An auto detailer is a professional cleaner who cleans the interior and exterior of a variety of vehicles.
Services include washing, vacuuming, shampooing, buffing, waxing and polishing. Auto detailers need to be knowledgeable about the best cleaning methods for various fabrics and materials. A mobile auto detailing business is a relatively low-cost investment that can be operated on a part-time basis.
Mobile auto detailing is a business that is very profitable nowadays. With people working more and have less time for what most consider low priority tasks, there is a need for a mobile auto detailing business. If you're into into cars and this type of work you have the potential to succeed in a relatively short time and make a six-figure income.
Starting An Auto Detailing Business
There is a lot to know when you want to start a car detailing business. Owning your business or being your own boss gives you pride and satisfaction. It’s a feeling of being in control and succeeding under your own terms and conditions. If you haven't done this type of work before, you may want to start with your own cars or your friends’, this way you can practice and perfect your skills before actually charging clients.
Amateur equipment will not suffice. You need professional quality equipment if you want to start a home based mobile auto detailing business. Technique and skill will provide an edge for you in this business. It's absolutely necessary to ensure your customers receive only the highest quality work at a competitive prices.
To find out what fee to charge, simply check out your local competition. Go through the yellow pages and call a few detailing establishments. There may not be any mobile auto detailers listed, but you can still get an idea of what to charge. Call your local business center, or chamber of commerce. They might be able to provide you with information of mobile auto detailers in your area as well.
Your Equipment
There are different pieces of equipment for different types of services you may be providing. But there are general tips on buying equipment for detailing vehicles:
• You can purchase basic auto detailing equipments that can be used for generally all types of detailing services. Most of these tools are your basic essentials and include (but are in no way all inclusive) the following: vacuum cleaner, dryer, steam cleaner, carpet extractor, polisher, air compressor, detail cart, spray gun, floor and seat covers, chemicals, rolling seats or creepers, odor removal equipment, rags, spray bottles, wash mitts, sponges, scrub brushes, water spot remover, chrome polish, wheel shine, engine degreaser, car wax, leather conditioner, and a tool box for storing your equipments (optional).
• When buying specific tools, you'll first need to decide what services you'll be offering. If you don't plan on offering engine shampooing, then you won't need to buy engine degreaser or shampoo.
Before car detailing became a major business in the automotive industry and there were several detailers in the market, car owners had to rely on traditional pressure washers and dry steam cleaners as their cleaning solution. Sadly though, these are not as effective as current specialized detailing machines that make vehicles look, smell and seem brand new.
Not only do the above mentioned traditional methods for car detailing lack the cleaning power of the modern equipment, they could also risk the vehicle's interior fabric or exterior paint.
Steam Car Wash Systems
Steam car wash systems are just one of several advanced and specialized machines for car detailing that deliver excellent pressure washing. You can purchase them at leading auto suppliers to avail of moderate pressure level and high temperature mechanics along with 0.5GMP flow rate to provide exceptional cleaning that cannot be achieved with manual cleaning, nor other traditional cleaners for that matter.
Portable Equipments
Aside from the advanced washing systems, there are also portable versions available to make cleaning more convenient and precise. Portable car wash equipments is growing in popularity in the auto detailing industry for the above reasons. It utilizes either steam pressure washing or steam cleaning to correct damage on the surface.
And of course, you'll need a large enough vehicle to haul your equipment around in. A full sized pickup truck or van will do. You can visit customers homes and work places to detail at their location. Water supply is limited to the local area so you need to bring your own supply. A portable tarp is a nice idea to make your work easier under the heat of the sun.
You'll also need liability insurance. Both for your protection and your clients. You can call an insurance broker and discuss your business plans and she will happily advise you on the right amount and type of coverage you'll require.
Be sure to detail your business information, and the fact that you are insured and certified (if applicable) on your truck. Be sure to keep your commercial vehicle in excellent condition. It is one of your biggest advertisements.
Sales Abilities
Service selling is a big part of your job as a detailer. Here are some tips for you to become successful with your business.
1. Make a time frame to sell yourself and your services. Speak out the problems in the condition of the car paint or other areas and tell them what you can do to change it. The customers will respond immediately and by telling some friends to avail your services.
2. Prepare fliers and posters that can attract customers. It’s a nice idea to have your material formally done.
3. Offer maintenance contracts or promotions included in the service. You can give a maintenance programs like car wash and other works with discounts including checkups. This will allow you to have a steady customer for the longest time.
4. You can also conduct a seminar and invite local car clubs. Point out your strategies while demonstrating them on a car. Audience will see the skills and prefer to give the task to you instead of performing it themselves. Serve snacks because this is a good opportunity to give some coupons and bonuses.
There's probably tons more I could have included but this is an article not a book :-)
I hope you found the information on mobile auto detailing thought provoking and helpful.
Accounting is becoming a type of work at home opportunity for mamy these days. Whether it's for bookkeeping or accounting, many people are looking for someone to help with this task. Some have online QuickBooks and some need entries made into an excel spreadsheet every week. If you have a flare for numbers and can do data entry, this type of home business might be right for you.
You don't necessarily need a degree if you have some experience with some of the lastest accounting software available. Companies today are looking for ways to outsource work and save money. Accounting software and independent contractors makes this easy to do. If you have a reliable computer, a fax machine or software and a high-speed internet connection, you are more than prepared for a home business in accounting or bookkeeping. You can work as many hours as you want during the week or you can work as little as you want.
It's possible to make your services available to more than one company at a time. Some of the companies that look for work at home accountants are smaller companies such as contractors, landscapers, trucking companies and entrepreneurs. Because these companies are usually smaller and have only a few hours of work a week, you will have plenty of time to work for more than one place.
If you have an accounting degree, you could charge more and work for some larger companies, but the smaller companies offer a competitive wage to individuals that have no special degrees. You can find many of these jobs at public job boards or at some of the job bidding websites around the net. If you're available for long term or short-term work, you can find many accounting contracts at home.
The software programs that companies use can differ. Some people prefer Peach Tree, while some prefer QuickBooks. If the position is for online data entry and accounting, you won't need any special software. However, if the client needs someone to do the work in the actual software, you would need to have this software available. Some companies also use Microsoft Excel because it's easier for them.
