Business Overview:

If you love working on cars but hate being stuck in an auto shop all day, learn how to start a mobile oil change business and take your skills on the road. The great thing about owning a business that services cars is that people will always own cars and those cars will always need maintenance. An oil change is required on most automobiles several times a year which translates into repeat customers to your business if your service is topnotch. There is plenty of competition in the auto lube and oil change arena, however, so your business needs to set itself apart in order to earn some of the market share of customers. Business ideas that take the service to the customer add a convenience factor that is likely unmatched among the competition. You’ll find that customers will gladly pay more for a service that allows them to go about their day at work or at home while their car is serviced in their parking lot or driveway. Mobile businesses are unlike standard storefront businesses, however, and you should draft a business plan to help focus your efforts. You could choose to purchase a franchise, which would typically come with equipment, training and marketing assistance. If you have plenty of experience working in the auto maintenance industry, you may choose to simply purchase mobile oil change equipment and hit the road. Put large advertisements on your truck and place fliers in auto supply stores around town. Go door to door in your neighborhood spreading the word about your new business and even distribute coupons that offer a discount to the first 50 or so customers. Once a customer experiences the convenience and excellent service of your business, you are likely to see that customer again and again.

A Day in the Life of a Mobile Oil Change Business Owner:

Your day will begin with a check of your appointments. If you are performing the oil changes, you will make your way to each appointment while taking calls from potential customers. If you have a staff that handles the oil changes in the field, you can stay at your home office (or storefront if you prefer) and field phone inquiries while coordinating jobs with your staff.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals in need of convenient oil change services.

What You Need to Start:

• Mobile oil change business plan
• Mobile oil change equipment
• Franchise (optional)
• Truck or van
• Marketing plan and materials
• Staff (optional)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• The demand for oil changes will always be high.
• Offering mobile services sets you apart from the competition.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• This business is easily scalable; you can add vehicles and staff as demand rises.
• You can also offer additional services to boost profits (windshield wiper replacement, etc.)

The Bad:

• The work is hard and repetitive.
• It can take some time to build your client base.

Resources:

• Automotive Oil Change Association
• Automotive Service Association
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
• Wikipedia on Motor Oil

Technorati Tags: how to start a mobile oil change business, mobile oil change business plan

Business Overview:

If you enjoy the thrill of the chase and are looking to start an exciting new business, you should learn how to start a repo business. Anyone can be a repo man (or woman); all you need is the right temperament and some patience. When a consumer defaults on a car loan, for example, the lending institution has the right to repossess that car and sell it in order to cut their losses. Similar to bail bondsmen hiring bounty hunters to track down bail jumpers, creditors hire repo businesses to track down and bring back their property. Any number of items can be repossessed but the most common are automobiles. Depending on your area, you may choose to specialize in repossession of boats, jet skis or other watercraft. It’s important when starting a repo business that you become familiar with your local repo laws. For example, typically repo businesses are not allowed to confront the borrower, create a disturbance or break into a garage in order to gain access to their vehicle. When you research how to become a repo man or woman, you will find that this is one of the most exciting business ideas available to an entrepreneur with a flexible schedule. Learning the best ways to track down items to repossess will take some time and experience, which means you will get better and your business will be more successful as time goes on. The start-up costs for this business include needing a tow truck and some marketing materials before starting to advertise your business. Determine what your rates will be per repo and per hour. Usually a repo business will charge between $200-300 USD per repossession plus an hourly fee of $25-50 USD. Contact local car dealers, banks and other lending institutions and let them know your business is available to track down defaulted items. Once you track down a few items for a customer, you are likely to get plenty of repeat business. You may soon find the need to hire additional repossession professionals to work for you.

A Day in the Life of a Weight Loss Business Owner:

Your hours as a repo business owner will be irregular since most repossessions take place at night or when borrowers are at work. You will take calls throughout the day from current and new customers asking for your business to track down items they need repossessed. When you are not searching for repo items, you will spend your day marketing your business to financial institutions.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be lenders such as auto dealers, banks, credit unions who need items repossessed due to loan default.

What You Need to Start:

• Business license and insurance
• Tow truck
• Familiarity with local repo laws
• Computer with financial software

The Good:

• The start-up costs are low if you already possess a tow truck or if you choose to repossess items such as TVs in which case you don’t need a tow truck.
• You can work as much or as little as you like.
• Franchises are available to get you started.
• You are likely to see repeat business from your clients.
• The repo business is exciting.

