RESOURCES
Best businesses to start
The ideal business is one that requires no manufacturing, no stocking of inventory and no servicing. That leaves distribution. You do not have to stock anything to be a distributor. You can drop ship directly from a manufacture or offer a product that can be downloaded from the internet, sell memberships and the list goes on and on.
That does not mean that if you’re in a service or manufacturing business you will fail. The challenges can be harder but properly managed, the business can be profitable.
Keep in mind who will be buying your products and or services. Why they are buying your products and why from you? The best products to offer your customers are products they will buy over and over again. The cost of acquiring a customer can be high, so make sure to keep them for life.
The most important ingredient is having a passion for the business. Many people start a business and give up. Whether your business is a network marketing opportunity or a traditional business, if you have not let 1,000 people know about your business, never even got started.
Choosing a name for a business
There was a sign company in Troy called AE SIGN COMPANY, they found they were losing order for banners because customers thought they only did architectural and engineering signs. When they changed their name to Signmakers business improved.
The name of your business should either reflect directly what you offer or be memorable, both would be ideal. The best name ever developed for a company is Coca-Cola. Note the ying and yang of the name . When PalmPilot changed their name to just Palm, sales fell.
Check to make sure the URL (website address) is available at http://instantdomainsearch.com
State and local Government paperwork
You can file a DBA (doing business as) at your local county clerks offices. This will give you the ability to setup a bank account and accept checks using your business name. Cost is $10.00 in the state of Michigan. You can also pull a LLC (limited liability company) at www.michigan.gov or click here to download form. Cost is $50.00.
Free or Low Cost Phone Services
Voice over IP is very cost effective!
·Skype - allows users to make telephone calls over the Internet to other Skype users free of charge and to landlines and cell phones for as low as $3 per month.
Additional Skype Services:
·SkypeOut - allows Skype users to call traditional telephone numbers, including mobile telephones, for a fee as low as $3 per month to US and Cananda
·SkypeIn - allows Skype users to receive calls on their computers dialed by regular phone subscribers to a local Skype phone number for $20 per year.
·Skype Video Conferencing - is a set of interactive telecommunication technologies which allow two or more locations to interact via two-way video and audio transmissions simultaneously.
www.vonage.com, save hundreds on your annual home business phone bill!
·Vonage - Voice over IP telephone service through your high speed internet connection, unlimited local and long distance calling.
Openfax
US based telecom corporation specializing in fax, voice, email and video broadcasting. Utilizing MHBA’s affinity relationship with Openfax clients will receive special pricing and services typically unavailable to small businesses and individuals. For Details Call 866-OPENFAX (673-6329) Option 3.
Free Conference call service www.instantconference.com Ready When You Are!
·Instant Conference - Basic teleconferencing service is free, you just pick the time, date and list of participants. email the starting time and access code to your participants up to 150 users and for future play back of the conference call free recording of the event is included free.
Free classified advertising
The number one site for free classified ads is www.craigslist.com once a day you can submit a classified ad. An opportunity you don’t want to overlook!
·Free Michigan Service
·Service and Discussion Categories for Daily Posts to your Online Community
Finding start up money
Before you look for start up funds, make sure you have a realistic idea the money required.(Much more on this subject coming soon.)
Building a website
MHBA highly recommends using this free website building software. The software is free, but it does require website hosting with BlueVoda at $7.95/mo BlueVoda - The Price is Right!
·Multiple Websites per BlueVoda Account
·24/7 support ticket system
·Free Domain Name (if name is available)
·No Contract to sign
·Online Learning Tutorials….and much more
Maintaining your Website Presence
www.godaddy.com offers many services, most known for their domain services, pricing is usually under $10 per year.
·Website Hosting
·Security (SSL Certificates)
·eCommerce & Business (Increase site Traffic, Shopping Carts, ect.)
·eMail Service
Excellent source to make sure the URL (website address or Domain) is available to use to name your website, check out http://instantdomainsearch.com
·Save time before getting excited about your name choice, make sure the name is available for use on the web.
