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Finding The Perfect Business: 6
Key Criteria
by Hamish Hayward
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
About the Author
Hamish Hayward
http://www.perfectsystem.co.uk
Read further articles here:
http://www.perfectsystem.co.uk/articles.html
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