A Few Pieces of Advice to Marketing Your Own Franchise

There is a long standing mantra in the business world that says nothing happens until a sale is made. It holds true for all types of businesses, none more than franchising. Retail and food industry business owners wake up every morning thinking about sales and revenue and go to bed at night thinking about it. An owner of a franchise is stuck with the additional burden of making enough sales to keep your own business open as well as the franchise as a whole to succeed.

Being part of a franchise system isn't all bad. It offers you some tremendous advantages such as instant brand recognition that cannot be replaced. It also comes some limitations and no where else is this felt the most than in marketing. Nearly all of your promotional ideas must pass the franchiser's approval. However,despite those annoying restrictions and limitations, there are still plenty of other opportunities for individual franchisees to help drive business. Here are a few ways:

• Before you do anything you should contact your franchiser beforehand to see if it is ok for you to begin a marketing campaign on your own. Some won't care but there are a good number of franchises which limit the amount and types of advertising you can use outside of their national campaigns.
• If you have the time and opportunity to, sign up with the local Chamber of Commerce or any other business group that may prove to be beneficial in getting your business's name out there. The idea is to find an arena to talk about your business and establish contacts in the community. This is one of the best free ways to market your business. It's kind of like a scratch my back and I'll scratch yours with your network of contacts. You help them and they'll in turn want to help you.
• If there are any local consumer groups or non-profit organizations around, volunteer to to speak at one or more of their functions or even your services if need be. There are countless other groups that meet on a monthly or weekly basis who are always looking for speakers. Tell them about you started your own franchise or any other aspect of business which you think they can benefit from.
• Spend the time to write some business articles for your local newspaper or business magazine. In your stories, get across the message of how you used your business model to achieve success and how they can too.
• If your area has some youth sports like a a little league, sponsor them. This is great free publicity. Keep an eye out for other opportunities where you can get involved. These charitable opportunities bring community acknowledgment and recognition.
• If you have a few current clients or customers you feel are valuable to your business, give them discounts for referrals. You can even reward them for being such outstanding customers with freebies and other incentives.
• Give your employees coupons and incentives to pass out to customers in the store or to give out to family and friends. After all these years, the best form of marketing is still through word of mouth. Ask any employees to talk up the business if they are to drum up some business and attract some more customers.

Red Hot Franchises, at www.redhotfranchises.com, offers franchises opportunities. We feature low cost franchises, sign world franchises, and other franchise categories.

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Picking A Winning Franchise!

Did you ever wonder why some franchises do great and why others go flat? Picking a winning franchise is not that difficult if you follow these steps to avoid losers.

To begin with, once a franchise is hyped by the media, you are too late. Two great examples of this are Quiznos, and Curves. A few years ago you could not stop hearing all these wonderful stories about these two franchises. Now just about every business broker in every town has them listed for sale. Why, because people bought at the end of the fad. Once the media is aware of a fad, the fad is about to pass.

There are so many franchise options out there, it is often difficult to know where to turn for a good one. There are three things to consider when deciding.

1. What do you enjoy doing- if you are passionate about something, you can convey that passion to your employees which makes them better employees.

2. Look for business that are already successful but have not been hit big by the franchise world yet. Curves took a successful business model (gyms) and franchised it. Quizno's saw there was already a demand for quick subs, they just tweaked it a bit. So do not by a franchise for a snow making company. Look for a segment where non franchised businesses are thriving.

3. Try to avoid a really old franchise. These have already been saturated and for the most part have nowhere to go but down.

If I was currently looking for a franchise, I would look at a 5 guys franchise. Good food, simple menu, not over saturated, not hyped yet.

Kurt Yordy
http://www.feedyourfamilyfeedtheworld.com

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The Top Five Reasons Why You Should Buy a Franchise

Being a small business owner is becoming more difficult by the day. However, in the market of franchises, this isn't as true. Franchises actually have been proven to be successful opportunities for business owners. They can work for you too because of the hundreds of good reasons to invest in one.

The decision to open a franchise should be based on your lifestyle and financial benefits and not just because it is the popular thing to do right now. It also doesn't make a difference in what type of franchise you are thinking of going with. Home based, retail, service, and fast food franchises are all safe business concepts to invest your money into.