If the company uses Excel, you would need Microsoft Office with Excel. You would also have to have knowledge of how to work with functions in Excel for accounting. You can take a self-paced class at a local college and learn everything you need to know about using Excel. This doesn't cost that much and pays for itself. If you need to understand QuickBooks, you can take an online tutorial to learn the different functions as well.
You can check with some of your local small businesses and offer your services as well. Many businesses don't have the ability or finances to hire a full time or part time employee, but do hire offsite bookkeepers and accountants to keep the books. If you have some business cards and a resume, you can send letters to the smaller companies with your rates or leave the pay open until they contact you. Taverns and restaurants are always looking for offsite bookkeepers.
Once you decide what you want to do for a home business and make a living from it, you'll see how many opportunities there are for you in accounting and bookkeeping. You'll find that working for smaller companies is so much nicer than working for big corporations. You have the flexibility to work at home and still have time for your family.
Whether you currently tend bar or work in a bar/restaurant or even if you've only dreamed about becoming a bartender, starting your own business tending bar at weddings and private parties and numerous other events is much easier than you can imagine.
With minimal start-up capital, lucrative results, and a fun and exciting atmosphere, it's no wonder bartending for yourself is such a great option. Whether you're looking for a supplemental income on the side or a full-time career change, the exciting world of Freelance, or Mobile Bartending offers you endless possibilities and opportunties.
Before you can even consider bartending as a business, you need to learn how to tend bar.
Though some would argue with me, getting official training through the numerous bartending schools that can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars isn't necessary. There is no licensing or regularoy agency for ensuring bartenders are accredited. Nor do you need to purchase a tomb of drink recipes and memorize them. For the most part, you won't be required to know more than about 50 drinks. Your clientelle, the guests at special events, aren't the adventurous partiers you might find in high-end, or trendy nightclubs.
It is much easier than you think to learn how to bartend but it must be the first step you take before building your business.
Once you've got a handle on the technical aspects of bartending, it's time to deal with the business side of it. Writing your bartending business plan will always help you generate ideas for marketing and for the structure of your services. You need to ask yourself what your services include and how much you're going to charge. Outline the procedures and policies for dealing with clients. When you have first contact with a client or prospective client, how do you answer the phone, email, or personal query. What kind of questions might they ask you, can you answer those questions? Do you provide a portable bar or bartending tools, or do you require the client to provide them? Do you have other requests or requirements you expect the client to provide? What are your policies and guarantees?
With the administrative and operational tasks dealt with, it's time to deal with the physical requirements of your bartending business. Before you show up to your first event, your client will expect some of the following: Martini Shaker, Bottle Opener/Wine Key, Ice Scoop, Coolers, Bar Towels and more. You will want to consider purchasing a portable bar as well as other optional equipment: garnish tray, salt rimmer, bar mat & speed pourers.
So now that you've got your business ready to go, you'll need to find a gig or two. You must get your name out there and let your friends and family know what services you offer. Start by getting business cards made and then pass them out to everyone you know, and even to people you don't know. Drop a few off at banquest or reception halls, and anywhere else in your area that are known for hosting events.
Once you get your first event, you are bound to find other guests who are in need of a bartender so promote your services at your bar!
Don't forget to promote elecronically. Having your own online presence, a storefront or website, with pictures and compelling copy is an extremely valuable asset to any business owner. You can have a simple 5 page website created for you through Elance.com for less than $200.00. Make sure to include your contact information, details on your services, and pictures.
By opening a bed and breakfast (also known as a "B & B") you can host interesting visitors from around the world, use your cooking and decorating skills, and make money doing it. Your bed and breakfast can bring tremendous enjoyment to many travelers and a great deal of satisfaction to you.
You can run your bed and breakfast alone if you are the independent type. Or the bed and breakfast can be a family affair, with everyone – even the kids – contributing to the running of the business.
Depending on how many rooms you want to rent out when you open a bed and breakfast, you could enjoy a part-time or a full-time income. If your business is seasonal, catering to a ski crowd or summer vacationers, you can close down and travel during the off season, if you want.
Bed and breakfasts are the fastest growing segment of the lodging business.
What Bed and Breakfast Businesses Do
Bed and breakfast owners provide a private space in their own homes for overnight visitors. Entrepreneurial owners should expect to wear multiple hats as marketers, concierges, cooks, chefs, maids, tour guides, bookkeepers and host/hostesses.
For many people, running a bed and breakfast (B&B) may seem like a dream job. However, this is a business, that you'll need to go into with your eyes wide open. If you're not a people person committed to working 24/7, running a B&B may be more like a recurring nightmare. Do some homework to ensure your plan is not only viable but doable.
Things to Consider Before Starting a Bed & Breakfast Business
1. Evaluate whether you have the personality and interest to host guests in your house night and day, season after season. Being outgoing and friendly is part of the job whether or not you feel like it. Interview other B&B owners and learn about their lives --and whether that's the life you really want.
Before spending a lot of time and money, use this personal assessment survey to help determine if you and your partner (if you have one) have the skills needed.
Answer honestly by writing (answering) yes or no to each statement below. (Remember, this survey is for you if you're not completely honest with your answers, it won't do you any good!)
Complete the survey for both yourself and for your partner (if applicable). Have your partner do the same. (So you both fill out the survey twice.)
Personal Assessment Survey
I enjoy getting up early and preparing meals.
I'm highly organized and manage my time well.
I'm self-motivated and a self-starter.
I can do several tasks at one time.
I enjoy entertaining.
I find it easy to get along with most people.
I'm tolerant and patient.
I can handle conflict without alienation.
I work well under pressure.
I can work long hours and face a variety of interruptions.
I learn from mistakes and make changes as needed.
I keep my home neat and clean at all times.
I enjoy performing home maintenance.
I'm cheerful.
I enjoy interior decorating and remodeling.
I enjoy gardening and landscaping.
I have a regular income.
I communicate well on the phone.
I write well and regularly.
I'm persistent.
I consider myself a risk-taker.
I have a high energy level.
I enjoy serving others.
I consider myself flexible.
I have a good business sense.
I can handle the business end of a B&B.
I handle emergencies well.
Compare your answers with your partner's. What are your strengths and weaknesses? Did any of your answers --or your partner's answers-- surprise you?
