Top 7 Questions To Answer Before Embarking On Your Choice Business



Is it in your plan to have a business of your own? Do you seek financial independence and owning your personal business is your escape plan? Do you need information on the basic factors that need to be considered before embarking on a business idea of your choice?


What most people fail to understand is that no business should be entered into hurriedly or blindly without having awareness of the factors that can either make or mar the success or sustainability of such a business.

Below is a list of the questions you need to sincerely ask yourself before embarking on that choice business of yours?

1.    How rich is my knowledge of this business?

This is a question many people try to avoid when it comes to starting a business. This is partly due to the laziness of people to seek knowledge and information about what they want to do. You need adequate information about that choice business of yours.

Most of the time, it is better to take some time out to work with someone who has been in that particular business before. Information is light. Please, do not set out on that business without having adequate information about it.

2.    What is the required capital?

It will not be funny for you to decide to start up a business without having enough capital for it. Some businesses may not require huge capital to start up while others will. It is better to know what the capital demand of your choice business is before you embark on it.

3.    Where is my interest?

This question is one of the most technical questions to answer sincerely in businesses. Some people begin a business because they found out that people make huge profit from it. Meanwhile, your interest drives your success or failure in any business of your choice. This can also be referred to as passion. Many businesses which started long ago crashed because the owners lacked the required interest.

4.    Who are my prospective customers?

This is an essential aspect of business planning that is also quite important. It is important because this will go a long way to determine a lot of factors which include your advert options or your location, or even your brand name. You will not like to experience setting up a business without having people to patronize you as that will defeat the purpose of the business.

5.    Where is the best site for my business?

This has been the bane to the success of most businesses. The owner had a good business idea; he started something but later closed down because patronage was poor. Do not pick a site for your business because it is cheap or readily available.

Ask yourself, will my prospective customers ply this route? Do I have enough parking spaces for my prospective customers? Is there adequate protection for myself and my prospective customers? Once these questions can be correctly and sincerely answered, you have solved a large chunk of business site issues.

6.    When is the best time to start my choice business?

Some great business ideas failed because this question and concern was not properly attended to. There are economic situations in each country that favour the start-up of a business and vice-versa. You need to understand the economic period your area or country is in as this can go a long way to determine whether your business will fail or succeed.

7.    Who are my potential competitors?

You do not expect to have the monopoly of a business. There will always be people who are also interested in what you want to do. You have to learn to use their presence to your advantage. You can introduce some things that are absent in their businesses as added advantage for your business.

Do not run away from competitions as they will keep you on your toes and help accelerate the rate of growth of your business.

The success of your business requires the sincere answers to the questions above. Anywhere in the world, these questions must be addressed before you embark on your choice business. Business is good and there is no limit to the extent your business can grow if you give it the needed attention.

Are you considering earning extra money at your spare time? Have you been bothered about what you can do to earn more money while you are not actively busy? Probably you have found out of late that some spare time are available for you and you have been wasting them away while you can actually earn some more money doing part-time businesses.

I have some good ideas for you and all I can do is to plead with you is to be calm and read patiently through the set of ideas I have to share with you.

Computer teacher

It really does not matter whether you know much or you really do not. The little knowledge you know about computer can be imparted unto someone else in exchange for a few cash. Whether you are an expert at Windows or Linux, Web research or desktop publishing, HTML or word processing, someone can benefit from what you know about the computer.

You can start promoting your computer-training services by teaching classes through organizations in your area which offer adult education. You can also consider primary schools and smaller institutions in your area which will not require much transport fare.

Medical Transcription

There is a big demand by hospitals, veterinarians, dentists, doctors and a few other medical personnel for transcribing medical records. A lot of files remain unkempt and scattered in these places. For such, you can apply to help with these files at your spare time most likely when you return from your basic work.
You can increase your qualification in medical terminologies and linguistic skills to facilitate easy execution of your work.

Home chef

The busy schedule of most parents does not always permit them to have the time to cook their meals and even have varieties. You can make nice and delicious home-made meals that people can buy from you or request that you make the meals for them at home.
You can create awareness through the social media and personal chats with people. If you have the financial capacity, you can make small fliers to create awareness in your neighborhood.

Lesson teacher/tutor

Parents or guardians with tight schedule and cannot attend to the educational needs of their wards can pay you to do this at your spare time. In fact, if you can make good plans, you can visit two homes per day and three to four places per week. You will not want to imagine the amount of money you will make per day, per week and per month.

