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....I am thinking about selling for others on eBay. I don't think there is a place near me that does it so I would be the only one in the area. I just need to know a few things. How much of the money made goes to the customer and how much to me as the seller. What if something doesnt sell? does the customer pay all fees? And last but not least what types of items does it pay to do this for. After all, after all the time you spend making the pictures and listings and shipping the item do you realy come out ahead or do you expend too much time and energy for too little return?
Ebay has a term for this and its called "Trading Assistants". Your idea doesn't sound like a bad idea but take it from the people that have replied to your post - it aint easy!
I had one woman who wanted me to sell her sports card collection on Ebay. I see a similar set sold for $30,000! Well I showed her that information and she was ready and willing to go BUT she didn't want to pay anything and she wanted to hold on to the cards until I got the payment. Well my main caveat with that was that after I got the payment I would have to chase her all around to get the cards. Mind you now its not her name on the account and its not her doing the work. So to make a long story short I did not do it.
I recently made a brochure that I give out to anybody that wants me to sell their stuff on Ebay and in that brochure is the EXACT terms that I'm going to accept. So I do suggest that if you want to do this that you do the same thing - write it out and then when someone comes to you wanting you to sell their stuff on Ebay - then BAM! - you give them the brochure!
If they balk you can simply tell them to try and sell it theirselves on Ebay. That will give them a better understanding (and hopefully some respect) for what it is that has to be done.
So many, many people want to work from home but a lot of them say that they don't know what to do. As I have said many, many times before the fastest way to make money is to find a need and fill it and the best way to make money is to take something that you love and turn it into a business.
There is also a third option too. How about taking one of the programs that you already have installed on your computer and start a business using it. People think that that you have to have the latest software and/or the ones with the most "bells and whistles" when really you don't have to. I am a big fan of "using what you have to get what you want."
On my consultation page I list a few programs and how they can be used to start a business. A simple program that came with my computer was the Windows "Paint" program which is a basic paint program. How can you use this program to start a business? How about designing logos? Or specialty T-shirt designs? You can create your picture using this program and then copy the picture and paste it into your wordprocessing program. Just think of what you could do with capabilities like that! You could start your own newsletter, doing desk top publishing for others......You want to hear a "strange but true fact?" Even with all the home computers in use there are still people/businesses and organizations that still use the service of desk top publishers - publishing everything from logos to stationary! And this is something that you can do using two basic little programs that are already installed on your computer.
What's that? You say that you can't draw? In a lot of instances you won't have to be a Picasso at it. The most basic of paint programs lets you draw shapes and include text and once you start at it you will become more and more familiar with the program itself and then you can start to experiment and acquaint yourself with what your program can and can't do.
Don't think that there is a market for this type of work? Then you're wrong. Look at all the websites that offer these kinds of services. What about businesses that offer this type of service in your area? If you live in an area that doesn't offer this type of service you can use that to your advantage!
What about a niche market where you do a specific type of design? Let's say menus, resumes, newsletters, stationary - some type of specific design?
You will have to have clients right? There are no-cost and low-cost ways to advertise and market your business. Why don't you design a flyer advertising YOUR business (make yourself your first customer) and distribute it around? Prepare a business plan so that you will always have the steps that you take written down (and add enough room for the new things that you have come to learn!). Business plans don't have to be complicated. You can start with just a simple objective (ie: I want to make $ per month) and add to it as you progress.
You know there are people that are doing this very thing now. Why not you?
Are you interested in providing shelter for the homeless? There is a grant program in Wisconsin that provides funding for this. Again (as I have said before) when there is an overwhelming need for something a grant program is created. This one has been around for over 15 years! Both non-profits and private for-profits are eligible to apply. I was looking at the the listing of past recipients and the list includes organizations like the Salvation Army, community action organizations and a number of religious organizations.
Please remember to bear in mind that this is not the only grant program of its kind that is available. Taking a look at the bigger picture here this has to do with providing shelter for the homeless and to encourage more shelters - that is why these kinds of programs have been created!
