Category Archives: Business Opportunity

How to Start a Coffee Shop Business

You too can own and run a coffee business if only you can read and absorb the following positive information on how to start a coffee shop business.

1 HAVE A BUSINESS PLAN

develop a business plan that can help you run the business effectively. Include also your market strategy and those this that will make you coffee shop unique and different from every other coffee shop in the area. Though it sounds easier than it is but like in any other business, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

2 CHOOSE YOUR LOCATION WISELY

many entrepreneurs overlook the issue of business location. Bear it in mind that you cannot make a bad location a good one. Carry out your location research based on many factors like demographics. A good idea would be to find out if there are other coffee shops around the area you want to site your coffee shop. Try to find out how they run their business and how their business is going.

3 YOU MUST HAVE ENOUGH CAPITAL

before you start, you must have enough money to cover your coffee shop expenses for the first two to four months. You must be able to pay the costs for your goods and services and also for your employees. As a beginner, don’t wait for your profit to produce the money to cover your expenses. Instead calculate the costs of starting the business and gather the required amount of money before opening. insufficient fund to cover expenses is the #1 reason why most coffee shop businesses fail on the first year.

4 BE CONSCIOUS OF QUALITY

the quality of the goods and services you present matters a lot.. do not choose a product because it is cheap. Low quality will always tell bad about you. You should not start your business with cheap products otherwise people will think you got nothing new to offer. Instead you must be different from the rest of the coffee shops in your area.

5 BE CONSISTENT

if you want your goods and services to have a great quality, you must check your staff often to ensure they know your orders and they follow them accurately. This is because;if your employees work well, it reflects to the entire coffee shop. create a friendly relationship with your suppliers and ensure you are getting the best products.

As you can see, it is all about making it work for you. The goal is to ensure you start a successful coffee shop business that will fetch you good money and fulfill your dreams. good luck.

How to Start a Property Management Company

Are you interested in starting a property management company? Do you have passion for real estate investing but you don’t have the massive investment capital to venture into real estate development? Then this article is for you.

If you appreciate being your own director and have an interest for real estate but you do not have enough money to develop a property or buy it, then you should consider opening a property management business. Now property management is a very lucrative business that was fueled by a need to acquire or develop properties without having to deal with the day-to-day running and maintenance of the properties. As a property management firm or manager, your core task is to oversee a property, maintain it, increase its value and cash flow over time and make returns to the client or owner.

How to Start a Property Management Company

  • Get the basic knowledge

Before ever you venture into any business, it is considered wise and advisable to first understudy such business and its industry as a whole. Don’t jump into any business blindly or on false assumptions. This rule is applicable to any industry including the real estate industry. To gain the needed knowledge, you can enroll for a property management course, or serve as an intern in a property management firms. The most important thing here is to get the knowledge.

1.  Apply for a business license

To become a property manager or start a company, you need to apply and get a proper business license. There are so many types of business licenses but getting the appropriate one is very important. You can do this by contacting your local government agencies. They will instruct you on the aspect of license you will be needing to start the property management business in your state.

2.   Advertise your business

You can accomplish this by buying ads in local newspapers, billboards, telephone books and even on radios and televisions etc. You can as well build a website for your business and advertise it on the internet.

3.  Search for clients

Landlords and real estate investors can be found in large numbers at local real estate investment clubs. Join as many clubs as you can, be aggressive in networking, because this base is your bread and butter.

4.  Recruit local property owners as your clients

Showcase to them that you are capable and willing to manage their properties and become the middle man between them and the prospective tenants. Discuss all pros and cons with the prospective client. Be kind and professionally inclined. A prospective client will not want a person who is inconsistent or flaky.

5. Be fair and transparent

Provide a fair and clear contract with your clients that is fully detailed of what is expected of you and them. Once a good contract is in order, then there will be no room for turmoil and misunderstanding.

To be a good property manager, you must always strive to minimize risk (such as risk of damage to rental units and litigation) and endeavor to maximize your clients’ profits ( by slashing maintenance/repair costs and vacancy rates). You can achieve all this by offering incentives to the tenants under your management. You can start this by rendering simple offers such as low rent for tenants who will agree to longer-term their lease agreements.

Also note that it is bad for you as a property manager to be both proactive and reactive when dealing with your tenants, because some more issues can be wiped up easily if it is addressed immediately, but when you leave it to fester, they can result in lawsuits, payment defaults and damaged rental properties.

Finally, you will need several contractors on call to carryout maintenance and repairs. These should start from inexpensive handymen up to fully licensed contractors to handle the more intricate repairs.

In conclusion, the above information will surely guide you to venture into property management business. Judiciously follow these steps and I bet you will find it interesting because being a property manager is really profitable.

30 Fast Selling Products or Services You Can Sell this Rainy Season

The rainy season is fast approaching especially in countries in the tropical rain forest. What fast selling products and services a smart entrepreneur sell to make money this rainy season? How do i capitalize on the challenges of the rainy season to create a business opportunity? Well, i advice you read on.

Now that Nigeria and some other parts of the world are experiencing heavy rain fall, it is no longer a new thing that many things would be disturbed as a result the rain. Free flow of human and vehicular traffic will be hampered because of the flood that follows the rain and most businesses will run at a low ebb because of the restricted movement of customers.

Despite all this, some business minded people will often see this period as an opportunity to make cool money. Even in the midst of the corresponding chaos and traffic jam that follows after each heavy downpour, there are some products that will be needed more during the rain. Without wasting your time, below are a list of businesses which you can venture into during rainy season.

30 Fast Selling Products or Businesses You Can Start this Rainy Season

1.  Start a mobile food vending business. During the rainy season, there will be restricted movement of people. You can take the food to them in their offices or shops with your cart or truck.

2.   Start selling umbrellas. Umbrellas are needed by everyone; men, women, kids, employees, i mean everyone.

3.  Start selling raincoats. Both adults and children will be your customers. Even bike riders and those who work out doors will need them.

4.  Sell Rubber Boots.This will be worn during raining season as a protection for the leg and foot while navigating through flooded areas on foot..

5.  Start a coffee vending business by selling coffee with a cart. The weather is extremely cold and hard especially when it rains hard. Who wouldn’t need a cup of hot coffee.

6.   Start a private pick up service. If you have a car or tricycle, you can start picking up people who are stranded in the rain.

7.     Start selling tarpaulins. People can buy and use it to cover their wares or goods to protect it from the rain.

8.     Cold weather Apparels and Accessories

Start up a cold-weather apparel store or boutique and sell items such as sweaters, socks, gloves, shower caps, etc . You can purchase products in large quantities and sell to retail fashion shops and corporate offices. You as well hire sales canvassers or representatives and pay them on a commission basis.

9.    Lawn care business

The raining season is a great time to start a lawn care business. Many large companies and individuals seek for services of lawn care maintainers to assist them take care and beautify their environments.  You can advertise your services in local newspapers, or write an introductory letter to the ministry of environment either to local or state level.

