If you are hard working, blue collar person thinking about starting your own business from a scratch and have only a small amount to invest, you may consider janitorial cleaning service business. Every business needs immaculately cleaned once in a while and often times in a day if it is public premise.

Once you decide to start a janitorial cleaning business. Like any other business, there are lots of steps involved you need to take into account:

1. You need to decide and register your business name.
2. Get the business registrations and licenses from your Local County or city hall.
3. Start up cost
4. Income Potential
5. Printing marketing materials

If you are intending to work from home, you need to consult the zoning guidelines governing your residential area to check whether starting this business from home is allowed.

Doing the right things from the start will take your cleaning business to the next level of success.

It is important to sit down and figure out what will be start up cost to build a janitorial cleaning business. Your start-up costs can be around $500 - $5000. You can even start on a part-time basis working from home with just a vehicle and minimal amount of equipment.

However, janitorial expert recommends you that you should have at least $50000 as an initial investment to start this business right.

Starting your janitorial cleaning business as a home based business will put you in a much better position allowing you to...

1. Keep your expenses low until you succeed in establishing some accounts and customer base.
2. Offer lower prices as a part of your initial business strategy.
3. Work flexible hours primarily on a part time basis
4. Increase your hours of operation

Once you establish your identity as a successful janitor/janitorial cleaning service provider in your area and surroundings, you can rent or lease a space with adequate parking and storage space to store your equipment and supplies efficiently and safely.

A janitorial business lacks glamour and may seem "mundane", but the janitorial service industry has shown remarkable growth over the past decade and many experts believe that the outlook for the industry over the coming decades is very bright.

With rising fuel costs it just seems like everything we buy on a daily basis is going up in price. For some people it's becoming hard to make ends meet and getting another job on the side to work for eight dollars an hour isn’t going to make a huge dent in anyone’s pocket book. An easy way to make extra income as your own side job or business is to pick up a few cleaning jobs. There are two types of cleaning businesses, residential and commercial. Residential cleaning is becoming a sought after skill and for some a profession. In today’s busy world some people don't have time to clean and end up coming home to a messy house night after night. For some of these people who make a little more, paying you $50 dollars a day to clean their house is a good deal. To clean and organize a home on a cleaning schedule can take as little as 1 to 2 hours after a routine is set up. With just two residential cleaning accounts you could be making an extra $3000 dollars a month for 2 to 4 hours a day of light cleaning and organizing while being your own boss. You can start your own cleaning business for as little as $500 in tools and supplies and permits. There are a few things you need when starting your own cleaning business but following the right steps can save you a lot of hassle latter.

When you first start up a cleaning business you need to create a registered company in your state. Taking in income without paying taxes is illegal and people do get caught every year by cheating the IRS, play by the rules and you'll come out ahead. When you register your company make sure to list it as an LLC company to protect your current assets. By shielding yourself behind a limited liability company you are in fact protecting yourself from a lawsuit just in case something should happen at your cleaning account. Things that can happen at a cleaning account are you could be blamed if something turns up missing, a fire could start when you’re their cleaning or you could just be blamed for something that is not your fault. It costs around $100 to set up an LLC company in most states and its well worth the money should something happen. The next thing you need is to be insured and bonded. Being insured and bonded can protect you from mistakes that you might make like ruining someone’s counter top, or staining their new hardwood floor by the toilet with an acid bowl cleaner. Call around your local insurance companies and ask for quotes, make sure to let them know you're shopping around and the best price is needed.

The second thing you're going to need when starting a cleaning business are clients. Start small and don't get discouraged, this is the hardest part of starting your cleaning company. A great way to set up your cleaning plan is to make a list of the cleaning chores you do around your own home and type the list up neatly so you can present it to your clients as an ala carte cleaning menu that they can choose cleaning tasks from. Everyone is different and every client will expect extra detail in some cleaning task or another depending on how clean they like their house. Advertising is easier than most people think. The easiest way to advertise is to network and tell others about your cleaning company endeavors. It usually always works out that some body knows someone who is looking for a part time cleaner for their own home. Another good way to advertise is to run a small local ad in a weekly shopper newspaper or have magnetic signs made for your car, this can cost as little as $75 and is well worth the investment. If you have a computer which you should if you’re reading this article you can also print up simple flyers and hand them out in a middle to upper class neighbor hood in your town (check with local ordinances on handing out flyers before you do this).

