I want to open a consignment store and artists co-op in my town, but I'm not sure exactly how to go about the business end of it. I want to bring my friend into this as my business partner, but I don't really know what that means! Do we each come up with half the capital? Split the money we make? How do we divvy up responsibilities? Any info anyone has about business partnerships would be greatly appreciated!
210441
HI.  I think you're off to a great start so far!  You'd be surprised as to how many people don't ask themselves and each other those same questions before starting a partnership/business.  What you have to do is take those questions and form a business plan that answers all of them and any more you come up with along the way.  A business plan will help you decide how you will split money, costs, responsibilities, and so much more.  I often tell people who want to start their own business that a business plan is great to have, but the best part is in creating one.  During that creation process you and your partners will "forecast" your needs and expectations which will act as a valuable guide down the line.  This way, you have your plan in writing and there is less of a chance for a "he said/ she said" type of conflict typical of a business where everyone just jumped in without anyone knowing what belongs to who or who does what.  \nTo answer your question more directly, you and your friend decide how it all works.  You can go 50-50, for example.  Or you can go 25-75 too.  It all depends on how much risk you want to both share or not share for that matter.  Obviously, if you put in 75% of the money for everyday costs, I would expect you'd want 75% of the profits.  However, it doesn't always have to be that way.  You can put in 75% (for example) of the startup costs but decide to split the profits 50-50.  Another consideration is a "buy-out" clause.  Should one of you decide that you no longer want to be part of the business, the other should have the option to buy out his or her partner.  It's all up to you and your partner.  Just make sure to put it in writing (in a contract, formal or informal), signed by all parties involved, and a couple of witnesses.  Include your full names, the dates, and your business plan.  This will not only help keep track of everyone's job descriptions, but will protect you and your partner in the long run.    \nGood luck and I wish you success!
55790
Hit up the people you know that you pay money to every year.  For instance, your dentist, your doctor, your lawyer or financial advisor.  These people like your business and know that you pay them for their services.  If you hit them up for donations they're more likely to accomodate seeing as they'd like to help, it's a write off and they want to keep your business.  Same holds true with banks.  If you have an account in good standing at your local bank solicit their marketing department for supplies.  Donations of this type will sometimes fall under what's called the Community Reinvestment Act and is a requirement of banks to participate in.  Part of giving back to the communities that they do business within.  You'll need to furnish all these people with copies of your Federal tax ID so they can write off these donations.  Good luck!
143725
I MEAN I WANT TO OPEN A BUSINESS SOON AND I ALREADY HAD THE BUSINESS PLAN TOGETHER, I ALSO HAD THE APPLICATIONS AND MENU. I HAVE EVERYTHING BUT THE BUSINESS. I WAS LOOKING FOR A BUSINESS PARTNER BUT I STOPPED SO IF U ARE INTERESTED. LET ME KNOW...................
422492
Open a small store. Sign up with one of the major computer manufacturers as a dealer. Look online for distributors like Micro D and Arrow Electronics. Then the other real distributors will find you, don't worry. The thing is that you have to realize that you are opening a retail busness that sells computers and you have to think "retail". 2/3 of your business will be done in the last quarter. Business will start to die in January and slowly pick up as the year progresses. Do not run ads or have a lot of stock in January. Manufacturers will introduce new lines in August to take advantage of the buying season. They will try to get you to buy the old stuff. You will get stuck with old inventory.
224294
You need more information than we what we could provide you here. I suggest you read the following books:\n\n- How to Setup and Operate a Successful Nightclub \nby Robert Smith \n- Club Design by daab \n- Start Your Own Bar and Tavern (Entrepreneur Magazine's Start Ups) by Entrepreneur Press \nDeveloping Retail Entertainment Destinations \n- Entertainment Destinations: Cinemas/ Center/ Casinos/ Clubs/ Cruise \n- Successful Beverage Management \n- Upstart Guide Owning & Managing Bar or Tavern \n\nYou can start by reading the article "How to Start a Nightclub Business" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol141/nightclub.htm - the article has some information on startup requirements, key elements, marketing tips, startup costs and other information\n\nI suggest you start out by preparing a business plan to help you learn more about what you really want for your club, your market, your location, resources you need and to plan how you are going to market your business. Bplans.com has a sample business plan for free for a nightclub business:\nhttp://www.bplan.com/spv/3189/index.cfm?affiliate=sba\n\nAs for having a partner, it is important that you have a Buy-Sell Agreement. A buy-sell agreement is a binding contract between the partners that defines: 1) What events will trigger a buyout, 2) the price that is to be paid for the disassociating partner's interest in the business, and 3) who can buy the dis-associating partner's interest (e.g. outsiders vs. other partners in the business). \n\nIn the absence of a buy-sell agreement, state laws regarding partnerships will apply--and this could have a negative outcome for you. The departure of a partner, for example, might result in an automatic dissolution of the partnership and forced distribution of assets and profits. If a partner dies, becomes incapacitated or gets divorced, you might unwillingly inherit the partner's spouse (or ex-spouse) as your new partner in the business. Likewise, if a partner decides to sell his interest to an outsider, you could end up having to share your business with a stranger.
