Time for a year end recap

Filed under carpet cleaning, Cleaning Business, house painting, Internet Business, power washing by Doc on January 1, 2009 at 8:11 am {no comments}

I must admit that I’ve been busy with my own service business and have neglected updates on this site. So lets start off new in 2009′.
Most online marketers measure their success with their bottom line. Frankly, I’ve always used a different measuring stick. Of course my step-by-step guides create another source of income for me and I’m thankful for that. But I’m most thankful for the opportunity to share ideas and tips and hear the success stories of my readers.
In the months of Nov and Dec I received more then a dozen letters of thanks from readers. A couple from guys just starting out reported their success over the past 6 months by using my system and suggestions. I’ve also gotten several emails from business operators with over 20 years experience that picked up one idea or another that has proven to add to their bottom line.

Thats what this is all about. Personally speaking, I’ve been working since I was 15 years old. I’ve been servicing customers in one fashion or another for over 40 years now. But I’m fully aware that no one person has all the answers. But by sharing everything I’ve learned over the years, I’m still learning from my readers.

Times have never been so unsettled and many people wonder if “anything” works today? Well according to my subscribers, the answer is YES. A man or woman of any age can still earn a decent income from operating specific types of home service business. It is more evident then ever from my feedback that no one can depend on a secure income from any employer. It makes more sense then ever to start your own business and take control of your own life. So if you are reading this and still waiting for the best time to start a business, you are wasting time!

Business is Down…should I reduce my prices?

Filed under carpet cleaning, Cleaning Business, house painting, Internet Business, power washing by Doc on August 24, 2008 at 4:15 pm {no comments}

I’ve received this question several times over the past month or so. Lets set some things straight.

First, there is nothing wrong with lowering your prices if you honestly feel that is why your business is slow. But lets be honest, the economy is in the worse shape its been in for the past 30 years at least. The fact of the matter is that most every one’s business is off. I personally do not know of anyone in ANY type of business that isn’t hurting to a degree.

Most readers provide services related to updating or maintaining homes. Most homeowners are having problems making ends meet due to fuel prices. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to appreciate the financial pressure that most homeowners are facing.

An alternative to lowering your prices might be to focus on another target customer with a specific service. More to follow on this subject.

Learn to Focus and Ignore the Junk

Filed under Internet Business by Doc on June 30, 2008 at 4:28 pm {no comments}

Many starting out with a new business find they simply can’t accomplish anything. They fire up their PC in the morning and before you know it, it’s dinner time. What happend? What did I accomplish today?

Sound familiar? It will to many of us. We’re bombarded with email every day with more ways to make a buck and countless solutions to the many problems we’re facing.

When we are new to the web or just starting a new business we do research. That research leads us to countless sites where we have to provide our email address to get information. Well before long, we have joined dozens of mailing lists on subjects related to our interests.

Now there is nothing wrong with that. The problem comes from the online marketeers who constantly farm their email lists for daily sales. Personally speaking, I’m probably on a hundred or more mailing lists. Dozens of these are used by internet marketers. Now some of these are worthwhile and they do provide me wih usable information and products. But a good 90% are simply used by marketers who regularly update their informational programs and sell them as the ‘latest and greatest’ answer to my problems. Then they will write a couple weeks later and brag about how many thousands on their lists purchased their new product.

I’ve known some of these guys for years and don’t mean to insult anyone but when you are starting out, you want to focus on your main purpose each and every day. I suggest simply making a file in your email program and mark it “future info” or something of the kind. Then you simply move whatever looks interesting by the subject lines into that folder. Automatically delete any email which calls for urgent action like “only 1 day remaining” or “act now” and so on. These types of lines should make your “crap” signal go wild.

Then delete all the spam and just focus on your outline for starting your business.

In case you wonder, I’ve never built a mailing list and never will. Those who market solely on the web think I’m crazy but email marketing and list management isn’t necessary when you operate a balanced business system.

Home Business Telephone Service

Filed under carpet cleaning, Cleaning Business, house painting, Internet Business, power washing by Doc on June 11, 2008 at 12:13 pm {no comments}

Business Telephone Systems-Adding Additional Lines

One of the biggest problems when setting up a home business is developing a business telephone system for your home. You want to present yourself as a legitimate business but at the same time you don’t want to spend too much money.

For many years I faced this problem since I’ve had several home businesses for decades. The good old phone company was always happy to add an additional line in my home. If my memory serves me correctly, it used to cost in the area of $30 monthly, just for the service of an additional line. It wasn’t uncommon to run up $250 – $300 monthly telephone bills back in that day.

But today I’ve found a system that produces excellent results for only $20 per year. Yup, that’s per year!

Please read the entire article here – http://mountain-websites.com/home-business/business-telephone-system.html

I Want Your Feedback

Filed under carpet cleaning, Cleaning Business, house painting, Internet Business, power washing by Doc on June 2, 2008 at 3:57 pm {no comments}

I’ve been publishing special business startup guides for about a year now. During that period of time, all of the guides have been updated several times. I don’t believe in simply copying the same old rehashed information you find online. What worked for many in business 10 years ago might not be of any worth today.

Another factor to consider is the small business owner in the north east might have an entire different set of challenges as his counterpart on the west coast or in the southern states. I have lived and worked in NY, NJ and PA and I do know what is helping readers here. But, the only way I can learn of current problems or new ideas is from our reader’s feedback.

I developd my guides from 30 years of personal experience and listening to other small business owners. Hopefully this blog with allow readers from around the country and even our international readers to share experiences and ask questions. I’m looking forward to an exchange of ideas and experience so all can benefit.

Can I be successful if starting a business part-time?

Filed under carpet cleaning, Cleaning Business, house painting, Internet Business, power washing, Uncategorized by Doc on May 30, 2008 at 10:08 am {no comments}

This is probably the “most often asked” question I receive today.

Many authorities on home business will encourage starting your business as a full time endeavor. But in today’s economy that simply isn’t practical in many situations.

I’ve received feedback in the past few months from several people who are doing quite nicely running their new home business on a part time basis. This has many benefits, especially when you already have a job providing benefits and income when raising a family.

My business guides actually cover this subject quite nicely but the additional benefit to starting a “service” type business is it will allow you to purchase your equipment and supplies as you go. If you are careful, you can actually equip your business without going into your savings. For example, why spend thousands of dollars buying all the latest carpet cleaning equipment in the beginning. Just focus and practice with one type of carpet cleaning.

A young man I know purchased a simple floor machine and used it for months doing basic carpet cleaning on weekends and evenings. In practically no time, he saved enough to purchase a portable hot water extractor and additional machines to enable him to perform upholstery cleaning and additional floor services. He actually started a ‘real world’ business on less then one thousand dollars and has developed a good part time income. Remember, the first step is the hardest. Decide you want to work for yourself, get a good guide and get started!

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Time for a year end recap

Business is Down…should I reduce my prices?

Learn to Focus and Ignore the Junk

Home Business Telephone Service

Business Telephone Systems-Adding Additional Lines

I Want Your Feedback

Can I be successful if starting a business part-time?

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