10.    Roadside snacks

In the raining season, snacks and foods like roasted corn, barbeque, cooked groundnuts and cooked corn are always in demand because people are definitely going to be stuck in traffic for long hours. Drivers, passersby and pedestrians would always want to buy hot snacks to heat up their bodies system and quell their hunger. Your marketing should be targeted in densely populated areas of streets with big pot holes that could delay traffic.

11.    Make and Sell Mosquito Nets. Mosquito nets are easy to make and simple to use. They eliminate the requirement for repeated use of dangerous and harmful chemicals.

12.  Start a Tea Cafe business

Tea cafe business is not saturated. If you decide to start this business, the innovations you are required to make in the business is to simply make your tea joint to look neat and attractive. You can as well entertain them with music.

13.  Catch and sell snail Meat

Snail meat has been seen as a safe and nutritious delicacy. If you can  place a blanched piece of romaine lettuce, cucumber or zucchini into a tank, you will see that in no small time, snails will gather around it. You have to be the patient type because it will be hard to catch a whole bunch of them.

14.    Start a Pest control business

A pest control home based business can fetch you income especially during the rainy season because most pest holes will be flooded; hence their migration to human homes and houses. There are many types of pest control services. There are also many approaches now being used to control pests, such as organic-based spray and chemical-based spray.

15.  Yam planting and sales

Turning yam into exportable goods/product is highly a considerable and a remarkable achievement in Nigeria. You can as well do that during raining season.

30 Fast Selling Products or Businesses You Can Start this Rainy Season

16.  Maize cultivation and processing

You can capitalize on the current high demand for staple foods by investing in the cultivation and processing of corn and maize. Maize is commonly grown in the middle and southern part of the country where heavy rainfall allows two corn crop seasons each year.

17.  Start a Gutter cleaning services business

Many gutters will definitely get blocked during the rainy period, thus preventing the free flow of water. You can start making money by offering the service of gutter cleaning.

18. Water Pumping Machine Rental business

Many houses and homes will get flooded during the rainy period. This will create a business opportunity for you to own a water pumping machine and hire out to these homes that need to clear their flooded area and send the waters to the gutters.

19.  Design Customized Rain Coats.

You can start the business of designing rain coats  in different kinds, sizes and  to meet the demand of different customers. You can also choose to sell to individuals or to corporate organizations. You can also recruit sales canvassers who can assist you get it to the markets especially during raining time.

20.  You can start a car wash business

Many cars will be dirty during rainy season because of much splashes of mud by other vehicles. You will make cool money in the rainy period with this business.

21.  Repair pot-holes.

You can start up a mini road construction business repairing pot holes. Many pot holes will continue to increase in size during the rainy period. Some products will make pot hole repair easier and simple than others. Asphalt is an example of such.

22.   Own a warehouse.

Many retailers have been keeping their goods in shops before but during the rainy period, many of them will be forced to take their goods to warehouses in order to protect it from unexpected rainfall.  But before you do that, you should first of all consider the number of competitors you will have.

23.  Produce shower Caps for Ladies.

You can start this business with low capital. Buy some yards of plastic materials which are clear, opaque or semi-transparent and have pretty designs on them. Measure the distance within the head where the shower cap is expected to elapse. After that you can produce and sale to make your cash.

24.  Establish an NGO for Relief Services and Climate change disaster.

This NGO is going to be busy in the rainy period, creating supportive services for Nigerians who live in flood prone areas. The NGOs in this section will be in charge for educating Nigerians in these areas to prevent flood occurrences in their regions.

25.  Produce Agro Products for Local and Foreign Consumption.

Local agro products like kola nut, banana, cocoa, chili pepper, Okro, Shea nut, and melon products are what you can sell during the rainy period and make a lot of money.

26. Make Mosquito Repellant Lotions.

Just as stated in mosquito nets, you can also produce mosquito repellant lotions which will  repels mosquitoes. Mosquitoes tend to breed faster during the rainy season.

27. Plant and sell vegetables.

You can start gardening by planting vegetables which you can sell and make huge amount of money because raining season is normally the period for planting vegetables.

28.    You can sell ointment during raining season.

29.    Bean cake is another cool business opportunity you can give a trial during the rainy season.

30.     Coconut, pear, etc seem to be on high demand during raining season, therefore it is an opportunity of making money during the rainy season.

Also, if you are strong enough, you can ferry people across water logged areas either on your back or through improvised boats and make cool cash.

In conclusion, i hope you know that the rainy season is yearly event and it last for about four to five months. So if you have the time and some money to invest in a business idea, then carefully select one business idea out of the thirty listed above and invest your money. I look forward to seeing you at the top.

Top 20+ Best Agriculture Business Ideas and Opportunities for Towns or Villages

What are the best agricultural business ideas for villages? What are the best agro-allied business opportunities for big towns and mega cities? What business can one start in the agriculture industry and succeed? This article will put these questions to rest.

The trending challenge and impact of rural-urban migration have continued to generate great debates since the last three decades. Urban employment problems are a result of the phenomenal growth in urbanization and the inability of these urban centers to be able to utilize or absorb the urban labor that was created through the process of urbanization. Approximately 50% of Nigerians are urban dwellers. At least 24 cities have populations of more than 100,000 Those moving from rural to urban areas constitute certain classes, categories and strata of the society that are basically plagued with certain social and economic problems in which poverty ranks highest and most fundamental.

So without wasting your time, this article will highlight in details, some lucrative business ideas and opportunities you can engage in in towns or villages rather than remaining unemployed.

Top 20+ Best Agriculture Business Ideas and Opportunities for Towns or Villages

1.  Urban Agriculture or Crop Cultivation

Urban agriculture is the practice of cultivating, processing and distributing food in, or around, a village, town or city. Urban agriculture in addition can also involve animal husbandry, aquaculture, agro-forestry and horticulture. Urban agriculture contributes to food security and food safety in two ways: First it increases the amount of food available to people living in cities and secondly, it allows fresh vegetables and fruits and meat products to be made available to urban consumers. Urban and peri-urban agriculture are generally seen as sustainable agriculture.

2.  Rabbit Rearing

There is no law prohibiting the keeping of rabbits in Towns and Cities. A backyard can serve as a good source of additional income, food and employment; thus reducing poverty, hunger and idleness. Rabbit do not compete with humans for food, as kitchen leftovers, cut grasses and formulated or compounded feed can sustain them. Rabbit keeping does not require much capital for investment and maintenance. As little space is needed, most rabbits could be kept in the backyard or in the abandoned sheds.

3.  Start Selling Fresh Fruits

Without any doubt, this is a business that should be checked out. With a little professionalism and good public appearance or hygiene, you can make money in this business because a lot of people who live in most of our highbrow area, like to eat fresh fruits especially if it is neat. Some people even prefer it served chilled. So if you have blenders and an extractor, then you are bound to make a lot of money. A lot of people are tired of all these artificial juices in the market and I bet, they will pay and still thank you for giving them the natural source of vitamins which is needed in this age of fast foods and artificial flavors.