It comes with the advantage of knowing that your business plan has been successful in other locations for many years in some cases. Basically everything about the business has already been proven. Here are five more reasons why you should make an investment into a franchise:

• Quicker and easier access to financing - The process of securing financing is a smooth process. As a franchise, you can contact business organizations such as the SBA and avoid all sorts of red tape. Most of these organizations have designated franchise funding programs, which can provide additional funding opportunities to women, disabled, and other designated minorities. Most larger franchise companies provide in-house financing or options for leasing.
• Training and franchisor support - One of the franchisor's main selling points is their initial training program. If you are considering buying a franchise, thoroughly examine all of the different training sessions each company offers before signing anything. A franchisor's initial training normally takes place at the corporate office with follow up in-training sessions. It is this ongoing training which gives individual franchisees the chance to grow and develop strong business operating skills.
• Opportunity for growth within a franchise system - After you have been running your successful franchisee for awhile, the main headquarters will reward you with an advancement within their franchise chain through incentives such as discounts on purchasing additional stores, leadership roles at the head level, or the chance to acquire area developer rights. You even have the opportunity to become a master franchise which oversees and develops the system within a designated geographical area.
• Different investment levels - One of the great perks about buying into a franchise is that you don't need a lot of money to start or require an extensive net worth to qualify. As a matter of fact, you can easily find opportunities for as little as a few thousand dollars. These are mainly home based or part-time franchises. Begin your search at one of the franchise directories online. These list thousands of franchises opportunities based on category and investment level.
• Professional development - Just because you are the owner of a franchise does not make you any less of a businessman or entrepreneur. In all actuality a franchise system provides access to professional development and leadership seminars, business coaching, and other industry advancement initiatives for all of the individual franchisees Many of these franchisees have more advanced business knowledge when it comes to running a small business than most other businesses out there.

Red Hot Franchises, at www.redhotfranchises.com, offers franchises opportunities. We feature low cost franchises, retail franchises, and other franchise categories.

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Explore the Strength of Franchising

Why does franchising continue to be the best choice for entrepreneurs? Well, for starters, franchise businesses enjoy a higher success rate, it is safer and less risky than stand-alone businesses.

The actual word franchise itself derives from the old French word for freedom or privilege, according to FranInfo. Ironically, many years later the word still holds the same meaning. Franchises epitomize precisely what their original French meaning claims-they provide privilege and freedom to those who buy, sell, invest, or simply manage them.

The end of World War II in 1945 brought millions of servicemen and servicewoman back home to the United States, FranInfo reports. In response to this new surge of people, the baby boom population and those returning home from war, ignited the dominant mode of franchising which still stands prominent today-Business formatted franchises. At this time in history, there was a tremendous need for various services and products. This overwhelming need gave rise to the model of franchising. Franchises enabled businessmen and women to provide their consumers with the things they needed. Today, this same concept of supply and demand exists in our economy.

Now with over 5,000 franchise outlets, the United States witnesses annual sales of more than $900 billion. History has proven that since its inception, franchising remains to be a highly influential and prosperous industry. I encourage the public to be open-minded and look into the franchise industry simply for its countless opportunities. Whether you know it or not, there will always be a franchise opportunity awaiting you.

bE FOCUSED and Welcome to the Franchise & Business Opportunity Information

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Interested in Franchising?

Many people are trying to get rich the easy way. In fact, there is no easy and legal way to get money. If you want to make a fortune, you have high chances by choosing not the easiest way, but the safest way when it comes to your investment: the franchise business.

You might have heard about the business, but most people don't know exactly what does franchising mean. Franchising is when a large company which is known by a certain number of people decides to expand by selling its name to those who are willing to pay. In fact, companies who earn more than enough see an opportunity in giving their secret to others. Because they already have a lot of customers interested in the products and brand, they will be redirected to the franchise that will start earning more and more. Everyone will have to gain from this situation because clients will have two stores from where they can buy their favorite product, franchisers will receive a percentage of the winnings or the initial investment and those who have bought the franchise will have their own business with almost no effort when it comes to the marketing department.

If you want to buy a franchise business you need to have some money. There are many franchises from which you can choose, but you need to find the best ratio between the money that you can afford to pay and the quality of the franchise. Some franchise businesses are better than others and you need to pick carefully. After you buy your own franchise, you will collaborate with your franchiser. He will give you a location for your business, he will tell you what team of people you need to hire and he will even train you until you get used to running the franchise. The franchiser will have some responsibilities and obligations that are usually stated in a UFOC or a similar document. On the other hand, you will have some too. If both parties get along, you can have a successful business with no problems.

You can even add your own scent to the business if your franchiser agrees. Basically, franchising is like owning your own business but with a safety net. If you would start a fresh business and you happen to make a mistake, you can lose all of the money that you had invested. If you make a mistake with your business you won't lose it because your franchiser will try to solve your problems and he will teach you how to avoid making similar mistakes.

Even if you have a franchiser who doesn't get involved in these kinds of problems, you can still turn to a business consultant. This is probably the best solution because he can turn you into an expert in record time. At first, you won't be able to learn every little aspect even if you want to, but in time and with the help of a franchise business consultant you will begin to run your business like an expert. A consultant can improve every aspect of your business through some simple strategies.

Starting in franchising can be a little tricky at the beginning, but if you make all of the steps correctly and take your time you will have enough people by your side to sustain you and your business until you get the hang of running a whole franchise business by your own.

Find the franchise opportunities you need.

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Considering a Franchise?

