette. People taking these cars in for repairs may have to wait a long while to get some parts shipped in and some of the young mechanics may have never seen the insides of these vehicles.

Specialize in repairs of one of these vehicles and you can gain a loyal clientele if you perform good work, have many of the common parts that they use on hand or at lease on overnight delivery from a specialty auto parts dealer, and you have experience in problems with these older cars. You may also have an inexpensive advertising media in a fan club for one of these vehicles since you will only be paying for exposure to people who own the vehicles. Each of these specialty cars has web sites devoted to them where you can do advertising.

Think of your hobby. Look on-line or in catalogues for tools of that hobby. Everyone is carrying the low cost, mass produced tools. But there is always some specialty hand made tools that are available if you know where to look for them. You can specialize in selling these or produce your own like of tools that are more specific to your hobby.

The secret is specializing your business to keep it small and to grow your business through word-of-mouth advertising.

This new weekly column, 101 New Business Ideas for Retirees, is compiled specially for GetEntrepreneurial.com readers by Stan Spector. View all articles in this column by Stan Spector.

Stan Spector is the author of “Baby Boomers’ Official Guide to Retirement Income - Over 100 Part-time or Seasonal Businesses for the New Retiree”. The book's website can be found at StanSpector.com.

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Most people think that working at your hobby would make the best retirement business that they can think about. While I concur with this thinking there are a few warnings that come with this option.

Think about your hobby. Are there supplies that you regularly have to buy? Are these supplies easy to find locally? Can they be cheaply shipped by parcel, which would allow you to sell the items on line and not require you to open a storefront with the associated rents, utilities and staff? This will also allow you to run your business during different time of day at your convenience. If you need storage space, you could rent inexpensive storage areas. If there is a lot of competition for selling supplies, look at carrying specialty items that local stores do not carry. Are there customer made products available for you to sell. The large chain hobby shops, do not like to carry a lot of these specialty items. They go after the mass produced items and the items that sell the most.

Is the product you make from your hobby a sellable product? Everyone thinks they are but I recommend that you buy a booth at a festival and try to sell some of your product. This will give you a change to meet and talk with some of your potential customers. You’d be surprised on how frank they can be to you about your quality, pricing and design. If you are able to sell large amounts at a festival, you have a chance of having a good supplemental business. But don’t go too far until you have proven you can sell enough to make a business from this.

Now for the warnings.

The market frequently is not prepared to spend the cost of your product if there is a (lower quality but functional) product made in a low cost production company that is less than half of the price of yours. If the market is there they will probably demand the highest level of quality and may not consider your work of that level. Remember you are competing against others who have probably been doing this full time for many years.

Don’t even think of renting large amounts of space with all the costs involved, unless you know you will have the sales. This is the quickest way to taking a very big risk with your money.

Don’t think that your hobby equipment will hold up under high demand put on it by you using it for a business. It is probably fine to test the market with it but you will have to buy heavy duty commercial equipment for it to last long and to turn out the highest quality work.

And remember that you have started a business. You are no longer doing this for just fun.

But good luck, this can be the happiest way to make supplemental income during your retirement.

This new weekly column, 101 New Business Ideas for Retirees, is compiled specially for GetEntrepreneurial.com readers by Stan Spector. View all articles in this column by Stan Spector.

Stan Spector is the author of “Baby Boomers’ Official Guide to Retirement Income - Over 100 Part-time or Seasonal Businesses for the New Retiree”. The book's website can be found at StanSpector.com.

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During the summer months, every large city in America is filled with hundreds of festivals. If you are an entrepreneur looking to get into a retail business, these festivals can be an inexpensive way to test out your products to see if it will really attract a large enough customer base to warrant a year around business. But remember when you are writing your business plan; you have avoided a lot of the costs of a permanent location by having a festival business.

You pay a small fee to the festival and have not encountered rent and utilities, which are some of the high expenses for a fixed location. You have also not had to do much in the way of advertising. The festival had done advertising and has a client base that will show up. You only need to have an attractive booth to entice the customers over to your location. Make sure your signage looks professional and is viewable from major traffic centers for the festival.

But many people get into festival sales as their business instead of a trial for their business. With a number of calls you will find a listing of the festivals in a newspaper calendar or an on-line calendar of the festivals for the year. You will see that you can find festivals going 30 weeks in some of the northern climates up to every week of the year in some of the moderate climates. You can work as much or as little as you want or whatever season you want to work by starting a festival business.

There is a lot of work in these businesses that everyone should consider. With a store, you just open the door each morning. But with a festival business, you will have to unload and set up your merchandise every morning and put it away every night. Make sure all of your display methods are bought with this in mind. Items on wheel that you can move along a rough terrain are great. Make sure you have an adequate vehicle to carry all of you set up and merchandise and that you have an easy way of loading and unloading it.