After you have gotten yourself one or two clients it’s time to set a price. Meet with your clients and present the list of cleaning tasks you are willing to perform. Get a good idea of how large the area is that you are cleaning and how well they want the cleaning task done. Come up with a fair price and write down their cleaning expectations for each cleaning task you are to perform. Some examples of cleaning tasks are cleaning windows, cleaning surface areas, vacuuming, sweeping and mopping, cleaning toilets, cleaning bathtubs and showers. Keep it simple to start because you can always add cleaning duties at a later date for an extra fee. Keep a record of their cleaning expectations so you can reference it if they question a duty you are performing.

After you’ve got your client and your list of cleaning tasks you'll need some basic cleaning supplies. When running your own small cleaning business keep you’re cleaning supplies down to the basics. You'll probably need a vacuum cleaner, surface cleaners, cleaning towels, a mop, mop bucket, window squeegees and bathroom cleaning chemicals and utensils. Don't buy more than you need and check your cleaning duties list to see if you really need it. When you first start out buy a run of the mill vacuum cleaner that’s not fancy and will get the job done. You don't need a commercial vacuum at this time because your watching your investment money and a two motor upright vacuum cleaner with all the bells and whistles is just overkill. If you're unsure of what to buy don't be afraid to ask. Most cleaning supplies companies and janitorial distributors are more than willing to steer you in the right direction and it's alright to let them know you're on a tight budget.

Once you've got your cleaning supplies and you've set up a schedule with your clients it's time to go to work. With your first cleaning account you'll want to do an extra good job. Word can spread fast if you do a good job and more accounts could come your way quickly. The same goes for if you do a bad job, word can spread quickly and you could be out of business before you know it. Be honest and always keep good communication channels open between you and your client. When it's time to bill your client don't get fancy, a bill written out on paper is as good as one that has been professionally typed. If you do a great job cleaning your work will speak for itself and who knows you might be able to even quit your day job and work half as much while being your own boss.

Opening your own business can be a real big gamble. If you do not do your research well, you will wind up like most small businesses, and that is out of business in less then 6 months.

The most important thing to remember when opening up new business is the location. When doing your research for your new business you want to make sure you are the only business of your time in the area. If you are opening a video store you do not want to open near another video store. Remember if you are exclusive to the area, you will automatically get the business of those living in that area.

The next most important thing about opening a small business is you supplier. Do not have just one place to get supplies from, you should have several. By having more then one you can assure yourself that you are getting the lowest prices from them. And if they know about each other they will try to outdo each other to get your business.

Make sure that the products or services that you will be offering are desired, do not just decide to open up a store with out doing any market research is like playing craps, dangerous unless you really know what you are doing.

Advertising is important. Remember just like a casino you are trying to make money and not lose it. By spending some money on advertising you will increase your sales from your opening day. It is best to have a professional help you with your advertising rather then dong it yourself, there is no point in spending money on advertising if no one in your target demographic is going to see it. An example of this would be like using facial expressions to bluff in a poker game against blind players.


When picking your stock it is sometime better to have a better selection of items and maybe not so many of each item, this way you can see which items sell best and order more of those more popular items, and less of the less desired ones.


In business you should not try to open a business unless you already have experience running a related business. You may think you know how to, but to do it correctly you really need experience, after all if you were in a casino and looking to play poker you would not want a roulette dealer who is trying to figure out the rules as he goes would you? Chances are you would want an experienced poker dealer.

Depending on the type of business you are opening try keep your staff as small as possible, and if it is possible try to get friends and family to help you out. This will allow you to keep your costs low until you can really get a good idea of if you are making money or not. Once you are making money you can go out and hire people.

Are you fed up with work? Maybe your boss is a grade-A pain in the behind. Well, don't fret about your current situation; it's time to look for an alternative route to income.

That company office cubicle isn't the only way to earn a living. These days there are opportunities opening up all the time. With the World-Wide-Web in full swing, many individuals are turning to the Internet in search of a money making business. Have you ever considered this new-age road of opportunity? If so many others are doing it, then why can't you? It's time to size up the options at hand. It's time to look beyond "the man" for other business ventures. That money making business of your dreams could be just around the corner.

