Looking for a support group? How is it best done?  I want to start a business.
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Hi,\n\nBy far the best "support group" I have found was at the Business Owners Idea Cafe, they have so much information as well as the "cybershmooze" which is a forum of like minded people (small and home business owers and people that are aspiring) they have articles with tips, interviews with ideas and inspirations, forms for tax purposes etc. they are great. An dthe popel there are so wonderful, they will give you low cost marketing ideas, help you name your business (if you get brain freeze), give away ideas for prospective businesse and also try to help you avoid the mistakes they made during their own start up phases.\n\nGood Luck
464126
Sounds like a great organization.\n\nYou may need a lawyer to help your group become a nonprofit.
62964
I have a good idea to start marketing business.\n gvv61@sbcglobal.net
481037
It's a good idea to go talk to a counselor or therapist & keep searching for what you need.  I would try a support group as well.
634700
You've got two different issues here - your business & your business name. Let's tackle one at a time.\n\nRE: Healer/Therapist/Counseling\n\nThe best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.\n\nI recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.\n\nAssociations may be a good avenue to explore as well. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links. \n\nResearch, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:\n\n* Basic Counseling Techniques: A Beginning Therapist's Toolkit by C. Wayne Perry\n* Favorite Counseling and Therapy Homework Assignments: Leading Therapists Share Their Most Creative Strategies by Howard G. Rosenthal\n* Building Your Ideal Private Practice: A Guide for Therapists and Other Healing Professionals by Lynn Grodzki\n\nRE: Naming Your Business\n\nThe naming of your business could be one of the most important decisions you will make. A name's originality and legal availability will create a real asset value of its own, as it becomes marketed and gains market acceptance. \n\nThe name you choose will become the focal point of all the benefits and features that relate to your business. Customers will be able to find and refer others to it in the future. \n\nSince any names that are suggested here may already be owned by another party, I wanted to go a different route...\n\nI suggest either hiring a name creation firm or get together with your friends and/or family and throw a "name party" & have everyone bounce some ideas around. Compile a listing of names that you like the best. Once you have that list, do as much free research as you can before you delve into comprehensive research. \n\nI listed some links where you can do some preliminary name checking. However, please be aware that this is merely scratching the surface of what's out there. Only comprehensive research will tell you if the name is truly available. But, these links are free & a great place to start, so I'd try them out first. \n\nThere are other sites that offer free searching capabilities in conjunction with their commercial services, so I'm not able to post those links due to the Yahoo! TOS. You'll also want to check domain names & yellow pages, so simply do a search for "free domain name search" and "national yellowpages" and the appropriate links will pop up.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
139162
I have my own business.  I have started many business' before from a young age.  I started my current business as a finance coach about 2 years ago.  I do have schooling and background in what I do.  But, don't let that stop you if you don't.  \n\nFigure out what you want to do and if it excites you.  Then work toward what you need to make happen to have your business become a reality and go for it.  Don't listen to naysayers also known as dream stealer's.  Stay focused on your goals as long as they make you happy!  \n\nIf you have specific questions on doing this, email me.\n\nBest of luck.
106026
I am with Arbonne, and I LOVE it! Do you want to "sell" it, as in retail it or have home parties? Many people have succeeded quite well by giving parties, but my team has chosen not to do that method, because we have found that most people don't have time for them these days. Also, my team has become the fastest growing team in Arbonne's history, doing it this way! \n\nArbonne itself has some wonderful training tools, and my team can supplement what they have to offer, with our own calls, webcasts, etc.\n\nHave you been using the products, and have you already signed up with somebody? I will be more than happy to talk at length with you, if you'd like. Feel free to contact me at the site below!\n\nGood luck with whatever you decide. Arbonne is a wonderful option for anybody!  :-)
36152
Since you don't have experience in the field, a good place to start may be associations. I posted some links for you.\n\nCheck out the Small Business Administration web site -- they're a great resource for the small business owner. I listed a couple of other handy links as well.\n\nTry reading up on the subject -- check out Amazon, your local bookstore or library. \n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
668537
Good for you, thinking about starting your own business.  I do agree though look into it before you place your $$$ into it.  I don't live in your area so I don't know how things are there but here well I thought of it myself.  I am planning a wedding of my own for October and there was not one person or business that I thought treated me as a bride the way that I should be treated. And I was looking for the help. There is no place that can help with every arrangement.  Keep in mind if you do do this that you need to be able to cater to everyone and their budget.  Good luck to you!!
594109
as far as getting the money together I'm not sure how to help you, but there is a site i visit from time to time called walkers.org, it is a site for ppl that suffer from various mental disorders, its basically a bunch of ppl that have problems get together and talk about them and help each other through whatever they need. they have forums as well as a chat room, if you would like any more information about it feel free to msg me with any questions you might have, or if you would just like to talk.
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I know how you feel. I'm in the current process of setting up a website just based on this. So stay tuned.\n\nBasically go around forums asking people. But you will find that there will always be people happy with the service and others not. \n\nIt is hard to know whether or not these people are simply plugging their own company posing as neutral people or not. \n\nSo in the end, asking people at a conference perhaps may be the best way - as you can tell if they are straight out lying.\n\nAlso books can be good too: but I've seen some books recently that plug their own products too - without you knowing!