4.  Foodstuff Retailing or Grocery Service

In today’s busy and sophisticated world, convenience has become a real business opportunity. Foodstuff like rice, beans yams plantain, potatoes, onions, pepper, oil etc. These items can bought in bulk, cleaned and packaged in specific portions and sold direct to end users. Many people who are unable to find time to shop will be relieved to know that they can just make a phone call and the groceries are delivered. Get a list of people you know who may patronize you. If you can get them to pay up-front, then you are better up with cash flow.

5.  Fish Farming

Over the years, quite a few people have made fortunes from fish farming, as the population is swelling and protein needs are far outstripping the available supply. Food is always a winner in any country or environment if done well. Fish farming is a sure bet business if you put the right structures in place. More and more people are turning to fish for its low cholesterol protein. All you need to do is to get a space, buy or construct tanks, buy finger links for between N10 to N20 and feed them for 4 to 6 months, then sell from between N500 to N1,500 depending on weight and size. The breed of fish to train is your choice to make. You can choose to specialize on Catfish, Tilapia, etc.

6.  Herbs, Flowers Framing and Gardening

Walking through a grocery store, a herb store, a health food store and even in gardening sections of home centers, you will find herbs in their dry forms to be used by consumers. Using the right equipment in your home garage or shed or by building a green house, you can start and raise both herbs and plants to resell to larger outlets and to the consumer as well.

Plants are the basis for all landscapes, homes, gardens and even for brightening offices. You will pay pennies for packets of seeds and make way more when selling starter plants. The more space you have, the better you are going to do. If you really have the space in your landscape and outdoor garden, creating gardens where you will grow plants and drying them out will add so much to your inventory and you can make great amounts of money selling dried flowers to retailers, wholesalers and even to flower shops themselves.

Top 20+ Best Agriculture Business Ideas and Opportunities for Towns or Villages

7.  Livestock Feed Production

The production process is not so difficult. The ingredients required are mainly, maize, soya beans, fish bone, sorghum, groundnut, blood meal, wheat, rice shaft, additives etc. All these can be sourced from the market, any animal consult outlet, or any agricultural product shop around.

8.   Setup a Small Poultry Farm

Technology has enabled many to operate profitable poultry, yet make it free of odor that a neighbor next door will not know you operate a poultry farm. This is a business you can start from one room, car park or from that abandoned property near you with 50 to 500 birds, which cost between N100,000 to N500,000 depending on the cash at hand.

9.   Mushroom Farming

Mushrooms are natural phenomenon that can give you much money. The untapped potential of these fungi is so much that if you invest on the venture, your room can no longer be your bank. Mushrooms are rich in vitamins, protein and minerals; they are favored over meat or even fish by some people, considering the nutritional value and superior health implications. There are two main broad categories of mushrooms; the edible and the non-edible (which is poisonous).

The deliberate mushroom cultivation is therefore essential to eliminate the imminent threat of mistakenly gathering the dangerous type. The start-up requirement are mushroom shed or house, sawdust, Polythene bags, Spawns/mushrooms seeds, Urea/nitrogen fertilizer, Lime, water, ceiling machine, weighing scale, extra hands, Refrigerator.

10.  Frozen Chicken Production

Many Nigerians have come to depend on imported frozen chicken for quite a while now and this is in detriment of local poultry industry and the subsequent health implication because of the long voyage from Europe or wherever, the imported product are usually preserved with chemicals, some of which are said to be injurious to health. A lot of people prefer not to go through the stress of slaughtering and preparing live birds because frozen chicken can easily be stored and used at will, thereby saving time; and many people think it is cheap too. Start-up requirement are space, knives, tables, basins, heat source, stove heater, soap, hand towel, extra hands, freezer and generator .You need to go directly to the chicken farms to source for your live birds cheaply You can also position yourself to supply small hotels, restaurants and eateries.

11.  Grass cutter Farming

Grass cutter is the second largest rodent in Nigeria and it is endemic to Africa. It breeds successfully in captivity and is capable of reproducing twice a year with litter size varying from two to six. They are primarily vegetarian and can be raised to maturity entirely on fresh grasses. They prefer plants with high moisture content and soluble carbohydrate. Field studies reveal that they do not burrow so they may be caged or reared in a fenced pen on the ground. Grass cutter is worth considering for use in husbandry in the humid forest where poor grazing and harsh environment limits the performance of conventional livestock. Ranching of grass cutter as a backyard mini livestock would therefore improve the lot of the peasant farmers, provide an alternative source of animal protein, create job opportunities for urban dwellers.

12.  Buy Charcoal from the rural areas and resell in the cities

Do you know that you can make 100% profit if you buy your charcoal from the farm or production site and sell to the retailers; a bag of charcoal (32 to 35kg bag) is being sold for N450 to N550 from the farm, while the retailers sell to the final consumer at N1000 to N1,5000 per bag. All you need to do is to buy the charcoal from the farmers and bring it down to the major cities like Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt and resell to the retailers. But it is advisable to find out if they have an association in your vicinity, joining the association will allow you to operate with peace of mind. Alternatively you can sell to exporters as a  large market exists in EU, USA and ASIA with prices ranging from $170 to $300 per ton (FOB Nigerian Port), depending on mode of packaging. The charcoal industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and a money spinner for interested investors.

13.  Snail Farming

Snail meat has been severally affirmed as a most safe and nutritious delicacy. In these days of increased coronary implications and other health implications, snail producers are certain to hit it big because many people are shunning away from beef or red meat. It is also pleasing to note that snail production venture could be kick-started with a little initial capital. The best period to commence snail farming is the rainy season, you can start about 50 to 60 snails to have a good knowledge of how snail breeding works. Make sure you go for a fully matured and big nails as they are sold in bunches of 20 pieces and the prices ranges from N1,800 and N3,000 per bunch. It is better to buy the big ones so that you can expect them to hatch after about 35 days on location. About N10,000 should get a new entrant started in the business

Top 20+ Best Agriculture Business Ideas and Opportunities for Towns or Villages

14.  Coconut Juice Production

From fresh chunks of meat to milk, creams, and powders, the flavor of coconut is a distinctive addition to hundreds of sweet and savory recipes. If properly packaged roasted and sliced to pieces with sugar, you can sell for between N20 to N100 depending on the quantity and the level of packaging. You can make good money buy selling in wholesale to retail outlets and supermarket, but make sure your product is well branded, with your company’s name and contact. With a good marketing plan, you are sure to make a lot of money with this business.

15.  Production of Weed Killer

Another major problem confronting every farmer in Africa, especially in Nigeria, is the problem of getting rid all the unwanted crops (weeds) from the farm, which successfully compete with crops and exhaust the soil nutrients. The cost of weeding takes between 50 –60% of the total cost of farming but the good new here is that, there is a formulation of chemicals which is crop and environment friendly. Herbicides market is a virgin in Nigeria- meaning that if an investor produces 20-30 tonnes daily, he will still sell all. No single investor can meet the herbicide demand in Northern Nigeria alone, not to talk of other zones.

