Revised Small Business Question: How do I start a small business?

Question

Okay! Here it goes (again). I live in NC, I have close to absolutely no money whatsoever. I want to start a business selling things over the internet (customized electric guitars and CDs). I don't know how the whole small business loan thing works and I'm afraid of loans because I like to be smart about money and not get trapped in some sort of scheme. I mean...basically anything anyone can tell me about small businesses would be great, because I'm completely unlearnt in this area---but I'm very passionate about this.

Answer 1

Okay, so you're interested in online selling.

Here are the steps you need to make for you to do this successfully.

1. Get a blog. Now, if you don't know what a blog is, look it up. The most common people you'll find to give you free blogs are Blogger.com. But I don't suggest you get with them. I've researched them, I love their service and I truly believe in Google being "not evil" and stuff, but I would much rather have you pay for this blog. It will be completely yours that way. And that way you can do anything you want with it.

Therefore, go to www.typepad.com. And get whichever type of blog you can afford. They charge yearly, so it's a small investment for a whole year of great service.

Play around with ALL the functions. Get yourself familiarized with the customation of your blog. Typepad is very complicated for a beginner, but it's better to deal with learning the ins and outs of it instead of having to learn how to build a website and whatnot. They have done some changes recently, too, so you're just going to have to get used to it. Feel very comfortable with your ability to change this and that. I can't stress that enough.

Like anything, it's just a little practice. I know I make it sound impossible, but it's actually quite easy. Like learning to walk, say.

2. Sign up to Google Adsense as a publisher. AND sign up to Amazon Associates. With google adsense you'll be able to create banner ads that you put on your blog. If I go to your blog and click on one of these banner ads you automatically earn about twenty cents. That's a good average of how much you can make. BE SURE TO READ Google's policy on the ads. You can't click on your own ads. And you can't use more than 3 ads per page. So be sure to use it intelligently. And watch where you click when you're editing your blog.

And, as an Amazon Associate you make money by advertising products from Amazon (like guitars, for example), and putting a picture in your blog. If somebody wants to buy that guitar, and they buy it directly from your blog, then you make money. Amazon will actually share a decent percentage of the profits. If they make 20 bucks, they may give you 2.

That's the ADVERTISING model of revenue that you can get.

Step 3:

Talk about CDs (particularly the ones you're making/downloading/etc). And talk about how to customize electric guitars. I know it sounds rather dumb to talk about customizing guitars, but you don't have to get into specifics. You can simply put up a picture about a guitar that you customized for a local band, a picture of the band playing a really cool song with the guitar that you customized, and maybe even a little audio from the song after the band gives you permission. It's very easy to add audio to a webpage.

See? People will start reading your blog because it's cool. You cover bands, music, guitars. And you can put a line in the corner that says "Let me customize your guitar," probably with your business info.

You have ad revenue from Google Adsense and Amazon. You have a little collection of CD's that you have available for sale (and you can put a little line about that, too), and you run everything with about 100 bucks per year.

My recommendation is for you to start talking to people who play guitars. Record their music and ask for their permission to put it on your site, with maybe a link to their website, if they have any.

When people go to your site, they will see that you offer several services (don't forget to mention it often)

And they will also have the ability to buy guitars, and maybe even use some of the advertisers from Google, which would pay you money and such.

And step 4:

Socialize. One of the biggest mistakes that people make about the internet is that it's not an internet world that makes things happen. It's people in real life. So socialize. Treat your little blog as a business card that let's people know what you do. If you meet somebody who plays guitars, give them a business card and tell them about "that little thing on the side that you do." You'd be surprised, but many people would much rather know you're a real person than a stupid blog. So be approachable. Put your best picture in the blog, if possible. And even share a few things about your life, like an art mural that you saw or something.

Successful business online are either those that have LOTS and LOTS of money to advertise.

OR those that are ran by a very small group of people (sometimes even just one person), who shares a specific passiona or skill, and talk about it, somebody who relates to people.

Now, YouTube. Once you have your whole site up and running, you're going to think, well, how to I promote it?