What does it take to have a successful money making business? Well, this can be a rather in-depth issue. However, there are some basic factors when considering a personal business. First of all, can you afford to get it started? Second of all, do you really think it is a money making business? These things aren't too difficult to figure out. We can all see everyday what business ventures pan out and which ones do not. A lot of this is common sense. Will a coffee shop make money? Now, this should be a no-brainer. The entire planet has now witnessed infinite coffee shops flourish with success. If you are from Oregon or Washington, then you certainly know where I'm coming from. Five years ago I would have never thought that a rather small town could have a dozen coffee shops that do well. I was clearly wrong. I witnessed infinite coffee shops in Oregon turn a constant profit. The key is great coffee, and the right location. If you are pondering a money making business in your future, these are factors you should seriously consider. What product or service are you offering? Why should customers come to you instead of your competitors? And of course, location, location, location.

Is it time to upgrade your career and begin your own money making business? Maybe you're wanting to profit more and take fewer directions from others. This is completely feasible nowadays. It's prudent to use the Internet to your advantage. Exhaust this source as much as you need. It's a great vehicle to success. Everyday someone begins a new money making business with the Internet's assistance. Get online and do some brain storming.

4 key ways to be seen as helpful while cold calling

Most people sense that cold calls are self-serving to the person calling. You can almost hear the unspoken thought, "You want something, right? Otherwise why would you be calling?" This triggers almost immediate resistance.

For cold calling to be done in a non-intrusive way, we must shift the perception away from "you want something," into "you are being helpful." When our cold calls do not feel intrusive, people naturally are more open to talking with us.</p>

Shifting this perception in others is all about shifting a perspective within ourselves.

Focusing on being helpful takes us away from the traditional sales mindset. In the old mindset, we talk about ourselves and our product or service. In this new approach, we’re focusing on potential clients and what may be helpful to them.

To be perceived as helpful, we must actually be helpful. If we try to use "being seen as helpful" as just another sales technique, people will sense our hidden agenda and react with suspicion. Be sincere in your approach and desire to help the other person.

Here’s how to stop being intrusive and start being helpful:

1.

Make It About Them, Not About You

We’ve all learned that when we begin a conversation with a potential client, we should talk about ourselves, our product, and our solution.

But this self-focus almost always feels intrusive to the other person and shuts down the possibility of a genuine conversation.

Instead, step directly into their world. Open the conversation with a question rather than a sales pitch. For example, "I’m just giving you a call to see if your company is grappling with unpaid invoices issues?"

Never let the person feel that your focused on your own needs, goals, or agenda. Communicate that we’re calling with 100 percent of your thoughts and energy focused on their needs.

2.

Avoid the Artificial Salesperson Enthusiasm

People feel pushed along by artificial enthusiasm. This triggers rejection because it feels very intrusive to be pushed by someone they don’t know.

Artificial enthusiasm includes some expectation that our product or service is a great fit for them. Yet, we’ve never spoken with them before, much less had a full conversation with them. We can’t possibly know much about them or their needs.

And so to them, we are simply someone who wants to sell them something

It is better to modestly assume you know very little about them. Invite them to share with you some of their concerns and difficulties. And allow them to guide the conversation, even when it means getting "off track" a bit.

3.

Focus on One Compelling Problem to Solve

Don’t go into a pitch the way you would if you were operating out of the traditional sales mindset. Make what you say about them, not about you. Try to keep in mind that who you are and what you have to offer are irrelevant at this moment.

The key is to identify a problem that you believe the other person might have. Depending on your business or industry, here are some examples of what you might say:

I’m just calling if you’d be open to looking at any possible hidden gaps in your business that might be causing sales losses?

I’m just calling to see if you’re grappling with problems of employee performance related to a lack of training support?

I’m just calling to see if you’re open to looking at whether any department in your company might be losing revenue due to vendor overcharges?

Address one specific, concrete problem that you know most businesses experience. Don’t make any mention of you or any solutions you have to offer. Remember, it’s always about them, not about you.

4.

Consider "Where Should We Go From Here?"

Let’s say the initial call turns into a positive and friendly conversation. The other person feels you’re offering something valuable, and wants to know more. Both of you feel there may be a match.

Rather than focusing on making a sale at this point, you can simply say, "Well, where do you think we should go from here?"

This question reassures potential clients that you’re not using the conversation to fulfill your own hidden agenda.

Rather, your giving them space and time to come to their own conclusions. You’re helping them create their own path, and you will follow.

Keep pushing?