16.  Bee Keeping and Honey Production

Honey is manufactured in one of the world’s most efficient factories, the Beehive. Bees may travel as far as 55,000 miles and visit more than two million flowers to gather enough nectar to make just a pound of honey. A litre of pure honey now goes for between N1000 to N2000. You can sell your Honey to high net-worth individual, busy executives who prefer to take pure honey than sugar, I know some honey dealers who are ready to give out their honey at a ridiculously low prices, all you need to do is to package it for the local or international market.

17.  Roasted and Toasted Plantain (Dodo and Boli)

Only few Nigerian have realized the money-spinning prowess of this delicious delicacy, and if properly packaged, with a good marketing strategy put in place, you are sure to make a lot of money. It is popular among the working class as a quick mid-day meal.

18.  Plantain Chips Production

After removing skin, unripe fruit can be sliced (1 or 2 mm thick) and fried in boiling oil, to produce chips. Plantain Chips’ if they are made of green plantains that taste starchy like potato chips. Just make sure you put your label, the more you produce, the more money you make, because majority of Nigerian love plantain chips.

19.  Custard Manufacturing

In Africa, almost every ethnic group makes a different variety of food out of corn. In Nigerian cities, people are used to what is called Ogi, Akamu (pap); this is cornstarch. When the Europeans came, they came with what they called Custard. But it was later found out that the only difference is the coloring and flavor that was added to the corn. It is very easy to produce custards. You can package it in sachets. It is very easy to market also, particularly in big towns and cities where people are used to modern life.

20.  Local drinks or Dry Gin Production

A lot of villagers has come to the city and still love to take local drinks, if well packaged, and accessible, you can start making money by selling to some beer palour, while Ogogoro can be supplied to some companies that uses this product as one of their raw materials

21.  Basket and Broom Production

Baskets are used for packaging agricultural product such as Okra, bitter kola, tomatoes, pepper, onions, oranges etc. Since baskets are produced in various sizes, they help the farmers to grade his brands of product for easy pricing.. Our concern here is how to convert palm front and leaves to finished product for economic and commercial gains.

22.  Export Agricultural product from the rural area

Agricultural Export trading guarantees good returns on Capital on almost monthly basis. Exporting Wood charcoal, Palm kernel shell, Cow horns, Gallstones, Bitter Kola, Cashew, Ginger, Gum Arabic Chilli pepper, bitter kola, coconut, okro, yam, etc and earn good returns on investment. It might interest you to know that the gap between you and the millions of naira or dollar waiting for you in this business is nothing but the “basic understanding of an export business process.”

Understanding the fundamentals of an export business process especially as it concerns securing a genuine export order or contract with a well secured method of payment is the basic requirement in this business, and then you are on your way to making unimaginable loads of money. You can also become an export broker which is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways any prospecting exporter can raise money to go into full time export business. Starting from a little or no capital, an export broker could earn large “finders fee” with absolutely unlimited income.

23.  Source for agro raw materials for urban manufacturing companies

Despite the apparent growth in the number of indigenous players in the industry, there still remains the fact that no company has set up a basic active raw material manufacturing plant in Nigeria. Most of the raw materials being used by the industry in our urban centers are sourced from the rural areas, you too can be part of this opportunity by locating a manufacturing companies and start supplying them with raw materials based on their specification and quality. Approach the personnel in charge to provide you with appropriate information on how to be their supplier.

Top 20+ Best Agriculture Business Ideas and Opportunities for Towns or Villages

24.  Help the Nigeria rural farmers who deal in foodstuffs to export it to the foreign Countries

Our foodstuffs are very cheap in the rural areas, you can bring this food stuff to the cites and tap into the local and the international market. Foodstuffs like Smoked fish, Garri, Beans Flour, Melon seed (Egusi Ground), Ogbono, Cassava Flour, Bitterleaf, Dried Ugu leaf, Pepper,Tomato paste, Hibiscus flower and Ukazi leaf. Others are, Hot Chilli Pepper, Ground nut , Kolanut, Potato, Ginger, Kilishi, Soybean Groundnut, Okra, Cassava, Yam, Bitter Kola, Ofada rice, Catfish, Shrimps, Pounded Yam Flour. You can bring some of these food items to the markets in the urban centers, you can also sell to some food stuff exporters who are looking forwards to buy at ridiculously low prices.

25.  Start connecting rural farmers with exporters using the internet

Can you browse the internet very well , can you chat online? If yes, then I want to congratulate you because you can connect the agro farmers in the rural areas with Nigeria exporters and earn a commission. A lot of exporters find it very difficult to get their desired agro product at the right quality and quantity, you can do this for them and name your price. You can also join some online trade portals, secure a contract, sell the contract and charge an appropriate commission. A lot of Nigeria including my humble self earns commission by connecting the rural farmers to local exporters and I also help Nigeria secure good contract.

26.  Help the rural farmers to load Agro- Exportable Product From The Hinterland and Villages to Towns

A lot of our readers have already tap into this opportunity by providing supportive services to Nigeria exporters. You can help source for agro product for Nigerian exporters and earn finders fee. You can travel to Jigawa, kano Kaduna, Platuea states, go to their commodity markets and meets any of the sellers of these commodities, tell them that you need a large quantity. At least 30 tons which is a trailer load. Your commission is between N5,000 to N20,000 per ton depending on you negotiating power, since you are loading a Trailer which is 30 Tons, multiply your commission by 30, which can be N150,000 to N600,0000 finder fee.

It is very important to know the product profile because exporters will always ask you to submit samples and the product specification. They will come to the market to pick the product from the market and pay you the commission because you are adding value to the export value chain and a lot of exporters will be ready to work with you.

In conclusion, i don’t want you to miss this opportunity to get started on your dreams! Take the first step towards making money and living the life you want. Pick an idea now, execute your plan, and earn some money with any of these urban agro business opportunities; and i will see you at the top.

Top 23+ Business Ideas and Opportunities in the Security Industry

What is the best business to start in the security industry? What business can a retired military personnel or public service security officer venture into? What are the best security business ideas and opportunities available today? Well, i advice you read on to find the answers you seek.

Security has to do with the protection of vulnerable assets such as people, dwellings, communities, nations, and organizations. With the rapidly increasing security problems and crime waves all over the world, there is also a corresponding increase in business opportunities in the security industry for smart entrepreneurs to key into.

For instance, just take a look at the security allocation or defense budget of the United States, Nigeria, Russia, North Korea, etc and ask yourself where all these funds go to. Well one way or the other, a good proportion of these funds find their way into the account of smart entrepreneurs and corporations in exchange for products and services. So without wasting your time, below are 23+ security business ideas and opportunities you can invest in today.

Top 23+ Best Business Ideas and Opportunities in the Security Industry

  • Start your Own Security Company

The issue of global terrorism and kidnappings has caused an rise or increase in the demand of private security guards. You can key into this to start a business. Your task here will be to recruit and deploy security guards to firms, neighborhoods and corporations. You can even go a step further by securing a contract to protect lives, properties and installations within a geographical location. You will however need a security license from the government or relevant regulatory bodies.

