Opening A Dollar Store - Rewards of Business Ownership
April 30, 2010 by Kenny Santos
Filed under Business/Network Marketing
There are many potential rewards associated with opening a dollar store. However, with those rewards come many risks as well. It is important that the entrepreneur who is opening a dollar store carefully determine what those rewards are in their case and then compare the rewards to the many risks that will also be faced.
So what are some of the rewards associated with opening a dollar store? The rewards can include the potential for monetary profits. There is also the freedom associated with working for yourself, and the pride associated with owning your own business. Among the biggest rewards for many is getting rid of the 9-to-5 J-O-B and the boss that comes with that J-O-B.
All of these rewards and more are attainable if you are opening a dollar store. Well run dollar stores can be profitable. Owning and operating your own business does offer a degree of independence. You can definitely determine what you do and when you will do it. (However, never lose sight of the fact that mistakes can affect business performance.) There is nothing to compare to the pride as you stand in your finished and ready to open for the first time store. Say goodbye to your boss; you are now your own boss.
All of these rewards are well worth seeking. They are all very achievable when opening a dollar store. However never allow those rewards to blind you to the risks associated with business ownership. Recognize the rewards. Recognize the risks. Together they define your potential business success. It is absolutely no fun to see a business fail because the risks existed, yet they were not recognized or properly addressed because of the potential rewards.
To Your Dollar Store Success!
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Do you want to own your own Dollar Store? Visit http://www.openingadollarstore.com for more information. |
Real Estate Investing - Avoiding The ‘Frequently Made Mistakes’
April 29, 2010 by Kenny Santos
Filed under Real Estate Investing
Real estate investing has been the American dream. However, it’s not for the faint-hearted, many have lost money because they made mistakes. It’s a risky business so you need to know the ‘how to’s or you could join the ones who lost money rather than made it.
You know what some real-estate gurus tell you - Real estate investing is easy! It’s as simple as finding a low-priced property, getting it painted, plant some greenery, and wait for buyers to fight for it - so they say. They entice you into real estate investing by telling you it’s possible without even putting in a dollar.
A common scenario is someone who invests over a couple of thousand dollars for one of these Real estate investing seminars with some hot-shot investing guru. Excited about the prospect of making enough money to retire on, they become convinced that real estate investing is their answer. Only a year or so later, and they’ve realized that investing isn’t a quick fix, and it takes more than a seminar to be successful.
There are many pitfalls that new investors can make which we can only cover a few of - but at least it’s a start. Here are three of the main ones.
If you go into real estate investing emotionally, and not as a business venture, you’ll definitely lose out. What does this mean? Well, say you find a property that you immediately fall in love with. It’s so cute, it’s got a pretty garden, it’s got character etc. You will be making an emotional buy and not an objective one that should be considering the suitability of price, for tenants, and even resell prospects.
The less knowledge you have about real estate investment, the more risk you’ll be taking. Investing blind means buying real estate as if your eyes are shut - such as blinding believing all you’re told at real estate seminars or agents. You must do your research; read and read and then read some more on the subject; ask others who have been successful and learn from them. Just a little lack of knowledge could mean that you end up with a bad buy.
Many real estate investors have fallen due to lack of cash flow. This is the key phase for survival in the investing business. Not having cash reserves makes your position very risky and shaky. Sure you can use your credit but credit needs repayment. And that investment property will have hidden costs. The more pressure you’re under the easier it is to make silly mistakes. Make sure you allow for sufficient cash flow.
Research is only as good as knowing what to look for. An example; say you were investing using the ‘fix and flip’ technique which means re-selling quickly for a profit.
Say you buy a property that looks like it fits all the requirements. You spend a little bit of time researching and checking zoning requirements. All seems good and you spend money and time doing it up. Only to find out that you hadn’t checked requirements carefully enough and you’ve created an apartment block with too many apartments for the zoning area. Guess who’s going to be out of money? Do your reading for knowledge and your research for reducing risk.
