Happy 4th of July from all of us at the Business Opportunities Weblog.

Photo by mugley.

These posts have had recent comments:

A reader wrote in to tell me about his business opportunity:

Hi Dane, I have a math education software program I license to schools and sell to homeschoolers. I’m looking for educators, probably retired, to represent CapJaxMathFax to their local school districts and homeschoolers in their area.

It’s a part time opportunity, but we’re offering over $300 per school the first license year and $150 per school per year after that. Current retail to homeschoolers is $45.00, discounted 50% to agents.

More info is available at www.capjax.com.

From the site:

Elementary and Montessori teachers use math drills for basic math training and assessment. Many teachers rely on homework with flashcards to build math learning. CapJaxMathFax Math software works best to teach arithmetic skills: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The goal is numeracy and automaticity.

If you’re a mom and you don’t know about Mommy Perks, you are missing out!

For the mom who is looking for an opportunity to work from home, they offer an opportunity through their Representative program. For other moms who are looking for great discounts, advice, and a community of women they can related to will find that through the free membership. If you have a parenting question, their very own Dr. Sally might be able to help.

I got a chance to talk with Shara about all these great aspects of her website, and what moms like her can find when they visit.

What is Mommy Perks and what do you offer?

Mommy Perks is a free online savings program for moms, nation-wide. We offer discounts and perks from each business listed. We have contests, giveaways, freebies, informative newsletters, events in varying states, etc. We have secured Dr. Sally Goldberg, PhD as our resident parenting blogger - she offers free parenting tips on her blog and is the author of 7 parenting books (currently working on her 8th!). We have a great kid’s page, also, with various experts writing articles and ideas for kids about music, health, culture, arts, and crafts and more. Our GreenScene page gives simple green living tips and we have a Resale Shop coming soon - we are very excited about that! A safe and affordable way to buy and sell for the whole family - yay1

How does someone become a Mommy Perks Representative and how does it work?

We used to accept any mom who wanted to be a Rep. We now screen the forms more closely (which research tells us is far more effective when running a business like ours) that come through to make sure the moms are a good fit for Mommy Perks, before offering a Rep spot. We get inquiries almost daily now and many moms are unaware of the amount of time and effort we put into each Rep - to train, answer questions, give them marketing materials, run the website (which we have to pay for, of course), etc. Therefore, we do require an annual investment. Rather than make Mommy Perks a “franchise” (the cost of this is VERY high and would require that we charge thousands of dollars to buy in) we have chosen to offer Rep spots for a low annual investment of $200. This fee can be paid back with the sale of just a few ads and this way, no mom will ever need to take out a loan to work with us. All Reps earn 50% of any ads that come into their area or any ads they sell. Mommy Perks maintains the entire website and we do not charge the Reps a web fee of any kind. Reps can also earn money by referring others to the Resale Shop (once it’s open) and by selling newsletter spots, goodie bag spots in their own areas at events, etc. We provide each Rep with a press release to send out, banners, buttons, fliers, tips, ideas for marketing and more. We are growing a team… not just a business.

What do people get from a membership at your website?

To become a member (the moms) is free. Each member is entered into a shopping spree contest and will receive 2-3 emails each month from us offering tips, recipes, events, discounts from our partners, charity info - all kinds of things. They may shop the business on our site and take advantage of the discounts and “perks” by using their membership card number. They get that number after joining on our free JOIN page. They are also welcome to read the blogs and ask Dr. Sally their parenting questions - no charge.

Why did you decide to start your website? How long has it been since you launched?

The founder, Lori, started Mommy Perks as a way to supplement her own family income, after her husband lost his job (unfairly). The site was started in 2005. Since that time it’s grown at a steady pace. In 2008, Lori sold the business to me and my partner, Lorraine. We took on a new professional web designer (my work at home husband, Rick!) and since then, the membership on our site has doubled and we are now growing at a rapid pace. Some days I can barely keep up with the emails and phone calls coming in.

What are some of your long term goals?