Wonder where all the Website action is? Check out www.spyfu.com
·Find out what your competitors buying?
·Keyword search that tell the tale about your site and other sites as well.
Accounting software
QuickBooks is easy to use accounting software you can use to set up your business fast.
·Payroll
·Credit Card Processing
·Check Processing
·Cost effective marketing tools
·Training - Customize QuickBooks for your unique business needs
Business cards
VistaPrint is a great place to get low cost business cards (250 for under $10) and other printed materials.
More Free Stuff!
·Business Cards
·Rubber Stamps
·Sticky Notes
·Pen
MLM leads
If you’re looking to purchase leads for your MLM business. Check out the double opt in leads at www.mlmleadgenie.com
·Single opt-in leads
·Double opt-in leads
·eMail leads
·100% Money Back Guarantee
Web 2.0
Use youtube, myspace, facebook and other social networking sites to promote your business for free.
·Free Marketing Opportunities should never be overlooked.
·YouTube video’s generate buzz
·Interactive relationships built into your online businesses.
.
Commission Junction
A ValueClick company, is a global leader in the online advertising channels of affiliate marketing and managed search.
Driving quality results, deliver superior service, and develop sustainable relationships for advertisers and publishers through our performance-based solutions. Commission Junction operates the only truly global network in affiliate marketing while setting the industry standard for network quality and providing the most sophisticated reporting tools available.
PayPal
Start accepting credit cards on your site today.
Your site is up, but how are your customers going to pay you? Add a payment button with basic HTML. SEE DEMO
No advanced programming. No application process. Receive payments quickly in your PayPal account.
Google Checkout
Google Checkout accepts major credit and debit cards, including VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. Buyers enter their credit or debit card information when they first sign up for Google Checkout and can select their preferred payment type during checkout
The ideal business is one that requires no manufacturing, no stocking of inventory and no servicing. That leaves distribution. You do not have to stock anything to be a distributor. You can drop ship directly from a manufacture or offer a product that can be downloaded from the internet, sell memberships and the list goes on and on.
That does not mean that if you’re in a service or manufacturing business you will fail. The challenges can be harder but properly managed, the business can be profitable.
Keep in mind who will be buying your products and or services. Why they are buying your products and why from you? The best products to offer your customers are products they will buy over and over again. The cost of acquiring a customer can be high, so make sure to keep them for life.
The most important ingredient is having a passion for the business. Many people start a business and give up. Whether your business is a network marketing opportunity or a traditional business, if you have not let 1,000 people know about your business, never even got started.
Choosing a name for a business
There was a sign company in Troy called AE SIGN COMPANY, they found they were losing order for banners because customers thought they only did architectural and engineering signs. When they changed their name to Signmakers business improved.
The name of your business should either reflect directly what you offer or be memorable, both would be ideal. The best name ever developed for a company is Coca-Cola. Note the ying and yang of the name . When PalmPilot changed their name to just Palm, sales fell.
Check to make sure the URL (website address) is available at http://instantdomainsearch.com
State and local Government paperwork
You can file a DBA (doing business as) at your local county clerks offices. This will give you the ability to setup a bank account and accept checks using your business name. Cost is $10.00 in the state of Michigan. You can also pull a LLC (limited liability company) at www.michigan.gov or click here to download form. Cost is $50.00.
Free or Low Cost Phone Services
Voice over IP is very cost effective!
·Skype - allows users to make telephone calls over the Internet to other Skype users free of charge and to landlines and cell phones for as low as $3 per month.
Additional Skype Services:
·SkypeOut - allows Skype users to call traditional telephone numbers, including mobile telephones, for a fee as low as $3 per month to US and Cananda
·SkypeIn - allows Skype users to receive calls on their computers dialed by regular phone subscribers to a local Skype phone number for $20 per year.
·Skype Video Conferencing - is a set of interactive telecommunication technologies which allow two or more locations to interact via two-way video and audio transmissions simultaneously.
www.vonage.com, save hundreds on your annual home business phone bill!
