Looking for an in-demand small business opportunity that doesn't require you to take out a second mortgage to start? Then consider starting a delivery business! There is an ongoing need for quality delivery services that are affordable and reliable, and if you have a truck, van, or even a motorcycle, you can use it for making light deliveries or messages and letters in your community. Many people begin a delivery business by contracting with stores and other businesses in their communities, like law firms or real estate agents, to drop off packages and messages on a retainer basis per trip. Typical rates for businesses of this type are twenty cents per mile, a certain dollar amount per in-city drop, or a certain dollar amount per month to be on call. This can be a very lucrative small business that you can use to supplement your existing income or to build a full time income from.
The Market for Delivery Services
Most businesses have at least some need to make local deliveries and maintaining an on site service can be less cost-effective than farming the task out. After all, merchants and businesses would need to have a vehicle as well as commercial insurance - and then they would need to hire someone to drive the truck and make the actual deliveries, all of which can add up to a lot more than paying your delivery service to do the job. Those businesses that have an on-site delivery methods often experience a peak season where they need the extra help to please their customers and satisfy their demands and orders. A delivery does not have to be merchandise; it can be time-sensitive documents or other papers or a part that a mechanic needs ASAP but doesn't have time to go across town to pick up.
What You Will Need to Get Started
To get started in a delivery business, you will need:
Reliable and fuel-efficient transportation; in large metropolitan areas, some delivery businesses are operated by bicycle, although this business model will not go well in all areas.
A business license and permit from your local and state government as needed.
Commercial insurance for your delivery vehicle.
A cell phone for staying in touch with clients while you are on deliveries.
A mileage log to keep track of your mileage for tax purposes.
Bookkeeping software, if you plan to keep your own records.
Landing Clients
Many businesses have used the same delivery services for years and will be reluctant to give your business a try. This is why it is important to be patient during the start up phase. Slowly develop a stream of clients, provide a good service to them that is reliable and affordable, and you will begin to see your client base grow. You can begin by advertising your services in your local newspaper, and by passing out fliers to various businesses that may need your help. You should also build a custom website that will allow you to be seen in the local search result when someone queries for delivery services. And remember: doing a good job allows you to get the best, free advertising of all: word-of-mouth advertising from satisfied customers.
Good luck with your delivery business!
Article by: Joseph_Alexander
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
How to Write a Business Plan For a New Start Up Business
When you're starting a business, it's best to start with a written business plan. This way you can logically think through your vision for the business, set out your goals, along with a timeframe, and tell the reader how you'll achieve those goals.
In the book What They Don't Teach You in the Harvard Business School, Mark McCormack tells of a study conducted on students in the 1979 Harvard MBA program. In that year, the students were asked, "Have you set clear, written goals for your future and made plans to accomplish them?" Just three percent of the students had written goals; 13% did have goals, but not written; and a massive eighty-four percent didn't have specific goals.
Ten years on and the students were interviewed once more.The findings, while a little predictable, were very much astonishing. The 13% who had goals were earning twice as much (on average) as the 84 who didn't have any. The learning point here though is the about the 3% who had clear and written goals. On average, they were earning TEN TIMES as much as the other 97 percent put together.
A business plan is a logical explanation of how you intend your business to achieve its goals. Do you think you should write one?
A plan enables you to think through the issues that face you, and how to overcome them. It also assists financiers (bankers or investors) in deciding whether your plan holds together, and helps them form a view as to whether your new business will succeed - and therefore whether they will back you!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Business Opportunities For Women
Today every person wants to work and earn some money because high the cost of living. Women who are housewives, mothers etc can help family's financial status. For this, a home business is best for them. Here are some ideas:
1. Catering:
Many women have started catering business from their homes. Do you love to cook, why not start selling the food? You can contact to several organizations and offices for your service.
2. Childcare
This is the business for those women who have children. They can start childcare business from home. There are two certain benefits in childcare business. First one is It will give you extra income and secondly it will keep your child busy.
3. Direct selling
Direct selling is very popular way to earn some extra money from home. If you think you can tell others something about new products, Start direct selling business. There are some very good direct selling companies in the market. Think about your interest and relate it to products.
4. Event Planning
Event planning is the way of planning the festivals, ceremony, party etc. and An event planner handle all the event related jobs. To become an event planer you should be creative and you should know how to manage situation. You can start event planning business from home.
5. Tutoring
Tutoring is very cheap home based business idea but it is not for anyone. For tutoring you need to be smart and knowledgeable according to subject. If you have these two qualities then start with one or two children and charge hourly.
6. Home Decoration
Sometime it is called interior designing. For home decoration business you have to be creative and need an eye for design. You can start with no college degree, little investment. Today many people have not enough time to decorate their homes. That is why they want a professional for decoration.
For any business you have to advertise your business. Tell about your business to your friends, relatives, and others as well. Be patient. Every business needs time to grow.