Oh, boy, so many! To get our Resale Shop up, to add more great Reps to our team so we can continue to thrive, to offer more moms the chance to work from home and earn a living selling something that every business NEEDS: marketing! We want to always keep our rates affordable so that any small and mom-owned business can afford to advertise with us. We plan to run more events around the nation - family events, etc. We’ve been called by a couple of very large companies recently, asking to work with us in some way. I can’t give names but hopefully some of those details will come through and it will benefit all of us - the Main Office, the Reps, the advertisers and the members. We consider ourselves a “community” of sorts - moms who support each other and see the importance of supporting small business. We work hard to refer our advertisers to others who might need/want their services and products. Long-term, we hope to add more great and unique businesses to our site so we have more people to refer! I ask often if we have someone for cupcakes or lawn work or for this or that. I’d love to have someone in every category in every city for business…

How much planning went into building Mommy Perks to the website it is today? What were some of the steps you had to take?

You don’t want to know how much time! LOL. Hours and hours and hours to get the site where it is today. Lots of changes have been made and we have listened to the input of many members and advertisers who told us how the site would function and work better. By putting a professional web designer in charge we have been able to shift from being a good site to a GREAT site. That took planning and thinking and talking through what the ‘public’ was telling us and then integrating that into a system that would work Online for everyone… everywhere. Not easy but we are getting there.

If you could go back and do something differently, what would it be and why?

Hmm… I guess if I had to pick something I’d have made sure my husband was in charge of the website sooner - LOL. He has done such amazing work and we have had so many compliments on the changes - it would have been nice if that had happened even sooner. That being said, I really believe that God is in control and everything happens in His timing. So there was a reason for all of this coming about in due time just as it has meant to. I am fine with that.

What kind of investment did it take to get started?

When Lori began the business the investment was minimal, other than her time. However, to buy her out cost me a pretty penny. We had to take out a loan, let’s put it that way. And my co-partner also had to take out a loan to buy her share. So we have invested a great deal of money and TIME to get this business to where we want it to be.

Did you have any previous experience that you were able to apply to your website?

Yes, actually, we did. My husband has been doing web design and development for 20 years and has run his own home business for 10+ years (www.dmpros.com). He is doing very well so he brought all kinds of wisdom and knowledge to Mommy Perks and we learn a LOT from him every day. I own another business as well (www.personalchildstories.com) and have built that business up quickly with little financial investment - by making great connections and networking contacts, etc. I run workshops at local bookstores and have created custom books for people all over the country and as far as Australia. My books are in numerous locations as samples now and my networking connections have helped greatly with Mommy Perks, to boot. Lorraine, my partner, owns another business also (www.littletreasuresofarizona.com). She has brought a lot of business know-how and contacts with her for Mommy Perks, too. Together, the three of us are able to share tips, market, network, finds leads, partner with others, work trades, etc.

How have you managed your time between working and parenthood?

That is a tough one. We try hard to give our kids time and attention but because we BOTH work from home, it can be rough. The kids see us working and think we ought to be playing since we are home, after-all! They don’t quite grasp that we need to have some set work hours and THEN play. We are building a home office outside right now so that we can take turns being out there and away fromt he main home. That way, the kids will see that one of us is working in the office at varying times and find it easier to associate work hours verses home hours.

What advice do you have for other women interested in finding a way to work from home?

I think my #1 piece of advice would be this: don’t do it if you think it will be easier. It’s not easy. It takes drive and determination to make a home business run. Just like any other job, you need to be committed if you want things to come to fruition. Nothing happens on it’s own and money doesn’t just come in the mail without earning it. If you worked at Target and did a poor job, you’d lose your position, right? A home business is no different. If you don’t put in the time and effort and great customer service, it will be lost. Period.

Take the time to think through what you like to do and what you are good at. That is key. What are your likes and dislikes? If you hate sales, don’t do sales. If you love kids, look into childcare. If you love to read and write, try freelancing. If you enjoy creating with your hands, try woodworking or glass creations. Do what you love and you will love what you do. Success, in my opinion, is not measured by sales but rather by the joy and excitement you feel after spending the day doing what you were meant to do.

Rhonda Abrams, USA Today:

Independence: it’s been a goal of Americans for over 230 years.

Entrepreneurs are particularly independent.

We throw off bosses like the colonists threw off the king.

No matter how risky starting a business seems, to us it’s the route to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

While we started our companies to be independent, did we lose that freedom along the way?

Have we allowed ourselves to become subjects of the petty demands of our businesses?

Take some time this holiday weekend to contemplate why you do…what you do.

Photo by Americas Library.

NZHerald:

Watching DIY entrepreneur Angela Beer totter down a steep driveway in 10cm heels and designer fur-trimmed coat, it’s hard to picture her on a building site. She’s clutching an over-sized handbag, not a 30-piece toolkit.