I had a conversation with a family member today on my wife's side of the family about business ideas. He is currently in the plant business and has been for several years now. They are very good at what they do. They are also diamonds in Amway as well and have multiple streams of income, but yet, I get the feeling they still aren't where they want to be financially. I enjoy our conversations and learn a little here and there. One thing I know, and is reaffirmed every time we speak is simple this business opportunity is and how little other opportunities compare.

This family member was thinking of turning his current business into a franchise opportunity. He then went through some of the costs associated with moving forward with that. He noted that it would cost him $160,000 just to get it all set up. Then, you must market the franchise, hire employees, etc. When it is all said and done, you are into a whole lot more work and have forked out a pretty penny to get it all going.

Now, the benefits of starting a franchise as the founder are probably more significant than that of someone who is looking into buying into a franchise. He said it would cost approximately $35k to 50k to get started in his franchise. Then he told me something that really hit me. He said, in my words, "You won't become wealthy with this franchise but you can make a living." I'm sure he would do well collecting royalties and franchise fees, and it might be a profitable deal for him. Risk is everything!

You know, most franchises are like this. You won't get rich from them unless you own several. For example, there is a guy here locally who owns 3 or 4 subways. Now, depending on the size of your store, you are looking at an investment range of $95k to $225k. Then you have to think about royalties, employees, advertising, etc..... The average salary of a subway owner is about 40-50k a year, depending a varying on the location and size of store. I guarantee I make more working 3 hours a day 4 days a week than this man does working 12 hour days 7 days a week! I see him at his stores, and he looks like a successful franchise owner, always there!

So, I love franchises, as long as someone else is running them. There is too much fun to be had and too much money to be made with my business opportunity than to be wasting time with a franchise. When I say that you can make your annual salary in a month, I'm not blowing hot air. I have made in a month what a subway owner makes in a year! If I can do it, anyone can.

My name is David Allred, and I started my home based franchise business because I do not want to be married to a job 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. I love teaching others how to escape the rat race!

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What Is Your Motivation For Choosing A Franchise?

Franchising is a growing phenomenon. More and more people are looking at Franchising as a potentially 'risk free' way of starting out a new business venture and escaping the job or daily grind of the 'rat race'.

One of the recurring difficulties I see lies with the Franchisee themselves. I am in no way pointing the finger at unsuccessful franchisees and saying it as all their fault as many commentators on the Internet do. What I do see is a lack of real understanding by prospective franchisees of what they really want in life.

You see, many people consider buying a Franchise as an escape from a dreaded job. They no longer want to work for someone else, they no longer want to take orders, they no longer want someone to earn the profit off their hard work and most of all they don't want to have someone else control their future destiny.

The main problem with most of these motivations is that they are ----- away from motivations. Most of the greatest goal setting courses, life coaches, psychologists and sales experts will agree that some of the strongest motivators are 'away from' motivators. That means that you are highly motivated to move away from a situation.

The stronger your displeasure with the situation then usually the stronger your motivation to move away from something. This means that if you really hate your job, your boss, your working hours and your salary you will be highly motivated to move away from the situation. You may seek out a Franchise as a 'cure' for your displeasure.

The downside of Away From motivators and goals is that once the initial displeasure has been escaped, the lower your motivation becomes. You have made the decision, chosen a new direction and moved away from your displeasure and at that point your discomfort starts to disappear. This is where problems can really start to happen.

The Answer?

Don't rely on Away From Motivators! Use 'To' motivators which pull you towards a better future or a desired situation that you really want to see happen. That way if you are motivated enough you will understand what you need to do to move you towards a Goal or better situation and you will be highly motivated to continually move towards it.

Consider Your Motivations By Asking Yourself:

1) What do I want my ideal day to look like in 1 Year, 3 Years and 5 Years time?

2) What do I really want to be doing every day?

3) How much income would I really like?

4) What do I love to do Professionally?

5) What do I love to do outside of work? How can I make sure I spend more time to do this?

If you have a vivid picture of where you really want to be and you are really highly motivated to move towards it. If you are assessing a Franchise and it will solve your 'Away From' motivators but not your 'To' motivators then ask yourself if it will really give you a successful outcome.

I have talked to and met many people who have had unhappy experiences with Franchises. There are many reasons why Franchises can fail and I look at many of them at my blog www.businessfranchiseinformation.com

Franchise Information is a hard hitting blog that examines the misunderstood world of Franchising. If you are considering buying a Franchise you HAVE TO read the blog at http://www.businessfranchiseinformation.com or the book at http://www.businessfranchiseinformation.com/course

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Can Your Business Benefit From Venture Capital?

Not all businesses can attract venture capital. Venture capital is provided by a firm of professional investors that are generally seeking high growth business opportunities to invest in. They provide funds to help you grow your business but in return they often want shares in the business.

If you have a brilliant idea that has huge growth potential and are struggling to raise money through the normal channels then this route might be ideal for you. Be prepared to give away a large chunk of your business and remember that most venture capitalists will also want a say in how your business is run!