YouTube is a great way to do it. You can pretty much record on videotape the whole process of customizing a guitar. Literally shoot yourself doing it. And then upload it for people to watch it. Young, hip, cool people use YouTube. I'm sure you'll get a good amount of views. And people will link to your blog to learn more. It's obvious.

Update your blog with new stories or guitar projects AT LEAST every three days or so.

AND NEVER SHARE DRAMA, like family problems, boy problems, or any of that stuff.

It's very possible dear. Just follow the advice I gave you. It's hard work. But nobody said a business was easy.

Good luck

I've put some resources for you to also play with:

Answer 2

Well, if you have no money at all and afraid of loan, or don't want to have a loan, and still you want to start a small business, then - its extreemly difficult, but not impossible. I suggest two things. 1. You need all the available information on starting business. You can get this from internet. Just type "setting up a small business" and do your reading. From there you will know, for instance, how to sell a business idea, such as yours. 2.Try to find a friend for partnership in business.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I like your dream and your passion. I am the CEO of Extreme Energy and the leader of the Xtreme Team. I started my home based small business with a major manufacturing corporation for free. I made an investment of $65.95 for my first order of product. I got a return on that the first week and it has multiplied since. I now offer the same opportunity that I was given to anyone who is interested. It does take a lot of work and you can not give up even when things seem to be at a stand still because you never know when the wave will come. Check out the link below and while you are there, go ahead and request your FREE energy drink and think about coming on board. I took this very same offer and now I am a CEO and loving it

Answer 4

The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.

I recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.

Research, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can. Here are some book titles that are relevant:

Starting a Business:
* How to Really Start Your Own Business, Fourth Edition by David E. Gumpert
* How to Really Create a Successful Business Plan: Step-by-Step Guide by David E. Gumpert
* What No One Ever Tells You about Starting Your Own Business: Real-Life Start-Up Advice from 101 Successful Entrepreneurs (What No One Ever Tells You About Starting Your Own Business) by Jan Norman
* Business Start-Up Kit by Steven D. Strauss
* Start Your Own Business (Entrepreneur Magazine's Start Up) by Rieva Lesonsky

Finding Money/Loans:
* How to Get a Small Business Loan: A Banker Shows You Exactly What to Do to Get a Loan (Small Business Series, No 1) by Bryan E. Milling
* The SBA Loan Book: Get A Small Business Loan--even With Poor Credit, Weak Collateral, And No Experience by Charles H. Green
* The Insider's Guide to Small Business Loans by Dan M. Koehler
* Free Money for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs by Laurie Blum
* Finding Money: The Small Business Guide to Financing (Small Business Series) by Kate Lister, Tom Harnish
* Financing Your Business Dreams With Other People's Money: How and Where to Find Money for Start-Up and Growing Businesses by Harold R. Lacy
* No Cash No Fear: Entrepreneurial Secrets to Starting Any Business with No Money by Terry Allen
* Starting on a Shoestring: Building a Business Without a Bankroll by Arnold S. Goldstein

There are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Answer 5

As a business you will be able to deduct things on your income tax, like your internet bill. The sad truth is you need money to make money. If you think it will be a success just find a low interest credit card and take a chance! Spend as little as you need to and test the waters out with a few items.

Answer 6

Get a free web site and start promoting it. There are free ads, free traffic generators, free email list managers, etc. Of course the peopl ewho give you the free stuff wnat to sell you something but, you don't hav eto and would be wiase not to buy it. Here is a site that will give you a lot of this free stuff. Just get started. You will learn as you go.

http://www.freewebs.com/websmith/index.htm

Answer 7

Go to http://www.score.org/ to find the nearest SCORE chapter. Contact them to arrange for a free one on one meeting with a SCORE counselor.

SCORE is a nonprofit organization. They provide a public service by offering small business advice and training. .

SCORE's 10,500 volunteers have more than 600 business skills. Volunteers share their wisdom and lessons learned in business. The volunteers are working/retired business owners, executives and corporate leaders.

Answer 8

Check out this site www.carlshealthhelp.com/biz