The Bad:

• The hours are irregular.
• You must be careful when confronted by a borrower.

Resources:

• Repo Association – National Finance Adjusters
• American Recovery Association
• Wikipedia on Repossession

Technorati Tags: how to become a repo man, how to start a repo business, starting a repo business

Business Overview:

If you live near the water and you’re looking for a way to tap into the lucrative world of watercraft sales, consider starting a jet ski & boating business. Where there is a body of water, there are boats and plenty of people looking to purchase boats. There are probably also a few boat shops in your area so it’s important to evaluate your competition in order to set your business apart. A boating dealership can be one of the most profitable business ideas available if you position your store correctly and match your products with your customers. Consider the economic status of the area before deciding what types of watercraft you will sell. Also consider what types of boats are most popular in your area. If you live on a lake that’s used primarily for fishing, you should sell fishing boats in all sizes and at a variety of price points. However, if you live near the ocean where the most popular boat is a luxury yacht, your inventory will be much different. If you don’t have prior boating or sales experience, you should look into purchasing a franchise business. A franchise will come with training and support that will help you get started in this industry. Regardless of what type of boats you carry, you should also carry a variety of jet skis (also called personal watercraft). Jet skis are popular on every lake and off the coast of every ocean and they offer water lovers a more affordable option for getting on the water. In addition to sales, you could also offer boat and jet ski rental as well as boat and jet ski repairs as a way to bring in more customers. If you are not qualified to do the repairs yourself, you should hire an expert boat repair specialist to work for you. As the storeowner, you need to be free to help customers, deal with distributors and manage the daily administration of your business. If you offer unique products and excellent customer service, your boat and jet ski dealership will soon be the go-to store for anyone in your area.

A Day in the Life of a Jet Ski and Boating Business Owner:

Your day will begin by opening your store and welcoming customers. You will spend your day helping customers with questions about their boating needs and hopefully making some sales. You or your staff will handle repair orders and you will coordinate repairs with your repair personnel. You will likely spend some time on the phone with manufacturers and distributors arranging delivery of new items for you to sell.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals looking to purchase or rent boats and jet skis.

What You Need to Start:

• Boating and jet ski business plan
• Storefront
• Franchise (optional)
• Marketing plan
• Inventory of watercraft
• Repair personnel
• Sales and administrative staff
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• In areas near water, boating is big business.
• You can increase sales by offering repairs as well.
• You can hire a staff to do most of the work for you.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.

The Bad:

• The start-up investment is high.
• Depending on the climate you live in, boating can be a seasonal business.

Resources:

• American Boating Association
• National Marine Manufacturers Association
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Boat Dealers
• Wikipedia on Jet Skis

Technorati Tags: jet ski business plan, starting a jet ski & boating business

Business Overview:

Learning how to open a yogurt shop is a terrific way to take advantage of the latest health craze while also offering customers a delicious treat. Traditionally, frozen yogurt is considered healthier than ice cream because it is lower in fat and calories. The latest trend, however, is to offer yogurt that contains live cultures which have benefits far beyond simply being healthier. Live cultures, also called probiotics, are healthy bacteria that are necessary for the health of the large intestine. Probiotics can also improve lactose intolerance, boost immunity and help the body absorb vitamins. As you can see, learning how to start a yogurt shop is one of the most health-conscious business ideas available today. Be sure to draw up a solid business plan to help you focus your efforts and decide if you want to purchase a franchise business. A franchise will come with just about everything you need to get started including marketing assistance, furniture, supplies and relationships with distributors. If you’re interested in starting a yogurt shop with your own recipes and want to put your own spin on frozen yogurt, a franchise might be too limiting for you. In either case, you will need to have a storefront with a lot of foot traffic or auto traffic. Putting a small shop in an outdoor mall nestled between boutiques and coffee shops will bring plenty of foot traffic through your doors. If there is room, put some tables outside so passersby can see your customers enjoying their yogurt. Having a store on a busy street will attract hungry drivers; you could even offer a drive-thru to keep your customers on the go. When you are ready to open your doors, consider having a grand opening event with large signs, balloons and free samples. Distribute fliers around town and ask neighboring businesses to tell their customers about the great new shop around the corner. If your products are delicious and unique, word of mouth will be your best advertisement.