  • Start a Security Guard Recruitment Agency

If you feel starting a security company is too capital intensive for you, then you can just focus on being a recruitment agency or headhunter for security companies, firms and companies. Your duty will be to link able bodied men and women with respective companies in exchange for cash.

  • Become a Security Consultant and Expert

This business concept is very straightforward. You can become a security consultant or expert in specific fields or industry. Yes, you can be a security consultant on banking, petroleum, etc. Your business objective will be to provide security advice and help put up safety measures to avoid the loss of live and properties.

  • Become a Security Awareness Coach or Trainer

Another business opportunity in the security industry is to become a security awareness coach or trainer. Your duty here is to offer advice to clients on how to be security conscious both in their homes and workplace. Your task also includes training and teaching people how to react or handle security challenges.

You can also provide training for corporate employees on issues pertaining disputes between employees or between employees and management or on allegations of sexual harassment, racism and abusive behavior within the office environment, as well as create a training program for the employees and the management on how to avoid and also how to react to any potentially unfavorable situation that may arise within the office working environment

  • Start a Private Investigation Company

Being a private investigator, your duty will be to delve into the secrets of many people’s lives and offer solution to mysteries or unresolved crimes. This business is very lucrative and quite challenging because you will spend far more time on the phone and at your computer than any fictional private eye ever does. All you have to do is underground work and odds are that you will never be involved in high-speed chases or shootouts with bad guys.

Top 23+ Best Business Ideas and Opportunities in the Security Industry

  • Become a Licensed Military Contractor

Yea, you can start a business as a military contractor or supplier. However, this business requires political clout or connections, credibility and a proven track record. Your core tasks as a military contractor is to supply them equipments and gadgets such as arms, food supplies, uniforms, gasoline, etc. You can also be assigned the construction of facilities, designing and manufacturing of gadgets, monitoring specific issues, etc.

  • Become a Licensed Arms Dealer

You can also venture into the importation and retailing of arms and ammunition to private citizens, individuals and corporate entities. Well, you must be licensed before you can venture into this business.

  • Import and Retail Personal Self Defense Devices

Another business idea or opportunity in the security industry is the importation and retailing of self defense weapons. With the increasing wave of domestic violence, self defense gadgets will definitely be a best seller. Example of such pepper spray, mace, baton, etc.

  • Start a Guard Dog Breeding Business

You can also breed guard dogs and supply them to government security agencies and private individuals or companies alike. One advantage of this business is that you can start it from home and without a license. But as you grow bigger, it is important you get registered with the relevant authorities.

  • Start a Guard Dog Security Service

Once again, there are a different approaches that can be taken for starting a guard dog security service. The first approach is to supply guard dogs that has security handlers, the second is to provide guard dogs with no security handlers, or you can offer both services to clients. Both options can be offered to clients. The requirements for starting the business are obvious.

  • Start a Security Blog

Even you have no money or security license, you can simply arm yourself with a laptop and an internet connection; and launch your own security blog. You can write on security trends, happenings and developments around the world. Your source of income will be from products you sell online, affiliate programs and advertising revenue.

  • Host a Security Talk show on TV

You can also start a TV show that will be focused on security. You can invite security experts and interview them with respect to how best to tackle crime. You can make money from advertising revenue, etc.

  • Start Creating Security Information Products

You can start creating security awareness and Do-It-Yourself security eBooks, Journals, Videos, etc and sell them either online or offline.

  • Start a Guard Dog Training Center

Another business opportunity in the security industry is to start a guard dog training agency. Your duty here is to either teach people how to make their guard dog attack on command or you can conduct the training on the dog yourself.

Top 23+ Best Business Ideas and Opportunities in the Security Industry

  • Start a Security Guard Certification Training Center

Many people desire to become bodyguards or security guards but they don’t know where to get the certification, training or the license. You can step in by providing the necessary certification and training in exchange for money.

  • Start an Executive Protection Agency (Bodyguards)

The opportunity to start a security bodyguard business is now available than ever before because of the growing demand for personal protection by business leaders and other high profile individuals such as journalists, politicians, activists, etc. If you have been in the military or State Security Service (SSS), the Secret Service, NSA, CIA, FBI, etc; then you have a greater chance of succeeding in this business because of your work experience and track record, that is if you had one.

  • Become a Self Defense Coach or Tutor

If you have knowledge about martial arts and the art of self defence, but you have little or no capital; then you can become a coach and start teaching self defense skills to men, women and kids in their homes and schools.

  • Start a Self Defense Academy

If you have the capital and the skills as listed above, then you can set up a self defense academy. Instead of visiting homes and schools to teach people how to defend themselves, your clients would in this case come to your academy and enroll in your programs or courses.

  • Start Selling Security Gadgets

You can also choose to enter the security industry as a wholesaler or retailer of security gadgets such as CCTVs, Security Cameras, Doors, lights, alarms, metal detectors, burglar proof safes, motion sensors, etc.

  • Start a Security Installation Business

There are many approaches that can be followed when starting a security installation business. You can choose to focus on either security alarm installation, metal door installations, safe installations, cameras, sensors, etc. As long as it is a security gadget, you can learn how to install it and start a business based on that knowledge.

  • Setup a Cloud or Cyber Security Monitoring Company

  • Start a Self defense Driving School

You can start an academy or company with the aim of teaching people how to drive defensively in dangerous or emergency situations. Your major clients will be security companies, bodyguards, security personnel, ambulance drivers, private individuals, etc.

  • Start an Online Identity Theft Protection Company

As the trend moves towards living, communicating and doing business online, their is need to protect one’s identity from fraudsters and hackers. You start open an identity theft protection company and make some cool cash.

  • Start a Car Tracking and Monitoring Company

As technology advances, Carjacking and theft is rapidly on the increase. You can battle this challenge and still make money by selling car tracking devices. You can even go a step further to do the installations and proceed to tracking the vehicles on behalf of the customers.

In conclusion, i want you to know that this list of business ideas in the security or defense industry is just a tip of the iceberg. In fact, there are so many more opportunities i have not even thought of. The good news about this business is that you are not just making money, you are also giving back to the society by making the world safer and crime free.

Importing from China – How to Avoid Quality Issues and Fraud

What are the best goods to import from China? What is the best way to import from China? Do you want to learn how to buy products from China while avoiding the risk of fraud and poor quality? Then this article is for you.

The biggest risk with importing from China is not getting scammed or receiving a container filled with brick stones. It’s the exposure to quality issues. Regardless of whether you are a businessman based in Germany, Ghana, USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Nigeria or Japan; your consumer does care about quality, and your years of hard work building a reputation can be ruined by just one bad shipment.

So what is a quality issue? Well, quality concern is not reserved for people with PhD’s and expensive suits, it concerns every business from the smallest street vendor to global corporations. I will give you a few examples of common quality issues that China importers are faced with.