This method of raising funds is also a great way to get some fresh minds looking at your business idea. Venture capital investment companies have been investing in great ideas for many years and know how to turn great concepts into reality.

Do not approach a venture capital company if all you are seeking is money to clear your existing debts. They will not be interested! They are also not interested in providing funds so that you can buy your dream car or luxury house.

They are in the business of providing funds so that they can make money for themselves with the funds they provide you to assist your growth. Got the idea?

A well researched and carefully crafted business plan will definitely help you. How are you going to use their money? They will want to see it being used for growth, sales, marketing and creating value for them. They will not be happy if you use their funds to make a beautiful office! Remove any expenses that are not critical for growth and show them how you can generate profits and a return from their investment.

When a venture capitalist firm looks at your idea, they are also examining you. Millions of people have great ideas and to be honest, the majority of these people do not have a clue how to execute a plan.

If they like your idea, then they will want to get to know you in detail. What are your work ethics like? Why should they back you over the hundreds of other people that are competing with you for their money? Remember that they are most likely to be seeking a brilliant person with a great idea that can deliver them a "home run."

It also costs a lot of time and money presenting your idea to venture capitalists! They do not give anybody any money at the first meeting. In fact they might even meet you a dozen times only to completely reject your idea at the end! Be prepared for this and possibly try out your business plan with a more than one firm at the same time.

The costs will not be that much greater to present your case to two different companies at the same time! Remember that you are also dealing with personalities and one wrong word and they will kick you out before you can count to ten. I never said that it was going to be easy, did I?

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Business Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss.

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Business + Fun = Great Lifestyle

Every business should have a little fun scattered throughout the company. Enjoy your successes and learn to deal with your failures. Loosen up and start smiling... laugh a little... and the world will laugh with you.

Be silly occasionally, socialise in your industry, stay away from miserable people and learn to pace yourself. Stop doing any work you hate and outsource it.

Customers are the cornerstone of every business and they need some laughter in their lives. When your customers call you, sound happy to hear their voice. They might just call you more often. If you can find a way of making their lives just a little more pleasurable, they are much more likely to remember you when placing the next order.

If your employees have fun working for you they are more likely to be committed to your business goals. Encourage your staff to achieve more by making their working life energising and more exciting. Plan something unexpected, give little gifts and organise a day out. It does not have to be during working hours...

People can sense the mood their boss is in. If you are not having fun running your business, how can you expect your customers and staff to feel motivated? If your business bores you... sell it!

Some people believe that they are not allowed to have fun when they are working. Times have changed and some business owners now work almost every single waking hour, 6 days a week! When are you ever going to have time to have some fun if you are working all the time?

Did you know: It takes 7 muscles to smile and 14 muscles to frown?

One word of warning, watch how you handle young, immature members of staff as they might not be able to handle some fun and keep on working at the same time.

Work hard and play hard... add a little fun... and enjoy the rat race!

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Business Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss.

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Can Your Business Handle Risk?

Business Risk - he, who dares, wins... right? When making an investment of any kind, one key factor that needs to be looked at is risk versus reward. More importantly, how much risk can you handle? A person's risk tolerance is closely linked with their willingness to invest.

So what is "risk"? In the context of business, "risk" is a concept that assigns a possible negative impact to an asset or something of value that may arise from some present process or future event. In everyday usage, "risk" is often used with the probability of a known loss.

Here is an example; if I invest my savings into something that could generate a profit for me, what is the possibility that I could loose some of it or even all of it? This is a very simple way of looking at it. For some people, the possibility of even losing 10% might be too much. If it is, clearly the risk is too high. For another person, the risk may be too low and would be prepared to loose all of it for potential profits.

This brings us to the risk versus reward scenario. Risk and reward go hand in hand and the potential reward and the probabilities may be high enough for you to raise your level of risk. In business, there is a constant battle of finding that balance between these two opposing forces.

Generally, the less the reward, the lower the risk and vice versa, although this is not always the case.

Here are a couple of examples;

1. A stock investor speculates on the stock markets and knows that if the markets move in his direction, he may be able to double or even triple his money. Conversely, he may stand to loose the lot or even a large portion of it if the market runs against him. He is prepared to take the risk because the lure of large financial gains and the pleasure he may get if he profits far outweighs the pain he will feel if he looses. Clearly he has a high risk tolerance.

2. A property investor knows of a property that will give him a small profit he purchased a house and sells it in 3 months after renovation. The investment is high but the chance of losing is very low and even if he does, the amount relative to his investment is only a small portion. This kind of investor has a low risk tolerance.

So what factors determine your risk tolerance? There a number of factors but the main ones are:

1. How much assets does your business have to risk? This will also determine the investments that can be examined.

2. Are you the kind of person who like the thrill of seeking large profits or would you prefer a slow and steady growth but with less returns?