121976
It's great that you are doing someting that you love to do.\n\nYou have you staff in place , do you have an accountant, laywer, mentors and any other person you need to move you farward.\n\nDo you have a marketing plan?\n\nDo you have a system for the shop from taking out the trash to customer service and any other routines?\n\nWhat results do you want are you after in opening the store? What goals do you want to achieve?\n\nYour well on your way and I am sending blessing to your success.
282060
The very first step is to contact others who have started a business and ask them questions about everything you can think of.\n\nAnd the second step is just as important: find backers! Without capital, you're just some dude with a good idea.\n\nContrary to popular belief, drafting a "business plan" doesn't have to come first. In fact, one of the things you most need to ask those you interview is "Do I need a business plan?"\n\nIf you find you will need a business plan, there are a number of excellent sites that will explain how to go about developing one, including: http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/planning/basic.html \n\nI strongly recommend that you draft one, if for no other reason than to see exactly what will be involved in starting your business.\n\nIf all of this is a bit daunting, you might consider partnering with an existing business at first, then consider starting a separate business later. Just make 100% sure that you have a legal document that protects your ideas before you disclose details about them to anyone!\n\nGood luck!
389497
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://
466890
Have you checked with a bank or the Small Business Administration in your state?  If not, I would begin there.  They may be able to tell you where to go (ha, ha).\n\nI hate to be a pessimist but don't forget that over 80% or more of new businesses fail.  Given the economy right now I would reconsider unless you have a product which people need as opposed to a business where people can get along without your product or services.\n\nI worked with a guy who left his job that he had for almost 15  yrs & withdrew the money in his retirement account to start up his business.  Within 2 years he had to close up his store & he returned to the employer he worked for previously.  Not only did he lose the security of having a retirement account but he was also in debt & had to refinance his mortgage.  Unfortunately there are too many more like him.\n\nIf you decide to go forward with your plans, I wish you the best of luck in your venture.
426992
This is the way to go.  tell the shop owners u will put ur cards in their shelves.  they dont have to pay u upfront just yet.  u colect after a week.. bec u r a new business owner, u want to check on how ur cards are doing in each of the shops u placed them.  so u will know where exactly they sell best.  so its good to make a weekly store visit to the shops selling ur cards.\n\nwhen u make that weekly visit, thats when u collect.  based on inventory.  u gave shop owner 10 cards, u come back and there are 3 left, then that means 7 were sold.  thats what he/she pay u.  the rest stays in the shelf, u add new cards in... \n\nmust work....  bec shop owners dont want to run the risk of buying ur cards for added inventory.  so as a starter, u shoulder the risk urself.
517404
Most important thing is dont give up. More competition the better. What you must try to do is make some difference from what you were and what is available in the other shop.\nFirst go through your sales history and examine what is in demand mostly,  ex. 1. what type of items 2. the quality etc. \nMay be books or candles are more in demand. See whether you can sneak a peek into the other shop. I'm sure that other person started his business after giving a careful consideration to you who has been in business for 18 years. \nDepending on your finances see whether you can change the stuff you have been selling, 'cos your stuff might be a little outdated. We cannot say from here 'cos it depends on what you have been selling. You can even put a small sale and get rid of the old stuff for a cheap price. that could attract more customers , but not for long. \nTry to change the look too. As someone else has said you can put lanterna and candles to make the place attractive. Also go out of the town to a posh big gift shop and see what they have done. You dont have to copy or I'm not saying you should, but that will give you an idea as to what the trend is. You might not even be able to do everything they have done too. \nMy experiance with gift shops is that they must change with the seasons of the year as well as retaining some for someone who wants to buy something such as a b'day gift etc. Also if a person can get something inexpensive but looks good and of good quality the better. So dont give up. Do a bit of research as to the needs of your community. \nGood luck!