Now identify, in writing, your strengths and weaknesses. If you plan to become an innkeeper, your strengths should outweigh your weaknesses and you need to determine ways to compensate for the weak areas.
2. Decide where you'd like to live and work. Locations close to tourist areas are generally the most popular, although out-of-the-way accommodations can be just as popular if there is something distinctive and alluring about the place or its surroundings.
3. Check local zoning codes by calling the zoning board at your town hall to ask about the process for getting approval for a B&B. Be aware that some areas prohibit them. If you plan to renovate an existing building, have a contractor confirm compliance with local building codes. Find out whether there are any restrictions on the types of food that can be served, such as a full breakfast versus just coffee and muffins.
4. Draw up a business plan. Work your numbers carefully. The profit margin for many B&Bs is modest at best. Contact national trade associations such as the American Bed and Breakfast Association (abba.com) for guidelines about setting up a B&B. Also, talk to other B&B owners; some might share financial information.
5. Determine how many guests you can and want to accommodate. Some B&Bs limit themselves to just a few guests, others take in 20 and more. Investigate how this will be impacted by the building codes; B&Bs
with more than five rooms must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA.gov). For Canadians visit BBCanada.com for provinical and federal information.
6. Survey local competitors' prices. You'll want to be competitive with others in the area.
7. Develop an effective yet realistic marketing plan and budget. How will people hear about your B&B?
Effective advertising can be expensive and high-income customers may be difficult to reach. Free ink is terrific marketing, and cheaper than advertising, so explore getting editorial coverage in local papers, regional publications and national travel magazines. A good PR consultant may be worth the cost if you get the right coverage.
8. Compile an e-mail list of past guests to take advantage of cheap and effective outreach. Make sure you are listed in all relevant B&B guides and directories, and both printed publications and online resources. Pay attention to your competition's advertising: What works and what doesn't? Remember that marketing can seem like a financial black hole, so spend for maximum measurable impact. Put up a website to attract customers from all over
9. Hire qualified staff to keep things running smoothly. A house cleaner is vital; a cook, dishwasher, bartender, waiter and groundskeeper may be helpful additions during the high season and as the business grows.
10. Subscribe to a reservation service agency in order to reach a broader market, reduce your workload, and turn over the financial dealings to the experts. Turning over reservation and payment arrangements may negate the need for a merchant credit card account, too. However, there is an annual fee and a commission to be paid for each reservation handled. B&B Midwest Reservations (bandbmidwest.com), for example, charges a $75 setup fee and takes 25 percent of each reservation made on a member's behalf.
11. Set guest policies and house rules regarding check-in and -out schedules, cancellations and late arrivals, as well as whether pets, children and smoking are permitted.
12. Cater to your guests by making their experience as wonderful as possible. Serve excellent food and build a good wine list. Make sure the rooms are spotless, cozy and inviting. Remember that it's the little things that will keep guests coming back, such as the homemade muffins, the twilight kayak paddle or the tour of the gardens.
13. Network with fellow B&B owners, visitors bureaus, tourism offices and chambers of commerce to increase awareness of your business. Join national trade associations like ABBA.
Recommended Skills and Experience to Run a Bed and Breakfast
Bed and breakfast business owners need to have exceptional people skills as well as a willingness to allow strangers into almost all aspects of their lives. As well, innkeepers should:
Be willing to read, network and educate themselves about the bed and breakfast business constantly;
Have strong communication skills, including talking on the phone and answering emails;
Understand that hiring contractors is sometimes necessary, and have the skills to hire and/or fire landscapers, managers, cleaners and hostesses;
Know that sometimes running a B&B is very similar to running a household with children, such as cleaning up after people constantly, ensuring every need and request is taken care of, and that people are warm, fed and content every step of their visit.
Start Up Costs for Running a Bed and Breakfast
The start up costs to run a bed and breakfast are considerably higher than most business start ups, as both property and upgrading are almost always required before opening up for business. Although, many people who decide to start a bed and breakfast business do so because they already have a big beautiful home (and whose children have left the nest).
Expect to budget for furniture, linens, interior decorating, landscaping, amenities (such as soap and toiletries), food and remodeling (like adding additional bathrooms).
A computer, dedicated phone line, fax machine, and printer will also be required, as will reservations software ($250-1,000), a website that accepts online reservations, and the ability to process credit card transactions.
Finally, related business organizations and taking part in online B&B business guidebooks will also add to the final start up tally.
How Much Can a Bed and Breakfast Business Make?
Independent bed and breakfast businesses charge anywhere from $45 a night per person to $150 a night or more depending on location, amenities and current, concurrent events. An easy way to determine going rates in the area of interest is perform a market analysis by perusing the local yellow pages and reviewing what other B&B businesses are charging, and what sort of amenities come along with the price. As an example:
If a B&B charges $80/night and has 2 rooms to rent, they can potentially make $1120 a week, or $58,240 a year.
Most B&B owners take at least two weeks off a year ($2240) and only have a 50% occupancy rate at any given time ($27,000 approx.).
Therefore a B&B owner with two rooms available at all times, taking two weeks off a year for vacation time, can expect to earn $27,000 a year. This doesn't include expenses however, which are better calculated by crunching the numbers in a basic business plan financial worksheet.
Where to Get More Information About Starting a Bed and Breakfast
First off, take a peek at a bed and breakfast business plan for a better idea as to what is required to run the business on a day-to-day basis. As well, the following resources should be of assistance:
Professional Association of Innkeepers International;
Be An Innkeeper - a fantastic free online resource from About.com;
Complete Idiot's Guide to Running a Bed and Breakfast, by Susannah Craig and Park Davis;
Start and Run a Profitable Bed and Breakfast Business, by Monica and Richard Taylor; and
How To Start and Operate Your Own Bed and Breakfast, by Martha Watson Murphy and Amelia Rockwell
Most people. when start thinking about a home business of their own, they know in that very moment what kind of home business they're going to start. They have a specialized skill or training, a tattoo artist or homeopathic doctor for example.
Then, there are the rest of us...
Knowing that we want to have a business of our own isn't enough. Many of us have struggled with the important question of what type of enterprise we would like to start. And with the internet, these days there's a vast pool of options available to us.
Franchises offer a simple pre-packaged money making idea, but the cost of a franchise often makes it a prohibitive option to most folks who contemplate going out on their own. For those who do not have a million dollars to buy a McDonalds franchise, we must look to other ideas for our own business.