A Day in the Life of a Yogurt Shop Owner:

Your day will begin before your shop opens. You will need to stock your yogurt cases with the day’s specials and make sure your menu is correct. If you offer other items like coffee and soda, you’ll need to get the coffee going and make sure the ice machine is full. If you have a staff working for you, you can concentrate on customer satisfaction and ensure the smooth running of your shop.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals who enjoy frozen yogurt for a sweet treat or due to the health benefits it offers.

What You Need to Start:

• Yogurt shop business plan
• Marketing plan and materials
• Storefront
• Franchise (optional)
• Refrigerator/freezer cases
• Serving items (cups, bowls, spoons, etc.)
• Yogurt (either from a distributor or you can make your own)
• Toppings and mixes (fruit, granola, etc.)
• Other menu items (coffee, soda, etc.)
• Tables and chairs
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• Yogurt shops are very popular these days due to health benefits yogurt offers.
• A yogurt shop is a fun, casual work environment.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• You can hire a staff to do most of the work for you.

The Bad:

• The start-up investment is high.
• Your products need to be unique to set yourself apart from competitors.

Resources:

• National Yogurt Association
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Food Service Managers
• Wikipedia on Frozen Yogurt
• Wikipedia on Probiotics

Technorati Tags: how to open a yogurt shop, how to start a yogurt shop, yogurt shop business plan

Business Overview:

If you have a passion for sewing and enjoy helping people look better in their clothes, you should learn how to start an alteration business. Having experience in alterations, perhaps working for a tailor shop, will help immensely when you open your own shop. If you know how to sew but aren’t skilled in altering clothing, you can attend classes or learn from books the different areas of expertise you’ll need to open an alterations shop. You will need to know the basics like how to hem pants and skirts as well as more advanced projects like working with seams and zippers. An alteration business is one of the many business ideas you can operate from home if you set up your space properly. You’ll need an entire room dedicated to your business, preferably in the front of your house, as well as a dressing area for your customers. This can be a walk-in closet, bathroom or just a corner of the room with a curtain. You will also need a raised platform, full-length mirrors and a large table on which you will mark and cut fabric. Be sure to stock up on sewing notions like thread, pins, buttons, and zippers. Of course you can make a quick trip to the local fabric store for more unique supplies but having a good stock of notions on hand will ensure a faster turn-around time for your clients. Depending on your experience, you may choose to focus on a specific niche such as wedding gowns or suits. Once your business model is established, print up some fliers and distribute them around town. Concentrate on areas your target market frequents like clothing stores or dry cleaners. Also place an ad in the phone book to attract new business. As business picks up, you could recruit other home alterations experts to work from their homes. You would then need to work out a pick-up/delivery system to get the items to their homes and then back to you for clients to pick up. To really boost customer service and increase profits, consider offering delivery of altered items to the customers’ homes or offices. If time allows, you could do this yourself or you could hire a service to handle it for you. You’ll find that once you get a few customers, not only will they give you their repeat business but they’ll tell their friends and you’ll start to see plenty of referral business as well.

A Day in the Life of an Alteration Business Owner:

Your day will begin by getting to work on any alterations you need to finish up. Unless your customers schedule appointments, you will spend your day helping walk-in customers. You can choose your own hours and operate this business part-time but you will need to have set hours that your business is open and be available to help customers during those hours. You will likely work on projects after your shop closes for the day.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals in need of expert alteration services.

What You Need to Start:

• Sewing skills
• Marketing materials
• Dedicated area in your home to serve as your shop
• Platform
• Full-length mirrors
• Sewing machine
• Sewing notions
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• There will always be a high demand for alterations services.
• The start-up investment needed for this business is low.
• You can easily run this business part-time and from home.
• This business is easily scalable so you can add alterations experts to work for you as business demands.
• You can offer additional services like pick-up and delivery to boost profits.

The Bad:

• Competition is high in this industry.
• It can take some time to attract your first few clients.

Resources:

• Custom Tailors and Designers Association
• Sewing and Craft Alliance
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Textile, Apparel and Furnishings Occupations
• Wikipedia on Tailors

Technorati Tags: how to start an alteration business

Business Overview:

Learn how to open a maternity & children’s consignment shop and help expectant mothers and new moms find the clothes, toys and accessories they’re looking for. Buying clothing can get expensive especially when you need a new size every few weeks. That’s the reality for pregnant women when shopping for maternity wear. And expectant mothers need an entirely new wardrobe in various sizes that will get them through nine months of work, play, sleep and exercise. Likewise, mothers of growing children can appreciate how quickly their kids outgrow an article of clothing and it’s back to the store for a bigger size. This is why consignment shops are such great business ideas and why you should look into opening one that caters to pregnant women and moms. After a baby is born, the mother soon returns to her pre-pregnancy size and her maternity wardrobe goes into a box where it sits and gathers dust. Meanwhile a newly pregnant woman is facing months of buying new clothes that she will only need for a short time. Why not have a place that benefits both of these women and makes you a profit as well? Unlike a resale store that purchases items up front from the seller, selling maternity clothing on consignment means a woman would give you her maternity wear and when you sell it, you would pay her a portion of the profit. Same concept for children’s clothing – moms would bring in clothes their kids had outgrown, you would sell it and give them a portion of the sale. Consignment is a great way for people to get items out of their homes and make some money on the side. Owning a consignment shop means that you don’t have to buy anything to sell and everything you do sell will earn you a profit. And there are many other items other than clothing that you can sell at your consignment shop. Toys and baby gear like bouncers, high chairs, car seats, etc. are items that typically take up space in parents’ homes and they are glad to sell them when their kids outgrow them. Market your business in local parenting magazines and in the newspaper. Put fliers up in grocery stores, libraries, parks, fitness centers and anywhere you know expectant moms and new moms gather. Contact any moms you know and ask if they will bring you some of their old items to stock your store and attract customers. Have a clear consignment policy drawn up so you can easily explain how the system works and when your consignors can expect to be paid. Designer maternity clothing and kids’ clothes are expensive. Giving customers the opportunity to buy gently used items at a major discount will bring your business major profits.

A Day in the Life of a Maternity & Child Consignment Shop Owner:

You will spend the majority of your day helping customers find items they are looking for. You will also accept items from consignors (either by appointment or you can accept walk-ins) and you will process these items and get them on the floor for sale. You will contact consignors when their items sell and arrange payment to them. At the end of the day you’ll want to attend to your finances and close up your shop.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals looking for high quality, gently used maternity and children’s clothing, baby gear and accessories. You will also work with individuals wanting to sell their items on consignment.

What You Need to Start:

• Business plan
• Storefront
• Starter inventory of items (yours or from friends)
• Marketing plan and materials
• Staff (optional)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• There will always be a market for discounted maternity wear and children’s items.
• Since you don’t have to purchase the items up front, your sales are all profit (some of which goes to the owner of the items).
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• You are likely to see repeat customers who buy items and then bring them back to sell on consignment later.
• You don’t need any training or experience to start a consignment shop.

The Bad:

• The start-up investment is relatively high.
• You will need to build your inventory before you can expect to sell any items.

Resources:

• Association of Resale Professionals
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Clothing, Accessory and General Merchandise Stores
• Wikipedia on Consignment

Technorati Tags: how to open a maternity & children's consignment shop

Business Overview:

If you’re a stickler for safety and want to operate a business that helps protect little ones in their homes, learn how to start a baby proofing business. The baby proofing industry is booming with every new mother wanting to keep her newborn or toddler safe from every harmful possibility. You’ll find that this is one of the smartest part-time business ideas to explore because there will never be a shortage of new moms needing help. Before you start advertising your new business, you need to do some research. Start by baby proofing your entire house, top to bottom. Evaluate different products and decide which work best and which are easiest to use. Toilet locks, for example, come in many different varieties and some are just as difficult for adults to figure out as they are for toddlers. Once you have a list of your favorite products, you can move on to your pricing list. You’ll want to have a variety of packages to fit the needs of different families. Include a price for baby proofing the entire house. This would include a home visit and consultation followed by a plan of action and installation of all the safety items. Not every family will need this type of full service package, however. They may just need the electrical outlets changed out or bumper pads placed on all the sharp corners around the house. Having pricing for the individual services will make your job easier since you won’t have to come up with a price every time. You will need to tweak your pricing list as you go when you have a better idea of what services are needed. If you already run a pregnancy planning business or you specialize in interior design for nurseries and baby proofing is not one of the services you provide, consider adding it to boost your profits. Market your new business with newspaper ads and ads in local family magazines. Look for safety expos in baby stores where you can hand out business cards and show customers what your business offers. Talk to area hospitals to see if you can include a business card in the take-home packets they give to new moms. Keeping babies and toddlers safe is a top priority for parents and offering excellent baby proofing services will help you build a successful business.