Bead making and selling

While you rest after work each day, you can string beads while you relax. These you can sell afterwards to make some extra cash. You can learn this art if you did not have a prior knowledge. It is a simple way of making money. You will have time with your family and can make more money.

The above are what I call “Earn While You Rest”. After work each day, you can select any of the above-listed part-time jobs to do. You will discover that life can be better and making money can be easier.

However, it is my usual warning to people that they should discover where their passion is before venturing into businesses. But instead of depending only on what comes in from your daily jobs, here are other avenues to make more money.

HOW TO INCREASE SALES AND MAKE MORE PROFITS
 
Is it your desire to see your business grow very large? Are you concerned about the slow rate at which your business grows or matures? Here is an avenue for your business to grow and hence you can make more profits. Do you also consider selling more of your new products? Here is one sure way to achieve that. Advertisement.

Advertisement has become an indispensable part of business growth and expansions in the real sense. The effect of good advertisement on business growth and development has multiple effects and cannot be over-emphasized.
 
Most people get bothered about the stagnancy of their businesses while they have not even considered proper advertising of their products. See below the roles and effects of advertisement on business growth and development

1.    It  is a form of communication between the seller and the buyer
2.    It assists in the creation of a better brand image and identity of the business and the product
3.    It serves as a channel of informing target market about the company’s latest changes in existing products and new additions to product line
4.    It invariably assists in increasing sales when more people are informed about the product or services being offered by the company
5.    It helps to remain relevant in the business market
6.    It increases awareness of people about the company

If you are interested in getting your products to the outside market and increasing awareness and sales, you need to critically consider advertising. Your products and services need to become familiar to your prospective buyers as some people will only patronize only on repeated encounters with the advertisement.

Advertisement helps to build a trust relationship between the producer and the customers. In the absence of advertisement, it is just a waste of time to be involved in marketing and business and services.

It is saddening however that some people have decided to employ illegitimate methods to advertise their products and services. If I were you, I would never get involved in things like this. To get long lasting effects, advertisement needs to be properly handled.

Some adverts placed as spam tend to irritate the receivers. But those adverts properly and correctly placed will be viewed and appreciated by the recipients.

Adverts properly placed help to build the reputation of a product and this can be good or bad. It typifies a product, business or company. Hence, there is the need for proper and correct measures in advert placements in order to achieve the desired and maximum results.

Do you know that there are new trends in advertisements? Probably, you have not paid enough attention. Companies and business owners have recognized the need to entertain their customers. This is now being done through the use of televisions, newspapers and the internet. Most now use popular faces for their adverts like basketball and football stars, movie stars, comedians or athletes.
These are popular faces recognized by the current or intending customers. One serious psychological effect of doing this is that as they use famous individuals, they also attract the trust and faith of their customers.

The media can help very effectively in increasing market margins, increasing sales and activating awareness about new product.
So, do you have to be backward in this forcefully advancing business world?
Your advert strategy and the quality of your adverts will go a long way to determine if your business venture will grow and bring you profits eventually. This is my candid advice. Do not fold your hands and expect your business or services to just grow. Businesses do not just grow; instead, they are made to grow.

How To Use Mobile Phones And Bulk SMS In Marketing

Mobile phones have come to be a part of our everyday lives as humans. Every corner you get to, you see people holding their phones in one hand or the other. Others may carry big bags in the past, but these days, mobile phones have replaced heavy loads for most people. In today’s technology, mobile communications have come to stay with us.

Almost every transaction can be done through this mobile communication system. For some people, mobile phones are inseparable from their daily activities while others just pass the time with it. At almost every corner on the street, to the shops around every street into every room, mobile phones are always handy. Mobile phones have come to help families and friends keep contact and remain in touch with one another.
A call is easy, while a text message is convenient. Even entrepreneurs can easily get across to their workers, suppliers, employees, customers and prospective customers via a text message or a call.

The convenience, ease and affordability of mobile phones have made it useful also for businesses. It is gradually becoming an indispensable tool in advancing businesses. An advantage to this communication medium is that it has no respect for ages as all ages can use it. Don’t you think this is a marketing tool? Don’t you think it can aid the quick growth of your business? How? Keep reading.

Short Message System
 
One very common way of utilizing mobile phones in improving businesses is through the Short Message System (SMS) or text message. An advantage of this Short Message System is that it is relatively cheaper than having to call every client or customer or anyone you have business with directly. It can also reach many people at the same time with the same message quickly.
Bulk SMS is used to send the same message to a large number of people to be delivered at the same time. Once you have access to their contacts put together in one place, it becomes more possible. The moment you register and send the message, you have reached a large number of people directly on their personal lines.