There are literally hundreds of lucrative home business ideas for you to choose from, which will suit every type of personality and all levels of financing. From selling information on the internet as an infopreneur, to growing delicious gourmet mushrooms for sale to restaurants and catering companies; there's a pile of money to be made by filling a need, for these and a host of other necessary services.
Of course, actually liking what you do will have a lot to do with the success of your new venture, so be sure to pick a home business that you'll enjoy running and that'll keep you motivated.
For example, if you're a math whiz, an accounting or income tax service might be the ideal home business for you to start. Perhaps writing is your forte and you'd like to start your own home based copywriting service or advertising agency, or you could freelance. That way you're always working on something different. If you get bored easily, this might be a good fit for you. Each of these businesses can be run successfully --and profitably from the comfort of your own home.
Academia might not be your cup of tea, but maybe you're good with your hands --being a creative genius where crafts are concerned. Craft items are red-hot sellers at swap meets, country fairs and world wide over the internet, and they can provide you with solid profits. If crafts don't interest you, then why not start a laundry service with pick-up and delivery, or a shopping service for shut-in's --even a companion service
or granny sitter or a doctor shuttle service; any of which could be much in demand in and around your neighborhood or community.
When trying to decide on what home business you'd like to begin, keep in mind the soul of any successful endeavor is providing a product or service that others will actually purchase in quantities. Satisfy the needs of your target market, and your target market will keep you and your home based business healthy, happy and profitable.
By reading 1000 Home Business Ideas, you'll get all kinds of inspiration, information and guidance.
When you work from home, any business you start has the potential to explode into a perpetual gold mine!
It just depends on how much your home business is in demand around your community or on the internet. Your home business might start slow and steady, regularly picking up clients as you become more established. On the other hand, your chosen home business may take off like wildfire, quickly becoming too hot for you to handle by yourself (we'd all like to see this happen!). This is the time to enlist the help of willing family members to help you out in your time of need, which will make your business into a friendly, family concern. This will also help family members better understand your business and get a grasp on the mechanics of profit.
Good luck in all your decisions and have fun with your home business, which ever one you choose, and don`t forget to enjoy yourself!
When you think of a DJ, you may think of someone who plays songs on a radio, someone who plays songs at a wedding or someone who spins records on decks at clubs. D J is an acronym for a disc jockey, a term that began in the 1950s when radio personalities first came into the picture.
Although music was played over the airwaves for decades prior, the DJ was a personality figure who appealed to teenagers. The 1950s was the first decade where the value of marketing to teenagers came to light. As a result, those who played popular songs on the radio not only had to play the top songs, they had to also have personalities that the teens admired so that they would listen in to their broadcast.
The DJ has been an institution in the radio industry over the past 50 years, although the role has changed dramatically, especially over the past 20 years. In the 1980s, new technology made it possible for people to become a DJ for a wedding as well as other events. Hiring a DJ to play music at a wedding over amplifiers was considerably cheaper than hiring a live band. As a result, there was a whole new venue opened up for those who had considerable knowledge of music and the money to purchase the equipment.
House music was also born in the 1980s. This consisted of mixing various different types of music, usually from recordings, and making them into a unique sound of their own. This can be done in a variety of different ways, although a good DJ who plays in a club will use vinyl records to create their own sound.
Vinyl records and turntables, once considered a relic of the past after the advent of the CD and CD players, made a comeback in clubs.
Putting it simply, a DJ is someone with a considerable knowledge of music, a large collection of music and who knows how to play the music in a way that others will want to listen to the music. Someone can be a DJ on the radio, a DJ in a club or a DJ playing for weddings and parties. Although you should go to school for broadcasting if you want to get on the radio, you do not have to have any type of degree to start your own business as a DJ who plays at weddings and other events. You do need a following in order to become a DJ for a popular club.
The most important attribute a DJ has is a vast knowledge of music and what people want to hear. The second most important attribute of a DJ is their personality. Both of these factors combined can make someone into a very popular and well paid DJ. These attributes are not learned in a classroom, but they can be acquired through studying music as well as the art of entertaining others.
Knowing Your Music
The most successful of all of those in the DJ business have a great appreciation for music. They are well aware of all the genres and although may prefer one over another, realize that all music is basically a combination of several different types of music. Musicians today all got their inspiration from musicians from the past. Who got their inspiration from musicians of the past. And so on.
Most people think that the club DJ only spins vinyl using club mixes. However, they have to get the music for these mixes in some way. Many of them will use a combination of pumped in sound through synthesizers as well as vinyl records that they spin in a certain way that alters the sound. By doing this, they are creating a specific sound. This is similar to playing a musical instrument. However, as anyone who has ever attempted to play a musical instrument knows, not all the sounds that come from the instrument are good.
Some of them are bound to be real clinkers if the person who is playing the instrument does not practice and does not have an ear for music.
Some people are born with a natural ‘ear for music.’ They can pick up tunes in their head and then play them over again on various instruments. They can even compose music in their heads as well. In some cases, these musicians are trained in order to obtain this knowledge of music. In other cases, there is no training involved. Sir Paul McCartney, who is arguably the most successful composer of the 20th Century, has no formal musical training and cannot even write or read music.
You do not have to be naturally gifted in order to obtain success as a DJ, but you do have to know music.
You have to have an ear for which sounds work well with others, especially if you are considering a career in this field. Even if you are just looking for a job as a DJ who hosts weddings and parties, you need to know the right songs to play as well as when to play them. The DJ at any wedding is usually like the emcee of the wedding. They get the ball rolling when it comes to dancing, getting the crowd on their feet, settling them down and then getting them to leave when the night is over.
If you want to be a radio DJ, on the other hand, you will have a catalog of music at your disposal. You still need to know the right songs to play, however most of those who work in radio work for a certain station that plays a certain genre of music. When it comes to being a radio DJ, personality is the all important attribute.
Chances are your audience have heard the songs you are playing over and over again, and can easily purchase them. Those who tune into your show will want to hear you, as well as any information that you can provide to them about the type of music that they are listening to.
The best way to get an ear for music is to study music and listen to it. Learn what type of music blends well with another type of music and practice creating your own sound. The most successful club DJ s in the industry have their own unique sound that brings people in to listen to them.