I a have a Website,trying to make money working at home! I am 67 years old,with very little retirement! Looking for knoweledge to get more people to my website,
One of the first things that you should do is to identify/define your target market. Who is most likely to buy your product and why?
You also should realize that a lot of visitors will happen upon a website because they got the link from a search engine. Well, how does your page(s) rank in the search engines? I try to keep my pages at least in the top numbers of rankings and this is something that I do manually as opposed to paying for high(er) rankings. It is something that I do and that has to be done on a continuing basis. You have to realize that new webpages are coming on the Internet everyday and theoretically speaking the more new pages that are added to the Internet everyday the more your page(s) will get bumped down the list of links.
Also you're going to have to analyze the traffic that you are getting now to see how you can go about increasing it - another thing that should be included in your business plan.
I want to open/start a home daycare, A.S.A.P.
I want to apply for grant.
Please tell me where to start!
Thank you for your email.
The first place that you should start looking for grants is your own locality. You can start at the local level of your municipality to see if there are any grant programs for providing daycare services in your area. You will also have to decide whether or not your daycare will be operated as a for-profit, non-profit or a combination of both.
There are daycare-related grant programs at a federal and national levels but if your own local area also has grant programs than you will have more that you can apply for. There may also be certain aspects of your daycare that will qualify you for other funding programs such as providing "after-school type" programs, some kind of educational aspect and on and on.
It will all definitely depend on the type of daycare service you will be providing. In some cases you can even find a grant/funding program that you can tailor your business to in order to qualfy for the funding program(s). For example if you found an organization that had a grant program for helping to improve a child's math skills (or some subject that you are well acquainted with) then you could include such a program as part of your daycare services.
So the best place for you to start is with a general outline/business plan of the way that your business is going to be. With this then you can start to find the grant/funding programs that you are eligible to apply for.
When you are "looking for a grant" there are some things that you are going to have to take into consideration. Number 1 grants are not automatic meaning that you have to apply. You are most likely to receive a grant when you best meet the guidelines and requirements of the grant program. Going on your post specifically you have to know that theatre and theatre groups receive grant funding all the time so that makes it definite that there are such grant programs out there.
You take your endeavor or project and figure out who best would it serve. Know that the bulk of grant programs out there exist to bring a greater awareness to something and/or to help solve a problem. How does that relate to your endeavor specifically? Well since yours is a minority endeavor you should look into sources that are related to that minority. What can you bring a greater awareness to? How about those problems that relate to your minority - ie literacy, there has also been in the news a lot lately about illegal immigrants - how about telling their stories? How about telling the story or stories of those of your minority that have achieve some kind of infamy (good or bad) and there is also the good old "standby" of offering some type of educational aspect to your endeavor. The above are good for at least 5 different kind of grant programs that you are qualified for and can apply to.
One side note that I want to add is that it is not enough to just say that you have a endeavor and/or project and then say you want a grant for it you are going to have to show why you should receive such a grant.
I'm looking at some literature from a company. What is striking to me is that there is no letterhead with the company's contact information. Please do not make this mistake with your own company's literature. I don't care how small or how big your company is ALL of your literature should have some type of letterhead even if its just your company's basic contact information either at the top or the bottom of the page. Remember that you want your business to be remembered!
PS - This also applies to your non-profit business and projects as well!
Can someone point me to the best resources for learning how to market my art?
I seem to be inept at using ebay, websites, google etc. I've tried everything and I'm so frustrated I could scream LOL! The long of the short... I feel as if every place I see on the internet is out to take your money, for a service they know won't work eventually you quit after that they take the next guys buck. I've tried click services, general submissions, paid submissions, I've tried ebay who takes so much when you list and then afterward they take from your profit and they own paypal that also grabs a chunk. I feel used and abused, tired and frustrated I love my artwork, I do many types I am unfortunately a bit of a recluse and I don't have a networking ...my own folly I fear. But how do I go about building a clientel? Target market? I'm kind of crippled at knowing which way to go...also terribly unfocused...I make jewelry, paint watercolors, do poetry, cards, LOL I even tried to add products from places like SMC, crystal manufacturers to round out my own...they just d!