3. What is your time horizon? Do you have to cash in very quickly because your money is under demand from other areas?

4. Are you someone who constantly worries and even looses sleep over your financial situation?

5. Is everything just a big game for you?

Whatever answers you come up for the above, it is critical that you understand and work within what is comfortable for you. Once you have assessed your risk levels, you can then go about seeking investments that fall within your risk / reward scenario!

I will leave you on one last comment - 'he who dares wins' or maybe I should say 'look before you leap'!

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Business Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss.

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Someone Will Steal Your Business Idea?

In reality, no cares two hoots about your new business idea until you actually succeed at making some money from it.

Good new ideas do not usually make money for a new entrepreneur. It takes far too much money to launch a new idea, build a market for it and persuade customers to buy. If you do end up having an idea that works it is far easier for "big business" to take you over, once you have proven it, than to try and steal your idea.

Many people think that people like Richard Branson made their fortunes with a "big idea" but this could not be far from the truth. Richard made his money by being better at marketing, execution and delivery than existing established businesses.

If you are still worried about protecting your new idea then you could do so by getting potential investors to sign a non disclosure agreement. You could trademark your logos and designs. And if it is a new invention then perhaps apply for a patent.

In reality the money you spend protecting your idea would be far better spent on marketing and execution.

Investors & bankers meet people everyday that have the next big idea. They are more concerned about the status of the person seeking money and whether they believe that this person has the work ethics and ability to repay the loan. They are not interested in stealing your ideas.

If a young entrepreneur came to me for advice with their latest new idea, chances are I would tell them to bin it! "Find an existing business idea that is already making serious money and see if it is possible to execute it better" would be my advice.

Successful Business is 1% inspiration (new idea) and 99% perspiration (true grit). Having a great idea is only a small part of creating a health business.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Business Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss.

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Half of All Franchises Are Owned by Franchisees Operating 2 or More Units

Multi-unit franchise operators are on the rise. Some buy multiple units in the same brand. A few buy more than one franchise in different but competing brands. Others buy multiple units in totally different sectors.

Franchisor Benefits

For the franchisor it is highly advantageous to have a successful site operator running more than one unit. Once a franchisee has proven their mettle in one territory chances of success in multiple territories are higher.

Franchisors are taking less risk with somebody that has already proven their ability to manage the business model. No matter how careful the initial evaluation process is, it is not always possible to tell which franchisee has the mettle to run a business successfully when they buy their first unit.

Less training time is required when a franchisee buys their second unit. The franchisee has already done the initial training course and also possesses real live knowledge of operating the business in the field.

Franchisee Advantages

For the franchisee the advantage of owning more than one unit is that they have already operated the first unit profitably. They know the upsides and downsides of the business model. They already have established close relations with the franchisor. They understand in more detail the demographics of the areas the business model is likely to work in.

Operating multiple units can also be more cost effective. All the paperwork, accounting records and manuals can be done at one central location. Incoming calls can be diverted to one location, screened and then dispersed.

Advertising and printing costs can be spread out over a number of sites. It also becomes possible to use higher cost advertising like radio and TV when you can spread the cost over a number of units.

Employees can be utilised more effectively and can be shared across the group. If one store has many staff off ill at the same time they can draw upon the human resources of the other units.

A multi-site operator also benefits from have greater buying power. It is possible to make significant savings by buying in bulk... making each individual unit more profitable.

Warning

But multi-unit franchising is not right for everybody. Workloads and pressure rise as more units are opened. The ability to deal with a larger number people is of the utmost importance. The ability to handle and manage larger amounts of data becomes critical. It is no longer possible to use paper based systems!

The worst type of multiple site owner is one that is undercapitalized and trying to grow on a shoestring budget. This can be disastrous for both the franchisee and the franchisor when and if the money runs out.

So what are the characteristics of a multiple site owner? Usually the type of person who operates multiple units is older, has more business experience and larger sums of disposable funds.

For experienced entrepreneurs who do possess people skills, can manage large amounts of data and have deep pockets it makes sense to buy more than one unit. They can expand their business and multiply their profits.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Business Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss.

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Is Your Business Making You Sick?

Our business environment could actually be making us sick. Think about it. We sit in the same chair in the same position for hours at a time. We breathe the same air in and out... in and out... get the idea?

On a hot day in summer the heat can be unbearable and if you have air conditioning that just makes things worse, by removing all the moisture from the air.

Skipping breakfast and eating on the move whilst answering the phone or on the way to the bank leaves our body in despair. The highs and subsequent lows in blood sugar levels make us hyper one minute and grouchy the next.

All the electronic equipment around us... from fax machines, mobile phones, printers, computers and monitors create an unhealthy electromagnetic field all around us.

Sorry for the doom gloom but take heart - with small changes we can counteract most of the above.

Start the day with a good healthy breakfast - nothing beats porridge and a nice cup of tea. Keep some fruit on your desk - nothing beats a banana for a mid morning snack. Hey don't get me wrong, I am not saying that porridge, bananas & fruit are the only combination, but they work for me. I find that foods that release energy slowly keep me going all day.

