I have decided I want to start my own business. Now what?

[MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2]

My wife's clothing store did ok based solely upon her ability to sell and her passion. She had a couch and coffee and cookies in her shop to make people feel welcome and give it that boutique atmosphere. She was providing a service. Sure it was retail, but the money she made was based solely upon her abilities.

We had a temp girl work there and sit behind the desk. She never made a sale (or she did and we suspect she was stealing from us). I filled in a few days and I hardly ever sold squat and everyone was always asking to see my wife.

She sounds like a relationship seller. Some people are just naturals. I must have read 20-30 books about selling and I understand quite a lot about it, yet I'm still not better than a natural. When you have a natural seller that understands the psychological mechanisms (I know an ENTJ like that), they'll always find something they can sell in any reasonably free market. Even in the worst of circumstances, they'll come out best. If that was your wife's boutique you talked about closing, I hope you guys try something else. Lots of successful people strike out several times before they hit some homers. I have a giant list of strike outs. I also have a list of abandonments or things on hold because things that were working took me in a different direction. More profit = more devoted effort. (considering immediate needs and short/long term guesses.)

I pretty much did the same, though not at 50% more. There's a lot that can be gained by being a good employer, and doing things like sending Christmas & Birthday gifts goes a long way to building that relationship. I always viewed my employees similar to how I would view a customer - they were providing me with a service and I was compensating them for that service. In many ways, I needed them more than they needed me, since jobs were plenty in those days. So by paying them a buck an hour more than the rest of the places did (keep in mind minimum wage was 1 to 4 bucks an hour during most of my years in business), tossing them a small gift on special occasions and having an end of the season party with open bar and lots of food kept my people happy which made life a whole lot easier when it came time to staff my businesses the following year.

This particular person with the pay philosophy was in the construction sector, or maybe you'd call it renovation. His employees would have probably preferred a crack or meth party. lol. (which he did not provide, of course.) The business also hinged on his ability to sell his company's capabilities to large clients. (which he was real good at, apparently.)

I like your philosophy regarding treating employees as customers. It makes sense, especially in certain environments. They're "paying you" their labor, loyalty, time, etc.

[Natural Citizen]

It's ironic that this thread popped up. Some predictable discussion (not that it's bad or anything) here regarding the question. Anyhoo. Was just listening to a very, very good discussion on this very topic last night on Coast to Coast AM.

Entrepreneurial Techniques

First hour guest, entrepreneur Ron Cutler shared business techniques and advice to help those interested in changing their lives. He suggested that in creating one's own business, a person should look for needs that aren't being met, have a unique selling proposition-- something that makes your idea stand out, and be able to learn from failures. Cutler also talked his own successful career path, syndicating radio comedy content.

Was a good one because it's the idea that makes a successful business venture work. Needs to be unique. I found it very good discussion regarding how to compete practically.

As always, these discussions over at Coast far exceed the description. Was a hoot.

Still a pain to post on these boards, I see. Copy, paste, post...and again.

[Schifference]

I have owned several business's. One day a broker (person I sold wholesale to) came in and said, "Do you know how to make a small fortune in the xxxx business? Start with a big one!"

[LibertyCitrus]

I have decided I want to start my own business. Now what?

Now figure out some business ideas ! ! !

1. Buy a product online, then resell it on craigslist at a higher price! Your first sale! Yeah! Now you are in the trading business!
2. Upload videos of paint drying on a wall to Youtube and collect advertisement revenue on your viral video!
3. Organize monthly Nerf gun dueling tournaments in the local park, then use your dueling club to sell protection services against Goblins and Zombies to families in the neighborhood!

[LibertyCitrus]

Reason,


[CaseyJones] every college town should have a delivery service
[MelissaWV] Yeah
[Brandywine] I wish we had grocery delivery up here for my old roomie
[MelissaWV] hmm Coldstone delivers
[Brandywine] she has to just ask people until someone will tkae her to the store
[CaseyJones] I am studying bring me some jack in the box
[CaseyJones] !!
[CaseyJones] ok 5$ charge
[CaseyJones] thats fine!!!
[Brandywine]
[CaseyJones] there are delivery services like that already but ya there should be more
[MelissaWV] Yeah the local one here is excellent
[MelissaWV] And the restaurants love it
[LibertyCitrus] Businesses always need competition
[LibertyCitrus] drives the price down for consumers haha
[MelissaWV] Mid/Upscale restaurants can now cater to people directly through the delivery services
[MelissaWV] without having to hire drivers of their own
[CaseyJones] and shut ins get a fancy meal now and then
[MelissaWV] eh or you can order better pizza
[MelissaWV] the mom & pop pizza places don't have their own drivers

[VoluntaryAmerican]

Reason,


[CaseyJones] every college town should have a delivery service
[MelissaWV] Yeah
[Brandywine] I wish we had grocery delivery up here for my old roomie
[MelissaWV] hmm Coldstone delivers
[Brandywine] she has to just ask people until someone will tkae her to the store
[CaseyJones] I am studying bring me some jack in the box
[CaseyJones] !!
[CaseyJones] ok 5$ charge
[CaseyJones] thats fine!!!
[Brandywine]
[CaseyJones] there are delivery services like that already but ya there should be more
[MelissaWV] Yeah the local one here is excellent
[MelissaWV] And the restaurants love it
[LibertyCitrus] Businesses always need competition
[LibertyCitrus] drives the price down for consumers haha
[MelissaWV] Mid/Upscale restaurants can now cater to people directly through the delivery services
[MelissaWV] without having to hire drivers of their own
[CaseyJones] and shut ins get a fancy meal now and then
[MelissaWV] eh or you can order better pizza
[MelissaWV] the mom & pop pizza places don't have their own drivers

I used to think the same thing till I picked up the wrong letter...

[CaptLouAlbano]

Reason,


[CaseyJones] every college town should have a delivery service

Not a bad idea at all. I guess the question I would have is what would your profit per delivery be. I figure you would have to sell the idea to local restaurants, hire delivery people and either cover their costs (gas, etc) or make them 1099 and have them pay their own costs. Doesn't seem like a huge amount of start up costs involved in something like this, but my gut tells me that you would probably only net a buck or two from each delivery, so you would have to do a few thousand per week to make it a viable business.

[whippoorwill]

Nice topic.

[LibertyCitrus]

to make it a viable business.

Delivery drivers could double as taxi services. Make some mobile apps, have ratings for the drivers. Get fees for bringing customers to businesses.

[CaptLouAlbano]

Delivery drivers could double as taxi services. Make some mobile apps, have ratings for the drivers. Get fees for bringing customers to businesses.

I'm not so sure about restaurants paying fees for places to deliver customers to them. That is something I would not pay for as a restaurant owner. Nonetheless, you seem like you are onto an idea here. The next step for you is to write out a business plan and see if it will be (at least on paper) profitable. How much cash do you have to invest into something like this?