If possible, take a music class. Learn how to play a musical instrument. You can also take a history of music class to learn more about the different genres of music that are out there and how they came into existence. The more you learn about music, the better you will be at becoming a DJ.
The Right Equipment
Before you can hope to become a DJ, you need to invest in the right equipment. You are going to want to make sure that your sound is well heard. You can invest in equipment that costs thousands of dollars, or get started with a turntable and some downloaded music that you put on your computer. You should also have an amplifier that will be able to turn up the volume.
One important thing to remember about music equipment is that you get what you pay for. If you hope to become successful as a DJ, you are going to want to continue to invest in better equipment so that you can improve the quality of your sound. The better the amplifier, the better the sound. You need to have a very clear sound in order to get the people dancing.
Computers have made it easier to not only acquire music but also to play it to others. However, the stereo sound that emits from most computers is not good enough quality to play for others in a club. You should invest in equipment that will enable you to get started so that the sound that you play is not only audible, but clear as well.
A microphone is also essential if you are going to be a DJ. You are going to be more than just a record spinner, you are going to be a personality. This means that you have to speak over the microphone when you are playing your music. Some of those in the industry will use the mike in a creative way to further amplify the sound. You can get a beginners kit if you want to be a DJ for about one thousand dollars. This will give you all of the equipment that you need to set up in a club and be able to spin vinyl as well as mix in your own music.
A turntable is the most crucial piece of equipment for the club DJ. This will enable you to play vinyl as well as mix your own music to the sound of the vinyl record. You can maneuver the vinyl record in a way that you cannot a CD to give you even a more unique sound.
Of course, the most important equipment that you can have as a DJ is a large catalog of music. You can get music from various sources, including online downloads. You should have your music organized in such a way that you know where everything is and that you can play the right music at the right time. The more music you have, the more successful you will be when it comes to being a DJ.
When you are looking for vinyl, you can look for used records as well as new. New vinyl albums, which used to be at one time the gold standard when it came to what people used to listen to music, have shot up in price in recent years. Since the CD became the gold standard of music listening in the 1990s, vinyl albums went by the wayside. There was a resurgence in vinyl in the early part of the 21st century and now many musicians are honored when their music comes out “in vinyl.” A vinyl record is a 33 rpm record that plays on a turntable with the use of a needle. At one time, this was one of the few ways that people were able to listen to music that they purchased.
There is no reason for any DJ to be without music today. Because it is so easy to download from the internet, and just about any song is available, you can build quite a collection of music when you are becoming a DJ. Getting the music is not as important as organizing it in such a way that you know exactly how to get to it and when. You can do this via your computer. Most of the DJ s today will use their computer laptops as a way to organize their music so that they can get to a certain song within a matter of seconds. Having your music organized by computer is similar to how music is organized in a radio station.
The more organized you are when it comes to your music, the better you will be at being a DJ.
Once you have the right equipment for your venture as a DJ, a vast knowledge of music as well as the music itself, then you are ready to begin your work as a DJ.
In addition to your zest for music, you also have to have a zest for people. When you are playing music for people, whether you are at a club or at an event, you have to like the people. This is not a career for a shrinking violet. It is a career for someone who is gregarious and who truly enjoys entertaining the crowd.
Part of being a DJ is being a personality. Someone who is an artist with the music but who also knows how to get people in the mood to have fun. Again, the DJ is the emcee of any event, so you have to not be afraid to get your voice out there.
The most important part of developing your DJ personality is to develop your own personality. Not the personality of someone else. You are going to want to be yourself, but also make the most of what sets you apart from others. There is something that sets everyone apart from everyone else. No two people are exactly alike. Use the thing that is different about you, that makes you unique, and capitalize on it in order to give yourself your DJ personality.
Go into any club where there is a DJ and check them out. Instead of just checking out the people in the club or the music, check out the behavior of the DJ. See what about them makes the crowd like them. In most cases, you will see that they all pretty much behave in the same way. They all have their list of songs that they play, all use the same phrases, the same slang and are all very much alike.
Greatness is achieved by individuality. Think of what you could do differently that would make the crowd not only stand up and take notice to your music, but also to you. Look at how the different DJ s in the club dress. The type of jewelry and hats that they wear. Can you think of anything that would make you stand out that you can do differently?
Getting Your First Gig
Chances are that your first gig as a DJ will be something small and maybe even family related. The best chance you have of getting a gig is through a family member or by hosting a wedding or some other party.
While you wait to for your big chance to become a DJ at a club, you may have to make ends meet by doing DJ work at a variety of different functions. Weddings are a big deal and you probably will start with something smaller than that.
It is important that you take your DJ responsibilities seriously no matter what type of gig you get. You will get work by word of mouth as a DJ. This is true even if you work in a club. If you have a good reputation, one of showing up on time, making people happy, playing the right music and doing your job, you will get good references. If you have a poor reputation, word will get around. No matter how talented you think you are, no matter how good of a performer you think you are, you have to give the people what they want or else you are not going to get any more work. It is as simple as that.
Make sure that you test all of your equipment before your first gig. You should have a pretty good idea of what people want when you do this gig as well as any special requests for songs. You should ask whoever is hiring you for the gig if there are any songs that they want performed at the event or any games. Make sure that you have the music and that you do a test run. Most of the time, events where someone hires a DJ is a once in a lifetime event. For you this is just a job, but for some people, they plan this event for months and in some cases, even years. In many cases, it is a once in a lifetime event.
If you are looking for a paying DJ job at a new club, the best way to do so is to talk to the owner and then produce a demo tape. You can offer to work one night in the club as a test. You should never offer to work for free, however. Oddly enough, people who offer to work for free are not taken as seriously in any kind of business as those who demand payment. By producing a demo tape and talking to the club owner, you may be able to get a job.
Always be professional. Always test your equipment before you even get started. Make sure that you study the club before you even start so that you know what type of music that they play and what the people like.
Remember that scene from “The Blues Brothers?” Where the blues band walked into a Country and Western bar to play the blues? It was funny in that film, but will not be funny if you do this in a real club.
Make sure that you know what they like and give the people what they like.
This does not mean that you have to be a carbon copy of every other DJ in that club. You gradually want to start to bring your own mix and your own personality to the club. For your first gig, you may even want to play one of your own mixes. See how the crowd reacts.