Drink plenty of water - I know that we have heard this before but I feel that it must be repeated again. Water serves to remove the toxins from our body and helps our skin to stay hydrated. How much water is enough? A glass an hour is sufficient.

Move all electronic equipment that you can away from your sitting area. Does that printer need to be so close? Use a headset when talking on the mobile and buy an anti glare screen for your monitor. Hide all your wires. Not only are they a hazard but the also make our minds cluttered.

Stop being so intense all the time! When typing, caress the keyboard rather then hammering it so hard. Keep your monitor at eye level and get a cordless mouse and keyboard that you can move around to suit your posture. Buy a decent office chair with arm rests - did you know that if you have arm rests and use them, you reduce the pressure on your spine greatly.

By taking simple measures you can greatly reduce your chances of getting repetitive strain injury (RSI).

Stress is another major issue we all face. Computers not connecting to the internet, phones constantly ringing, email responses not arriving on time and far too much spam! Buy a decent spam filter and every time you feel stressed out go for a little walk. If you followed the advice about drinking plenty of water - you will help to alleviate stress, as you will be forced to get up and go to the loo regularly!

Taking regular short breaks will actually serve to make us more efficient and productive in the long term and cut down on the number of days we are ill. Enjoy your working day.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Business Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss.

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Starting a Consulting Business

Starting any business can be tough, but a consulting business can be rewarding for an entrepreneur that possesses expertise in a specific niche or area. Before starting any business it is important to understand that a considerable level of effort will be required especially in the start-up stage.

What is a consultant?

A consultant is someone that provides counsel, advice and assistance to other business owners. He or she must be an expert in their field and posses knowledge that others are willing to pay for. There is almost no field of business that does not require some sort of consultancy ranging from marketing, branding, team building and coaching. A consultant must always keep learning so that their expertise stays fresh and consistent with new knowledge.

Financing

The best way to raise finance to get you through the first year is by speaking to your local bank. Other alternatives include mortgaging your property, raising money via your credit cards or approaching friends and relatives.

Selecting a Market and Location

The expertise that you possess might not be in demand in your home town. A potential consultant should carry out market research to determine where s/he is most likely to succeed. Get advice from your local chamber of commerce and speak to other business owners before you decide on the ideal location.

Location is all important in a consultancy business and you must be prepared to move if you can spot high levels of demand in another city.

Raising Awareness

Marketing is key to your success. Unlike a retail operation you have to find your clients and raise awareness of your expertise. In the initial stages cold calling will be required but if you identify your prospective clients and target carefully you can reduce the burden of selling.

Join specific forums that deal with your type of business expertise. Develop a website, create a video and regularly keep in touch with existing clients through newsletters, brochures and flyers. A consultant has to be a great networker as long term most of their business comes from word of mouth.

Doing the Business

A consultant often has many clients at one time. Keeping them all happy does take some juggling with your time. Depending on your type of expertise there could also be high seasonal demands. Make sure you get references from happy clients - reputation is everything in this business.

Cash Flow

The problem with running a consultants business is that there is no regular income especially at the start. There will be periods of drought when there is very little work and other times when you are stowed under. Make sure you keep money aside to cover these periods. Even the best consultants experience times when there is very little demand for their expertise.

Conclusion

Making a living as a consultant is tough especially at the beginning whilst you establish your credentials. Being a successful consultant requires good management skills, respect for your client's confidentiality and the ability to network.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Business Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss.

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How to Get More Business From Your Email Enquiries

Does your business get a lot of email enquiries? You know the type I mean - where all the information you have of the enquirer is their email address.

Isn't it frustrating when you reply to the email and hear nothing back? Then you send a follow up email and still nothing! Finally in desperation you send a third email with your best price and nothing... nada... nil response!

You finally give up out of sheer frustration. So how is it possible to turn this type of enquiry into a sale?

Don't give up hope yet as I have some possible solutions. Instead of responding with a sales pitch straight why not ask some questions first?

Possible questions include:

How did you find our company details?

When do you need delivery?

What number can I reach you on?

Who do you currently buy from?

Why are you thinking of changing suppliers?

How often do you place an order?

What are your views on X, Y & Z?

Your aim surely has to be to elicit a response and if possible further contact details like a phone number. By responding with a question, you can gauge the level of interest and avoid wasting precious time on "tyre kickers."

Try to ask some questions that can not be answered with a straight yes or no. Instead ask leading questions that must get the enquirer thinking.

If your standard response is not working why not try the above approach? To get business from an email enquiry you must get the client communicating and if possible talking as soon as possible. This is the only way you are going to achieve results.

You also need to build rapport with your potential clients, and instil confidence. They need to be persuaded they are making the right decision. By asking leading questions you are demonstrating that you treat their enquiry with respect.

Why not prepare a standard questionnaire to send out to all initial enquiries? If somebody can not be bothered answering some basic questions then it does not make sense wasting any more time on them.