Beer launched Hello Dolly in 2006, with five products, meagre funds and a huge ambition to go global. The range now includes 37 products and another 15 are in the pipeline. It retails in 700 stores throughout New Zealand and 2000 in Australia and Beer has lost track of the international stores carrying the range.

Real blokes might scoff at the ultra-feminine Hello Dolly range of DIY tools. Surely the hammer with dainty pink handle and diamantes isn’t up for the job? Beer, 35, has a worldwide following for her range of DIY products. There’s a toolkit for the home and garden, and even a raunchy one for the bedroom (think sexy negligee, riding crop and spanking paddle).

Image via NZHerald

WCSH6.com:

Andy Tyne hopes the rising price of gas helps his new business thrive. He recently bought a rickshaw and is now riding it around town. Tyne said he decided to buy the bike and carriage to ride his children back and forth to scool, but then realized it could make him some money.

“I run another business on the side. I’m a chimney sweep and I guess maybe I’ve inhaled too much soot,” said the owner of Broadway Rickshaw. “I’m always thinking of something different to do. A mobile hot dog stand. But this one seemed to fit more with our family and the community’s needs.”

His plans are to take tourists around town to show them some of the local flavor. “Of course we’ll talk about the water, Penobscot River, the history of Bucksport because of the water,” he said. He’ll also talk about Fort Knox, show them some of the historic homes and at Halloween time tell stories of hauntings.

Image via WCSH6

It may not be as EASI as it seems, but Energy Automation Systems Inc. might make it feel that way for their customers. This business offers a service which helps their clients make changes that will visibly lower their electric bills. They have been offering these services since 1978.

An EASI Affiliate Dealer can get their chance in the business using their available affiliate opportunities. They will be given a variety of services and products to offer customers that have been developed and delivered since the beginning.

Each consultant is trained for the work they will be doing. By the time they are done with training they should know how to gather and analyze all the factual, testing and historical data needed to evaluate and find ways to help clients maximize their electrical efficiency. There is no inventory needed and it’s a home based business with you working the hours you are available.

This opportunity is available internationally including the US and Canada. The minimum investment is $45,000.

It’s not hard to find health insurance for ourselves, but if we want pet insurance to help cover our loved ones if something happens that’s a whole different story. Trupanion is looking for some people interested in a territory partnership. They want to expand into new areas and to do that they need people interested in a business that will help pet owners insure their best friends in a world of growing vet bills.

This is an opportunity that works out best for those that have a passion for animals themselves. They will be able to realize the true benefits of making sure pets can receive the care they need. With only a small percentage of pets covered, insurance is a great area to help others while generating a profit with a simple home-based business.

There are many benefits offered by Trupanion to their partners. Some of which include:

• Setting your own schedule. You will be able to choose what days and times you make your appointments, seminars and meetings. That way you can work around other engagements you may have in your life.
• The opportunity to work in your own city. If the territory hasn’t been contracted out already, you will be able to take on that area for yourself. Once the contract has been signed, you have exclusive rights.
• Using your passion for animals to your benefit. The best part of this business is doing something for the pets you love and the cherished pets of others.

An opportunity such as this has a minimum investment of $25,000 with availability in the US and Canada.

If taking a plain looking room and making it look unbelievable is something you enjoy, then you might love the Decor & You franchise opportunity.

Backed by a brand, they offer buying power to find the best possible prices for all the items you’ll need to do the job. That way you can set your services at a price that is competitive. When it comes to starting and running a business, the business model can be very important as well. Their model is proven and is bound to aid you in your own success.

Another benefit is their creative support. you will have access to a network of people that you can share creative ideas with, as well as solutions to different business problems. Through this support system you’ll be able to grow at a rate much faster than what it would be if you went at it alone.

They offer two forms of their opportunity; a Multi-Unit Regional/Territory Director and DecorDesigner franchise.

Someone interested in being a territory director must be management-oriented as well as business savvy. Having a marketing or management background helps. Under this opportunity you will have a team of individuals that work for you, doing the interior design for you. The total investment can be as high as $200,000.

A decordesigner gets to enjoy the hands on work of interior design while still managing as their own business. Taking on the franchise opportunity in this way is a much lower investment, and can be run out of your home. The total investment can be as high as $79,000, part of that is the $25,000 franchise fee.