Being a DJ in a club or even as a wedding DJ means practice. Do not expect to set the world on fire the first night you perform. Your goal should to be to build up a gradual group of followers who come to the club and who like what you spin. Sooner or later, you will be asked to get those Saturday night gigs.
Hope this gave you some ideas. Talk to you tomorrow :-)
Did you know that there are many types of businesses that are strictly regulated and controlled by the government?
I once knew a lady whose great idea was to make croutons from her house. Needless to say, that didn't last long when the inspector heard about it.
If you think you've got an idea that’s going to make you big money, there might be a reason why everyone else isn't doing it and that reason could be related to the law.
As I mentioned above if you are going to sell food, you will need to license and register for hygiene and safety inspections. For many reasons most local government agencies are especially strict if you plan to handle food especially raw meat. Food licenses aren't too hard to get provided you are willing to have your kitchen and products inspected at regular intervals An in home daycare will need a license. There are all sorts of courses to take and regular inspections to go through. If you ever wonder why there’s a shortage of in home childcare providers it’s because it’s so hard to keep up with the rules and make a profit.
Gambling is almost always strictly regulated. It might be fine to gamble privately with your friends depending on where you live, but as soon as you start running it as a business you are on shaky ground. You'll also find that most places have laws against lotteries. Applying for a license to turn your home into a gambling establishment is pretty sure to fail.
You will need a license if you plan to serve alcohol. Getting an alcohol license for your home, unless it's for some kind of special event and the drinking is just incidental is pretty much out of the question. Alcohol licenses are subject to appeals from people who live near you. So unless your whole neighborhood is ok with it you may have trouble.
Anything medical will probably need a license. When I say medical, I mean doctors, dentists, opticians, and even vets. You might think it is a great idea to turn your home into an animal hospital, but you need to be qualified and licensed. Of course, if you've previously been a doctor, dentist, or whatever, then you shouldn't have too much trouble getting licensed to do the same thing from home.
This list just covers some of the most common businesses that need licensing. The best idea is to check your local laws and make sure your home business is properly licensed.
Ever since the beginning of time, ambitious people of the world have attributed some "indescribable" secret to the success of those people with wealth. These people have spent, and will continue to spend, millions of dollars to cultivate these "secrets" within themselves.
Particularly since the early seventies, there has been a growing demand by the public to attend classes, workshops, and self-improvement seminars that enable them to align their thinking as well as their actions, with those of people who have already achieved success.
The popularity of such best-selling how-to manuals as, Winning Is Believing... Think And Grow Rich... How To Develop A Winning Personality... Overcoming Shyness... Imagineering... New Life Options... Winning By Negotiation... Successful Visual-Verbal Communications... Conversationally Speaking... and countless others lends reinforcement to the to the "need" for self-improvement seminars.
You can promote and stage these seminars either as a generalist or as a specialist in a specific area of expertise -and attain wealth for yourself almost beyond your current imagination! The market potential has only barely been scratched, affording a real ground-floor opportunity for those with the gumption to take action.
Dale Carnegie - the author of the book, How To Win Friends and Influence People - was certainly one of the first, if not "the first" self-improvement seminar marketer/teacher. Back in the Great Depression of the thirties, he recognized this need in people to improve themselves - he worked out a deal with the local management of his home town YMCA - got the word around that he was holding classes on self-improvement - and the rest is one of the truly classic unemployed-to-multi-million-dollar success stories of our time.
A self-improvement seminar is conducted much the same as a Toastmaster's Club meeting... It can be held just about anywhere, from the informal atmosphere of someone's living room to the formalities of the Hilton Convention Center.
Basically, a self-improvement seminar is a gathering of people where one or more speakers talk on a specific subject. More often than not, only a certain aspect of self-improvement, such as How To Develop A Positive Mental Attitude - is the thrust of the seminar. In other words, the more successful seminars deal with "specialized areas" of self-improvement.
These speakers usually wind up their talks with audience involvement question and answer sessions. Most of them "wind down" with the speaker circulating through the audience, plus lots of opportunity for the purchase of self-help books and tapes by the people wanting on-going motivation and reinforcement relative to what they've just heard. Always - sometimes even as the featured subject of the seminar - there's a great deal of motivation projected during these meetings. At he bottom line, motivation is more the purpose of these seminars than the attendees learning something they don't already know. The favorite words of most seminar speakers are usually, "It's the difference between having a dream and taking action - a matter of saying I can, believing it, and then doing it - because you can!"
Successful self-improvement seminars are generally based upon the concept of giving you the power to believe you can. The speakers usually speak from insights and expertise gained from their own life experiences.
Self-improvement seminars give the attendees the tools - and the motivation - to succeed. Thus, a well-organized and well-presented seminar that helps people up the ladder of success can't help but succeed because we are a success-oriented society - it's an easy sell with an income potential limited only by your ability to express yourself.
You won't need an office to make it big with self-improvement seminars. The public doesn't visit you - you take your programs to them. Self-improvement seminars appeal to almost everybody - from blue-collar workers to top executives.
The average cost per person to attend a seminar is very close to $300 - so your basic audience will be from the upper-income brackets - but if you handle the promotional aspects properly, you'll pull them in from lesser income brackets as well.
Many seminar promoters employ sales teams to call upon top company executives and either get them to partially pay the cost of several employees to attend as educational or business improvement investments - or to foot the bill for the sponsorship of a "group seminar" for all of that company's middle management personnel. Many specialty speakers make in excess of $100,000 per year with regular motivational and/or self-improvement seminars in this fashion.
In the beginning though, you'll get your start by staging seminars for the general public in restaurant banquet rooms, hotel ballrooms, and convention centers. These will entail advertising costs, plus the charges for the rented space, and an "on-hand" inventory of the materials you want to sell to the people who attend your seminars.
Generally, you'll do best with an intensive radio advertising campaign during the week preceding your seminar date. In a metropolitan area of half a million population, you should probably spend a couple of thousand dollars on radio advertising, plus about half as much for flamboyant newspaper advertising. Some seminar promoters invest a quarter of their budget in newspapers, then a quarter in direct mail and/or telephone advertising, with half going into radio. Of course, the allocation of your advertising budget should be related to the previous proven pulling power of each media within that particular market. Not too much concern is given to television advertising, excepting for guest appearances of the community service talk shows.