Another great idea is to hold a weekly conference call for initial enquiries. Some potential clients might not be ready for a one on one chat but would happily attend a tele seminar without feeling threatened.

Personally I do not like the idea of giving a price based on an email enquiry. If the price is all the buyer is interested in then chances are that you will lose this customer pretty quickly even if you do manage to get their business.

If you do give a price by email and it gets rejected then reply "If price is the only issue then why don't you give me a call? We have some great deals but I would rather we talk first before I send you a quote."

Have you had an email enquiry recently? How much more successful would you be if you could double your conversion rate? Let the games begin!

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Business Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss.

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Business Ideas That You Can Run From a Van

Here are some business start up ideas that you can run from a van:

Furniture Restorer
You will need to do a course on furniture restoration before you start this business. They are widely available at most large colleges and universities. You will also need a garage or workshop to store all your cleaning materials and equipment.

Your main task will be to preserve and restore old furniture whilst maintaining their original features.

Pest Control
You will need to do a training course so that you are up to the latest industry standards. The training consists of a residential training course mixed in with some site experience.

Your work involves killing or controlling a wide range of unwanted visitors ranging from mice, foxes, pigeons and even squirrels.

Pet Services
If you love animals then why not set up a pet service business? Your work will involve grooming pets, taking dogs for a walk, removing pet waste and minding the animals whilst the owners are at work.

Vehicle Maintenance
If you are a mechanic and would like to work for yourself then providing basic services and small repairs on site could make you a decent living. You can maintain people's cars in their own driveway.

Home Cleaning & Maintenance
This business will suit somebody that has carpentry experience. Your jobs include carpet cleaning, basic repairs & changing locks. Many home owners are now cash rich but lack the time to maintain their homes.

Landscaping and gardening
Do you have green fingers? Why not make it your business? Most people only have time to do basic gardening.

Landscaping a garden involves planting beautiful plants and creating an individual look and feel to a garden. Some people like a wild and natural garden whilst others prefer an ordered English garden design.

Work is wide and varied including, decking, leveling & building a rockery. Assuming you have gardening experience, you will also need to learn how to build and design patios and basic brickwork skills.

Car Valet
Buy a decent second hand van, equip it with a generator, water tank, pressure washers and cleaning material and you are ready to start valeting cars. It is very easy to pick up regular clients as long as you provide a reliable service.

Costs
A Van business can be started of with as little as £5,000 if you pick up a nice second hand van & manage to get hold of decent second hand tools

You will need to get the van painted with your livery (artwork, logos and contact details). For marketing you will need business cards & flyers. You will also have to get your business listed in the popular business directories. Advertise your business by leafleting well to do areas and approach local businesses.

The best way to get a new van if cash flow is tight is to lease it. They normally ask for 3 payments up front as the deposit followed by 23 or 35 payments based on a 2 or 3 year lease.

Some of the van businesses require you to have expensive tools that are hard to source second hand. You will have to allow for these in your business plans.

For example, total set up costs for leasing a new van, business insurance, buying a complete commercial valeting kit and including marketing could easily set you back £15,000.

The main advantages of a low cost van business are that you don't need expensive premises and are not stuck indoors.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Business Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss.

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Business is So Slow - How Do I Generate More Sales?

When business is slow it's time to make some more sales. One of the easiest ways to do this is to get existing customers to buy more from you. The expense of picking up a new customer far out way the costs of getting a "second sell" from an existing customer.

It is funny how much effort businesses put into getting new customers and then forget to follow through.

Gather information and build a database of your existing customers. The way your business handles data will make the difference between being a top performer in your niche and just getting by. You should be able to search and find information within seconds about every aspect of your customer base.

Research your existing customers. Do you know their latest plans? Do you know all their buyers? Do you know who else they buy from? Is the owner of the business getting close to retirement? Is the business up for sale? Is the business in trouble? Is the business expanding? If so, which territory are they expanding into?

Successful businesses understand their customer's fears and desires. They regularly ask questions. Know thy customer and you will stand a better chance of getting the next order.

Follow through by keeping touch regularly with every business that has bought from you in the past. Regular visits, the occasional email and posting your latest brochure, product offering or special offer will all help you to keep the customer informed. Never ever stop the lines of communication after the initial sale even if the customer buys elsewhere next time.

After the "second sale" ask for referrals. If the customer has bought from you twice then they must be satisfied with your service and your products.

Reward loyal customers with regular special offers and seasonal gifts. All buyers like to feel special and a small inexpensive gift will really help to cement the relationship. Offer add-ons like extended warranties & better quality products. Would you like fries with that burger?

Get personal with your top customers. Have they been to your house? Have they met your family? Have you met theirs? Have you played any games with them? Wine and dine with your top customers and satiate their appetite.

Offer a discount if the customer buys more than his regular requirement. Do you think it is a good idea to let your customers share the burden of storage, especially of bulky products? Let your customers know about your dead stock. Shift it, even if you make a loss. Eventually old stock will decay and become worthless anyway. Storing dead stock over time kills your bottom line.