Common Quality Problems Faced When Importing from China

  • Damaged items
  • Functional defective items
  • Wrong items
  • Wrong colour
  • Cosmetic defects
  • Substandard materials
  • Substandard components
  • Transportation damages
  • Substandard product packing
  • Sub Standard export packing

The two main causes of quality issues are:

Cause A – Misunderstanding between the supplier and the importer

Many importers assume that the supplier in China will understand that they “require good quality.” The problem is that there is no standardized definition of “good quality” and the idea of “good quality” differs between different people, companies, countries and continents. The quality of a certain product is defined by the sum of its parts; such as the materials and components used to make the product, etc. I will explain this in a comparison chart of a “high quality” and “low quality” wristwatch.

A Comparison Chart of a High Quality Watch and a Low Quality Watch

Product SpecificationHigh Quality WatchLow Quality Watch
MovementCitizen IL22 (Made in Japan)No name (Made in China)
Case MaterialStainless SteelZinc alloy
StrapItalian Leather (authentic)PU Leather (plastic)
Water Resistance5 ATMNone
Factory PriceUS$22.5US$4.5
Retail PriceUS$219US$29.95
  • For a business that is into low cost products, the “Low Quality Watch” is of course the product of choice. The problem is that the less you know about your product, the harder it is to ensure that it reaches a certain quality level. Thus the key to avoid disastrous misunderstandings is to a.) Know your quality requirements and product specifications, b.) Communicate these to the supplier.
  • Let’s stick to the wristwatch example; If you don’t know that the Case Material is an important quality factor and don’t specify, to the supplier, that you want a certain material, then the supplier will choose for you!
  • You cannot compare a “wrist watch” with a “wrist watch”. Instead you compare product specifications – otherwise you can never be sure whether or not you have been quoted a good price. I am sure you wouldn’t want to end up paying 22.5 dollars for a cheap zinc alloy watch.

Cause B – The supplier is cheating the importer quality

Yes, some Chinese suppliers deliberately cheat importers. Since a product is defined by its product specifications, a supplier can simply use cheap and substandard material and components to increase its own profit margins. The supplier is more likely to cheat importers who make one of the following two mistakes listed below.

Common Mistakes Importers Make When Importing From China

1.  You don’t communicate clear product specification requirements. When you leave product specifications “open” you invite the supplier to “fill in the gap” with a material or component that is cheap and low quality. (I.e.You forgot to mention that you want a Stainless Steel case so the supplier shipped a bunch of Zinc alloy watches instead.)

2.  Even if you are successful in drafting a detailed list of very precise product specifications, this is not worth anything unless you can make the supplier believe that you will follow up on quality. This one is simple, always tell your supplier that you will check and inspect for quality control on the products in China before you make the final payment. Even if you think a Quality Inspection is too expensive, you can still deceive your supplier into believing that you will make one.

The most important thing here is that the supplier complies with your quality requirements, something that is more likely to happen if they believe that cheating you is too risky.

My 3 Step Plan for Preventing Quality Issues When Importing from China

Step #1 – Understand your product specifications

Now you understand that product specifications are critical to success, but identifying them is not always easy. However, even a beginner can follow the task list below to break down a product into a list of specifications;

  • Review the product descriptions of various suppliers on Alibaba.com
  • Review the product description on various English e-commerce websites such as Amazon.com
  • Review Wikipedia.com for detailed material information

Anything that describes the following shall be included in your list of product specifications:

  1. Design
  2. Dimensions
  3. Components
  4. Materials
  5. Certificates
  6. Colours
  7. Print / Type of print
  8. Logo / Logo position / Type of logo print
  9. Treatments
  10. Modifications
  11. Size

The more information and documentation you have, the more likely you are to get what you order. I also suggest you consider to create more supplier material such as the following:

  1. Logo design files
  2. 3D Designs with dimensions
  3. 2D Designs with dimensions
  4. Photocopies of existing products
  5. Physical reference samples

Step #2 – Draft an Agreement

It’s true that Chinese suppliers are not very concerned with honoring agreements in case of a dispute. Instead, an agreement can be used as a tool to communicate the following to the supplier;

  1. Your product specifications (What you want your product to look like).
  2. What you will not accept (What you don’t want your product to look like).
  3. That the supplier should think twice about cheating you (Because you will send an inspector to the factory before shipping).

The 3 main components mentioned above are useless if you don’t have a good bargaining tool. Going to a Chinese court is expensive and time consuming, so instead I suggest you rely on a much simpler mechanical tool such as a; A 2 stage payment plan;

  1. Deposit payment (30%) before production
  2. Balance Payment (70%) after quality inspection and completed production

The key is to withhold the final payment until you have confirmed that the supplier actually made what you asked for! As soon as they got all the money, they won’t be as easy to deal with. Remember that Chinese suppliers have very low profit margins (2 – 4%), if they cannot secure the final payment they make a huge loss. In other words, you can force them to remake or repair your products if you discover a lot of damaged items during the Quality Control as long as the money is in your hand.

Step #3 – Quality Control

A core part of the plan is to verify the quality of the products before they leave the country. However, it’s equally important to make the supplier know that they have something to lose if they try to cheat you, and that is by telling them well in advance that you will inspect the products in China, before they are shipped.

A Quality Inspection is not expensive and costs around US$250 – $300. If you for some reason cannot afford a Quality Inspection, you still have the following option;

  • Keep telling your supplier until the final day of production that you will send an inspector. Yes, it’s deception but for a good cause. As long as the supplier believes that they got something to lose by cheating you, they are a lot less likely to try to pull any tricks on you.

In conclusion, i want you to engrave this on your mind that importing from China is risky and not even my strategy can offer a 100% guarantee for success. But by applying this 3 step plan, you can greatly improve your chances and enjoy less defects, lowered risks and better profit margins.

Author’s Bio: Fredrik Grönkvist is the Co-Founder and Limited Partner of http://www.chinaimportal.com, a Shanghai based information services company who provides startups and small businesses with an online system for managing sourcing and production in China and other Asian countries. Connect with Fredrik Grönkvist on Google+

How to Start a Food Cart Business

Are you interested in starting a food cart business but you don’t know how to go about it? Do you need a food cart business plan? Then this article is for you.

Food is one thing that will never cease to be in demand as long as life is in existence. What this means in essence is that food is needed at every point in time or country and food cart is one of the easiest way to make food readily available. It is also one of the affordable ways to enter into the food business.

One of the greatest advantage of this business is that it is mobile and you tend to sell faster because you are taking the food right to the door step of your customers. Another advantage is that if you find yourself in a poor location, you can easily move your cart to a better location where you will be able to make better sales. So, if you are planing to start a small business but don’t actually know which business to start, you can as well give food cart business a trial. But before you start, you have to start off on a good note. So without wasting your time, here’s how to start a food cart business.

How to Start a Food Cart Business

1.  Conduct a feasibility research

The first and foremost thing to do before starting a food cart business is to conduct a research. The research should include your start up cost, projected expenses, revenue projection, marketing strategies, human resources and a list of the challenges the business will have to overcome to achieve success.