rove me nuts with low inventory, poor turn times etc. I want to crawl back into my cave and just paint LOL...help!! any suggestions? I made a website/store but it's not "turned on" to shop at...you can't click a basket and buy anything...but it shows the kind of work I do...should I give up online and hit the street with a suitcase full of my work and hope some gallery likes it? I am such a ninny.,..LOL I am NOT a sales person, I'm an artist and need some real guidance ...check out my work and tell me who /how I should approach to guide me at selling ...there's a fraction on this site...I have so many things LOL... anyway remember, you can't buy any of it, most of it I either gave away by now or it's packed away, but it is good to at least see what I mean by artist...
Well you seem to be quite unfocused. The first thing that you should do is sit down and determine EXACTLY what it is you want! AND you should make this the first page of your business plan which is something that you should have and is something that is always advised as having. Your post is the perfect example of why one should have a business plan. You're quite unfocused and going every which-a-way!
It just seems that you are in the middle of this big cloud with ideas and words swirling around you. You're not the first person that has wanted to sell their art online (and you won't be the last). You should also know too that there are people who are selling their own art online - you need to look no further than the "Artist" Message boards here on AOL. And you know if there are AOL'ers selling their art online then there are those artists that aren't on AOL who are selling their art as well.
I can see that you're very frustrated and the simple solution to that is just that - MAKE IT SIMPLE! Even though the Internet gives you a lot of options its easy to want and explore every new thing that comes along - which is all fine and well but have your simple plan and do that while you explore the other things!
What you need is one basic plan to follow. You can explore other things but have a BASIC plan! Then while you are carrying that out you can explore other things.
There are so many things in your post - all of which can be analyzed and should be and then turned around to make them an advantage as opposed to a disadvantage.
From my email box......
Message:
========
I am trying start a home daycare center and need grant money to help me out with my business. Could you please give me so info on grants for small business for women, etc. I need an name and address so that I can write a proposal for a
grant.
Sincerely,
S~
Thank you for your email.
Number one it is not as simple as writing a proposal. You have to know the guidelines and the requirements of each grant program you are applying to because no two will ever be the same. Besides there are many grant programs that let you apply online - not all of them but some of them - and that doesn't mean that you should not apply to those that don't have such capabilities - you should (and can) apply to as many grant programs that you are eligible for.
As for a name and an address once you start finding this information on your own you will see how much time and effort is required.
One of the employment opportunities listed is health care. This means the whole health care industry. Everything from taking care of patients to the billing process (which also includes administrative duties) can come under the category of health care. Nurses and nurse's aides (now called CNA's) are needed and there are grants and scholarship programs to help fill that need.
Of course I get those people that want to work for themselves and be their own boss which is something that can be done using the health care industry as a target. There are no shortages of business ideas for those that want to be able to be a part of the health care industry as far as being their own boss is concerned. I did work for a client that is a nursing home that involved a summary report of complaints that were lodged against them - and the nursing home didn't even know about it! They had no way to defend themself simply because they didn't know that the information existed - now they monitor it (or rather I should say that I monitor it) on a regular basis so that they will have the latest information that relates to them.
As I have said many times before the fastest way to make money is to find a need and fill it. The best way to make money is to take something that you love and turn it into a business.
Family and loved ones have every right to feel concerned when one of their own has to placed in a nursing home facility. On the other hand a nursing home does have to protect itself from false accusations. I became aware of this when I was approached by a nursing home that wanted 2 things actually. Number 1 they wanted a web presence and number 2 they wanted me to design a visitor survey/suggestion/complaint box form to help with the feedback. This nursing home had no web presence at all and was quite surprised when I informed them of the information about them that was online. A typical "investigative" research search is $1200.00! But you'd be surprised at what information there is out there about a business. Whether it well founded or not the business will at least want to know what is being said about them. In some cases they may even be able to bring some legal action if it is warranted.