Most promoters spend all of this effort and money to promote a series of free seminars. These free seminars usually draw huge crowds, during which special "front men" turn everybody on with super-motivational stories designed to whet the appetite of those in attendance for more. These free seminars generally last only 45-minutes to an hour, and are strictly motivational in purpose.
Each person in attendance is handed a brochure describing the up-coming "main event" as they leave these free seminars. An attempt is made to get a commitment - at least a deposit for the cost of the "real thing," which is usually set for the week following. Those who do not commit themselves to attending the big one are then contacted by professional telephone sales people and given the complete sales presentation between the time of the free seminar and the date of the real thing, which and experienced telephone sales people - you can count on closing about 30 to 35% of those who attend your free seminars.
If you don't have the confidence or inclination to participate - be the principal speaker - at your seminars, you can hire local sales training people, professional people from the medical specialties, local "experts" known through your area newspapers or broadcast media, and/or nationally known speakers willing to travel and operating through speakers' bureaus. You might want to contact Burt Dubin of Personal Achievement Institute - 225 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 305 -Santa Monica, CA 90401... or Dottie Walters of The National Speakers' Bureau - 400 W. Foothill Blvd. - Glendora, CA 91740.
Finally, a reiteration of the fact that there are literally millions of people in all parts of the country willing and able to pay you for helping them to improve themselves. You can start with meetings in your living room, or your local restaurant. All it takes is action on your part to get set up and a push from yourself to start making it happen. Best of luck and now get going with it.
One of the most important things your business needs is a name. Your name will be the very first thing that almost all of your customers see.
You have to pick a name that says something about you and your business that people in your target market will remember easily.
A good basic idea is to use your last name followed by what you do. Like Walton's Feed and Supply or Anderson's Plumbing. You could also add the town where you live in to the name like Anderson's Little Rock Plumbing.
You can also leave out your name and simply become Little Rock Feed and Supply. This makes you sound like the first choice locally and will help target your local area.
If you are going to be dealing with the big companies you may want to consider a more corporate sounding name. Think of a word to describe your business then add the word "Consulting".
If you're going for a trendier market you might want a less formal name.
You may want to name your business after an animal, and use that animal in your logo too. If you don't have a big marketing budget, this is a good way to get started branding your business. For example take Geico. They use that gecko lizard on everything. What do you remember when you think of car insurance?
Try a short name. Take two or three words that describe your business then shorten them to make it one word. So you end up with IHOP (International House of Pancakes) this is a great way to express what you do without having long hard to remember name.
And when nothing else seems to fit make up a name. Just play with your words until you come up with a name that sounds right and the best part is it will be completely unique to your business.
Whatever you do make sure your business name is easy to pronounce, spell and remember Once you have a few names picked out make sure you check to make sure no one else is using them.
You don't want to get your business started then find out that the name you want is taken.
Well, hope that’s helpful to you, Talk to you later!
If you like auctions, then an online auction business might be a good fit for you. Auctions sites, such as Ebay, but not just Ebay, are a great way to earn a decent online income, even residual income.
How Online Auctions Can Earn You Money
There are a few ways you can operate an online auction business.
1. The simplest model is to buy and sell pre-made (affiliate) items/products for profit.
2. You can create your own product to sell through an auction, such as an ebook, audio book, video package, or even a physical product (such as a birdhouse).
3. A very unique, and interesting option is to auction off rare, collectible, unusual and / or used items through auction. Examples of this model would be stamps, gold coins, antiques, rare books, gently-used clothing, musical instruments, etc. You can find these types of items in your own home, and in almost everyone else's. You can also discover great finds at yard sales, second-hand stores, and flea markets.
4. You can set up and run your own auction site. This takes more time, effort and resources, but has the potential to bring in a really substantial income.
Internet auctions are auctions that are conducted over the Internet. These auctions are places where you sell items to the highest bidder. It works just as a real auction. A product is showcased to the audience and its features and benefits are described in detail. Then a minimum bid is placed on the item up for auction. People who are desirous of laying their hands on this product are supposed to bid at an amount higher than this minimum bid. The auction then sells the product to the highest bidder when the bidding time (or auction) is over.
You could very well become a member of an auction site -Ebay being the best known- and buy and sell products for a profit. You profit is derived from the bids, obviously. The bidders bid dollar amounts higher than what you bought the product for. Here you need to have a discerning eye. If you're selective about the product you purchase, ultimately, you'll have bought a product that has a good selling potential, which means you'll be able to turn it over for a good profit.
There are many online auction sites nowadays because this genre of home business has become really popular. As I already mentioned, Ebay is probably the most popular and well known auction site. However, there are others:
Note that some of these sites cater to particular niches oo products or are available only in a particular geographical area. Do some research on the sites before you decide which of them you want to go ahead with.
The online auction sites are highly secure sites and they might need approval before allowing you to join as a member. But this is a good thing because you can be sure your interests won’t be compromised on the site too. The payment is usually prompt, but some might pay at the end of the month for the products sold, subtracting their cut from the sale.
Creating a product/item yourself for auction can be a lot of fun or a royal pain in the butt... depending on your personality, technical skill and desire. I enjoy creating new "stuff" so for me it's usually very enjoyable. Of course there are always exceptions. Some days I just can't seem to do anything right :-)
Your product, as briefly mentioned above, can be physical as well as digital. Hand-made items are always popular... like the aforementioned birdhouse, or jewellery, pottery, etc. Many auctions these days, however, don't allow ebooks or downloadable products to be auctioned. There's been too many shady characters both on the buying and selling end of the deal that ruined it for everyone. Instead, if you're considering creating a digital product, you might consider creating a DVD, CD or video. I guess this type of item would technically fall under the physical product category as well.
If you'd like to get an idea of what kinds of items you can sell through an auction, just pop over to Ebay and browse through some of the auctions going on there. There are literally thousands at any given time.
Now, to make decent money with any auction, you need to sell more than one or two items a month. You'll need to be auctioning something almost every day. This is what's known as being a power-seller, and it's is just one step away from being a seller who sells only the occasional item. Power-sellers make multiple sales each month and earn high profits from these sales.