Unsure if you want to get into this business? Go to a festival in your area. During some of the slack time, ask some of the booth owners a lot of questions about their business. Also you may fine one that is willing to hire your for a nominal fee or as a volunteer to help them with the next weekend’s festival. Work a few festivals unloading and setting up each morning with the owner to make sure your really want to do that many weekends during the year.

This new weekly column, 101 New Business Ideas for Retirees, is compiled specially for GetEntrepreneurial.com readers by Stan Spector. View all articles in this column by Stan Spector.

Stan Spector is the author of “Baby Boomers’ Official Guide to Retirement Income - Over 100 Part-time or Seasonal Businesses for the New Retiree”. The book's website can be found at StanSpector.com.

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“Caller tune Advertisement” is all about publishing advertisements as caller tunes on user’s mobile phones, so that the callers will listen to the advertisement until the user picks up the phone. In a nutshell, this idea is all about the mobile users trading their ringtone airtime for monetary benefits, which can be used to publish advertisement.

This concept is all about publishing advertisement as a replacement for caller tunes or in-conjunction with caller tunes in user’s mobile phones. In return, users will get monetary benefits like free recharge coupons, discounts in bills, partial reimbursement of bills, free talk minutes, free value adds like free SMS, etc. These kinds of freebies will attract users to allow users to give up their ring tone airtime to place advertisement. Gaining publisher base will be a challenge. A good publisher base means a huge market potential. The success of this advertisement medium will be determined by the publisher base.

This new business idea is patent-pending and its owner, TarryOnline is looking for interested investors.

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If you have good writing skills why don’t you capitalize on this skill for your retirement business? But there is a catch to these types of businesses. Don’t think your main business will be doing the writing. You main business will be selling. You’ll see as I go along what this means.

You could write a book and try to find a publisher to publish your book. It’s a low probability situation that a well known publisher will pick up your first book. You could take your book and have a “self-publishing” company put it together and make it available at all of the on-line book stores and any book store can order it for a customer. But you are the “Chief Marketing Officer” and the hardest part of the job is generating the sales.

If you have an expertise in some industry along with your writing skills, you could produce a newsletter for that industry. Most industries have national and statewide magazines. Focus on a citywide newsletter for that industry. Let companies buy advertisement to sell their spare capacity-time, spare raw material inventory, job openings or their unique expertise. You will have to add a number of industry interest articles each month, much of which you can get from the Internet, with proper approval from the author. You can also write articles about local industry leaders. Much of the work will be maintaining the mailing or e-mailing lists to send the newsletter to and getting it out. You will see that much of your time will be in the advertisement sales and newsletter distribution tasks.

You can also select a small “interest” or “geographic” area and develop a newspaper for that area. College campuses, ethnic groups, noted neighborhoods and hobbyists are some areas you can consider. The hard part of setting up a successful newspaper is finding a sector that businesses will be willing to buy advertisement to reach that audience. Once you have a large enough critical mass of advertisers, it is easy to tailor the articles and reports to be of interest to these groups.

Writers get your quills out and try one of these ideas. It is a low initial investment to get these businesses going. You will put in a lot of your time to get them started but it won’t take too much up front money. Small publications frequently do not provide enough profit for a full time job, but we are looking for businesses that will only supplement your income. More details of each of these ideas can be found in my book.

This new weekly column, 101 New Business Ideas for Retirees, is compiled specially for GetEntrepreneurial.com readers by Stan Spector. View all articles in this column by Stan Spector.

Stan Spector is the author of “Baby Boomers’ Official Guide to Retirement Income - Over 100 Part-time or Seasonal Businesses for the New Retiree”. The book's website can be found at StanSpector.com.

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New retirees are looking for a different type of small business than the general public. If they are on Social Security, they may be penalized if they make over $12,600. Some private retirement policies will also penalize you if you earn money in your retirement years.

Many retirees dream of taking extended vacations or wintering in Florida. They want their new business to work around their life. Many insist that they do not want to have employees since having employees complicates the business and necessitates payroll services, accountants, and workman’s compensation insurance that quickly eat into their profits. They want a business that they can run, possibly with the aid of their spouse, and any outside labor would be hired through an independent contractor. Some of the retirees are looking for a hobby business, making some money while enjoying their hobby and traveling around to locations and conventions for their hobby.

Business brokers try to sell mid-sized businesses costing $100,000 to $1 Million. If the business would fail, this would put a big dent into anyone’s retirement savings. Brokers wouldn’t make much money if they got a 10% commission selling a $3,000 business so they push the larger sized businesses. Likewise, franchises require large up front franchise fees and most of them are centered on businesses that have high start up costs. But retirees should look for businesses that cost under $5,000 to start and try to fund these businesses out of their own pocket. Most of the low investment businesses would fall into the service sector where you are really selling your specialized skilled labor time.

