Archive for January 2004
Home Based Business Opportunities: Colleges have tremendous circulation of their bulletins and newspapers. Their price per run on advertising is very inexpensive for the number of prospects reached. Believe it or not, multi-millions of dollars are spent by students each semester. If you have a new idea or product, run a test ad in one [...]
The Occupational Adventure: “If they’re not ready to make a grand leap and change careers, I encourage people to take a dual track approach to pursuing their passion. Keep their day job, but start taking the steps on the side to build toward what they really want to be doing, even if it’s a long-term [...]
Entrepreneurial Mom Turns the Table on Work at Home Scams
PRWeb: “As a mom, wife and Business grad, Debbie Rich searched high and low for a real work at home opportunity. Like most moms, she wanted to be home to raise her son and still have a successful career that would earn income. Experienced in daycare, Rich says she has witnessed some horrific treatment of [...]
Get Your Product Listed And Sold Through Millions Of Mail Order Catalogs
Home Based Business Opportunities: An average mailing by a small, one person mail order company is generally about a thousand pieces, and many such operators rarely mail more than a hundred pieces per week. If you know your conversion statistics, you know that the order return on mailings is about 1% to 2% when using [...]
Going to the Super Bowl is a Money Loser
Boston.com: “‘The actual act of going to the Super Bowl is a net dollar loser,” said Jonathan Kraft, ‘but there’s a psychic value that you can’t put a dollar figure on that comes with winning championships. For us, the most important factor is the intrinsic value of winning. Our family and this franchise is in [...]
Internet prominent in US fraud complaints
InternetPolicy.net: “2003 was the first year in which “Internet fraud” accounted for more than half of all fraud complaints filed in the United States, according to a report released this week by the US Federal Trade Commission.” Junk business opportunities were among the most popular scams reported.
The FTC has a good page detailing some of the classic work at home schemes: Many ads omit the fact that you may have to work many hours without pay. Or they don’t disclose all the costs you will have to pay. Countless work-at-home schemes require you to spend your own money to place newspaper [...]
Sources Of Free Commission Circulars
Home Based Business Opportunities: This list was current at time of publication. However, suppliers sometimes change their policy. Most offer free circulars, you pay only the postage costs. Suppliers are listed below: A & M Sales co., 3241 Hayne Ave., Chicago, IL 60618; Cavazos Advertising, 1952 S. King Rd., San Jose, CA 95122, Ace Products, [...]
Meal-preparation firm signs up 36 franchisees
Business Journal: “Dream Dinners started in early 2002 as a monthly gathering of co-founder Stephanie Firchau’s friends, who wanted to socialize for a few hours while they put together a month’s worth of meals to take home, freeze and cook later. It turns out her friends weren’t the only ones interested in the idea. With [...]
John Robb: “A futures exchange that lets you make bets on the candidates for President. Trade often, trade early. The two top traders win a trip to the inauguration. BTW, Dean’s stock is in the tank.” Try it, perhaps if your good trading is a skill you could use in a new business?
Economists Say Recession Started in 2000
Washington Post: “The last recession may have started in the last months of the Clinton administration rather than at the beginning of the Bush administration. The panel of economists that serves as the official timekeeper for the nation’s recessions is considering moving the starting date for the most recent economic decline back to November or [...]
The Business Case for The Business Case for Web Accessibility
Andy Budd, knowing that you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, makes a good positive businesses case to businesses to embrace web accessibility: The positive aspects of having an accessible website are: Ability to tap into affluent niche markets like the "Silver Surfer" or people using PDA’s and phones to access the [...]
→ handymanconnection.com Handyman Connection? is the leading provider of small to medium-sized home repair and remodeling services to residential customers in North America. All home improvement work is done by craftsmen who have a minimum of 10 years? experience in their trade. Handyman Connection specializes in the small to medium size home repair and remodeling [...]
The Self Employed Have Real Jobs
The jobless recovery isn’t jobless – many people are moving from traditional jobs to self employement: “Employment in establishments rose to a very high level in the late 1990s, in part at the expense of self-employment. Some part of the current weakness in establishment jobs and strength in the household survey is a reversion to [...]
The 4th annual Franchise Times 200 is out. The study ranks the top franchise systems according to systemwide sales and units. The top 10 are: McDonald’s 7-Eleven Carlson Wagonlit Travel Burger King KFC Pizza Hut Wendy’s International, Inc. Coldwell Banker Real Estate Marriott Hotels Resorts, & Suites Subway Restaurants
→ closets-by-design.com Closets By Design® Franchise Features An eighteen-year history of success Established and proven business operating practices On-going support A strong image and market identity as an industry leader and innovator Proven marketing and advertising programs Exclusive, prime operating territories still available Cash collection before delivery Closets By Design® Management System – computer management [...]
