Athaba on lot of occasions you would hold keys for the Landlords. You would only speak business with tennants at the premises if the Landlord wasnt there. Otherwise you would just show them round. You intially (until you get premises)could interview tenants at your home. They dont care as long as you can find them a good place and dont charge them for it, what have they to lose.

You have to improvise Athaba. Where theres a will etc.........Also people buy people. So if you sell yourself well the fact you have no premises shouldnt stop you getting the business off the ground. If you believe it, it will happen.

Any key advice I would give to someone who wanted to start their own business, especially in something that they currently do... you realy have to make the most of your time in your current job. Your skills...experience, when ever you take on a new client/project/contract, you really do have to milk it for all it's worth and any industry that you encounter ,learn what you can... skills learnt at work are more transferable than people think and will always come in handy. Everytime you take on a new client/project/contract...make contacts... it's the done thing naturally...then if you work in a successful business and have already met those who may be potenitially giving you business, you may have a good chance of re-creating the success of the company that you worked for. You know the ins and outs of the industry and of a company who could be your competition, so then go and start on your own, with their skills and knowledge, minus their mistakes. Provided you have enough money for the start-up of course, you'd boost your chances of success.

[align=center]18, Import and Export trading
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[align=left]Project Facts- These days trade is more international than national as countries speacialise in products which othe countries seek out. Importing and exporting are established activities and much of this business is handled by agents. The agents's job is to find a supply of goods in one country, then a demand in another, or vice versa. At the moment British goods can readily be exported to the EEC, while consumer goods are big imports from the Far East.[/align]

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[align=left]What do i need-A telephone, and email is vital.Quality business paper, A talent for negotiation is useful, a city branch of a bank to provide help with import-export generally, as well as international finance. British Overseas Trade Board(BOTB) provides Government help for exporters.HM customs and excise will advise on licences, regulations, restrictions and duties. SITPRO (Simplification of International Trade Procedures Body) have a kit explaining import-export procedures. A number of groups and societies bring importers and exporters together, for eg. the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry,The Institute of Export. The government Export Credits Guarentee Dept (ECGD) helps protect against the risks of exporting and not getting paid. It runs an insurance scheme, thus facilitating more extensive exporting than would otherwise be possible.A useful, if rather technical, book on the technical and documentary aspects of international trade is Elements of Export Pratice by Alan E. Branch, Published by Chapman and Hall (1979). Most trading countries have directories of products and services available (and sometimes firms looking to buy) Check at main libraries. In the case of USA, for eg. Thomas registers are directories to look for. This is an additon to international telephone directories.Several international periodicals advertise for UK importers and exporters.Wade World Trade, publish Sales And Marketing Mangement, and also have a correspondence course in international trade.
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[align=left]Pros- Profits can be very high for a moderate investment
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[align=left]Cons- requires a lot of research initially. There may be complex legal requirements.[/align]


[align=left]How do i operate- most agents operate by finding a product in the UK then a buyer overseas or vice versa. You can however start with a demand and find a product to suit it. Because of the help available from the BOTB, exporting can be a good starter. Look in the Yellow Pages or Manufacturers & Merchants Directory(library) for interesting export items. Offer to become an agent and sell their goods overseas. Then offer the products to overseas wholesalers or importers by advertising in foreign newspapers or writing to them direct. Details of overseas traders can be found in foreign telephone directories at major libraries. Start with a good product-for eg, quality UK goods export well to the EEC, Middle East and North America. To import write to the London embassies of suitable countries. Their trade delegations will put you in touch with associations or manufacturers and exporters who may have goods for export to the UK. Again start with a good product-consumer goods from Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan and China usually sell well. The best way to operate is to prepare neatly written and printed details of the products you have for sale giving full specifications. Then send these to the potential buyers you have tracked down from earlier research. Subsequently negotiate deals personally with buyers and sellers. Keep your negotioations in writing/email. Be prepared to send out large quanties of enquiries in order to match a supply with a demand. Allow for the cost of this in your start-up capital. Use a translation bereau for foreign language material (cost £50 to £350 per 1000 words). When a deal is struck you should leave the original seller to complete the deal, deliver it and collect payment. Few agents ever actually handle goods directly. An optional delivery service can be offered through a freight forwader.[/align]


[align=left]How much can i earn- Agents are paid by negotiable commission-10% would be typical. Within this, orders can run to thousands even millions of pounds. One agent reported an annual contract worth £10 million on good commission terms, while still part time from home.[/align]


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[align=left]Only act as broker/agent. Never buy goods yourself, to limit risk.[/align]


[align=left]It is important to project a really smart proffesional image.
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[align=left]Trade in proven products and with accepted countries to start.[/align]