DeepLinking:

People have been sketching user interfaces since the birth of the web (possibly even before) but the sketches usually stay locked away in old notebooks and discarded bar napkins. Many of the websites we use started out as scrawlings, and with people like Jakob Nielsen and Bill Buxton spreading the gospel of faster, cheaper paper prototypes.

“Next year’s Twitter” may already exist on paper.

We don’t usually get to see this handmade stage of the web, but some folks have been thoughtful enough to upload photos of their UI sketches, and I find them fascinating.

Jack Dorsey’s original sketch for Twitter

Dan Catt’s concept sketch for Flickr Places

Profile page idea for Vimeo by Sockyung ‘Sox’ Hong

A while back we did an interview with Katja of Skimbaco where I noted about the Oprah mention made about the ladybug shoes that Suri was wearing on her show. Although Katja’s online store sells these great shoes, it is Jenny Ford’s business, Monkey Toes, where they originated from.

These fun shoes are as unique as their maker. The hand painted quality gives them a special trait that you won’t find in bulk products on the market. That’s not all that is great about her, the story behind the business is a good one, too.

What is Monkey Toes? How long has it been since it launched?

Monkey-Toes is a fun line of hand painted children’s shoes and socks. We hand paint characters on to the shoes and socks (these are not hand painted) that transform a blah canvas shoe into a little friend for the feet of kiddos. We launched December of 2002.

What kind of products do you offer? How many styles and colors?

We currently offer 9 different styles of shoes in both tennis shoes and mary janes – in sizes 1-10. We also have 4 different styles of socks – Ladybugs, Bees, Frogs, Pigs. The colors are vibrant and range from white to pink to green and to denim. Take your pick, you’re bound to find something for finicky feet! We have also created a couple of collections – Teaching Toes – Boogie Monsters. These tennis shoes and mjs (mary janes) teach children their left and right by associating their right and left foot with a name and a different character on the toe – Lefty Lu and Ralphie Right. We have a new addition to this collection coming soon – the Pound Pals – a cat and a dog each individually adorn the right and left toe of the shoes. They are going to be a hit with little girls! We also have a Twinkle Toes Collection – the first released are the LUV bugs. This is a fictional character in pink and purple with glittery accents. We just finished up an Exclusive shoe for Poshtots.com, called the Garden Damselfly. This design is not typical of our usual whimsical designs – it is actually a little more of a realistic painting. It turned out really nice and I hope that the Poshtots.com customers will enjoy it too. We are also getting ready to launch Flutterflies (hot pink and green) and Limited Edition shoes for Halloween - GLOW BUGS. These shoes are the Ladybugs, Bees and Spiders with Glow-in-the-Dark eyes. They are only available August 1 - Oct 15.

We know from a recent interview with Katja, of Skimbaco, that you are where the famous Lady Bug shoes shown on Oprah originated. How has that affected your business?

Any press is great! Especially the opportunity to be on Oprah, who could have planned that any better? It has brought some major recognition to my brand. It was seen by millions upon millions of people. Plus it gives us an “in” or more of a story when contacting the media. It obviously doesn’t create millions of dollars in sales right away because they didn’t give the product name away, but you really get a chance to build your brand. It’s crazy to see how much influence celebs, and their kids, have on what people buy.

How much planning went into making your business what it has become today? What are some of the steps you’ve had to go through?

This is my first business, but probably not my last. I think I started with an exit strategy. All decisions that I make are based on how I plan to exit the company and what I want this company to look like when I do that. Everything I do is a learning experience, and I think the biggest mistakes that I have made have influenced me in the best possible ways – which is kinda weird to say. It has been a really crazy, blessed, horrifying experience all wrapped up into one. At one point when separating from my ex-husband, I was working 2 jobs and keeping Monkey-Toes afloat. Then I went to working 1 part time job and Monkey-Toes. Then I went from no other income to Monkey-Toes as a single mom. I have had very scary moments (i.e., paying the mortgage) being alone and completely financially responsible for my 2 daughters and myself. I relied and still do rely on God to carry me (now us) through those times, I am so blessed to have been brought through the troubled times and to have learned the tough lessons that I did. I will never take anything for granted.

What are some of the most important lessons you’ve learned since launching Monkey Toes?

Oh gosh. Like I said in the last answer, I learned not to take anything for granted. I learned to act on any silly, crazy, outlandish ideas that come to me (especially if they are cheap). I learned that I am really, really innovative when I have no cash to spend – I think outside the box – I can only imagine what I could do with an influx of cash. Don’t feel guilty for taking a little time for yourself (preaching to the choir here), burn-out happens really easily.