So, you’re ready for your property to be tenanted. Don’t rush in and accept the first people who apply. It’s very gratifying to know that someone wants to live in your newly acquired property, and the cash would definitely come in handy with bank bills to pay. But it is well known by long-term real estate investors that bad tenants cost a lot more than a couple of weeks waiting for the right ones to come along. Screen your tenants - choose carefully. Getting references is a good start.
Summary:
To succeed in real estate investing you need to read for knowledge and research to reduce risk. Then you won’t get sucked-in by real estate investment gurus offering you the world for nothing.
About the Author
Brooke Hayles
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Virtual Business Ownership - - Marketing The Best You
April 26, 2010 by Kenny Santos
Filed under Business/Network Marketing
When you think of the word “marketing”, most people automatically associate the term with a business, however, in this article it will be associated with you, the virtual business owner.
Now picture this, Zipgirl is attending a network gathering and someone walks up to her and says “Hi there, my name is ABC and I represent XYZ company” Zipgirl responds, pleased to meet you, my name is Zipgirl and I work from home. Well, ABC simply nodded and walked away. Would you have done the same as ABC? Did Zipgirl say enough to attract your attention or enough to make you want to stay and listen? I think we both agree in a resounding NO.
To often times when we are asked who we are and what we do, we short change ourselves by not marketing the best in ourselves. How can I do it better you ask? Below are some questions that will help you to identify your marketing strengths as well as your challenges:
- Can you describe your personality in just five words?
- Are you totally committed as well as passionate about what you do?
- Are you always optimistic about what you do in spite of the challenges you face?
- Are you happy doing what you do?
- What’s unique about your service or product?
- What type of energy do you release when you talk about your business? Do you leave people fascinated and wanting to learn more or bored and uninterested?
- When out promoting your business, what does your outward appearance say about you? Do you walk with your head down? Do stay cooped in the corner of the room or are you out in the crowd taking charge, meeting people with a smile, standing tall and bringing out the best in those you meet?
Next, I’ll share with you some tips on how to market the best in you:
- Always present a pleasant smile, whether on the telephone, in person, in email or even in a fax (SMILE)
- Do what you love (you’ll be more fulfilled)
- Dont try to be the jack-of-all-trades (you do everything and anything) rather, specialize (promote the one thing or area you do best)
- Be unique (original)
- Always be professional
- Always be yourself
- Always express a sense of passion in what it is you do
- Always explore ways to enhance yourself (personally, professionally, and/or spiritually)
As you can see, marketing the best you is more than just selling or promoting your business and it’s products or services. As a business owner, you are in most cases the business (when people meet you, they are immediately exposed to the quality of your service or product). In the virtual world however, people won’t necessarily meet you face-to-face but they too are exposed to the quality of your service or product. How? Through your website, telephone conversation, and/or via email responses.
In closing, remember this, first impressions are everlasting, so when given the opportunity always remember to market the best in You…
To learn more about the Virtual Business Owners Initiative go to: www.vsscyberoffice.com.
Now picture this, Zipgirl is attending a network gathering and someone walks up to her and says “Hi there, my name is ABC and I represent XYZ company” Zipgirl responds, pleased to meet you, my name is Zipgirl and I work from home. Well, ABC simply nodded and walked away. Would you have done the same as ABC? Did Zipgirl say enough to attract your attention or enough to make you want to stay and listen? I think we both agree in a resounding NO.
To often times when we are asked who we are and what we do, we short change ourselves by not marketing the best in ourselves. How can I do it better you ask? Below are some questions that will help you to identify your marketing strengths as well as your challenges:
- Can you describe your personality in just five words?
- Are you totally committed as well as passionate about what you do?
- Are you always optimistic about what you do in spite of the challenges you face?
- Are you happy doing what you do?
- What’s unique about your service or product?
- What type of energy do you release when you talk about your business? Do you leave people fascinated and wanting to learn more or bored and uninterested?