This message system is being used by many organizations and firms in order to create awareness about their products and services.  It can be used as a reminder about a well-known product or service or an awareness of a new product or service.
Bulk SMS is being used by many marketing and advertising firms as a way of promoting their clients’ products and services. To do this right and to make it work, companies are asking potential customers first if they want to receive SMS updates about their products and services before sending any SMS marketing campaign. This is what is known as Opt-in bulk SMS marketing. Recipients of messages are asked for their consent about receiving marketing updates, promotions, and bulletins about certain products and services that they would be more inclined to respond to.

Opt-in SMS marketing is a great tool for distributing mass messages to a targeted audience. It’s easy, fast, and can reach far more people than any other means. Plus, with subscribers that opted-in on your marketing campaign you are assured that they will be receptive to any SMS that you send out. You can even group different subscribers based on different keywords or subjects that pertain to different products and services. This makes it easy to send a specific message to a particular group or individuals.
It will be grossly inadequate for me to wrap up this article without giving you some examples of the common bulk SMS websites that are available

List of bulk SMS websites
1.    www.Ebulksms.com
2.    www.mjoy.com
3.    www.50sms.com
4.    www.uboot.com/uk
5.    www.freesms.co.za
6.    www.mobizone.cpm
7.    www.junglesms.com
8.    www.cellular.co.za
9.    www.wadja.com
10.    www.stepsms.com
11.    www.way2sms.com
12.    www.ultoo.com
13.    www.site2sms.com
14.    www.160by2.com
15.    www.fullonsms.com
16.    www.50kobo.com

Overcome the challenge

In previous times, some marketing channels have caused much inconvenience for people because of the spontaneous manner these messages are sent. Some of these channels include mails, twitter and other social media platforms. Majority of these mails and messages are not even read in the real sense because people have tagged them disturbances.

Advertising your product or services is very important in this current period. You cannot afford to remain backward when there are cheaper avenues to publicize what you do. Remember, more customers, more profit, and this culminates eventually into more income for you. Who knows, this might be the breakthrough your business requires.

How to Start A Laundry + Dry Cleaning Business

Have you made up your mind to avoid poverty at all costs? And you are concerned about starting up your own business. yet you are confused about the exact business to lay your hands on which will surely give you profit and make you smile to the bank on a daily basis? I have an idea for you. Laundry and Dry cleaning business!
Laundry business is a profitable venture for anyone who is smart but not for anyone who is not interested in working before making money.This article will specifically lead you into the basic requirements for you to start a laundry business of your own. It is cheap and easy to run.

1.    Select a location
You have the option of getting a place for lease if you have the financial capacity to do so. But if not or you want to minimize expenses, you can start from your own house. This is where your business will start. So you cannot afford not to have one. Your customers will need to be able to trace you to a location and they need to be able to trust that you will not elope with their clothes and stuff before they can give them to you.

2.    Have a consistent water supply
Your business needs water on a daily basis if you want to keep your customers. ensure you have a steady source of water every time. You will need water to wash, rinse and evn press the fabrics.

3.    Make sure you have a consistent power supply
You will need this to ensure the smooth running of your laundry business. You will not be helping the growth of your business if you cannot deliver when you promised. It will make you lose customers as they will find it difficult to trust you. Now, an alternative to this is purchasing a generator that has the capacity to power your basic equipment.

4.    Buy your basic equipment
Here is a list of the basic equipment you will need to start and run your laundry and dry cleaning business.
-Industrial steam iron (2) and 1 ordinary pressing iron
-A good industrial washing machine (12-15kg Akai)
-A good generator (7.5KVA)
-A wide ironing table (120cm x 85cm)
-Industrial detergent
-dryer
-Garment conveyor
-shelves to keep ironed clothes
-A big standing fan
-Basins,buckets,clips,
-Industrial detergents

5.    Package your service
You need to create your niche even in this business. Always package your customers' clothes in very neat and presentable transparent materials. if you do this, you are sure to make them come again and again.

6.    Create a brand name
You can create a brand name on your tag which will be attached to every customer's cloth. Make sure it is catchy and classy. This tag of yours will carry your address, contact and possibly e-mail address.

7.    Introduce a twist
This can be your own as the convenience of your customers matter a lot. You can include home-delivery in your services. This can be possible if you have your customers' data which  includes their home address and contacts.