If you could go back and change anything, what would it be and why?

Don’t spend frivolously because you have a couple of good sales, don’t spend on silly things like expensive office furniture, business cards, etc. Cash is key – make sure you have it at all times. Surround yourself with smart people. I am not the smartest person all around – no one is, even Donald Trump admits it. He just surrounds himself with the experts. I am working on doing that myself. Admit when you are not good at something! I am horrible at the financial stuff, but I can do it. Learn as much as you can, so you know how to do it and what you are doing to check up on those that are doing it - and then pass it along to someone else.

What are some of the positives and negatives you’ve noticed working from home?

Right now – it’s hot in here! I love working from home, I love working early in the morning with bed head and in my pajamas. I miss some interaction with people, but sometimes I am so focused, I would probably loose any concentration if people were around me. I don’t like feeling guilty sitting on the couch watching TV if I know there are a million other things I could be doing – there isn’t much separation between the office and home, which leads to guilt. There are always things to be done.

Do you have any long-term goals that you would like to meet in the next 5 or 10 years?

I actually want to exercise my exit strategy in about 5 years. This year, I would like to secure some investor growth capital and watch my product lines explode. I want to watch my vision for this company become a reality. (no big plans, right?) In 10 years, who knows, I may be starting something else.

How has being a parent affected how you do business? Are there any traits or benefits you’ve found to be especially useful as a mom and as a business owner?

I think I can go back to the lack of money and thinking outside the box. As a single parent and not doing so well financially, I had to come up with ways to sell my products for little to no money. Well, I was also having to entertain my kids with little to no money as well. Even just a short trip to the library kept them pacified for just a little bit longer. Or making birdhouses out of shoe boxes has been fun (Lord knows we have plenty of those lying around here). I look around the house and am constantly thinking of how something can be improved and how we can do it with little to no money. It’s actually pretty fun now. The kids love it too. I think parenting has limited me from becoming a work-a-holic. I couldn’t begin my day until the kiddos were off at school and I had to end my day when they got out of school at 2:30. And when they were home, I would include them in little Monkey-Toes projects too. They love to help.

How do you manage your time between being with family and working?

It’s a little different now that I am married to a wonderful man, who also happens to be a firefighter and has a great schedule. This totally allows me to get some major work done on the days he is home and then when he is working, I am able to maybe work a couple of hours and then I hang out with them for the rest of the day. I mentally shut off and really try (it’s hard) not to think about what needs to be done. If I have time after they go to bed, then I will start work again.

What would you say to someone if they approached you looking for advice on starting a business?

This is always a difficult question for me, because I really don’t like to be a Debbie Downer, but my honest advice is to make sure you have a bunch of money and a lot of time. Don’t expect to get paid for at least 3 years, that money needs to sink back into the business. Keep positive, this is the best way to achieve things. Get a tough skin – many people will tell you that they can do what you’re doing for cheaper or they can do it better.

Rhonda Abrams at USA Today:

Do you want to sell over the Internet — and actually get paid? Do you sell on the Web now but want to increase the pool of potential buyers? Then you’ll want to know about PayPal, the online payment system celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

Years ago, when we first wanted to sell from our company’s website, we realized we’d have to accept credit cards — that was the only way to get instant payment so we could ship our books and customers could download our software. But opening up a credit card merchant account wasn’t easy — it still isn’t. We had to send in tax returns and financial statements. It took a long time.

You don’t have to go through that hassle. If you want to start accepting credit cards or receiving payments online, you could be up and running with PayPal in about the time it takes you to read this column. Even if you accept credit cards, you may also want to accept PayPal payments because PayPal makes it possible for people without credit cards to make purchases online.

Of course, with such a powerful tool as PayPal, there are competitors. Google and Amazon have checkout services that websites can use to provide secure online acceptance of credit cards. But neither allows non-credit card users to have accounts, and PayPal is by far the dominant player.

Photo by PayPal.

Fortune:

Ramon Reyes had a problem. He could only get sound from one channel on his iPod video player. At first, he thought his ear-buds were busted. But he replaced them with a pricey new pair made by Sony, and it didn’t make any difference.