[align=left]Do your initial research thoroughly.
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[align=left]Leave the deal once it has been agreed. Let othershandle the arrangements.
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[align=left]Follow up past contacts for lucrative repeat deals.[/align]

[align=center]19, Property Developing[/align]
[align=left]Project fact- There are numerous opportunities for taking dilapidated old property and transforming it into modern accomadation. Previously this opportunity was only open to property tycoons and experienced builders. Now beginners can successfully buy and renovate old property and sell at a considerable gain. Although the capital required can be high, if you proceed on a syndicate basis individual amounts will be much lower. So black people club together, unite, reap and keepthe benefits within.[/align]
[align=left]What do i need- Management skills, the ability to present proposals and arguuments convincingly, the capital to buy the first house, or syndicate of people to invest, good proffessional contacts.[/align]
[align=left]Good reads include the 'Estates Gazette', 'Doing up a house' by Mary Gilliat, 'The readers digest DIY manual', 'Property Renovation Profits'[/align]
[align=left]Pros- Very high return, Property seldom loses value[/align]
[align=left]Cons- Needs considerable mangerial skills, planning and buliding regulations can present problems.[/align]
[align=left]How do i operate- This is a compact business that can be run from home. Large amounts of capital are not always essential, as you can trade as a syndicate. You can invite others to form a ltd comapny or partnership with you. They inject capital and you supply the organisational skills. Each person takes equal shares in the company and equal shares in profits. First you need to assemble your team of proffessional advisers. Your role is that of manager and organiser, and you should employ experts to do the actual work. The experts you need are.[/align]
[align=left]A contact within an Estate Agents to pass you on opportunities. [/align]
[align=left]A bank or lending source to help with the financing of your project.[/align]
[align=left]An independantmortgage broker who can perform quickly. [/align]
[align=left]An efficientsolicitor. He is vital, both when it comes to buying the property and to advise you on the the law as it relates to development. Personal recommendation is always a good start. [/align]
[align=left]A surveyor. He can help by surveying the property and advising you on whether it can be renovated economically. He can also do some design and supervisory work. Contact the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, for names of local ones.[/align]
[align=left]An architect. He will attend to the details of your renovation once a property has been selected. Conact the Royal Institute of British Architects for names of local ones and get a quote first.[/align]
[align=left]An Accountant. He will help to arrange financing, prepare accts, deal with tax and apportion profits amongst syndicate members. It is best to find one locally by personal recommendation if possible.[/align]
[align=left]A builder. He will do the renovation, under the direction of the architect or surveyor. Obtain quotes from at least three builders. The proffessional associations are the 'Federation of Master Builders' and 'Building Employers Confederation'.[/align]
[align=left]Having assembled your team of proffessionals, you are ready to start. A typical project may run as follows. Find your synicate members. Family, friends or advertise for them under 'Business Opportunites' of 'Finance Required' sections of newspapers. Then you form a Legal syndicate with each investor as a partner. Find properties via your Estate Agent contact or auction. Only deal in residential property. Make a shortlist. Instruct your surveyor to examine each for renovation potential. If the surveyor approves instruct the architect and builder to design and cost a renovation, and the solicitor to check the legal position. If the accountant indicates that the project is viable, instruct the solicitor to buy the property. Fianlise the plans with the surveyor and buider. Get planning consents. (your surveyor and architect will help as they are experienced in what can go through and what cant.) Prepare a schedule of works. The surveyor and architect will arrange and surpevise the work. When completed, put the property up for sale. The accountant divides the proceeds equally between the syndicate members.[/align]
[align=left]How much can i earn- Assume five investors provided £15,000 each to buy a £40,000 barn up North and convert it for a further £35,000. The barn might sell for £150,000 in which case each member would get back £30,000 which is 100% return on capital. Most renovators work on the same basis, finding and renovating property after property. The process of gearing means a larger project can be undertaken each time, allowing profits to mount up. There is oneexmple of a brother i know from South London who re-mortaged his home for £20,000 and is now worth £2 million in less than 5 years.[/align]

I know of 4 opportunities on http://www.conmusic.co.uk if you go to the make money page they have some info and you can contact them. They are very helpful and assist you. There's distribution and premium rate numbers.

Peace, together we can make money.

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[align=center]20,Special interest weekends[/align]
Project facts- There are almost endless oppotunities in the leisure industry. Some of them are ideal for exploitation on a quick return basis, one prime example being in organising special holiday break weekends. One idea you may have heard of is the 'murder' weekend, an established venture where a crime is restaged at a hotel- and the guests play detective. There are many simpler versions, however that offer great scope for a business project.