"~ I would like to know if I were to get you to look for me a grant that would be for a profit trucking company, I would like to know if you can do everything that is required for a grant? By that I mean, can you do the research, prepare the grant and anything else that is involved with grants? I work at a job that I rotate shifts on and have very little time off so there for my time is limited. I would like to know what you think the cost would be for all of this. ~ I need more than just research done. If you would let me know and could tell me what my chances are of getting the grant monies that I will need to start a trucking company from the bottom up, then we can talk serious buisness. I look forward to hearing from you SOON!"
~
First of all your chances of being awarded a grant will depend on how well you adhere to the guidelines, eligibility requirements and the application procedure. For example if you are applying for one of the entrepreneurial grant programs you will have to show why you think your business idea should be awarded the grant. No two grant programs will be the same! Some require as little as a simple "letter of intent" all the way to a complete business plan.
To answer your question the process is simple. The questions that have been posted have to be answered to get an idea of what kind of grant funding programs have to be found. This "finding" takes 30 days - every grant funding program that I find that meets with the criteria of the questions that the client has filled out will be noted in the client's file. This includes every bit of information about the grant program itself including all the contact information. There is 20 hours worth of research time and 10 hours to gather and compile the information for the client. The client receives this information lock, stock and barrel and it is theirs. They read over their file and decide whether or not they can do the application process theirselves or whether they want to hire a grantwriter to do it for them. The grantwriter can be me or someone else. But the service is for the information itself - once the client has that then they can decide what to do next - whether it be with me or someone else. Since the information is wanted so fast the payment that is required will be wanted fast as well.
In your specific case - as with any other - the information is gathered and given to you so that you can go over it and decide for yourself whether or not you want to do the process yourself or have someone else do it for you. As of December 12, 2005, the basic fee for this is $759.00 and the information on the payment information page must also be received before a file will be started.
Yet another question/question/query/email about finding a investor or investors.....My personal opinion is to avoid seeking an investor or investors solely for the reason that your project will not be 100% yours! You will be sharing any and all profits that you make with your investor(s).
But if what you want are investors you have one of the most valuable tools at your disposal. And if you are reading this entry then that means that you already have it and it is having access to the Internet! Did you know that there are lists (and lists) of potental investors online? There are also lists and directories of venture capitalists - and yes there are still some legitimate venture capitalists (and angel investors) out there as well. If you are seeking an investor then there is also tons of information on the Internet to help you - everything from what kind of information you should have to actual accounts of the process that people have used to get investors.
If you are seekng investors then you have more resources than you know!
turn THAT into a business!
I just got finished playing around with some of the sound programs on my computer. It wasn't for a professional job - I was just playing around with the programs. (If you'd like to hear it just go to my "Shoutout" Page at:
http://members.aol.com/Roseb441702/shoutout.htm
and click on the box that says "Testing 1 - 2................"
It's just a quick thing that I was having fun with and then I decided to put it online. But it is just another reminder of how you can take one program and turn it into a business. I know that there are a lot more sophisticated sound/music programs out there but you can do a lot with the "sound recorder" program if it already came as part of the software on your computer. I get lots of email from people that say that want to start their own recording studio and I'm just wondering how many people have this little program gem on their computer and aren't aware of it. You could start your own little production company (and I have seen examples of people that actually do this!). You can start out making funny messages for people's answering machines. You put a sample on your webpage and do some advertising and some marketing and some promotion to get people to listen to it and then the orders would come from there. So many people ask about how they can get people to come to their pages without having to pay a lot of money and there are ways that you can advertise and promote your site without having to pay a lot of money. You have to realize that not everybody has a lot of money to start with and they use the resources that they have to bring more visitors (and potential customers) to their pages. As they get more and more orders they can increase the amount that they can spend on advertising and such. Also too, as you become more and more familiar with the work you are doing you can increase your know-how by adding services that involve music such as making demos and full-blown recordings and its not just music that you can work with you can also work with sounds and sound effects too.
