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Getting Started in the Mail Order Business. How Much Does It Cost?
INTRODUCTION To get any business started successfully takes many ingredients.All requirements fall into one of the following fourkey categories: 1. Desire, 2. Knowledge, 3. Time, and 4.Available funds. This report deals only with the financial requirements ofstarting a mail order business. Hopefully it will help the reader to evaluate whether he is financially able to embark upon abusiness venture that will bring about success. It is generallytrue that it takes substantially less money to get started inmany mail order businesses than in a variety of other businesses. Many a promoter will want you to belive that it is possible toget started successfully for $50, $100, or even $200. However, it is totally false. It does take more than that. How much moredepends on many factors which I will try to define as much as ispossible here. Since the mail order business covers a vast number of servicesand products I would like to define the contents of this reportto deal with the selling of information products. This is wheremy expertise lies. While the same or similar conditions may apply to any number of other mail order businesses, there may howeverbe some differences to selling information products such asbooks, etc. The following makes a number of assumptions. The most importantones are: 1. The operator ( or operators) of the new mail order business is employed or has other means of income.. He will not need toderive any profit from his new business for a period of time..How long will depend on many factors. 2. This is a home based business which has no employees. 3. The business, at the start - until volume reaches $3,000 to$5,000 per month - will utilize the drop shipping services of awholesale company. 4. Basic office equipment such as desk, file cabinet, computer, etc... are on hand. A WORD OF CAUTION AT THE START AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO YOU This is an exciting business and it can be extremely profitableonce it reaches a certain momentum. However, like almost allbusinesses it is a very cost sensitive business. As you are getting started in planning and setting up your newbusiness think and act with caution when it pertains to any expenditures. This is one of the mostdifficult things to do since you are probably very enthusiasticand want to do everything today. So you need to learn HOW TOCONTROL YOUR ENTHUSIASM or it is going to cost you lost of extramoney. In this state of enthusiasm we tend to think that there isnothing we can do wrong and since we will be making lots of money in a few months lets get all necessary and often unnecessarysupplies and equipment. It would be much better to wait untilprofits of the business make it possible to acquire what isneeded. In the meantime you can make do with less. To be able todo so is a most important quality for the owner of a small to doso is a most important quality for the owner of a small business. If you are a parent think of your new business as a child. There will be a never ending sequence of surprises. And as the business grows so will its demands, and yes its expenses. START-UP EXPENSES -- INITIAL STAGE The below listed expenses will be incurred in the very earlystages of setting up your business. This is at a time when youprobably are not sure as yet what you will be selling. You willbe writing to different companies for information to come up with the right product selection. Once you have decided what it is you will be selling you have to line up reliable suppliers, This isalso a good time to buy a few books to help you with your mailorder education. Although most expenses incurred in this phaseare relatively small they will add up quickly. These prices are estimates. Prices will vary according to your location.
START-UP EXPENSES -- SECONDARY STAGE You have now reached the point at which you have decided upon one or more reliable suppliers for the product you wish to market.You may also be ready to have some promotional material printed.In addition you may be placing one or two classified ads fortesting purposes. Once again, please remember that these prices are estimates only.
Until now you have only had expenses for your new business. Youhave not derived any revenue yet. In the next and final stage ofstarting your business you may have some revenues. Stage one andtwo may take from approximately 3 to 6 months. START-UP EXPENSES -- THIRD STAGE You have now reached a stage were you will expand youradvertising, or alternately you may go the direct marketing route and rent a mailing list. The comparison of expenses and revenueresults of a direct marketing effort versus classifiedadvertising need to be carefully evaluated.Since expenses for a direct marketing effort are generally higher than for a small advertising campaign, the below listed expensesfocus on an advertising campaign, Estimates provided for illustrative purpsoes only.
SUMMARY The combined expenses as listed above total just under $1000.They are based on broad estimates and may vary somewhat by areaof the country and individual circumstances. The figures arereflecting a minimum amount. Some individuals may be able to cut expenses further. Since thisplanning period takes several months the expenses as shown abovecan be allocated over a period of 4-6 months. The above figures represent a conservative start. For those whowant to get started more aggressively expenses would be higher.While many of the basic start-up costs would be the same theexpenses that would increase would primarily deal with additional advertising, printing and postage expenses. By how much wouldlargely be an individual decision. Since most new businesses fail because of lack of funds, it would be advisable for an individual who does not have the necessaryfunds to get started to wait until he does. In addition to thebasic start-up expenses an individual should also consider thatmost businesses will loose money for several months and sometimes much longer than that. Unfortunately no matter how well you plan, circumstances often change and we must make allowances for thoseeventualities. Copyright 2004 by DeAnna Spencer Note to editors: To show my appreciation to the editors that use my articles, I offer a free solo ad. Simply send an email to me by using the form on the contact me page on my website to tell me the url the article was used on or send me a copy of the ezine it was used in. This article may be redistributed freely on the Internet as long as the resource box remains intact.
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