650232
Wow!  I like your idea!  So they can submit photos and stuff to you and you compile them eh? \nI think the best way to start is to create a portfolio of your work, so others can see what you do.  Perhaps family and friends would be a good place to start.  Once you have several projects completed, you can then present what you offer to other people with more confidence.  \nYou can get som much information online to help with marketing etc.  It depends on where you are from.  \nGood luck with your venture... it sounds great!!!
617956
Maybe you want to consider starting your own business.  When I lost my job a few years ago, I felt about like you did for about 1 day. After that, I made a decision that while searching for another job (which is Just Over Broke) I would search for something I could do to start my own business. \n\nDid you get what I said? I "made a decision" and then took action.\n\nIf you can't do this then don't expect things to get better any time soon. Should you consider your own business, you can get some ideas on this site.\n\nWhatever you decide to do (and you have to decide yourself) \ndo it with great passion and you will succeed.
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Go to CEDIA 's website, I think it is CEDIA.Org, they might have some help for you.  Second, go to your local builders, electricians, interior designers, architects, basically people in the building trades who deal with customers everyday that need your services.  Let them know you are available.  Lastly, join a local service organization, such as a home builders association.  That way you will network with others that can give you leads.  Do good honest work, charge a fair price, and your business will grow.
482969
The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.\n\nI recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.\n\nAssociations may be a good avenue to explore. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links. \n\nResearch, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:\n* Virtual Assistant, The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA by Diana Ennen, Kelly Poelker\n* Start Your Own Business Support Service (Entrepreneur Magazine's Start Up) by Entrepreneur Press\n* The 2-Second Commute: Join the Exploding Ranks of Freelance Virtual Assistants by Christine Durst\n* The Virtual Office Survival Handbook: What Telecommuters and Entrepreneurs Need to Succeed in Today's Nontraditional Workplace by Alice Bredin\n\n* 301 Do-It-Yourself Marketing Ideas: From America's Most Innovative Small Companies by Sam Decker\n* Off The Wall Marketing Ideas: Jumpstart Your Sales without Busting Your Budget by Nancy Michaels, Debbi J. Karpowicz\n* Guerrilla Marketing for Free: Dozens of No-Cost Tactics to Promote Your Business and Energize Your Profits by Jay Conrad Levinson\n* Entrepreneur Magazine's Ultimate Small Business Marketing Guide: Over 1500 Great Marketing Tricks That Will Drive Your Business Through the Roof by James Stephenson\n\nThere are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
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OK, do you really want to nock your brothers socks off?\n\nTry following some or all of this:\n\nAnytime you want to start any kind of business, there are several basics that you will need:\n\n* You should first sit down and think about what it is you want to do and then write out the scenario in detail!  This may sound tedious, but it will help you clarify what it is you are thinking about.  Also, when you talk to anyone about the business (mentor, bank, clients, prospective investor), you will have a clear vision to share with him or her.  You can check any number of books at your local library or the Internet for ideas on creating a business plan or goals list.\n\n* Is there anyone out there doing something like what you want to do already?  Can you research what it is that they do and maybe even talk with them about what they do?\n\n* Are there businesses out there that are doing some aspect that you want to do?  In this case, you want to create an online drop shipment business.  What websites have you seen that you like (can you talk with them)?  How does the local McDonalds or other retail outlet do business that might help you in yours (i.e. how is McDonalds able to provide a product to a customer on demand at almost anytime of day – and do it with a much of high school kids)?\n\n* Never listen to anyone who says that you CANNOT do something UNLESS they have been there and tried that!!!!!  Anyone can tell you the good things that you can try or do, however, only someone who has actually tried the specific thing your are thinking can truly give you advise on the pitfalls that could await the unsuspecting.\n\n* If you want to look for a mentor (free or paid – although mentors usually offer their time at no cost), the question that you should be ready to address is WIIFM (What In It For Me {the mentor})!  What are you willing to do for your mentor to help them with something that they may need (for me it’s simple – I am looking for 10 points :-)\n\n\nContacts:\n\n* Contact your local Better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce – they have business people who will help start up operations.\n\n* Contact your local high school, community college or university and find out whom the teachers are for courses related to your business (like business or computer/internet classes).  Contact these teachers to get some ideas or even to see if they will take you company startup on as a class project or special project for some of the student to work on (might give the students extra credit and you a free startup).  In the worst case, you might get the names of some good students whom you might hire to do certain aspects of what you need at a very low cost.\n\n* Contact you local, county or state governments (check their websites) – many areas have small business administrations (or some other agency that can help with various things) that have any number of references and resources available at little or no cost.\n\n* Go to your local library in the Reference Section and find the Encyclopedia of Associations.  It is a three-book set published by Gale Research.  The first book lists thousands of tiles of professional organizations and groups.  It will give a code number to use in the other two books to find out more about that organization.  Contact the organizations who have something to do with your idea and find out if they have a services to give you advise or local groups that you can network with.  In many cases, just asking for membership and publications information may give you a lot of useful stuff.\n\n\nOther outstanding sources that I have used in running my four businesses:\n\n* Nightingale-Conant – the largest producer of audio/video training programs in the world.  Many of their programs can be borrowed for free from local libraries.  http://www.nightingale.com\n\n* Entrepreneur Magazine (http://www.entrepreneurmag.com) – many great tips and ideas about running a company.\n\n* Rich Dad Poor Dad - http://
609965
Check out this site. Be sure to read the articles too. Good ideas and information. Starting your own business is better than others because this way you are in control. Hope this helps.