Article by: Naven K
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Learn to Make a List For Your Small Business
When you first start building your business, and as a smart move on your behalf, you have so many details that you don't know where to start. You're trying to make sure that you keep it straight, right and make sure you don't miss anything. So what you should start doing is keep a list.
What I've learned is to keep or make a list of things to do. Keeping a list helps you control your thought and helps you keep it straight. Plus by you seeing how or what you have to do in a list, you will let it happen.
I have a list for things to do for the day. What needs to happen this week and what to complete by the end of the month. List help you feel organized and help you make sure you don't miss anything.
Lists provide away to see if you are accomplishing anything. List helps you see the light at the end of the tunnel. Lists give you or help you think outside the box.
The biggest reason I always tell a small business owner is to keep a list is to have a good record or history of what you are doing. That to me is more valuable than anything else. Record keeping should be the number one thing of owning a business.
Lists are great and they are also great motivators of agenda. List helped me build a portfolio of facts about my business. List helped me redo my business plan. List allowed me to help with a sales letter. List provided me with information I needed for an account error we found. List helps me create a press release when I needed one.
No matter how big or small your business that you own is. Lists are great for business.
Article By: Ricardo Gonzales
What I've learned is to keep or make a list of things to do. Keeping a list helps you control your thought and helps you keep it straight. Plus by you seeing how or what you have to do in a list, you will let it happen.
I have a list for things to do for the day. What needs to happen this week and what to complete by the end of the month. List help you feel organized and help you make sure you don't miss anything.
Lists provide away to see if you are accomplishing anything. List helps you see the light at the end of the tunnel. Lists give you or help you think outside the box.
The biggest reason I always tell a small business owner is to keep a list is to have a good record or history of what you are doing. That to me is more valuable than anything else. Record keeping should be the number one thing of owning a business.
Lists are great and they are also great motivators of agenda. List helped me build a portfolio of facts about my business. List helped me redo my business plan. List allowed me to help with a sales letter. List provided me with information I needed for an account error we found. List helps me create a press release when I needed one.
No matter how big or small your business that you own is. Lists are great for business.
Article By: Ricardo Gonzales
Monday, August 2, 2010
No Confidence? How to Have a Happy, Confident Mind
No Confidence? How to Have a Happy, Confident Mind
Want to improve your confidence? Even the most outwardly successful person can lack confidence in themselves in particular situations. How can you learn to be a more confident person? Read these essential self-esteem and confidence-building tips.
WHAT IS CONFIDENCE?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines confidence as "a feeling or consciousness of one's powers" or "the quality or state of being certain". Confidence is also a trust in a person or being.
YOUR INNER VOICE: YOU AND ONLY YOU CAN CHOOSE TO BE CONFIDENT
Confidence is essentially an attitude. Having a confident state of mind and secure self-esteem is something that comes from within YOU and ONLY YOU. Many people consider confidence as a result of a particular achievement or status. For example, they think "when I'm slim and beautiful, I'll be more confident", or "when I've made a success of myself and I'm driving a Ferrari, I'll have all the confidence in the world" or "if I weren't such a loser, I would be more confident". People who lack confidence and self-esteem often feel that they have no control over their lives, that they were born ugly, or poor or stupid. You have to realize that self-confidence is not dependent on your achievements or status (or perceived lack thereof). And that confidence can be learned and developed with practice and the right techniques.
Remember too that a lack of self-confidence is an extremely common worry for many and you are not only in your fears.
GETTING INTO A CONFIDENT STATE
Remember the last time you felt truly confident and happy. Perhaps you received a prize at school, or your father once praised you for a particular achievement. It does not matter how big or small the actual achievement was: you are simply trying to replicate the emotion of feeling totally confident. Close your eyes and recall that emotion in as much detail as possible. Remember your physical feeling, your emotions, the sounds around you, the colors, the smells and environment. It does not matter if you don't recall every detail straight away, with practice you will develop a clearer mental picture. Practice bringing that feeling of confidence back again and again until you can summon that confident state almost immediately. Now, whenever you are in a stressful state or need a confidence boost, bring back that feeling. It might take some practice at first. Do not worry if you don't get it the first few times. Try to practice it everyday for about one month. If you require a certain trigger to help you recall that feeling then use it. I find that if I attach a song to that emotion, then all I need to do is play it loudly on my earphones, and I can immediately recall it.
SMILE AND WALK TALL
Look in the mirror and give a big, deep smile. Straighten your shoulders, put your head up and walk tall. If you act confident, you will feel more confident. Your mind and body are capable of incredible things.
BE AWARE OF YOUR BREATHING
If you need to, slow down your breathing. During stressful moments, be aware of your breathing. Focus on making each breath deeper and slower and you will gradually feel more calm and confident.