There are really only a few things that you need to become a power-seller:
A computer and internet connection.
A products to sell.
A digital camera so that you can take pictures of the items that you’re selling and upload them to the auction website.
And the enthusiasm to make auctions your primary business and income.
Last, but not least, if you're feeling adventurous and energetic, you can create your own auction site.
Before considering this model, you need to ask yourself if you have the technical skills and time required to set up and administer an auction site.
The basic requirements (other than an intermediate knowledge of website development and administration) are:
A computer with internet connection (which you have or you wouldn't be reading this)
An auction site script (the software to run the site)
A hosting account
A domain name
A Paypal or other payment processor account
If you want to build a successful auction website, I would suggest that you begin by creating your site on a specific, well-defined niche and starting a small auction that caters only to that niche. Then once your site becomes successful, you can expand into other areas.
The reason is it will be easier to draw in traffic from the search engines because you won't have as much competition. Go to Google now and do a search for "auction site" (without quotes). When I did it there were over 18 million results.
For example, let's say your site is about antique dolls. You could create an entire site dedicate to information on the dolls. You'd have more luck with the search engines (Google, MSN, etc.) trying to attract people searching for this topic than for the more generic term "auction" or "auction site."
Once you've created an auction area on your site just for the dolls, start building your customer base. Once your site gains popularity then you can think about expanding to offer more categories. Of course antique dolls is just an example. You would choose a topic you have an interest in and are knowledgeable about.
Before anything happens, you'll need to register a domain (dot com) name and create a website. After you've selected your name, you'll need a web host to host your site.
Since you're going to be creating an auction site, you'll want to have a lot of web space and the ability to install your auction script. GoDaddy is a terrific hosting provider. You can register your domain name
with them, and purchase hosting. They have several great "unlimited space and bandwidth" plans to choose from. And their servers are very reliable.
Next, you'll need to find a script for the auction itself. This will be the backbone of your auction and will tell it how to operate. There are several sites out there that provide these scripts for free. You can download a few at the bottom of this post, or you can do a search via Google and compare the different options.
Keep in mind, you will be responsible for setting the auction script up yourself and may need to learn a bit about programming to get it working properly. Be sure to consult the documentation that comes with the script you decide to download for complete details on how to set it up.
For more information, here are a few ebooks that might be helpful:
Working from home is a big dream for many. But fear holds us back. Below I have listed a few reasons why starting a home business is a great idea.
1. Your Great Idea Comes to Life.
2. You have a great business idea. This is the number one reason that most people go into business from home. Remember the kind of ideas that are good for a home business are ones that can become real quickly, and start bringing in an income almost immediately.
3. You can do What You Love. Most people have something that they really love to do. Getting paid for doing what you love is a dream come true.
4. You get to be the boss. No more working your fingers to the bone for someone else. You will be the boss and you will reap the rewards.
5. You want more time with your Family. No more missing out on weekends, family occasions or Holidays. You will be home for every special moment.
6. No More Wasting Time and Money Commuting. With the high price of gas and the average commute to work being thirty miles one way just think of the time and money you will save when you work from home!
7. You Want More Control Over Your Life. In our current economy, with everything so uncertain and unstable, you want to be able to control your own destiny... and finances.
These reasons alone are good enough to say I am ready to start my own home business. In an up coming issue we will discuss how to write your business plan.
This is the "real" Money Maker in the Mail Order / Internet Marketing business – the basic "How To" Report. It's something anyone can produce, and with all the proper ingredients at the right time, you can become independently wealthy!
Your basic "Money Making report" is usually 2 – 20 pages in length (or more), sells for approximately $10 (but lately they seem to be selling for $7), and outlines instructions, details, or a "How-To Method" for solving a problem: making more money, saving money, attaining greater happiness, or fulfilling an ambition or desire.
A lot of women write successful money-making reports based upon better ways of solving household problems, how to lose weight, children, etc.. And a lot of men write successful money-making reports on how to get greater pleasure from leisure time activities such as fishing, woodworking, being a better father or other things they enjoy.
The list of subjects one can write about is endless, and reports on how to make more money easier and faster are no more limited to male authors than expertise in cooking is limited to female authors.
Writing your report is easy and quite simple. However, it does take longer, and requires a lot more work and worry for some people to produce a "finished" product than it does others, even if they are equally intelligent and knowledgeable.
Money Making reports have been, and can still be written to show other people how to start, develop, enjoy or expand a leisure pursuit; how to learn and develop new or greater abilities; how to start, develop and operate a new business, or even expand a current one; how to develop and prepare for a new career; how to make more money; how to save money, better one's standard of living and have more time for leisure; how to solve personal problems and enjoy life more; how to attain success in any endeavor. Well I'm sure you get the idea.
You'll find that the better selling reports are well researched, authoritative, factual and helpful to the reader in the achievement of his or her goals. Your report can be put together and sold as anything from a two-page typewritten paper to a multipage typeset and professionally bound book.
Skills and Equipment Required:
If you know how to do something, well, then you have the basic skills required to write a report. If you feel you're not a good enough writer, there are always alternatives to writing the report yourself. You can hire a ghostwriter, hire a professional writer through sites such as elance. Or you can even buy a pre-written report that comes with private label rights. You then just need to tweak it here and there, add a bit and put your name on it.
As for equipment required. Since you're reading this article, you already have the basic equipment needed...
...A computer and a connection to the internet. As well, you probably own most of the software that you'll need:
A word processor, such as Mircorsoft Word
A PDF converter
A web page editor/creator
All these programs are available for free within the OpenOffice suite. I use OpenOffice's word processor all the time because it converts my finished .doc into a .pdf file right from within the wordprocessor. So there you go. You've got a basic understanding of what's required to start a small business report business.
However, if you'd like a much more detailed look at this type of business, I'd recommend you read 5 Steps To A Big Profits Small Reports Biusiness, by Jimmy Brown. You can download it HERE for free.
I'm Terry, and I'll be your administrator for this journey :-)
I just wanted to give you a quick overview of what to expect over the next one thousand or so days.
Each day I'll post a new idea for a business you can run from home. Not all businesses will be internet related, but I will be giving you lots of those as well.
I'll also add some helpful hints, tips and advice on running your home business and making it a smashing success.
So I hope you stay tuned and involved. ... After all, this blog's for you.