→ tiresplus.com When you are granted a Tires Plus franchise, you acquire an entire operating system for a state of the art tire retail facility. Experienced, talented management team State of the art in store computer system and backup team Support seven days a week Valuable name recognition in the United States Sophisticated market analysis [...]
Home Based Business Opportunities: There have been entire volumes written on mail order selling. For printed information the best way to learn HOW & WHERE to advertise is to go to your newsstand and check through all the magazines carrying large numbers of classified and space ads. Magazines like Popular Science, Field & Stream, Outdoor [...]
KioskNews: “Financial services provider MFS Enterprise is to launch a kiosk franchise business next month offering a wireless applications download service. The company’s chief executive, Jiradej Poonmanothum, said yesterday that the franchise would feature kiosks, or a booth, offering downloads ranging from games and entertainment content to financial solutions.”
The Benefits of Creating A Business Plan
The Family Corner: “When I started my first business I didn’t have a solid, well thought-out business plan. I threw together a rough one that I used to apply for a bank loan (which I didn’t get, by the way). If you take the time to research and put together a small business plan, you [...]
Are You Crazy? You Can’t Make Money Doing That!
The Family Corner: “It sounds so simple, doesn’t it? Just do what you love and watch the money roll in. It makes sense, but many people get hung up in one particular area when trying to make this whole concept work. ‘What do I LOVE to do?’ As busy moms, wives, PTA presidents, car-poolers, Sunday [...]
Is A Home-Based Business Right For You?
About: Can you successfully run your business out of your home? Starting a Home-Based Business Checklist Zoning Neighbourhood Suitability Property Suitability House Suitability Family Considerations Work Style Entrepreneurial Qualities
12 Tips for Working from Home But Keeping it Under Control
The Fuzzy Blog!: 12 Tips for Working from Home But Keeping it Under Control Dress For Success A Regular Schedule Take a Real Lunch Break Avoid Email During Off Hours Avoid IM During Off Hours Keep the PC in a Separate Room Keep the Room Closed Make a List of Daily Goals Then Go “Home” [...]
Wiggin & Dana LLP operate the Franchise Law Blog, where they discuss and link to current franchise law news. Lots of good stuffs. Check it out.
The birth of a home gift business let Mandy Fristoe stay home with her kids. Fristoe are her company Polkadots & Moonbeams are profiled in the Richmond Times-Dispatch: “Mandy Fristoe, perhaps indirectly, drew on the essence of hers to create a product that stems from a business that allowed her to re-create the comfort zone [...]
Starting a business? Boost your odds by picking right one.
The News Tribune and Gregory Baer author of Life: The Odds list the top 10 small businesses by profit-to-loss ratio: Surveying services Contract pilot flying pontoon planes Contract drivers for bus and limo transport Optometrists Other highway passenger transportation, such as shuttle services Fuel oil dealers Dentists Textile mill products Funeral services Painting and paperhanging [...]
→ honorslearningcenter.com The Honors Learning Center franchisees offers students in grades K-12 supplemental, individualized, academic programs in reading, math, study skills, SAT/ACT prep, etc. Comprehensive academic testing (pre-admission) used to develop the instruction prescription of materials and curricula to deal with the student’s special needs. Remedial programs to catch up and enrichment programs for advanced [...]
→ norwalkfurnitureidea.com Norwalk – The Furniture Idea is connecting with today’s upscale, fashion-oriented home enthusiasts in a big way. Our unique 4000-5000 square foot specialty stores offer a pleasant, idea-filled shopping atmosphere that excites the senses and inspires sales. If the need is for unique home furnishings, Norwalk ? The Furniture Idea is the solution. [...]
→ coolbrandsinternational.com CoolBrands is a leading franchiser of retail frozen dessert outlets in North America and more than 80 countries worldwide. Yogen Fruz: The words “Yogen Fruz” are rich in imagery. Yogen conjures the image in consumer minds of “yogurt”, while Fruz can mean “frozen”, “fresh” and “fruit”, all of which apply very nicely to [...]
FTC Files Work-at-Home Complaint
DMNews: “The Federal Trade Commission announced a complaint yesterday against a Florida marketing operation it accused of selling fraudulent work-at-home plans. Vinyard Enterprises and Sunshine Advertising & Marketing, both of which operated under several business names, and three individuals involved with the companies received complaints”
When you’re just starting out, you can use as much free stuff as possible, right? Free After Rebate points to stores that sell products that end up being free after you send in for a rebate. via GlennLog.