2.   Decide on your business location

Areas of high traffic such as schools, malls, large commercial areas, busy intersections, terminals, supermarkets, etc are good locations to operate your food cart business. But make sure you carry out a thorough research in the area of your location because it is your location that determines the level of sales that you will make.

3.  Register your business

In other to ensure an easy and undisturbed running of your food cart business, you have to register the business with certain government bodies like Corporate Affairs commission, bureau of internal revenue, food regulatory authorities, etc. You have to also get a clearance from the department of health.

4.   Construct your cart

For a start, go for an affordable but admirable cart but before constructing your cart, you need to consider the type of food you want to sell. If you intend to sell pizza or other foods that requires you prepare it on set, you might require a larger truck.

5.   Brand yourself

After getting your truck ready, the next step is to brand your cart or truck with your business logo or business name. Consult a graphic designer to help you in designing your logo or color scheme on your cart.

6.   Get Connected

Running a food cart business is not all about vending food on a mobile cart during lunch hours in a crowded area. You may need to advertise yourself both online and otherwise. By so doing, you get to connect your business to vast corners of the world. So many food cart business owners make their money by catering special event and cooperate functions.

7.    Hire highly motivated personnel

Great care must be taken when hiring the right employees to help run your food cart business. You need to hire a hardworking and trustworthy person with a good hygiene. You must ensure the applicant is good in simple arithmetic. Lastly, a cheerful attitude and a presentable appearance is important to draw customers.

A food cart business is an easy business venture and it is advisable for young entrepreneurs. This is because it requires little capital and it is easy to run. To those who have the gut to act, i wish you good luck.

How to Start a Dog Grooming Business

Are you interested in starting a dog grooming business but you don’t know how to go about it? Do you want to know what it takes to start a dog grooming business? Do you need a dog grooming business plan? If your answer to the three questions above is yes, then this article is for you.

Now starting a dog grooming business is not really a big deal. In fact, with little or no capital, you can start this business. What you need is just the will to succeed and a passion for animals especially dogs. Now what is dog grooming? Dog grooming is simply the act of taking care of dogs, cleaning them up and maintaining their hygiene. So without wasting your time, below is the exact step to starting a dog grooming business.

How to Start a Dog Grooming Business – Sample Business Plan

1.   You must have passion for dogs

For you to have the patience to handle animals such as dog, an underlying love for dogs must be inside of you. Animals have the ability to sense when a person is tensed and they tend to react according.

2.    Learn the art of grooming dog

There are accredited pet grooming institutes that offer dog grooming courses.  You can go there to acquire a special pet grooming knowledge. The courses are based on your state and will require about 300 hours of your time in the classroom.

3.    Choose the location that you will work from.

You can start small with an outdoor set up for neighborhood pets. You can also work out of your home, or better still, rent a booth at a grooming open shop or salon. Your best bet may be to start off in a small way, then get a couple of clients and work out of your house (or move from client to client). Acquire the feel for being a dog groomer on your own. Working in a small way will give you a taste of your future. This is a stage where you will realize weather the career is for you or not.

4.  Make your location comfortable

When you have decided to start taking clients (either in your home or shop), try and make the setting comfortable. You should make sure the area is well lit, welcoming and good for the dogs. There should be little distraction for the dogs but not a lot of noise or people’s traffic.

5.  Advertise your business

It is very crucial to advertise your business to the public so that you can create awareness to them over your business. You can start locally by word of mouth, daily newspapers, ads at pet shops and Craigslist.

6.  Offer multiple services

Offering multiple services will make people happy and they will be returning for more. A wide range of services will greatly increase the range of the market.

7.   Start with a low price

Your pricing should be low at first. People will like to pay for experience. Do not expect to charge top fees without experience. Discover what your competitors are charging and price your own services accordingly.

In conclusion,  dog grooming business might be the best choice for anyone that love dogs, possess dog handling skills and have an entrepreneurial spirit. Many people love their pets so much and they are willing to pay high prices to keep them happy. You can cash in on this ever-growing market of dog grooming and make some cool cash.

How to Start a Rabbit Farming Business

How do you start a rabbit farming business? Are you interested in starting a rabbit farming business but you don’t know how to go about it? Do you need a rabbit farming business plan? Then read on.

Rabbit farming business can be very lucrative for an entrepreneur who has a talent or a passion for animal husbandry and live stock farming. It is not an expensive venture. Starting a rabbit farming business does not need much money like every other business do, rather it requires that the entrepreneur have a knowledge about animal husbandry and how best to raise animals. You can start it in your backyard, with just two male rabbits and six females, a wire cage and information from a farming manual. Aside the knowledge, it is also important that you are passionate about animals. If not, then get someone who loves spending time with animals.

 The Potentials and Profitability of Rabbit Farming

  • Rabbits are prolific in nature
  • Rabbits meat is highly in demand as it is medically recommended over red meat.
  • Rabbits have low mortality rate.
  • Rabbits are not aggressive and require minimal handling

Without wasting your time, below is a candid advice on how to start a rabbit farming business.

 How to Start a Rabbit Farming Business – Sample Business Plan

1.  Consider the availability of breeding materials

If you are thinking of investing in this business, it is necessary you know how to acquire your materials at a very minimum cost. These materials includes ”the rabbits, breeding cages, feeds, concentrates, etc because all these are what are considered as the raw materials there are required for the business.

2.   Get the basic knowledge about rabbit care

This is very important to avoid unnecessary loss due to diseases and high mortality. Get to know everything you can about rabbits, from their common diseases and ailments to their gestation period, feeding pattern, etc. You can get this information by doing a search online or visiting your local library and reading up about rabbits.

3.   Get a rabbit farming business plan

This is very important especially if you are going to breed rabbits on a commercial scale. You need to factor in every possible details including your financial overhead cost and profit potential.

4.  Decide on where to house your rabbits

It is necessary that a rabbit house be spacious enough, so as to give chance for the young ones and also the growth and expansion of the business. Rabbits can be kept in hutches or in cages. The rabbit cage should be constructed in such a manner that the rabbits will be protected from rainfall and direct sunlight.

5.   Feeding the rabbits

Rabbits feed on either compounded feed or grasses like elephant grass, potato, shrubs, leaves and herbs. They must be given food at least twice a day. Clean drinking water must made available for them 24 hours a day. These containers should be cleaned regular basis for the sake of the health of the rabbits . It is advisable to study their exact daily consumption of compounded feed in order to avoid wasting the feed.

  • Production

Rabbits are prolific in nature and they do multiply rapidly. Rabbits begin breeding from 4 t0 5 months of age. The gestation period for female rabbit (the doe) is 31 days and they normally give birth to 6 -10 kits (baby rabbit) at once. Rabbits are capable of reproducing seven times in a year. For reproduction to take place, the buck and the doe should be kept in one place to mate. After that, you have to separate them. One female rabbit is capable of producing up to 50 kits in a year.

6.  Factor in your overall expenses

Starting and running a rabbit breeding business is not all that expensive but, you still need to do everything possible and everything within your power to minimize cost in such a way that it will not affect your profits in the business. try mapping out plans to maximize your profit.