And all of these goals are really possible. The following criteria will be used for businesses in this column.

• They are mini-businesses run by the owner and the spouse with no one on the payroll.
• They should be able to start up the business for $3,000 to $5,000. Many of the people who start these businesses may decide to grow the business with more investment after they have proven their business can produce good cash flow to them.
• No long term lease commitments (space or equipment)
• They are seasonal or part-time businesses. They will not require the 60 to 80 hours a week to start them that most start-up businesses require.
• The cash flow may be small but on an hourly basis it should be worth the owner’s time. Some may provide a real benefit in tax savings by utilizing portions of you house or apartment, allow you to travel to hobby conventions as a business expense or renting property you own to the business.

I will try in future columns to provide you with some new ideas for your business start-up that meet these criteria.

This new weekly column, 101 New Business Ideas for Retirees, is compiled specially for GetEntrepreneurial.com readers by Stan Spector.

Stan Spector is the author of “Baby Boomers’ Official Guide to Retirement Income - Over 100 Part-time or Seasonal Businesses for the New Retiree”. The book's website can be found at StanSpector.com.

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Business Advice Pro: Entrepreneurs spend days, weeks, months in order to come up with new products which, very often, might not even sell. But what if you could see its selling power before you create the product?

This would mean you don’t spend the time nor money to create products or services that won’t sell. In a very broad view, it might look like I’m suggesting you to become a scam artist, but just think about it. You are not selling air. You are actually selling a product which you don’t have yet. But if you see the product would actually sell, you make it happen, you create the product.

When selling something that does not exist, you test the waters. You see if people have any interest towards it. If you get a lot of people to sign up for free, you already have a knowledge that this product actually has the power to sell. And if that’s so, you will start working on it, if needed 24/7 for two weeks in a row. You now know it is going to sell like crazy (if you won’t make any fatal mistakes during the actual selling process that is). You already have a certain number of people who are interested in buying your product. You know it because they have subscribed via your free subscription form. Just to be notified when the product gets ready.

Selling something that doesn’t exist (yet) [Business Advice Pro]

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WSJ.com: Sick of cleaning sticky floors after bouts of beer pong, a popular campus drinking game, recent Northwestern University graduates Andy Wright and Mike Johnson put their engineering degrees to use. They devised a triangular rubber mat that helps keep plastic cups of beer from toppling over.

Then they started marketing the mats through their online company, Bottle Cap Technologies, for $9.99. They say they have sold more than 100 since April and are negotiating to sell 1,000 in one swoop to an online store called drinkingstuff.com. "Now, you don't have to clean up the mess and you don't waste beer," says Mr. Johnson.

These guys aren't exactly Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. But Messrs. Wright and Johnson, both 22 years old, are part of a new wave of young people trying to make money tapping into their peers' devotion to beer pong, a cross between ping-pong and beer chugging. As beer-pong season hits a peak with the start of the school year, these beer-pong entrepreneurs are running tournaments and peddling customized beer-pong tables, balls and apparel.

Thwock, Gulp, Kaching! Beer Pong Inspires Inventors [WSJ.com]

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Businesspundit: If you want to be an entrepreneur but need a business idea, consider renting ducks. It's apparently doing very well in Germany.

Germans are lining up to rent farm animals to help with the gardening as part of a new green scheme. Werner Kiwitt, who runs an ecological park in Schleswig-Holstein, is offering sheep to cut the grass and ducks to eat the slugs.

He said: "You get free fertiliser provided by the animals as well, so it's not a bad deal."

Who would have thought you could turn sheep and duck doo into a selling point? Now that's a good entrepreneur.

Weird Business Ideas: Rent a Duck [Businesspundit]

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WhatIThinkAbout.com: 1. Since the point of a business is to trade things, we should start by thinking about what other people need. This is easily done by just thinking about the things you think “sucks”. Do you wish you can get from point A to point B without having to drive? Do you wish that it was easier to clean your bathroom? Are the current solutions for these problems really horrible in your opinion? There are just tons of things throughout the day that you wish were better. Make a long list of all of these things.

2. Go down your list of things. Is there anything in there that you are particularly interested in? For example, let’s say one of the things on your list if that you think people need to be hugged more and you happen to like hugging people. This would be a perfect business opportunity to consider because you understand why people want to be hugged and you already know how to solve that problem (by hugging them). Circle all of these opportunities that you are interested in and have some expertise in (or would like to spend the time and acquire that expertise).