So on a recent sunny afternoon, Reyes stood outside his office in lower Manhattan, chewing gum, and waiting for a visit from Demetrios Leontaris, better known as the iPod Doctor. Leontaris spends his days cruising Manhattan and tending to the needs of distressed owners of Apple’s ubiquitous portable music player.

Leontaris, a 33-year-old father of three, runs one of at least half a dozen iPod repair services that have sprung up in recent years in New York City. He has plenty of work. Apple has sold 150 million iPods since it introduced its digital music player in 2001.

Leontaris gets some spare parts - headphones input jacks, screens and batteries - from Chinese manufacturers. He extracts the rest out of used and broken iPods he buys from customers. He thinks he has about 50 of them lying around his house right now. “I’ve lost count,” says Leontaris, who also fixes Creative Zens, Microsoft Zunes, RCA Lyras as well as iBooks, MacBooks, Laptops and PDAs.

Photo by Christina Paige.

Expression:

Not having enough money for a comfortable retirement tops the list of financial concerns among aging Americans, according to a recent Gallup Poll. It even outweighs peoples’ worries about having a serious illness or accident.

With statistics showing that Americans can expect to live 20 or more years after reaching retirement age and our longevity continuing to inch upward, these fears could be well founded.

Three out of 10 American workers haven’t saved at all for retirement, and among those who do, many have not saved enough, according to another study. The study showed that three out of 10 workers age 55 or older have saved less than $25,000.

There is an alternative to having to work full-time until we’re in a wheelchair. It’s also a smart choice as we get past age 50 and want to slow down a bit, but still stay active and stimulated. And that’s to gradually make the transition from working full-time as an employee to being in business for ourselves on a contract or per-project basis. By planning ahead, you can gradually turn your job skills into a “microbusiness”
while you are still employed.

When the time comes and you want to make the change, you can do it on your own terms - often by negotiating a contract with your existing employers for 50 percent of your time. There are other ways to make the change, such as negotiating with your employer for a reduced work week, or working from home as a “teleworker” for a few days a week.

Photo by fakhar.

MarcAndAngel.com:

I finished reading David Allen’s unofficial productivity bible, “Getting Things Done” (GTD) about 2 and a half months ago. Since then I’ve made an asserted effort to implement his suggestions. The fundamental goal was to simply increase my daily rate of productive output.

After 2 months of fine-tuning I’m happy to report that I have implemented a productivity system that works really well.

That’s what this short article is about. A crystal clear, 1 minute read on increasing your productivity by using the slightly modified GTD-based methods that have worked for me. Let’s get to it…

1. Create 1 Inbox (Entry Point) for All New Tasks

2. Create “Work”, “Personal” and “Someday Maybe” Folders

3. Completely Empty Your Inbox Every Morning

4. Instantly Complete All 2-Minute (or less) Tasks

5. File All Remaining Tasks with Actionable Labeling

6. Set Reminders in Calendar for Time Dependant Tasks

7. Review Every Open Task a Least Once a Day

8. Create a Short “Everyday” List for Complex Tasks or Projects

For more information on how to use each step, go here.

Photo by miamiamia.

MarketWatch:

When asked whether they would work for someone else if that job promised more money than they currently make, 59% of small-business owners said they’d turn that job down and continue with their own business, according to the monthly survey in June of 1,000 businesses with five or fewer employees. Still, 30% said they’d take that higher-paying job, and 11% said they weren’t sure.

When you factor in all of the time they spend working on their business, many small business entrepreneurs can end up well in excess of the typical forty hour work week of a traditional job, with a similar pay to what they’d have received as employees. So why do they do it?

So why do they do it? Is it because, for some, the idea of working for yourself is more powerful than almost any amount of money?

Is this true for you?

Have you ever come across a vehicle attractively wrapped in advertising for a service that you wanted to remember, but later forgot their name? Derek Slocum thinks he’s solved the problem with CardCaddie Vechicle Outdoor Business Card Holders. While exploring advertising options for his notary service, he attached a plastic business card holder to his car and the CardCaddie was born.

Now your car can distribute your business cards while you work. The holders are weather resistant, keep your cards dry and attach to any solid service with their adhesive backing. Simply attach, fill with cards, and go. Green, white, yellow, blue, red, black and pink are currently available for $14.95.

More photos after the jump.

If you have a restaurant, you’re missing out on a lot of toddler-directed business if you don’t have crayons.

When we’re choosing a family friendly place to eat, we’ll always go with the place with crayons over a restaurant without.