What do i need- organisational ability, ideas for hobbies or leisure interests that could be covered. 'The good hotel guide' to look for venues, available at most libraries.

Pros- Leisure and hobbies are a growth industry

Cons- Losses if weekend fails to sell, Some trial and error needed in order to establish most successful formula

How do i operate- decide on a theme for your weekend. It should preferably follow a hobby or interest eg a train spotting weekend, a theatre weekend, a fishing weekend and so on. Contact a suitable hotel and arrange to hold the venue there, perhaps in a conference suite. They may well not charge for the facilities because of the extra room, restuarant and bar custom you bring. Use you negotiation skills here. Organise a programme for the weekend, perhaps a dinner-dance on the Friday evening, a Saturday morning film, a demonstation on the Saturday afternoon, a quiet dinner that evening, and Sunday free for leisure. bring in guest speakers and demonstrators if necessary. Advertise the weekend thoroughly in reginal and national newspapaers and magazines read by the enthusiasts you are trying to reach. The hotel may also have its own publicity officer who can help. Take bookings, with deposits, in advance. On the the actual weekend you can either attend to organise the course, and ensure all goes well. or leave it in the hands of the hotel, perhaps for a fee.

How much can i earn- one natural history weekend at a 3 star hotel sells at £150 per person and usually attracts 80 guests. This provides takings of £12000. The hotel chares £90 for 2 nights accom and meals. This leaves a net income of £4800 less advertising and cost of speakers and events ( About £2000)


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[align=center]21, A Van Sales Round[/align]
Project Facts- Most retail methods need a shop, or at least a shop position of some kind. However, there are some which don't and which can therefore save an enormous amount in start up costs and overheads. One such method is a van slaes round. The sales round method of selling to shops in particular has developed enormous popularity, and many shops now buy some of their stock this way. Its an ingenious way of combining salesmanand delivery driver in one, making a service that is efficient, cost effective and which attains high sales figures.

What do i need?- A large stock. Large capacity - try a local commercial vehicle dealer. Drivers and sales staff combined, A small sales office(home). The sales trade journal 'Selling Today' could provide useful techniques. It is available at major libraries. Customer contacts can be found through the 'stores, shops and hypermakets directory', available at main libraries but worth buying. Contacts through Yellow pages and net.

Pros- Van sales save on start-up costs, Lower costs mean more resources devoted to selling. It is a popular way for shopkeepers to buy.

Cons- It may be difficult to find a cheap source of supply.

How do i operate?- Choose stock to sell. This can be anything that shops buy to resell. Products like bread are established and probably too competive. Sweets on the other hand are popular lines. One advantage is that it doesnt matter if you start with a product that fails- it costs little to try something else.

A supplier will need to be found, ideally a manufacturer or an importer. Wholesalers, apart from very large ones, are generally not suitable as prices willnot be low. Cash is needed to buy in at least a van full of stock to start.

You can start with one van and driver, but 2 or 3 would be better. Lease vans through dealers who can also arrange to fit out the interiors for your stock. Adverise for combined drivers/salespersons. They should be experienced, and you should pay them a basic+commission if possible, if not commission onlyto begin with.

If the salesman is good he will know how to operate, but it helps to plan a strategy, identifying shops as customers. Good thing is you can visit lots of customers and make sales there and then.

The whole idea is convenience for the shopkeeper. He can see and get the stock he needs instantly. Similarly you can benefit from lucrative impulse sales. You can also encourage a shopkeeper to try stock he would not otherwise sell which could become a regular line.

To help sales, stock is supplied on credit, then invoiced on mthly terms from the sales office daily. The job of the office is also to ensure that the van is always fully stocked.

Selling anything can never be completely simple, but one advantage of a van round is that costs are so much lower and you divert resources into the actual selling than into admin. Profits can be directed straight into expanding rounds and business.

Summary-

Decide what you are going to sell,

Find a supplier- usually a manufacturer or importer,

Lease your vans, hire salespersons,

Supply customers on 30 days credit.

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[align=center]22, A Press Agency
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[align=left]Project Facts- News is a highly saleable commodity and there are many ways of selling it. A straightforward way is simply to collect local news, process it, and then sell it on to newspapers. This type of service is generally known as a press agency. It is suitable for a low-capital start-up business which could develop into a considerable concern.

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[align=left]What do i need?- A small office(home) with PC, fax, and telephone. Transport. At least two TV sets and 2 radios, plus a regular order for all local and regionala newspapers. P/T help, ideally from someone with journalistic experience. Trade publications such as 'Benns Media Directory', 'Willings Press Guide' and the