Robert Cringley explains how he thinks some is going to make tons of money with WiFi: Here’s how the process works. I call it WhyFi. First we need to encourage what are essentially noncommercial hotspots and we do that not by revenue sharing but by providing free equipment. Anyone who wants to start a hotspot [...]
Best Business Opportunities For Starting A Small Business
About.com: “Is starting your own business on your to-do list this year? If you’re looking for business ideas, I’ve put together a list of the top ten business opportunities for 2004 – the best business opportunities for people starting small businesses… The keys to business success this year will be personalization and talent. It’s going [...]
Post Office Doesn’t Have A Clue
According to Fast Company, the post office doesn’t know how many stamps they sell every year. What the heck? via Seth Godin.
→ ritasice.com And the true reason for the success of Rita’s goes beyond the quality and tastiness of the water ice. It’s a feeling that can be found at each store, one that’s brought to life by each franchise owner. It’s the reason people look forward to a trip to Rita’s — they know that [...]
The Big List of Business Weblogs
Over on Marketing Wonk, they’re keeping a “big list of business weblogs”. If you need something to read for inspiration, try there.
Entreprenuer magazine has reviewed the ins and outs of starting a day spa: “Day spas offer the same beauty and wellness services as pricier destination spas and resorts but don’t require the same time commitment. According to the ISPA 2002 Spa Industry Study from the International SPA Association (ISPA), there were nearly 156 million spa [...]
Internet use grows to 69 percent of US adults
AFP: “More than two-thirds of American adults were users of the Internet in 2003, according to a poll published by market research company Harris Interactive. The figure of 69 percent of those polled represents around 146 million people. Internet use among adults is growing constantly, Harris Interactive said, noting that the figure had risen from [...]
QuickLearn Computer Training Services
→ quicklearncomputertraining.com Provides computer training and consulting services to all types of clients. We also specialize in various computer trainig packages to help others start their own computer and consulting business. Contact Information QuickLearn Computer Training Services 2333 Mountain Springs Road Cabot, Arkansas 72023 501-843-4806 Fax: 501-843-4806
The essence of entrepreneurship is the ability to spot an opportunity and the willingness to go after it despite the risks. Despite limited capital and zero experience, Dave Anderson concluded that it was the ideal time to go into business for himself. How’s he different from you?
→ floorcoveringsintl.com Floor Coverings International is the ‘Flooring Store at your Door.’ FCI is the first and leading mobile ‘shop at home’ flooring store. Customers can select from over 3,000 styles and colors of flooring right in their own home! All the right ingredients are there to simplify a buying decision. We offer all the [...]
Home Based Business Opportunities: The word “Press Release” seems to scare most people to death. On top of that not many people take the time to even think of writing their own Press Release. We hope this brief article will help clear up some of the mystery’s surrounding this simple form of marketing. The first [...]
How To Avoid Common Advertising Mistakes
Home Based Business Opportunities: Advertising isn’t hard to do. You prepare an advertisement or write a classified ad to sell your product or generate interest to send people more information. But the way most people make mistakes is either by their inability to write effective ad copy and by sending it to be published in [...]
Using Your Products as a Prop in a Movie or a TV Show
Home Based Business Opportunities: Casual advertising is one of the most effective way to present your product to the market, and by placing them as props in movies or TV shows, your product is exposed to a wide audience based, and with some implied level of endorsement. When Clark Kent spooned Cheerios into his mouth [...]
Basics Of Promotion Advertising
Home Based Business Opportunities: Promotion advertising differs significantly from consumer franchise-building advertising. The latter is long-term in nature and aimed at giving customers reasons to buy. Promotion advertising is short-term. It pushes for the order by providing incentives, coupons, rebates, premiums and contents. The usual medium for promotion advertising is print. Some big-budget advertisers use [...]
The Cheapest Way To Distribute 81/2 X 11″ Circulars
Home Based Business Opportunities: Co-op Mailing (short for co-operative) means that two or more businesses share in the cost and distribution of a direct mail campaign. It’s kind of like having you and another non-competing business split the cost of printing, assembling and mailing an advertising flyer to a shared (same) marketbase. Co-op dealing is [...]
Marketing Your Own Products And Ideas
Home Based Business Opportunities: One of the main problems within the “inner circle” of the mail order business is that everyone is selling everyone else’s products. Pages crammed full with commission dealerships is turning a good thing out of hand. It’s been said over and over again, but newcomers to the industry should realize that [...]