Things to avoid
1.    Misplaced clothes
This can quickly ruin your business if you are not careful. Avoid mixing up of the fabrics by entering the detail of every fabric into a book for records. Personally supervise this if you have people working with you.

2.    Spoilt fabrics
Avoid washing fabrics of different colors together, especially the white fabrics. Please, avoid that costly error.

3.    Disappointing your customers
If you made the promise to deliver at a certain time, please do not falter. Trust is not demanded for, it is rather earned. If not, you will gradually lose your customers.

Your business can grow quickly depending on how much attention you give to it. Please, avoid  being too hungry for gain and thereby overcharging your customers. Anyone can also get involved in this business. You can start it and employ your workers while you supervise, if you have the money. I hope you will find these information useful.

Small business Opportunities In Nigeria

Are you considering starting your own business but don't have much money? Or you have intentions of setting up a series of small businesses in Nigeria? Below is a list of the best 10 small scale businesses you can start.
I have taken time to pull these ideas out as they are real and practical. The businesses here will start you up and they do not require  much cash to set up.

1.    Laundry service

This involves setting up a small dry-cleaning shop. here, you collect clothes, wash and iron. It depends on the level of capital at your disposal. If you have little, you can do some of your washing yourself and if you have much, you can purchase a washing machine.
 Either ways, the cost is spread over the clothes you dry-clean over time.

2.    Home tutor

Home lesson, as it is popularly referred to involves using your basic school training to help others and getting paid in the process. those to teach may be younger ones or even adults who were not opportune to be schooled in their early days. This can help you make much money while you make your rounds each day per week or per month.

3.    Recharge card sales and phone call center

Though the era of pay phone is gradually diminishing, it is becoming obvious that the vast number of Nigerians buy airtime almost every day. Choose a busy road for a start, buy a network umbrella and chair as times goes on, liaise with someone who does wholesales of the recharge cards, and your business is on the way.

4.    Transport service

Nigerians are largely dependent on public transport services. you can start by driving your own cab to ply the route of your choice. This may demand that you register under one of the associations there. Gradually, as you make ends meet, you can begin to create your own business.

5.    Cleaning service

people at one time or the other need their houses cleaned thoroughly. At times it is a newly constructed building, rugs or carpets which they find difficult to do or do not have the time at all. This can be your own source of money. With few cleaning implements, you can start making an income.

6.     Road side food vendor

The busy schedule of most Nigerians do not permit them enough time most times to prepare food. You can be their solution by making this food available either morning, afternoon during break, or evening when returning home. If you have the culinary skills, get on with it and make money for yourself. it may be the start of a big restaurant, who knows?

7.    Sales of cooking gas

With the awareness created by the gas industry nowadays, you can set up your own mini- cooking shop. You can sign an agreement with a bigger gas industry where you buy and then resell. You can You can add some other services that the bigger company cannot meet. For example, you can add home-delivery service. With this, you can ease the stress of your customers and thereby make more money.   
   
8.    Poultry farming

This has become the saving business of most Nigerians today. Even those without formal education have begun to make money from this. You can start small by raising few broiler birds which you can sell afterwards and make money. Sincerely yours, you never can tell the profit that awaits untapped if you venture into this business.

9.    Sales of cements and building materials

That little money with you is enough to start a cement business. You can buy some, sell and make profits. Even other building materials can gradually be introduced. You may not have the quantity of money to start big. Start with what you have, you never can tell.

10.    Dog breeding

While some people are complaining of not being able to get jobs to do, others are busy raising dogs. To purchase an Alsatian breed of dog for example is just about 15,000-25,000. With vaccinations by a certified veterinary personnel and your good management practices, your dog can whelp many puppies which you can later sell and make money.
I tell you that many people are making millions from dogs per year and they were people with nothing before.

This is the era where no one has an excuse to be poor. The above opportunities are tested and trusted business ideas. You don't need excess cash to start. It depends on where your passion is. You can say a final goodbye to poverty once and for all.

Business Opportunities In Nigeria

Are you considering starting up a business here in

Nigeria? Have you come into some money or you have saved

up a huge chunk of money and you do not want to waste it?

Rather, you are considering investing it? Probably you are

now confused about the exact business to venture into. Or

you are a foreigner with thoughts about business

opportunities in Nigeria? 

Relax; It happens a lot. I am here to help you. Below is a

list of the top 15 Businesses thriving currently in the

country and you do not want to miss out on this

opportunity.