In this old traditional cold calling mindset, we keep pushing. We try to present more information until we "close" the sale. We try to bypass people’s objections and concerns because we’ve already decided for them that they should buy what we have to offer.

However, in the new cold calling mindset, we know that sales pressure is always a recipe for disaster. Instead, we respond to objections by first trying to understand whether they’re genuine concerns or resistance to sales pressure. Until we do this, we have no way of responding appropriately to someone’s objections. We especially have no way of tackling the underlying cause of resistance, which is a reaction to sales pressure.

Genuine concern is about the product or service. Resistance is about a person’s mindset.

The old cold calling approach doesn’t distinguish between "genuine concerns" about what you’re selling, versus "resistance" to how you’re selling it. Nevertheless, this is crucial. If a potential client is genuinely concerned with something about your product or service, then you address it thoughtfully and directly.</p>

However, if they’re resisting the process itself, then they’ve felt sales pressure in some way. Resistance is almost always a negative response to perceived sales pressure.</p>

We therefore need to consider how we’ve introduced that pressure, or how we can reassure them we’re only focused on helping them solve their problems.</p>

Different responses</p>

When potential clients raise objections about what you’re selling (pricing, delivery, quality, etc.), these are genuine concerns. They’re rooted in the client’s world. Therefore, you must take them seriously rather than overriding or ignoring them.</p>

When someone is resistant to the conversation itself, then you’re dealing with a reaction to sales pressure. This needs addressing, but in a different way. This is what I would call real "resistance," because clients are resisting the whole cold calling process.</p>

They think that you’re trying to ‘sell’ them.</p>

A tricky distinction</p>

What gets tricky is when people raise objections that sound like genuine concerns. But what they’re actually doing is resisting perceived sales pressure.</p>

On the surface, comments like these sound as if they’re about your product or service,</p>

don’t they?</p>
• Send me more information.</p>
• Sounds good. Let me think about it.</p>
• Your price is too high.</p>
• Great. Let me talk it over with my co-workers.</p>

They may actually be code words for "I’m feeling pressured by how you’re selling."</p>

Your potential client probably isn’t going to tell you the truth. After all, when was the last time someone said, "You know, I feel as if you’re really focused on getting the sale here and that’s making me feel pressured. It’s creating a slight tension in my stomach.</p>

Therefore, at this point, I don’t trust you."</p>

Fortunately, you can figure out whether potential clients are raising genuine concerns or covering up their discomfort. Just do these two simple things:</p>

1. Assume pressure is always present, even when you’re doing everything you can to create a pressure-free environment. People expect sales pressure, and we can’t always immediately diffuse that expectation 100%.</p>

2. Trust your intuition and instincts. Over time, you’ll learn to be able to tell whether potential clients are telling you the truth. You’ll start picking up signals that they’re feeling pressured, such as giving you short answers.</p>

As you learn to distinguish between genuine concerns and resistance, you’re likely to hear fewer and fewer "objections." You’ll stop triggering evasive responses or false concerns when you stay focused on what’s actually being communicated. You will also get far better reactions to your cold calling efforts.</p>

As you may know, I spend a great deal of time coaching and helping others build their virtual businesses. But the one thing that never ceases to amaze me is the lack of patience 80 into 0%. I don’t know - but I am going to give it a try.

The best way to begin training people is to relate a story to them they can identify with. So here goes . . . In 2003 a person (let’s call her Joan) paid me to set up an online web design business for her. I had experience in setting up the web design business named YouOnLine.Net back in 1998, plus I am on the internet 10-12 hours per day so I can keep up with new developments. Therefore, Joan knew I had the expertise to do the job right.

I spent a little over two months setting up Joan’s business. From securing the domain name and SSL certificate to programming the HTML for the shopping cart – I did it all. In fact, on the day Joan chose to open her business, it would be fully functional and making money. Joan was happy, I was happy and I went back home feeling good about a new business being birthed and born.

But three weeks later (without warning) Joan hired an attorney who sent me a letter demanding all her money be returned. What happened?

After going through weeks of litigation (where the Complaint was finally dropped) I discovered that Joan had in her mind that she was going to make at least $5,000.00 per month. But when she only made $1,200.00 within the first three weeks she freaked out and thought the business was not going to work.

But Joan knew deep down that she was to blame for this decision. How do I know? Because Joan never contacted me about the problem. If I had done something wrong, Joan would have called me in a hot New York second. Instead, she chose to take the “sheepish” way out, regardless of who she hurt in the process.