A Day in the Life of a Baby Proofing Business Owner:

If you have appointments, you will need to make sure you have all the necessary safety equipment then you will travel to your client’s home and perform the installation. If you do not have any appointments, you will spend your day handing out business cards and looking for new ways to advertise. You may also participate in a safety expo in which case you would need to bring various safety items to display as well as copies of your price list and explanation of services you offer. You will also need to visit local baby stores from time to time to evaluate any new products that have recently come on the market.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be parents needing assistance in making their homes safe for their children.

What You Need to Start:

• Excellent attention to detail
• Familiarity with baby proofing products
• Vehicle
• Marketing materials
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• Start-up costs are minimal.
• No training or certification is required.
• It’s rewarding to take some of the burden off of a new parent.
• You do not need a storefront for this business.
• You can easily run this business part-time.

The Bad:

• It can take some time to get your first few clients.
• Some parents do their own baby proofing so it may be difficult to sell your services to the do-it-yourself type parents.

Resources:

• International Association for Child Safety
• Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association
• Safe Kids USA
• Wikipedia on Childproofing

Technorati Tags: how to start a baby proofing business

Business Overview:

If you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding business that will bring great benefits to employers, you should learn how to start a drug testing business. Drug use in the workplace results in a higher frequency of on-the-job injuries and consequently higher workman’s compensation premiums and medical bills. It also causes higher rates of absenteeism and theft as well as a loss of productivity. These days employers cannot afford to keep someone on staff who is not extremely productive, punctual and safe. It is becoming standard practice for employers to perform background checks and drug screening on all new employees. They may also choose to perform random drug testing on current employees. It is for these reasons that a drug testing business is one of the most popular business ideas out there. If you do not have prior experience with drug testing methods, techniques and equipment, you will need to be properly trained. Purchasing a franchise is an excellent way to get this training and become a certified drug tester. Franchise fees for this type of business are actually much lower than for other businesses, making it more affordable to start your own turnkey drug testing business. Other than training, a franchise owner will receive marketing assistance, leads and ongoing support. However, it is possible to start this business without owning a franchise. You’ll want to market your business to area office managers and human resources representatives. Explain that you and your staff will come to the client’s office to perform the drug testing so it will be convenient for the employees. If you also choose to offer private drug testing for families, consider partnering with local family counselors who can direct parents to your business if they suspect their kids have a drug problem. Another market you could target is the school athletic system. High school and college administrators need to ensure their athletes are drug-free in order to be eligible to play sports. Unfortunately, drugs continue to be a problem in our society and a business that conducts affordable, confidential and convenient drug testing is needed now more than ever.

A Day in the Life of a Drug Testing Business Owner:

Your day will begin with a check of your appointments. You and your staff will gather your equipment and testing supplies and meet your clients at their offices, homes or schools. You will collect samples from employees or other individuals and travel back to your office to do the testing. Once you have the results, you will contact the client. You will also take calls throughout the day and schedule testing appointments with employers and families.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be employers and human resource managers needing drug testing for their employees, families needing drug testing for their children and possibly school administrators needing drug testing for student athletes.

What You Need to Start:

• Training (certification preferred)
• Testing supplies
• Office (or area to perform the testing)
• Vehicle (to travel to clients’ locations)
• Staff (optional)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• Drug testing is becoming more popular and more necessary in the workplace.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• Franchise fees are relatively low.
• It’s rewarding to know you’re providing a useful service.
• You are likely to get repeat business from employers when they hire new employees or perform random drug screenings.

The Bad:

• You will need to be trained to do the drug testing properly.
• You must be highly organized in order to keep your samples from getting mixed up.

Resources:

• Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association
• NCAA Drug Testing Program
• The Substance Abuse Program Administrators Association
• Wikipedia on Drug Tests

Technorati Tags: how to start a drug testing business

Business Overview:

If you’re looking for a great part-time business that takes care of the heavy lifting for other businesses and homeowners, consider starting a hauling service. When an office changes locations or experiences downsizing, many items need to be disposed of like broken furniture, old file cabinets and outdated computers. A professional hauling service can take care of the moving, disposal or recycling of these items so the office manager can focus on his employees. Homeowners renovating their homes often have huge unattractive dumpsters sit in their driveways for weeks. Having an alternative like your business would be much appreciated by not only the homeowners but their neighbors as well. A hauling service is one of those business ideas that can go in many different directions so it’s important to accurately outline your service list before you start your business. You could focus on residential clients or corporate offices. You could specialize in recycling computers and other electronic items. Another option to consider is purchasing a franchise business. Although more costly than starting a business from the ground up, a franchise will come with branding, marketing, a proven system, training and quite possibly vehicles that will get your business going quickly. Once you’re ready to start going after clients, think about forming partnerships with relocation services or office managers in your area. Depending on your target market, these professionals can help direct business your way when their clients need some help with a move. Realtors will also be valuable contacts to have since they will likely need junk removal assistance when readying a home to sell. If they handle foreclosures or abandoned homes, typically there are a lot of useless items that need to be removed. Your trucks will also help get the word out about your new business. It’s a good idea to also have a website that explains exactly what you do and how much your services cost. Once you get your first few clients, your excellent work and customer service will get you plenty of referrals and even repeat business down the road. You may soon need to add to your fleet to handle the hauling demand.