- When out promoting your business, what does your outward appearance say about you? Do you walk with your head down? Do stay cooped in the corner of the room or are you out in the crowd taking charge, meeting people with a smile, standing tall and bringing out the best in those you meet?
Next, I’ll share with you some tips on how to market the best in you:
- Always present a pleasant smile, whether on the telephone, in person, in email or even in a fax (SMILE)
- Do what you love (you’ll be more fulfilled)
- Dont try to be the jack-of-all-trades (you do everything and anything) rather, specialize (promote the one thing or area you do best)
- Be unique (original)
- Always be professional
- Always be yourself
- Always express a sense of passion in what it is you do
- Always explore ways to enhance yourself (personally, professionally, and/or spiritually)
As you can see, marketing the best you is more than just selling or promoting your business and it’s products or services. As a business owner, you are in most cases the business (when people meet you, they are immediately exposed to the quality of your service or product). In the virtual world however, people won’t necessarily meet you face-to-face but they too are exposed to the quality of your service or product. How? Through your website, telephone conversation, and/or via email responses.
In closing, remember this, first impressions are everlasting, so when given the opportunity always remember to market the best in You…
To learn more about the Virtual Business Owners Initiative go to: www.vsscyberoffice.com.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
What Is Pre-construction Real Estate Investing?
April 26, 2010 by Kenny Santos
Filed under Real Estate Investing
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Investing in pre-construction real estate is one of the most profitable investing opportunities available in the market today. Even though it?s a fairly old strategy, very few investors have a good understanding of it. Preconstruction real estate investing can be best explained with an example: A developer is planning to build a 100 unit condominium development in a very popular location. The developer has already worked out the numbers and thinks that the project will make a handsome profit. Since he doesn?t have the required amount of capital to complete a project of such magnitude, he approaches banks to request financing. But before banks lend out millions of dollars to the developer, they want to know that the project has the potential to sell after completion. Since there is no way to know the future and banks like to reduce risk as much as possible, they require the developer to pre-sell a certain number of the units (usually 25%-50%) before they will lend money. In this example a bank agrees to finance the developer if 40% of the units are sold before construction begins. There are very few home buyers who are going to commit to buying something without actually seeing it with their naked eyes. So the developer has no choice but to approach real estate investors who understand the risk and reward of such ventures. In order to reward these investors for their risk, the developer gives them a 10% discount off the appraised value (after construction value) of the condos if they sign a purchase agreement (contract). This creates a win-win situation where the developer is able to secure financing and the investors are able to get built-in equity by getting the property below appraised value. The investors who buy these condos before the construction is completed are called pre-construction investors, and this investment strategy is called preconstruction investing. In this example it was a development from the ground up, but the term ?pre-construction investing? can be used for any purchase made before the actual completion of a real estate development. The development may be from ground up or just a renovation project i.e. A condo conversion project where preconstruction investors buy before the renovation is complete is also an example of pre construction investing. In general, pre construction pricing is 5% - 15% lower than the market value of the finished property. Sometimes the developer may offer other financial incentives instead of a price discount. Some examples include cash back after closing, closing cost credit, free upgrades, rental guarantee or lease back, paid property taxes, waive assessments waived, management fees waived, etc. However, in most cases the developer will offer a combination of a price discount and other financial incentives in order make the deal sweeter for preconstruction investors. After the construction or renovation is complete, pre construction investors? have two options to exit. Either they sell their property and make a quick profit, or they can hold the property as a long term investment and build equity. Sometimes investors can also profit by assigning the contract to a fellow investor for a small profit even before assuming title to the property. Below is summary of the process of preconstruction investing: The pre construction investor buys a house, condo or townhouse from a reputed developer in the preconstruction phase at a price discount and/or other financial incentives. The pre-construction investor waits for the construction or renovations to be completed. After completion of the construction or renovation, the preconstruction investor sells the property immediately for a profit. Or the pre construction investor holds the property to build additional equity due to appreciation and by paying off principal using the rental income. In some cases, exit by assignments is also possible.
Article Tags: investors, preconstruction, property
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