Strategy/Systems
Tools to Map out your Perfect Business Plan
Here is a list of several tools, both FREE and Paid that you can use to map out your perfect business plan. The tools are designed to help you get the most out of your strategy session, along with being very user friendly. As you can see if you scroll down the page, I've listed the benefits of each, along with their cost. Without further delay, here they are:
This is a Premium Article. Please either login or Activate a 15 day FREE Trial to view this article.
The Perfect Business Model
What if you had the perfect business model? What if you knew exactly who your target clients were? How would you market to them? How would you capture their information? How would you educate them and nurture them about your product or services? How can you get referrals out of your clients? You have questions, at brianjambor.com we have answers! (more...)
Top 40 CRMs on the Market
Unless you only have 1 client whom you do business with only once a year, you need a contact relationship management system (CRM). There are hundreds (Probably thousands if I had to guess) of CRM systems, each with specific features designed for specific needs. How can you know which one is the best for you and your business? Simple! We've found a Top 40 CRM Guide that you can download for FREE. Access it below...
This is a Premium Article. Please either login or Activate a 15 day FREE Trial to view this article.
Creating a Passive Revenue Stream
Have you ever heard of those mom-bloggers? You know, the moms that stay at home and blog and make 6 figures doing it? Have you heard of the gurus that leave on a 21 day vacation and while they were gone their business made more money than it had in the previous 2 months? Have you ever wanted to be financially free? You need a passive income stream, and here is how you build one...
This is a Premium Article. Please either login or Activate a 15 day FREE Trial to view this article.
Finding the right Merchant Gateway
If you're a small business owner, and you want to sell stuff online, odds are you're going to need a merchant gateway. A merchant gateway is a payment network that accepts and processes credit cards. Once the merchant gateway has processed the credit card, the funds are deposited into your bank account.
What fees are commonly associated with a merchant gateway you ask? There are several, so bear with me while I explain them...:
Setup fee - Most merchant gateways have some sort of setup/activation fee. Setup/Activation fees can rage from $0 to thousands depending on your transaction volume.
Monthly minimum - Many merchant gateways have a monthly minimum fee they charge you. This monthly minimum in some cases is waived if you meet minimum requirements for the number of transactions you process in a month.
The Rate - This is what most people evaluate when they are looking for a merchant gateway provider. The rate is actually composed of a few pieces. When you charge someone, typically a merchant gateway will charge you a percentage of the sale (anywhere from 1% - 3.5% and often they will charge you a flat rate as part of the sale.
Example: 2.3% + 0.15 per transaction.
When looking for a merchant gateway, keep the following in mind:
- Do they offer great customer service?
- Do they have anti-fraud tools to cover you from accidentally taking a stolen card
- Do they offer a competitive rate based on your business?
- Do they offer an online merchant gateway?
(You'll want a merchant account that includes a "gateway") - Do they offer technical support, and if so, what are their hours of support?
- Does support cost extra?
- How much is their monthly minimum?
- Do they have many customers in your same industry?
(Often if they don't, you might not get the best rate) - Do they offer an API so you can hook the transactions to outside systems?
I have worked with a few merchant providers over the years, and I highly recommend the following:
Bluepay.com
Payleap.com
Squareup.com (For mobile payments)
Both Bluepay and Payleap offer very low monthly minimums and moderate rates, great for a business just getting started. Squareup is a mobile payment processor that allows you to take payments right from your cell phone. If you attend a lot of trade shows and sell things there, I highly recommend Squareup.
A close third in the mobile payment arena is a device that was created by Intuit (The same company that makes quickbooks) called:
So do your due diligence, as there are thousands of merchant gateway providers out there. If you follow the above guidelines, you'll choose a good one in no time.
Picking out the right Webhost for your Website
There are literally thousands of web hosting companies online that would be more than eager to have your business. Choosing the right web host is critical, because if you choose wrong, you will pay dearly with site outages and no one to help you with your technical support questions. There are several things you should look for and consider when choosing a web host. In no particular order, here they are:
This is a Premium Article. Please either login or Activate a 15 day FREE Trial to view this article.