However, this is only one example out of thousands. Yes – many people I work with and coach rarely understand the process of developing, building and growing a company. For some reason many people starting their business for the first time have this misconceived notion they will immediately make $1,000s of dollars without lifting a finger. I even had a customer call me on the phone and say: “I bought your book but have not made any money.” I asked her if she read the book. She replied: “No. I didn’t know I was supposed to read it. I just thought I had to purchase it.”

Let me give you a little insider piece of wisdom: The infomercials are really giving true information. The only thing they don’t tell you is that in order to make that kind of money, you must invest time, dedication and long hours building your company.

Here is a true life example of something that personally happened to me: One day I wrote a 15-page Report and converted it to PDF format. I sent out an announcement to my newsletter list and in one day, I made $6,000.00. I was shocked and overjoyed at the same time. However, I have not had that happen again. So I could go on television and say with all truthfulness “I made $6,000.00 in one day.” But what I don’t tell you is that I had been in the web design business for over 3 years and it took me that long to build up a newsletter list of people who would buy my Report. Hopefully my story will help you to look at infomercials for the truth they are, and the truth they are not.

What a Business Really Is

A business is similar to birthing a child. You first decide to have a business, and then you decide what type of business to start. Then you spend time researching and reading everything you can find on the topic that relates to your business.

Next, you obtain training in the type of business you are going to start. You need to know your product or service before you can sell it. This means joining organizations, networking with others in your field and/or working for an employer in the field so you can understand the inner workings of the business.

Next, you purchase the right computer system and internet connection to run your business, give your business a name, secure a domain name and get your entire business set up before you open.

Finally, when you do open up your business it is very rare that you will make any money within the first 4-5 months. Of course this depends on the type of business you decide to open, and if you have a customer base in place to market your product or service to. If you do not have a customer base, it can take awhile before you make any money.

Joan’s Mistake

Where Joan made her mistake was in not understanding these simple rules. Although I provided Joan with URLs to organizations and other free information, she did not research them. Why? Because in all actuality, Joan was not looking for this type of business. She was simply looking for a way to make money.

Unfortunately, Joan had absolutely no idea of the gold mine she actually had. I had spent two months building her a functional business. Her first month brought in $1,200.00. That is amazing!! If you ask anyone who started a business how much they made their first month, even the best of them never made $1,200.00 the first month.

What Joan did not take into consideration was that her name was “unknown.” People today are smart. They don’t purchase from a company unless they trust them. Joan had spent no time building trust with her potential customers, yet she still made $1,200.00 her first month. I wondered what in the world Joan could be upset about. She should be celebrating. But Joan didn’t look at it that way.

Are You Like Joan? If you are, you need to identify with your shortcomings right now. Then if you choose to continue being like Joan, it will be your own fault when you do not succeed in business.

One Last Thought

If you decided to become an Elementary Teacher, you would think nothing about spending money to attend college to obtain the degrees you needed. You also would not get upset if you had to start at the bottom and work for a lower salary when you begin your teaching career. Right?

If you decided to become a Paralegal, you would think nothing about spending money to enroll in a class to get your paralegal certificate. You also would think nothing about beginning your career working at the bottom until you received more on-the-job training. Right?

So if most people have the willingness to invest money and time into a career they enjoy – why do most people believe starting a business is any different? Answer this: Who do you know on the planet earth who started a business from the ground-up (with less than $500) and had a thriving enterprise making $5,000 per month within the first three weeks? Realize the truth: it is impossible!

Prayer of Relief

I pray this article helps to open your eyes to the truth about starting a business and give you the encouragement you need to build your business into a successful enterprise.

Managers need to empower their staff to deliver what is expected. Oftentimes understanding people’s personal motivations is the key to turning around an unproductive employee, team or company. Never underestimate the power of sincere face-to-face dialogue as a stepping-stone to positive and consistent work performance.

WHAT TO SAY
Start your conversation by asking the under-performing person a question like "How do you feel you performed?" It is very important to understand where the person is coming from before highlighting their lack of success.

If the underperformer thinks that they are already doing a great job, then you know the person has clearly not understood the goals and what they were expected to accomplish, or they are totally out of sync with what is required.