And the best part is that this is a business that you can start at home using your computer. Don't think it would work? Well guess what! A guy won a grammy for his music that he made entirely at home!
Rose - I am a retired AA - looking for typing work at home. I have typed manuscripts and would like to continue doing this but it seems with everyone proficient on the computer there is not a demand for typists. I understand, from some of the things posted on your site, that there are people out there who would like typing done - how do I contact them. Can you help me.
As strange as it may seem there is still a demand for computer work like typing and graphic designs even though a lot of people have computers that come with very good word processing and graphics programs. So there is work out there.
So as a person that wants to work from home what you have to do is find them! I don't know whether or not you want to do this as a means for extra income or if you want to make a business from it but the process is still the same. Since I do work from home myself and do business consulting for others that want to start a business of their own it has given me the chance to see how many resources there are to help one start their own business - but they always seem to overlook them or don't think that anything can be done with it. A lot of people have started their own business starting with little money and what they lack in money they make up for with time and effort.
Relating specifically to you and your email you have to realize that while a lot of people have a computer they still don't want to "work", they don't have the time to do it and lastly some of them just don't want to do it. You'd be surprised at the number of people I know that have the latest computer but don't "work" it.
If typing is the area that you want to start making income from the first thing that you will have to do is to define your target market. Who is most likely to need and buy your services? Then you target to them. Is just straight typing the only kind of work that you want to do? There are many jobs that fall into the area of typing but let's target specifically the kind of typing you mentioned above. You talk about manuscripts - then what you would do is target to those dealing with manuscripts. Since delivery may be a major concern (at least at the start) you should first concentrate on your local area. There are at list 6 possible businesses/clients that I can think of in my own immediate area that would need typing services but I have to let them know that I'm "open" for business. This is the same thing that you will have to do - let them know that you are open for business. This is why a business plan is always recommended for those that want to start a business of their own. It is better to have a step by step plan and process as opposed to just "come what may". You're going to have to have some knowledge of the "business" side of business such as how you will bill them, what rates you will charge, what kind of form you will use to charge them with, supplies (accounts payable) plus you will want to have a plan for marketing, promoting and advertising your business which you have to do on a regular basis to keep your business going.
Since your primary main focus will be on getting clients you will want to concentrate most of your energies on this. And like I said above the best place to start would be in your local immediate area. One of my first regular clients was someone I knew at my local supermarket. I didn't pressure him or anything but when he asked what I did I told him and he had some work for me. Now he is a continuing client. This is but one example of letting people know that you're out there and open for business. Another resource that is often overlooked is one's own local newspaper! Hardly any of the people that have sent me mail about starting their own business have even thought of that! This is just one example of a common thing that should be used as a resource but isn't and buying one local paper is something that most people can afford. Even if they couldn't afford to buy a local paper there are just too many other resources that can be used but are for the most part ignored!
So to answer your question I'm assuming you are at the beginning of getting started looking for clients and the best place for you to start is to start with your immediate area. Once you follow the steps for that and start getting your first clients then you can branch out to potential clients that are farther away and even work your way up to using the Internet to reach more people. (Yes, you can have Internet clients that need typing work - because its being done by others! - I'm talking about legitimate jobs that involve typing for businesses and individuals!)
I saw this line again when I was online and it got me to thinking about what could be done when you get laid off. First of all if you are reading this that means that you have a computer - or at least have access to one - and that just opens up so many possibilities for you!
Many people dream about being able to work at home and it is something that a LOT of people are doing. They took their dreams and turned them into a reality. Just a few nights ago I was watching a program about how one could start their own business by putting things up on sale on Ebay. I have done it and I was scared at first but I managed to get through my nervousness and trepidation and viola! I sold my very first item! I have to tell you that the program I saw wasn't one of those "get rich" infomercials but a program by a woman that showed some very good tips and steps for selling things on Ebay.
This is definitely something that one can do at home and make a business out of it. You could "raid" your house to see what you could auction and if you think that you don't have anything to sell you should take a look at some of the things that sell on Ebay!