 
Nigeria is popularly known as the “Giant of Africa”.  The

country has about 185 million people thus making her the

most populous nation in Africa and about the seventh most 

populous nation in the world. With a lot of potential in

her youths, the nation is open to businesses that are sure

to improve the economy. In a country with such dense

population, business opportunities abound and it takes

only smart investors to see these green opportunities and

make use of it before other people do.

Below is a list of the business opportunities in Nigeria:


1.    Transport services


This can include both intra-state and inter-state

transport services. Both are viable avenues to make money

in Nigeria. Majority of the populace still do not have

cars and the purchasing power to buy cars. Hence, they

rely on public transport to go about their daily

businesses. This business thrives and more people are

getting involved on a daily basis.


2.    Supermarkets


Till this moment, there are still few supermarkets that

can adequately provide for the needs of the thriving

populace of Nigeria. This is the reason the likes of

Shoprite and a few others are smilng to the bank on a 

daily basis. If you consider this critically, this is a

great investment that will continue to yield for you for

many years to come.


3.    Television Stations


There are till date few television stations satisfying the

cravings of the Nigerian populace. With exciting shows and

good tariffs, you are sure to win many people to your

side. Instead of blowing away that much cash, why not

consider having a television station named after you.

Never mind, you can thank me later.


4.    Radio stations


New radio stations are springing up in the country at the

moment. If this is where your passion is, you need to

actualize your passion early before the market gets

saturated. You can also make adverts and make money from a

lot of other avenues. To set up a radio station is not

much of an expense.


5.    Cinema houses


It baffles me that a lot of people are not noticing this

venture. Many people go to cinema houses to queue for

their turn to see movies. Sometimes you even get there and

they tell you to come later that the hall is full.

Nigerians are fun-loving individuals and you can take

advantage of this.


6.    Event centers


Events are almost a daily activity for Nigerians and only

a smart investor will take advantage of this fact. These

events however, are gradually been shifted to event

centers and not the open fields any longer. 

Hence, those who have built event centers keep smiling to the bank 

on a daily basis without stress. Remember, this is money they

would have wasted had they not read this post. 


7.    Table water and sachet water 


“Pure water” as is popularly called by an average Nigerian

makes some smart investors money on a daily basis. Have

you ever imagined the quantity of this sachet water that

is consumed on a daily basis? Table water is also produced

by companies producing the sachet water and all yield

money for those who do this business.


8.    Clubs and bars


Nigerian youths are fun loving and you can take advantage

of this. You can consider investing in this business as it

will turn in money for you on a daily basis and maximum

profits during weekends for those who want to catch fun.

Also, visitors in Nigeria can make use of the bars and

clubs while you smile to the bank with your pockets full.


9.    Real estate


This has remained a constant problem of the teeming

populace of this country. You can provide accommodations

and then make your money; Hostels close to schools and

duplexes for rent can also be built. 

Please, do what is right now and invest your money wisely. The 

truth here is this, with this investment; you can never be broke 

because your building will remain for a long time.


10.    Clothing line


While there are several skilled fashion designers who

complain of not having enough to do, you can set up a

clothing line where they sew you beautiful attires with

your own labels and tags. These can be your brand and

gradually you begin to establish your brand and make more

money.


11.    Furniture sales


You can assemble a team of carpenters with experience in

upholstery. They can build and design furniture which will

carry your own label or brand name. With good adverts, you

stand a chance of carving out a niche for yourself. Hence,

you can make your money.


12.    Petrol stations


One good thing about this business is that you are

relevant to the market all year round. Seek information on

how to start a petrol station and the requirements and you

are on your way to building an empire.


13.    Food processing


You can buy raw materials from the farm or market and set

up an industry to process them into finished products.

This is the basis of some companies that produce fruit

juice and others. With the registration requirements in

mind, you can start this business. Mind you, a lot of raw

materials are wasted over and over again due to lack of

knowledge of what to use them for.


14.    Cold room for fishes


Consumption of frozen fish has come to stay in the

country. Daily, sellers (men and women) gather for hours

to buy fishes for sale. It is disappointing to note that

some of the sellers eventually go back home disappointed

without getting anything to sell. If you start this

business, you will surely get customers in no time.


15.    Livestock farming


A lot of Nigerians and even foreigners are aware of the vast 

opportunity this sector has to offer. The likes of catfish farming, 

poultry farming, cattle and pig business are on the increase now. Be 

fast about your choice.



It is important at this point to say that you need to

develop a heart for business. Whatever you are investing

in, please read into the details of such a venture.
 
Profits do not hike up immediately a business is set up.

Be persistent, be creative and the sky is the starting

point.