USE POSITIVE LANGUAGE
Use positive language as much as possible. Avoid phrases such as
- "I'm not good at"
- "I can't"
- "I shouldn't"
- "I have to"
- "But..."
- "Alright for some"
BE POSITIVE TOWARDS OTHERS
If we are positive towards others, they are more likely to be positive towards you. Try to be positive, polite and as nice as possible to people around you. Focus on them, listening and empathizing with their situation and you are likely to receive a similar response back.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT PEOPLE WHO CONSTANTLY BATTER YOUR CONFIDENCE
Remember that self-confidence comes from you and not from others. If you have someone who is constantly putting you down, you could try and avoid contact with them, but you could also try to turn their words into a positive. You might have a parent who is always telling you to save more money, get a girlfriend, lose weight, work harder, be more like someone else. Whenever you hear these words just say to yourself "they are only saying these things because they love me and want the best for me. I love mom and her comments because she only wants the best for me".
CONFIDENCE WILL COME
Like many things in life, having confidence takes practice. Do not expect it to come overnight. If you are shy in public places, the more practice you have meeting people, the better you will become at confident, social interactions. Just keep working at your confidence and self-esteem little by little and the results will come.
Article by: Gemma_Swansburg
Want to improve your confidence? Even the most outwardly successful person can lack confidence in themselves in particular situations. How can you learn to be a more confident person? Read these essential self-esteem and confidence-building tips.
WHAT IS CONFIDENCE?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines confidence as "a feeling or consciousness of one's powers" or "the quality or state of being certain". Confidence is also a trust in a person or being.
YOUR INNER VOICE: YOU AND ONLY YOU CAN CHOOSE TO BE CONFIDENT
Confidence is essentially an attitude. Having a confident state of mind and secure self-esteem is something that comes from within YOU and ONLY YOU. Many people consider confidence as a result of a particular achievement or status. For example, they think "when I'm slim and beautiful, I'll be more confident", or "when I've made a success of myself and I'm driving a Ferrari, I'll have all the confidence in the world" or "if I weren't such a loser, I would be more confident". People who lack confidence and self-esteem often feel that they have no control over their lives, that they were born ugly, or poor or stupid. You have to realize that self-confidence is not dependent on your achievements or status (or perceived lack thereof). And that confidence can be learned and developed with practice and the right techniques.
Remember too that a lack of self-confidence is an extremely common worry for many and you are not only in your fears.
GETTING INTO A CONFIDENT STATE
Remember the last time you felt truly confident and happy. Perhaps you received a prize at school, or your father once praised you for a particular achievement. It does not matter how big or small the actual achievement was: you are simply trying to replicate the emotion of feeling totally confident. Close your eyes and recall that emotion in as much detail as possible. Remember your physical feeling, your emotions, the sounds around you, the colors, the smells and environment. It does not matter if you don't recall every detail straight away, with practice you will develop a clearer mental picture. Practice bringing that feeling of confidence back again and again until you can summon that confident state almost immediately. Now, whenever you are in a stressful state or need a confidence boost, bring back that feeling. It might take some practice at first. Do not worry if you don't get it the first few times. Try to practice it everyday for about one month. If you require a certain trigger to help you recall that feeling then use it. I find that if I attach a song to that emotion, then all I need to do is play it loudly on my earphones, and I can immediately recall it.
SMILE AND WALK TALL
Look in the mirror and give a big, deep smile. Straighten your shoulders, put your head up and walk tall. If you act confident, you will feel more confident. Your mind and body are capable of incredible things.
BE AWARE OF YOUR BREATHING
If you need to, slow down your breathing. During stressful moments, be aware of your breathing. Focus on making each breath deeper and slower and you will gradually feel more calm and confident.
USE POSITIVE LANGUAGE
Use positive language as much as possible. Avoid phrases such as
- "I'm not good at"
- "I can't"
- "I shouldn't"
- "I have to"
- "But..."
- "Alright for some"
BE POSITIVE TOWARDS OTHERS
If we are positive towards others, they are more likely to be positive towards you. Try to be positive, polite and as nice as possible to people around you. Focus on them, listening and empathizing with their situation and you are likely to receive a similar response back.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT PEOPLE WHO CONSTANTLY BATTER YOUR CONFIDENCE
Remember that self-confidence comes from you and not from others. If you have someone who is constantly putting you down, you could try and avoid contact with them, but you could also try to turn their words into a positive. You might have a parent who is always telling you to save more money, get a girlfriend, lose weight, work harder, be more like someone else. Whenever you hear these words just say to yourself "they are only saying these things because they love me and want the best for me. I love mom and her comments because she only wants the best for me".
CONFIDENCE WILL COME
Like many things in life, having confidence takes practice. Do not expect it to come overnight. If you are shy in public places, the more practice you have meeting people, the better you will become at confident, social interactions. Just keep working at your confidence and self-esteem little by little and the results will come.
Article by: Gemma_Swansburg
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