Starting a Business
Published October 14th, 2008
The short answer is yes. You see, there is this thing called the "China Price". This started with manufacturers in China selling their goods so much below the normal price that it sent shivers down the backs of manufacturers world wide. In the past, factories wanted to ship very large minimum quantities and have exclusive agents. With increasing competition and manufacturers from other countries having to offer the China Price the minimum order quantities demanded by factories have come down and exclusive agencies are getting less prevalent.
In theory, you can now order a product of a small enough quantity,... Read more
Tags: ArticleCity.com, home business, jag kaurah, MarketClub, Starting a Business, startups, wholesaler
No Comments »
Published September 23rd, 2008
As the internet makes contacting and communicating with businesses incredibly easy, more entrepreneurs are considering setting up a wholesaler business. A wholesaler is basically a middleman between manufacturers and retailers. Wholesalers buy products in bulk from manufacturers and then sell them at a markup to retailers. There’s no doubt that wholesaling can be a very lucrative business, especially when you carry a full line of products within the same product category.
Getting started as a wholesaler
Find potential manufacturers - This may sound simple enough but it truly is a time-consuming process, as not all manufacturers are willing to take... Read more
Tags: advice, alibaba.com, Carrie Hinkel, getting started, Starting a Business, tips, wholesale, wholesaler
4 Comments »
Published July 16th, 2008
Summer is halfway over and if you haven’t taken a vacation yet, you better get going! As one of our expert contributers, Steve Strauss, highlights below, it’s a must for any entrepreneur.
Q: Steve – I would like to get away with my family this summer, but I just don’t see how I can do it. I own a one-man business and when I don’t work, I don’t get paid. What can I do if I can’t afford to get away?
Tony
A: Amigo, I hate to sound like a cliché, but you can’t afford not to get away.
If... Read more
Tags: entrepreneur, small business, Starting a Business, Steve Strauss, summer, time off, vacation
No Comments »
Well hopefully you don’t have one single supplier! If one of your major suppliers does in fact notify you that they are closing their doors, there’s no need to panic. Simply contact your other supplier(s) and speak with them about the possibility of you moving more business their way. Determine if they can handle the new demand and talk about pricing options with them (as they may offer a discount for more business). Also remember to contact the supplier that is going out of business and ask if they have any products that they can still supply you. If they... Read more
Tags: advice, Product Sourcing, Rebecca Button, small business, source, Starting a Business, suppliers, tips, vendors
No Comments »
Move over Facebook. Watch out MySpace. There’s a new kid in town.
Aside from the less than convenient domain name, Sta.rtUp.Biz appears to be a social network above the rest (as far as small businesses should be concerned). With a slick and stylized presentation this social network seems to have it all. From creating your own profile and connecting with other business owners to an impressive resource offering, this site is bound to give it’s members everything they could possibly want all in one place. Their articles section traverses the top business magazines online including Fortune, BusinessWeek, and Entreprenuer. They’ve... Read more
Tags: E-Commerce and E-Business, networking, Rebecca Button, small business, social network, social networking, Starting a Business, startups
1 Comment »
You may think you know what you’re getting into…but you have no idea. There are probably a few preconcieved notions you have about starting a business whether you think you’ve done your homework or not. So without further adieu here are the top 5 startup myths you should be aware of:
5. The government gives grants to small business startups - While some states may have special funding programs in place for people with disabilities, minorities or veterans, the federal government does not have any programs that give money directly to any business. Your best bet is to get involved... Read more
Tags: advice, myths, Rebecca Button, small business, Starting a Business, startups, tips
No Comments »
Having an office at home is wonderful. You can be around your family more and you won’t have to travel back and forth, to and from work, especially with gas prices being so high these days.
If you have an extra room that you can make your office, that’s great. If you don’t, you will have to find a space in your home where you can create a home office. This can be any room - even a large closet.
Liven Up Your Space
It is a proven fact that your office affects your productivity. So yours should be lively,... Read more
Tags: home based business, home office, home office design, Leeia Ladipoh, productivity, Starting a Business, working from home
No Comments »
Q: Steve - We all think that "it couldn’t happen to me" but I am here to tell you that it can. We lost our business in Hurricane Katrina and I would just like everyone to know that it’s smart business to hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Thanks for the platform.
Stan
A: Stan and I met earlier this year when I was giving a speech. When he learned that I write for USA TODAY, he really wanted to share his story and in the process help other small business owners avoid his unenviable fate.... Read more
Tags: advice, disasters, expert advice, MrAllBiz.com, small business expert, Starting a Business, Steve Strauss
No Comments »
Although being self-employed offers many advantages - being your own boss, enjoying all the profits, etc - there are also some downsides. For example, you no longer receive sick pay from your employers should you fall ill. Obviously this can pose problems, especially if you have mortgage payments to meet and other monthly outgoings, since without any sick pay, you don’t have any income when not working. Thankfully, there are options to take out health insurance if you’re self-employed.
Exploring the Options
The first thing you need to do when arranging self-employed health insurance is to compare the different insurance... Read more
Tags: danny brown, health insurance, health insurance info, home based business, self-employed, small business service bureau, Starting a Business
No Comments »
Starting a small business can be confusing, in terms of deciding what "type" of business yours will legally be defined as. There are five main types of business organizational structures: sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited partnership, corporation and limited liability company (or LLC). Each is set up and operated differently, and each is looked at differently in terms of taxes and legal protection. Knowing which one is right for you and your business is crucial, and can save you from future legal and tax headaches.
The five main types of business structures
Sole Proprietorship - This type of business is... Read more
Tags: business plan, business structure, Carrie Hinkel, planning, Starting a Business, startups
No Comments »