Many small businesses believe that they don’t need a website. They incorrectly assume that since their business is face to face that they don’t need to bother. Unfortunately, as this article by Malcolm Sheppard on PC4Media explains, chances are that they’re already on the internet, and that someone else is controlling their identity and message:

Local Resources: Chatter from locally-focused networks like Kijiji, Craigslist and Facebook may mention an “offline” business in passing. The site might just grab content from local phone directories. These are generally difficult to browse from Google and in some cases (like Facebook); much of the content isn’t searchable at all. Blind searches either won’t find you, or bury you in an obscure sub-page.

Keyword Harvesting: Black hat techniques often rip long tail keywords from local directories. Surfers are likely to find these during targeted searches, when they know your business exists but don’t know anything about its web presence. This creates a high level of expectation - one that’s ruined the moment they hit a useless link farm.

Communities: Facebook, blogs, rating sites like restaurantica.com and online forums let just about anybody sound off about your business - and who knows what they’ll say? The Social Web is a great way to bring people together, but it’s also land of trolls: people who will insult your company, or worse, promote it in an off-putting, abrasive fashion.

Photo by respres.

Opening their doors for the first time in 1990, Baja Fresh has been offering Mexican food that can be enjoyed by everyone while turning away from the manor of fast food. They offer over 40 items on their menu with everything made-to-order. There are no microwaves or lard found here. The food they offer is fresh.

Baja started franchising in 1997 and since then they have grown to 153 franchised restaurants as well as 145 company owned businesses as well. The total investment can be anywhere from $250,000 to $650,000. They’re looking for someone who has restaurant experience already, or a partner that does. The franchise fee is $50,000 with a royalty of 5% and a 10 year agreement.

Sun-Sentinel:

When Judy Schaum realized she was in a constant struggle between her schedule at work and her children’s extracurricular schedules, she decided it was time to reinvent the wheel.

Stealing away to get her three kids to various venues for a soccer practice or other activity was wearing on her and her husband — and their jobs.

“One day I was wondering, how I will get this child here and that one there and by that time, I had been up and down Military Trail four times before it was 11 a.m.,” said Schaum. So two years ago she quit her 25-year job at a women’s clothing retailer to start Boca Sports Bus. She envisioned it as a transportation solution for working parents, in central and western Boca Raton.

Schaum’s buses, which seat up to 33 riders, pick children up from school or other venues and drop them off at another site for a game or activity like a dance lesson. Youngsters might hitch another bus ride from that location onto yet another destination. When the parent is done at work for the day, he or she will pick his or her child up at that location.

Schaum spent more than a year researching and developing her business before rolling out the buses in November 2007. She realized transporting children meant paying close attention to schedules and routes that made sense, addressing security issues and affordability. She hired experienced drivers and a transportation director. And she has two office employees fielding calls, setting up accounts and coordinating services.

Photo by Boca Sports Bus.

GetEntrepreneurial.com:

At a recent networking meeting, I had the opportunity to hear Pernille Spiers-Lopez speak.

Danish born, Pernille immigrated to the United States about 26 years ago as a young woman. After a few jobs that didn’t pan out for her, she found herself working in the Marketplace at Ikea, an international home furnishings retail chain originating from Sweden. Rising quickly through the company, Pernille was vaulted to become President of Ikea North America in 1997.

Here are the keys to success she spoke about:

1. Know your values

2. Grow yourself as a person

3. Be courageous

4. Surround yourself with good people

5. Embrace innovation and change.

6. Be passionate.

7. Take a stand for what you believe in no matter if it’s an unpopular position or meets resistance.

8. Set personal and business boundaries.

Photo by pinkmagazine.

BusinessWeek:

These trailblazers come from all sorts of businesses—automotive, design, technology—unburdened by the conventions of their new industry. They introduce products some consider shocking. Traditionalists scoff at them. But these outsiders are revolutionizing one of the world’s oldest professions: the funeral industry.

It’s a good time to deal in death. The first baby boomers are entering their mid-60s, and the death rate in the U.S. is expected to rise from 8.1 people per thousand in 2006 to 9.3 in 2020, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

Yet the traditional funeral industry is hardly healthy: The Federated Funeral Directors of America, an accounting firm for independently owned funeral homes, found that in the past 20 years, its clients’ profit margins have been cut nearly in half.

Some 44% of funeral home directors, up from 28% in 2006, blame the increasing popularity of cremations and alternative burials for sinking profits, according to consulting firm Citrin Cooperman.

