Finding The Perfect Business: 6 Key criteria
It seems that more and more people are interested in setting up
their own small or homebased business these days. Current
figures indicate that, in the USA alone, there are over
25,000,000 people operating a home based business. And just in
case you think that many of these businesses are run as hobbies,
the figures show that over 5,000,000 of them have turnovers in
excess of $100,000.
Not all of these businesses are internet based of course but, if
you are doing business on the web, then the world's your oyster
and you can multiply those US numbers many times. It's also
worth considering that those numbers represent people who are
currently involved in their own homebased business. For each of
those who already have their business up and running there will
be another 4 or 5 who are "thinking about it" - just looking for
the right opportunity.
So given the huge number of people who want to run their own
business, and given the phenomenal power of the internet as a
communications/advertising medium, it's hardly surprising that
you are continually presented with business opportunities as you
surf the net - is it?
Websites, pop-ups and pop-unders advertising your road-to-riches
abound - not to mention all those email messages that somehow
manage to squirm past your spam filter with monotonous
regularity.
Of course, a lot of these so called opportunities are complete
nonsense. Some of them are fanciful notions conceived by people
with no real idea about business. Some of them are out and out
scams. Some are completely illegal. Others are genuine business
opportunities which, although they would work well for others,
just aren't right for you.
However, hidden in amongst the hype, the lies and the incredible
dreams, there are some very genuine opportunities that could
truly change your life. You just need to know what to look for.
There is absolutely no point investing in a business opportunity
just because it has a nice, professional looking website, or
because the sales letters/emails are well written. Both of these
might stimulate you to investigate further, but they're not
enough on their own.
You certainly shouldn't get involved with something just because
some guru tells you it's the next big thing - no matter how
successful or famous the guru may be.
There are 6 key criteria to be used when assessing a potential
business opportunity. Apply these rigorously and you will avoid
nasty surprises - and you may very well find the perfect
business for you.
1. The company. You need to be working with people who can be
trusted, and who will be around to pay you in the future.
2. The product. A good product is essential. Ask yourself if
would you buy it if you weren't a distributor.
3. The payment or commission scheme. What do you get paid for?
When do you get paid? How do you get paid?
4. The sales method. Are you comfortable with the sales method?
Can you produce your own adverts?
5. The level of admin required. This should be low. You don't
want to waste your time on paperwork do you? 6. The cost - both
startup and running. Is it affordable? Will others be prepared
to invest when it comes time to build your own team?
Evaluate the above points dispassionately before you commit
yourself to anything. If you find it difficult to get enough
information to make an assessment then that tells you all you
need to know. Avoid any opportunity that won't give you the
facts up front.
Hamish Hayward This article is the first in a 7 part series.
Read the entire series at
http://www.perfectsystem.co.uk/articles.html