I know that you might be scared and/or afraid but think of it in terms of a regular auction - which is really what it is - just on the computer. Sure you have to take that first step but if you have dreamt of working from home this is definitely something that you should consider doing. I have even considered doing it on a more regular basis when I come across something that would make a good auction piece. And its not just individuals that sell on Ebay its companies and the government (I heard) that use it too.
I watched a very interesting program on television about a group of women that made quilts. Now I myself have seen grant programs for quiltmaking and things that are related to it but what interested me about this particular program was the fact that they had a little web page and asked for people to send their quilt patches and they got so many in response. It just goes to show you how having a webpage (even if its a little one) can make a huge difference. So if you don't have a webpage you should really have one. Your business should have one. But don't think having a webpage is just for business. You should take a look at a few of my personal pages and the personal pages of others. That's why they put them on the Internet so that everyone can see them and show the world what they are all about.
But getting back to the original topic about being able to earn an income after you have just gotten laid off...................The fastest way to make money is to find a need and fill it. For example after the recent snowstorm here there were people going door to door shoveling snow. That's a way to make some fast cash. You could even set up an arrangement where you would do the shoveling on a needed basis. It wouldn't be hard to make a contract/invoice on your computer and use it as your agreement. You could make a flyer and distribute it around and start to build up a clientel. You could offer additional services like yardwork, running errands and the like.
The best way is to take something that you love to do and turn that into a business. For me personally time just flies when I'm on the computer whether I'm designing a flyer, doing some production work or finding information for a client. For you it may be something different but it can be turned into a business. You could even take something that you hate to do and turn THAT into a business! No matter how "silly" you may think your idea (or dream) is you can turn that into a business for yourself! Isn't that what you want to do?
I read an article about jealousy and it gave the example of a woman who was a personal trainer who had a lot of jealousy towards those who were famous and popular and in the public eye. The advice given to her was for her to continue what she was doing and to continue to enjoy it and show the world what she could do! Not long after that she got approached to do a fitness video! Which she did and the SHE became famous!
The point that I'm trying to make here is if you feel jealousy towards others then work that much harder at what you already do. Hopefully it is something that you love to do and/or have a passion for and the opportunities will start to come and you can live the life that you have dreamed of!
Here is a quote!
"Business There are Grants for a variety of business situations, believe it or not! Don't let anyone try to tell you otherwise...if they say there isn't anything, they just don't know WHERE to look! As with any grant, it depends on your needs and the needs of the community, the type of grant you're seeking and more. No one is just going to hand you money to go out and buy a business or pay for your company's personnel salary because you ask for it - so if this is what you're looking for we suggest you get a loan! However, if your company serves a need, offers job training, produces a viable product, is owned by a woman and/or a minority, etc. then there just might be some funding out there for you!"
Since its pretty treacherous outside I'm hibernating inside today. There is definitely a lot of work to be done and right now I'm answering email. I'm also listening to my local news to see what's going on with the weather forecast. It's good that I don't have any outside appointments to go to today.
It's great to be able to work at home and what I mentioned above is one of the reasons why!
While viewing some links I came across a blog about being in the sex/porn industry. Unfortunately that blog didn't allow comments but I was able to read a few of the emails posted and I was so surprised by the number of people wanting to get into the porn business. (A lot of them were underaged so basically that's illegal).
A "porn" business can be started in one's own home. It would help if you had a webcam but it's not mandatory (and who is to say that you can't buy a webcam at a later date). One of the things that you should definitely have is a webpage - even if it is a free one by one of the free webhosting site - BUT CHECK THEIR GUIDELINES TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS ALLOWED!
There are stories about girls who have managed to pay their way through college by simply having a webcam site that others can watch (for a fee) and in theory you could do exactly the same thing. You set up your website, let people know its out there and decide how much you will charge and how you will receive your payment. There are many sites that do just this same thing and that goes to show you that there is definitely a demand out there for it!