Some funeral homes have responded by offering themed funerals, such as backyard barbecues, while others diversify by hosting weddings and other events.

Enter the entrepreneurs. Clint Mytych, founder and CEO of Eternal Image, was running a luxury car rental company in 2002 when it dawned on him that he’d like a car-themed funeral, and a casket shaped like a 1967 Ford Mustang. But not only could Mytych not find his Mustang casket, he didn’t find anything that he thought had any personality at all. “I mean, nobody says, I am so excited about the Batesville #22 casket’ because it’s made of their favorite wood,” says Mytych.

In 2006 his Farmington Hills-based company introduced the country’s first licensed urn—a twisted bronze spire topped with a cross, licensed from the Vatican Library Collection. Mytych has since signed licensing agreements with the American Kennel Club, Major League Baseball, more than a dozen universities, and most recently, CBS Corp., for the rights to the Star Trek brand. His urns cost about $800, compared with $3,000 for a traditional marble one.

Read more.

Photo by Billy Delfs.

Every woman is built differently. That is why no one shirt or pair of pants will fit the same for each person. Buying off the rack may be convenient, but that comes with a price. Off the rack does not give most women the fitted comfort they all deserve.

Partnering up in business, April and Marin have started their own custom clothing business which specializes in clothing that will continue to be timeless within your wardrobe, and long lasting. At AprilMarin women of all sizes can get clothing made for their bodies at a price much more reasonable than found within other custom clothing businesses.

I got an opportunity to chat with the women within the AprilMarin brand as well as find out a little more about their business and success.

What kind of clothing do you make at AprilMarin?

We make women’s contemporary custom clothing, chic, classic and timeless staples in a women’s wardrobe. We currently offer pencil dresses, suits and jackets.

How do you determine the costs for an item?

Item costs are based on labor time and material. Our aim is to make custom clothing at an affordable price.

Where do you see your business in 5 years?

We just celebrated our 1 year anniversary and this year has far exceeded our expectations. We have had tons of inquiries for our custom jeans and sweaters and we are definitely thinking about it.

What went into the planning to make your business what it is today?

Drive and passion. We are two girls with a mission- we always knew we wanted to do something that made people feel good about themselves! The AprilMarin mission is to give women the chance to look and feel their best with a custom wardrobe. When you look good, you feel good and custom made clothing always makes you feel good.

How did the two of you meet?

We met during our undergraduate studies at Pace University in Pleasantville, NY.

We had many marketing classes together and knew immediately that our love of classic fashion, innovative design and chic style would some day be shared with the world!

What kind of knowledge were you able to bring to the business?

Our eye for fashion, knack for a good bargain and marketing background all play a part in what we bring to the business as well as our ability to multi task, which we think is important in any business.

What makes your business different from the other businesses available?

We heard women from all over of different ages and backgrounds voice that they wanted their clothing to fit, even if they were not a size 2 or 4 and we found the perfect fit!

Classic, simple, contemporary designs with a twist. Customers are able to buy clothing that fits their body type as well as customize the lining of our jackets, all at an affordable price… which is truly unique!

How much of a cash investment did it take to get up and running?

We have put a small amount of cash into the business to start, but we have not sought any outside investments. Since our business is custom and made piece by piece we do not carry inventory, which keeps our cost down.

Is there anything that you would do differently if you could go back and start again?

No, we believe in destiny and good timing and feel that the launch of AprilMarin was done at a great time in the market as well as in our personal lives. We look towards the future for change and innovation, and never look back.

What advice would you offer to someone interested in starting their own business?

Go for it! If you are passionate about something you can make it happen. Also, get your idea out there… it is not bragging… it’s networking and you would be surprised how people will support you.

Just Make Money Online:

If you’re wondering how you can monetise Facebook, then here are some ideas for you -

1. Find new business clients. Whether you’re a consultant, a writer, a photographer, an illustrator, or any other kind of freelance or online business worker, you can find new clients using this popular social networking site.

2. Use various apps that enable you to make money. Some examples include: MarketLodge or TwitCash. You might also want to include apps by other money making ventures like Tradebit. Check some services or affiliate programmes and see if they have a Facebook app that you can use.

3. Use Facebook’s Marketplace. The Marketplace offers you ways to sell your stuff - either old or new. You can even look for jobs.

Read more.

Photo by Facebook.