644264
You need to combine your business plans.  What if he wants to take the business direction east and you want west?  You need to get on the same page.\n\nThere has to be one central theme and you both need to be rowing in the same direction.  You can have different talents and do different things withing the origanization, but the direction and plan needs to be in sync.
322491
As stated above, your location has a lot to do with the business you choose. If you are near a Large Latin community, I would focus on opening a store that is missing in that community. By us there are clothing shops and travel etc. If you want to combine that with cheap start-up cost, do a Latin consignment shop, or EBay seller. Take advantage of your Heritage right now. Good Luck!
497858
A lot of people dream of owning their own clothing store. My recommendation is always to start by researching on the business and learning everything about it -- before starting. Clothing stores, especially, require lots of capital to start so you cannot afford to make a lot of mistakes\n\nHere are some articles that provide information on how to start a clothing store:\n\nHow to Start a Clothing Store http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,287057,00.html\nStarting a Specialized Clothing Retailing Business http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol89/specialized.htm\nStarting a Retail Clothing Store http://www.cbsc.org/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1102419629706&pagename=CBSC_SK%2Fdisplay&lang=en&c=GuideHowto\n\nOne of the first steps is to prepare a business plan. Especially if you are planning on applying for loans, the process of business planning can help you think through your business. It can help you decide on the type of store, determine the costs involved, how to get suppliers to sell to you, how to market the store, expected profitability, etc.\n\nHere are sample business plans for a clothing store that you can check out: \n\nRetail Clothing http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/business-plans/Business-Plans-Volume-01/Retail-Clothing.html\nMen's Clothing Retailer http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/business-plans/Business-Plans-Volume-04/Men-s-Clothing-Retailer.html\nSpecial Needs Clothing Store http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/business-plans/Business-Plans-Volume-07/Special-Needs-Clothing-Store.html\n\nFor detailed information, I suggest you check out the following books: \n\nStart Your Own Clothing Store (Entrepreneur Magazine's Start Up) (Paperback) by Entrepreneur Press \nRetail Business Kit for Dummies by Rick Segel \nSpecialty Shop Retailing: How to Run Your Own Store Revised by Carol L. Schroeder \n\nYou may also want to check out the resources of the following associations: \n\nProfessional Apparel Association http://www.proapparel.com/ \nAmerican Apparel Producer’s Network http://www.usawear.org/ \nWorldwide Responsible Apparel Manufacture http://www.wrapapparel.org/\nAmerican Apparel and Footwear Association http://www.americanapparel.org/\nNational Association of Fashion and Accessory Designers http://www.nafad.com/ \nFashion Group International http://www.fgi.org/ \nApparel News http://www.apparelnews.net/ \n\nAs for grants, unfortunately, if you are in the US, the government hardly gives any grants for starting a for-profit business. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for a for-profit business. \n\nNonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov - these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture.\n\nEven if you buy books on "how to get grants" or list that supposedly has information on grants -- all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently. But still the info is the same - hardly any grants for starting a for profit business.\n\nEven SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html\n\n"The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments."\n\nHere is a listing of federal grants for small businesses. See if there is any available for individuals
162026
Well go to ur closest place that you want to advestise at and ask them where you can do a commercail for them. i have an i'm on lots of commercail and now i am writing my single  for my new record.
471541
The question is confusing as to the status of the business.  Are you entering into a partnership with this friend or with his company?  Or will you both be working for his company in which case the relationship is not strictly a partnership.\n\nOnce you clarify that there are two aspects to the CIS scheme.\n\nFirst the work you charge for (your turnover).  If all the work you do is for the final customer, such as a householder, then registration is not required.  But if you will work for a contractor (who then charges the customer)  then you, the partnership or the company will need to register as a subcontractor otherwise the contractor will not be able to pay you.\n\nSecondly, will you act as a contractor?  I mean will you take on any self-employed workers?  If so, you will need to register as a contractor and deduct tax from the subbies where necessary.
263146
What are asking for? Your question doesn't make sense. Do you want to know how to start a business? Or how to store something?