If you ask them, "How do you think you did this year?" And they say, "I think I did very well." Reply with "Okay, if you think you did very well can you explain or just share with me your thoughts on what happened.” [Referring to a particular month or a particular project that didn't go well]

Listen objectively to the under-performers side of the story and do not make them wrong in any way. Simultaneously make a decision about whether their reasoning is legitimate or not. Then you can openly explain to them why you thought differently.

ADDRESSING PERSONAL CHALLENGES
When people are underperforming at work, there are often personal issues that may be coming in the way. Either they have a personal issue with you, another person in the organization, or with their team.

In some cases, they can actually be bringing an outside personal matter into the workplace. This is especially true for people that lack education, life experience, or an emotionally stable home. Often they are just finding life in general overwhelming and difficult to cope with. Unresolved personal issues can definitely come in the way of someone's performance.

The other thing from a manager's perspective is the motivation factor. It is wise to try to understand what your staff’s personal issues are. You want to understand so that when you do put demands on your staff you are mindful of what they can or cannot handle.

You can encourage your staff to forget their outside personal issues while they are at work and actually be able to get away from them by focusing on work. If they still can't let go, you need to sit down and try and help them to come to a decision as to how best tackle their personal challenges.

LISTEN WITH CARE
Many times people have an idea about how to deal with their issues but they have no one they can trust to talk with. If you make time to listen to your staff, it is virtually impossible for them not to do better simply because they really feel that they are working with someone who cares about them.

You can be very successful at turning around underperformers, underperforming departments and even companies by really taking the time to understand people’s personal motivations.

To accomplish this, create one-hour time slots for each staff/team member at least once a year to have a sincere conversation and invest the time in helping them to set their short and long term career goals. It’s a good idea to do the one-on-one sessions 6 months before their annual appraisal.

Q: I have a great idea for an amazing new product. There is nothing like it on the market and no competition that I can find. I think it will be a huge success and so does everyone I tell the idea to. I'm willing to bet the farm on this one. What do you think my chances of success are?

A: I'm a lousy poker player, mainly because I can't help grinning like the village idiot when blessed with a winning hand or frowning like a sad clown when dealt a dud.

I also never make odds on the success of "amazing new products" because more often than not the only thing that's amazing is the way the product is totally ignored by the buying public. In my software business there have been times when we came up with what we thought was an amazing idea for an amazing piece of software - a piece of software so amazing, in fact, that we knew that all mankind would sit up and take notice, then line up to write us checks.

After hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars spent developing the product we were amazed to find that the only people who thought the software was truly amazing was us.

We made mankind yawn. Quite an amazing accomplishment, if I do say so myself.

It worries me that you say there is nothing like your idea on the market. While you may think that is a good thing, it might actually mean that there is no market for your product. The same holds true for a lack of competition. A total lack of competition might mean that there is no demand for such a product.

Rarely does a product come along that revolutionizes an industry. Rarer still does a product create a new industry on its own. So, how can you tell if your amazing new product really is worth gambling on? The truth is, you can never be 100% certain that your idea will sell. No matter how enamored you are of it or how much your friends rave about it, the success of a new idea depends on a number of factors, many of which are beyond your control.

Such factors include:

· The viability of the idea: is this really a product that you could build a company around? Does the idea have the potential to generate revenue or customer loyalty? · The people implementing the idea: the right team can make even a mediocre product a huge success (ever heard of Windows). Inversely, a bad team couldn't sell ice water in Hades. Pick your team carefully. The right people really do make all the difference. · The demand for such a product in the marketplace: will this product fill a need or satisfy an itch? · The competition: is the market already crowded with competitors? If so, what will it take to move your product ahead of the pack? · The depth of your pockets: even an amazing product requires a ton of cash to go from drawing board to store shelf. · The availability of other resources required to take the product from the drawing board to the consumer: do you have the time, the drive, the perseverance, the knowledge, the contacts, the support, and a hundred other things required to bring your amazing idea to fruition? · The list wouldn't be complete without sheer luck and timing. · And a thousand other things.

Before you invest too much time and money into your idea, do a little research to determine if it's an idea that's really worth gambling on:

· Research the market for similar products. Again, if there are no similar products on the market that might mean there is no market for that product. If there truly is nothing exactly like your product, research similar products that fill a similar void in the consumer's life. Learn all you can about such products: pricing, market share, track record, etc. · Research the competition. As mentioned earlier, if there is no competition there may not be a market for a product like yours. If there is competition, research the competition fully (little guys and big guys) to help determine if you can realistically compete for market share. · Identify your target customer and ask them for an honest evaluation of the idea and its marketability. Avoid friends and family as they usually just tell you what you want to hear. If your target customer is a 35 year old female, pitch your idea to every 35 year old female you meet and gauge their response. Just don't break any stalking laws in the name of market research… :o).