Measure your results. Who is the most profitable sales representative? Who is your best customer? Which advertising campaign really worked well for you? What made it different from all the other campaigns? Which products make you the most money?

It's really simple isn't it? No earth shattering guidelines above.

Businesses that miss out even one component from the above will pay the price when their competitor overtakes them. On the other hand, businesses that have a plan to keep existing customers buying more will reap the rewards as word of mouth gets around that they really do care.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Business Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss.

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Internet Banking - Good for Your Business?

Many businesses now use internet banking as they deem it to be even safer than the traditional method. Once suppliers' details have been entered in correctly the payment goes directly to their bank account within 3 working days.

Traditional Method

With the traditional method you get to deal with real people but there is a lot that can go wrong. The teller might punch in the wrong amount or you might arrive at the wrong time and end up queuing.

You might run out of cheques or even forget your chequebook at the office when you most need it.

Once you have written a cheque and mailed it you are relying on the post office to deliver your mail on time and to the right address. They often get it wrong.

You need to wait for a statement to find out your account balance unless you are brave and have hours to kill whilst you listen to "your business is very important to us, please hold while we transfer you to the next available operator."

Opening Hours

With the traditional method you are tied down to normal working hours. Online banking is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day as long as you have access to the internet.

With internet banking you cut out the middle man and transfer the funds directly to your supplier's bank account. It is also possible to access your bank statements day or night without having to wait weeks / months for the banks to deal with your request.

Speed

Bank transfers are often dealt with speedier than traditional banking. Some of my transactions definitely happen quicker through online banking. I can also access all my accounts from one secure site. You can check your bank statements for any period in the past without having to search for a long lost file!

Offers

Some banks now offer special deals for their online business customers only. It is possible to get cheaper loans with lower setup costs, credit cards with lower transaction charges and applying for a loan online is also quicker.

Security

Be very careful with your login details and do not write down your password anywhere.

Always log out once you have finished your business and regularly run anti-spyware software on your computer. Spyware tries to monitor your usage of your computer and collect your personal information and use it against you.

There have been breaches of internet banking in the past but now online banking technology is more sophisticated and secure.

Suitability

Internet banking might not suit you if you like to see who you are dealing with. If you are a "technophobe" & feel insecure about doing large transactions online then it is definitely not right for you.

On the other hand if you hate queuing, despise the time it takes for duplicate statements and hate being bogged down by traditional opening hours then the convenience of online banking can not be beaten.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Business Opportunity & Franchise is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss.

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Improve Your Business Credit Rating

Borrow More Money!

Small businesses can improve their credit rating by borrowing more money. You heard me right! Borrow money even when your business does not need it and pay it back on time or better still clear the loan early. Bizarrely, if you have never applied for a loan before then this will negatively impact on your credit score.

The clever way to improve your credit score is by taking advantage of offers that charge you zero percent interest if you pay by a certain date. Why pay the bank interest on a loan when you have money in the bank?

Some lenders offer some very low interest rate loans for asset purchases. Use their loans to buy cars, office equipment or machinery.

Use your cash in your bank to negotiate early payment discounts with your suppliers. Many suppliers with poor cash flow will even offer up to 2% extra discount if you pay their invoices within 7 days.

Lenders base your credit score on your payment history and the amounts of debts outstanding. If you have taken out many small loans and paid them back on time then this will stand you in good stead for when larger sums of monies are required.

Ask for a Quotation First

When applying for credit make sure you get a quotation first before actually applying for the loan. Lenders will not do a credit search to give you a quotation. They will contact one or more credit reference agencies when you apply for a loan.

Every time you apply for a loan the search gets recorded. You want to keep this "credit footprint" as small as possible.

Do not Move House

Changing your house address can be disruptive to your credit score. Lenders like to see stability and moving house can add minus points to your credit score. If you are planning on moving house apply for your business loans before you move.

Know Your Credit Score

Lenders base their lending criteria based on reports from credit agencies and your businesses trading history. Sometimes credit agencies can get it wrong or still record a debt outstanding that was cleared years ago. For a small fee they will happily send you your businesses credit report. Make sure you examine it for errors and highlight them. They are obliged to change the report if you can prove that sums outstanding have been cleared.

You should check your credit score with the credit agencies at least every couple of years to make sure that there are no errors.

Do not Close Unused Accounts

If you have credit cards that you no longer need, destroy them every time a new one arrives. You credit scores benefits if you have credit facilities from many different lending institutions. Some lenders charge you a set annual fee for a credit card so make sure you cancel these.

Clean up Your Balance Sheet

Get rid of slow selling stock. Dispose of unwanted machinery. This will improve you balance sheet and enhance your credit score.

Boosting your credit score will not only improve your standing with the banks. Suppliers also check your credit score and some even offer better deals to companies that are less of a credit risk.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Business Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss.

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