A Day in the Life of a Hauling Service Business Owner:

Your day will begin with a check of any appointments. You and your team will meet your clients on site and haul off the items they don’t have use for. You will then properly dispose of or recycle these items. You will also take calls throughout the day from prospective customers with whom you will discuss your services and set appointments. At the end of the day you will ensure your trucks are clean and ready for work the next day.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be homeowners, apartment managers, office managers or anyone who needs help hauling items away from a location and properly disposing of them.

What You Need to Start:

• Business plan
• Marketing plan
• Financing
• Franchise (optional)
• Staff
• Trucks
• Equipment and supplies (dollies, trash bags, etc.)
• Website (optional)
• License and insurance
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• People will always need items hauled away and will gladly pay someone else to do it.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• You can easily run this business part-time.
• You can hire a staff to do the work for you.
• The right contacts can earn you repeat business.

The Bad:

• The start-up investment is high.
• It can take some time to turn a profit.

Resources:

• National Recycling Coalition
• International Association of Electronics Recyclers
• Wikipedia on Electronic Waste

Technorati Tags: starting a hauling service

Business Overview:

If you enjoy working with your hands and find satisfaction in making people’s memories last a lifetime, you should start a picture framing business. Picture frames are needed for everything from fine art and diplomas to posters and snapshots and can be made in any size. Operating a framing store that offers customers plenty of frame choices as well as excellent customer service can turn a hobby into a lucrative business idea. In order to have a large enough display area to properly show all your frame options, you will need to have a storefront. You should look for a location in a high traffic area, perhaps in a mall or outdoor shopping center. People love one-stop-shopping and if they can get a piece of art framed on the way to buy their child some shoes, they’re more likely to stop in. If you’re unsure how to start a picture framing business, you should look into purchasing a franchise. This will be a more costly investment but the benefits are huge. A franchise will come with training so you don’t need to have any prior experience in framing. You will also receive branding, marketing assistance, equipment and materials. Very few decisions need to be made when starting up a franchise which is great if you’re ready to get right down to business. However, if you’re interested in a more unique framing shop that perhaps caters to fine art, personally selecting each frame for your store would be important to your business model and a franchise wouldn’t be the best option. If you already operate an arts and crafts business, you could add framing to your services to bring in more customers. You can quickly learn this skill by reading a how-to book and practicing with a few pieces of your own before handling others’ art and photographs. Market your business by placing ads in the phone book and in magazines that cater to your market. If you specialize in framing large pieces, try to contract your services with a local art gallery so you can handle all of the framing for their business. They can also refer local artists to you for their framing needs. With excellent selection, skills and service, a framing business can be fun, exciting and quite lucrative.

A Day in the Life of a Picture Framing Business Owner:

Your day will begin by opening your store. You will help customers throughout the day with their framing needs. If you have a staff person helping you, you can work on framing during business hours while your employee mans the front of the store. You can also train your staff to do the framing as it’s a skill that many people are eager to learn. At the close of the day you’ll want to check your inventory and take of the finances to be ready for the following day.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals who need excellent framing services for their art, documents and photos.

What You Need to Start:

• Picture framing business plan
• Marketing plan
• Storefront
• Frames and mattes
• Framing skills (or you can hire an experienced framer)
• Equipment and other supplies
• Staff (optional)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• The demand for custom frames will always be high.
• You can charge top dollar for excellent framing services.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• You get to work with interesting people and unique art pieces.
• Excellent service will earn you repeat business.

The Bad:

• The start-up investment is high.
• It can take some time to build your client base.

Resources:

• New England Professional Picture Framers Association
• Professional Picture Framers Association
• Bureau of Labor and Statistics Article on Framers
• Wikipedia on Picture Frames

Technorati Tags: how to start a picture framing business, picture framing business plan, start a picture framing business