3. Who are your potential clients? Well, if we go back to the hugging example, it’s potentially everyone. Of course, people are probably not going to buy hugs for themselves, but someone can definiately buy it for someone else, kind of like a birthday card or a singing telegram. “Buy a Hug For a Friend”. “Buy a Hug For Your Sweetie on Valentine’s Day” (like if you’re far away or something). This step determines how big your market is and ultimately, how much money you can make.

4. How hard is it to get into the business? This is important to know because it determines how hard it is to get started, and more importantly, how hard it would be for other people to copy you should you become successful. The hugging business seems relatively low barrier of entry to me, since anyone can just make a website or list an internet ad (pretty easy to do). However, if you eventually establish a brand, like “Mom’s Hugs” or something, then that would become a barrier to overcome for your competitors.

How To Come Up With Good Business Ideas [WhatIThinkAbout.com]

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BusinessWeek: How can people distinguish between a great idea and a good idea? You make a list of all the things that have to work in order for the idea to be successful. That means focusing on the process rather than the product. For instance, distribution: Where is the product sold to the consumer, and are there middlemen? Who's selling it for you? What's the pricing model? Where do you get the raw materials? What's your marketing strategy, and how will it scale?

Then you give yourself an honest appraisal of whether it's going to work, recognizing that not one of the people whose help your success depends on cares about your idea unless it helps them make money. I can't tell you how many people I talk to think they have a brilliant idea and can't figure out why other people don't agree.

Vetting Your Idea [BusinessWeek]

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CNNMoney: Three pairs of women's shoes. A box of record albums. Stereo equipment. A stovetop. A quill and ink bottle. A wicker basket. An acoustic guitar. A dehumidifier.

As I write, all those things and more are being offered for free on my local Freecycle Network. By the time you read this, they'll be taken. As the saying goes, one man's trash is another man's treasure.

With more than 4,000 Freecycle networks operating in 75 countries, and with more than 3.5 million members signed up to give things away and take them, that's lot of trash or treasure, all of it kept out of landfills.

The Freecycle Network is an amazing Internet phenomenon. In four years, it's become one of the most effective environmental groups around. It's also an example of how social networking - the connections between people made on such Web sites as MySpace and Facebook - can be used to address social and environmental problems.

The amazing Freecycle story [CNNMoney]

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Blogtrepreneur: Everyone on the net is searching for that big idea, that one thought or brainwave that will transform their internet lives into being small and unknown to being an A-list celebrity (or bloglebrity) and mega-rich (having sold your site to Google of course).

But it’s easier said than done. With the multitude of blogs and websites out there, each and every niche is becoming saturated and full to the brim with the same clones of the original. First it was the pixel sites which tried to claw on the back of Alex Tew, then Digg clones and now Youtube clones - no-one these days seems to be taking the time to create that one big site that will dominate all.

Having just broken up for the summer holidays (or vacation for the Americans out there), I felt that I needed to get that one massive idea that would springboard me from being an average Joe blogger. These are the methods I used in attempting such a feat:

1. What have you achieved so far?
2. Stick to your comfort zone.
3. Research, research, research.
4. Plan to the final detail.

How You Can Find That One Big Idea [Blogtrepreneur]

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Telegraph: Young British entrepreneurs are launching a new website to house spare business ideas that can be developed by anyone that finds them interesting. James Murray Wells, the twenty four-year-old multi-millionaire founder of www.glassesdirect.co.uk, and Oli Barrett, founder of new ideas company Connected Capital, are behind the venture. It will be launched this week and is called IdeaVolcano.com

More than 100 entrepreneurs and business advisers have already signed up to the site during its testing phase. Mr Murray Wells said all the entrepreneurs he encountered had more ideas than they could handle and the site would allow them to realise their potential. "There’s a lot of people with good ideas and lots of people that are looking for good ideas," he said. "That’s what we are hoping to do with Idea Volcano, putting these people together."

Website will help entrepreneurs to develop business ideas [Telegraph]

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Entrepreneur: If your restaurant isn't accepting online reservations, you may want to rethink your web presence. About 7,000 high-end restaurants around the world use OpenTable, a San Francisco-based company that allows eager eaters to book online reservations.

The company, which started in 1999, wasn't accepted by the restaurant community right away, but has slowly gained momentum, especially over the last couple of years. Another perk of the software: You can use it to keep track of idiosyncrasies of hundreds or even thousands of your guests.

Restaurants pay OpenTable a dollar per diner who books through their service. But according to industry insiders, it's worth it. "It's not a cheap solution, but it's a good one," says Laurence Kretchmer, co-owner of three restaurants with Bobby Flay.

Online Reservations Get Popular [Entrepreneur.com]

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 Local Paper Wrapper » Inhabitat: Here’s a source for gift wrap paper that is as beautiful as it is eco-conscious. Known as The Local Paper, these...

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