7.   Marketing your rabbits

Start by creating awareness among individuals beginning with your families, friends and colleagues, restaurants, hotels, eateries etc. Tell them about the nutritional value of rabbits as well as the economic importance. However, it is advisable that you carry out more research on your own even before you invest a dime in setting up your rabbit farm. You must know the market strategies and the level of demand; as this will help you avoid unnecessary loss and regrets.

Lastly, before you consider starting and running a rabbit farming business on your own, you should assess and ascertain whether franchising will be worth while. If you can get a franchise, then why start from scratch.

How to Start a Courier Business

Are you interested in starting a courier business? Do you need a business plan on how to start your own courier services business? Then here’s how to start a courier business from scratch.

Now for those who don’t know what a courier service business is or stands for, a courier service is a business company that moves packages from one location to another for a fee. Popular courier brands that have gone beyond just courier and delivery to full time haulage and logistics include UPS, FEDEX, DHL, ABC Courier, etc.

Opening a courier business can be a lucrative opportunity, but there are practical things to put into considerations and logistics to be taken into account but you may tend to overlook them. So without wasting your time, below are the steps to starting a successful courier company.

How to Start a Courier Services Business – Sample Business Plan

1. Prepare a business plan

Draft out a comprehensive business plan following the guidelines available from your local Small Business Association popularly known as (Business Centre Association), and pay special attention to financial management details.

2. Decide the type of parcels you will be delivering.

The next step to starting a courier business is to decide if your service will be limited to envelopes and small packages or large cargoes. Naturally, your decision will depend on the capacity of your storage and transportation vehicles. Will you will be delivering sensitive cargoes such as medical and industrial chemicals? If yes, then you and your crew must be knowledgeable in handling and conveying such substances.

You may also choose to deliver perishable goods. However, you must bear in mind that this cargo is always time sensitive, so your manpower resources and transportation must be adequate. You have to make your units to be well known. Your ability to deliver a wide variety of cargo will augment your potential to earn. However, you should expect to spend more initial capital. For instance, to successfully deliver perishable goods, you may need to invest in refrigerated trucks for it.

3. Decide on the scope for your service area

In other words, you should define the limit of your parcel destination. You have to decide and mark the globe you will intend delivering. Also decide if your service will be limited to within a state or country. Check if you can handle deliveries from coast to coast. Observe if you have the resources and the network to deliver internationally. Bear in mind that the same rule goes for all. Note that the wider your geographic scope, the larger the amount you will be required to invest on start.

4. Determine your price charge per delivery

You have to establish a pricing policy, and get it printed in an easy-to-read format. In setting up a price list, there are several factors to consider. The first to consider is the amount and mileage of gasoline that will be consumed from let’s say point A to B. The second factor is the number of parcels to be delivered at a particular area. The third, you have to consider if the delivery will be from point A to B scenario or if you will be able to accept delivery from point B back to A. Four, consider the rate your competition charges their own customers.

Finally, the factors listed above are only a small fraction of the whole picture. Be advised that you must gain hands-on experience in the industry if you are really serious to start your own courier service and to gain this experience, working for a courier service company is the only means to accomplish this. Working for a courier company will enable you have a “feel’’ for how the system works.

5. Meet with business advisers

To have a successful head start, you have to consult a business attorney that is familiar with courier service business to offer you advice on matters like local zoning laws, which is especially relevant if you will run the business from your home.

You should contact an accountant that is familiar with the courier service business to give advice on how to keep and maintain your business track records, tax fillings, the pros and cons of employees versus independent contractors and how to set up and accounting system. You should as well consult an insurance professional that is familiar with courier service business in order to advise you on how to obtain the proper business insurance for your office and also, its contents along with commercial vehicle coverage, worker’s compensation insurance (if needed), cargo insurance and health insurance.

How to Start a Courier Services Business – Sample Business Plan

6. Get the necessary business permits

You should as well obtain the necessary business permits and you have to license your business and your vehicle; have a discussion about the pros and cons of incorporating a company.

7. Get the necessary equipment

The material items that you will need to start a courier business can be found on the list below. You do not necessarily have to limit yourself with these items but a good courier business will certainly require them:

  • A vehicle

Transportation is of the essence in any delivery service. If you are planning to deliver big items and packages, investing in a covered truck is your first step. If you are still learning the ropes of the courier business, then it’s best to work with what you’ve already got in the garage and deliver items which will conveniently fit in your current vehicle.

You should also make sure as well that you have the resources to cover for several weeks of gas expense before your customers pay off their bills to you. And don’t overlook the insurance policy of your vehicle as it should cover business use as well. Before choosing an insurance company, you will need to know if you and your insurance company are financially capable of handling any possible contingencies.

  • GPS System and Cellular Phone

A GPS system is also essential. Nowadays many cellular phones have that feature, and it will certainly guide you during deliveries. You have to buy street maps for the area you will be covering. The maps are also available in book form and can be bought at almost all the book stores. Even if you are having GPS, the maps are invaluable, especially if the GPS is malfunctioning.

A cellular phone is also important because it will enable you to contact your customers while on the road or anywhere else, as well as to let potential clients contact you wherever you are. You should as well establish a communication system between you, your customers and your drivers, having in mind that it is illegal to speak while driving on a cell phone in many areas.

  • A computer and a printer

You need to print out invoices, tax records, and other such important papers for your courier business. You will also need a database of your customers and the businesses that you’ve dealt. These are some of the things that you need in starting a courier business.

8. Market and advertise your courier business

Buy tee shirts and baseball caps with your business name printed on them. This will give you a more professional appearance. Choose a colour, and use that colour on all conceivable piece of equipment throughout the business, including personalized ink pens, clipboards, notebooks and your vehicles as your business increases.

You have to advertise your courier service business by placing ads in trade papers, local newspapers and hand delivering or mailing of flyers to local businesses.

How to Start a Courier Business – Sample Business Plan

9. Run your courier business

At this stage, you are now set to start and run the courier business; so here are some additional tips to help you out. You should take your vehicles to a mechanic for a thorough overhaul. For the fact that you would not want your vehicle to break down as soon as you start the business, you should take it to a mechanic for thorough servicing and you should as well consider having a back-up vehicle on stand-by. Make an order for magnetic signs for your vehicles. You have to order for it because you will need one for each front door of the vehicles.

You should consider dedicating one credit card to all of your business expenses. It will be easier for your accountant when it is time to reconcile your accounts and pay your taxes. Also keep close records or tracks of your business mileage versus personal mileage. Mileage for personal matters is obviously not tax deductible.

In conclusion, it is important you know that your personality is another extremely essential factor if you want to to starting a courier business successfully. You will need to be customer service oriented, meaning that you are approachable and warm, caring and accommodating. Building your customers’ trust is a combination of quality service and of course, establishing good relationships with them. Like many other businesses, operating a courier services business requires a lot of patience and determination. Expect a lot of losses, but with proper management and the right connections, you will definitely make even more gains.