The best advice I can give you when it comes to amazing new product ideas it's best to follow your head and not your heart. It's a lesson that took me years to learn. If I had a nickel for every amazing new product I've invested in I'd go play a few hands of poker.

It is not uncommon for a man to want to have a night out with the boys, maybe play a little poker. It is also not uncommon to have the plans of men thwarted by their wives.

To help with this problem I am telling you the secrets about how to have some harmless fun at home without the wife catching on.


The best way to get rid of the wife so you can have a little “Man Time” is the easiest but most expensive way to do it. For her birthday you get her and one of her friends a trip to a weekend spa place.

Your wife will think you the best hubby ever and will never suspect you are going to throw a poker game in her absence, and the best part of this plan is that when it is over your wife will be so grateful for what you have done she may be more inclined to allow you to go out with the boys more often.

The next way is a little complicated and will only give you 4 or 5 hours of time at best, but it is much less expensive then a trip for 2. It may seem a little childish and yes I also have seen it on TV but a scavenger hunt scam can work.

The trick to the scavenger hunt is that each spot has to mean something. An example would be the first place you ever went on a date as one of the places she needs to go.

The end of the game is the most important make the last stop a restaurant and make sure to be there before she does. A good idea is to try to think of something meaning full in the area of where you live so you do not have far to drive, this will leave you the maximum amount of time to lay poker with your pals.

I have to admit this is not the ideal way to play poker, but getting away with even an hour of poker without her knowing is more excitement than any regular poker game could ever be.

Now that you have a plan to get her out of the house you need to be ready to go. The most important part of this is a large plastic drop cloth. This is so that if anything spills it will be simple to clean up.

Make sure you are ready to go with the table and chairs and make sure they get put back exactly the same as when you took them. You may want to use a digital camera to make sure you remember exactly how everything was before the game, because I promise you that you wife does.

If you send your wife on the trip I do not recommend using a cleaning service right before she comes back. If the house is too clean she will know something funny is going on

The last two tips I have is to make sure that you have a really nice gift around at all times just incase she finds out, and the other is that if your wife and your friends wives are friends do not invite those friends, if one guy gets caught you will all get caught.

My first motorcycle was a 1957 Harley Davidson. When I found the bike for sale I had no money, but I knew I needed to have this motorcycle. So I came up with a way to raise the money and throw a great party at the same time. I threw a Poker Run. The concept of the game is easy. Each person tries to make the best 5 card poker hand.

The way it is played is, each bike has to ride along a planed rout, every few miles there are checkpoints at each checkpoint along the way each bike must stop and receive a card. Along the rout there are 7 checkpoints, and at the end the rider with the best 5 card poker hand wins the prize

Over the years the poker run has been adopted to lovers of many different hobbies.

The poker run was originally an event bikers played on their Harley's, but over the years it has been borrowed by boaters and even runners.

Throwing a poker run is fairly simple but takes time and some not to hard work. The first thing you need to do is get approval from the towns that your poker run will go thru. There may be some paperwork and fees.

You will also need to make sure that at the end of the run is at a park or event hall. Depending on where you live you may also need a permit for the park.

Next you will need riders. By figuring out how much you want to have for the prize money and how much the part after the poker ride will cost you can figure out how many riders you will need and how much the entrance fee will be, but it should be no more then $100 per bike.

The next thing you will need to do is register riders. The best way to do this is to make a website, go to biker bars and biker events in your area. If you live in New York don’t go to Daytona Bike week to sign up riders, most people will not travel that far for a poker run. Try to get locals.

After you have registered the riders you now have to plan for the party. Along with registering riders for your poker run you should also sell tickets so friends and family can join in the party after the ride is over and the poker winner is declared.

The best way to advertise the party is on a local radio station and with posters around town. The more people you can get the more money you will have for a prize and for whatever cause you are trying to raise money for.

You can either, buy your own food and get some friends to help cook or you can look in the phonebook for a caterer and you should be able to find a caterer who will throw you a great BBQ.

Then all you need to do is wait for the big day and enjoy all the bikes, poker, beef and beer.