·Vonage - Voice over IP telephone service through your high speed internet connection, unlimited local and long distance calling.
Openfax
US based telecom corporation specializing in fax, voice, email and video broadcasting. Utilizing MHBA’s affinity relationship with Openfax clients will receive special pricing and services typically unavailable to small businesses and individuals. For Details Call 866-OPENFAX (673-6329) Option 3.
Free Conference call service www.instantconference.com Ready When You Are!
·Instant Conference - Basic teleconferencing service is free, you just pick the time, date and list of participants. email the starting time and access code to your participants up to 150 users and for future play back of the conference call free recording of the event is included free.
Free classified advertising
The number one site for free classified ads is www.craigslist.com once a day you can submit a classified ad. An opportunity you don’t want to overlook!
·Free Michigan Service
·Service and Discussion Categories for Daily Posts to your Online Community
Finding start up money
Before you look for start up funds, make sure you have a realistic idea the money required.(Much more on this subject coming soon.)
Building a website
MHBA highly recommends using this free website building software. The software is free, but it does require website hosting with BlueVoda at $7.95/mo BlueVoda - The Price is Right!
·Multiple Websites per BlueVoda Account
·24/7 support ticket system
·Free Domain Name (if name is available)
·No Contract to sign
·Online Learning Tutorials….and much more
Maintaining your Website Presence
www.godaddy.com offers many services, most known for their domain services, pricing is usually under $10 per year.
·Website Hosting
·Security (SSL Certificates)
·eCommerce & Business (Increase site Traffic, Shopping Carts, ect.)
·eMail Service
Excellent source to make sure the URL (website address or Domain) is available to use to name your website, check out http://instantdomainsearch.com
·Save time before getting excited about your name choice, make sure the name is available for use on the web.
Wonder where all the Website action is? Check out www.spyfu.com
·Find out what your competitors buying?
·Keyword search that tell the tale about your site and other sites as well.
Accounting software
QuickBooks is easy to use accounting software you can use to set up your business fast.
·Payroll
·Credit Card Processing
·Check Processing
·Cost effective marketing tools
·Training - Customize QuickBooks for your unique business needs
Business cards
VistaPrint is a great place to get low cost business cards (250 for under $10) and other printed materials.
More Free Stuff!
·Business Cards
·Rubber Stamps
·Sticky Notes
·Pen
MLM leads
If you’re looking to purchase leads for your MLM business. Check out the double opt in leads at www.mlmleadgenie.com
·Single opt-in leads
·Double opt-in leads
·eMail leads
·100% Money Back Guarantee
Web 2.0
Use youtube, myspace, facebook and other social networking sites to promote your business for free.
·Free Marketing Opportunities should never be overlooked.
·YouTube video’s generate buzz
·Interactive relationships built into your online businesses.
.
Commission Junction
A ValueClick company, is a global leader in the online advertising channels of affiliate marketing and managed search.
Driving quality results, deliver superior service, and develop sustainable relationships for advertisers and publishers through our performance-based solutions. Commission Junction operates the only truly global network in affiliate marketing while setting the industry standard for network quality and providing the most sophisticated reporting tools available.
PayPal
Start accepting credit cards on your site today.
Your site is up, but how are your customers going to pay you? Add a payment button with basic HTML. SEE DEMO
No advanced programming. No application process. Receive payments quickly in your PayPal account.
Google Checkout
Google Checkout accepts major credit and debit cards, including VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. Buyers enter their credit or debit card information when they first sign up for Google Checkout and can select their preferred payment type during checkout
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
Below you will find just a few of our helpful links and advice to make life as a home business owner easier and more financially rewarding.
Become a Member and Receive Many more Helpful Resources
Below you will find just a few of our helpful links and advice to make life as a home business owner easier and more financially rewarding.
Become a Member and Receive Many more Helpful Resources
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Michigan Home Business Association LLC © 2008, All Rights Reserved
Michigan Home Business Association
SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER
Start Small Think Big!
SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER
Start Small Think Big!
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