I'm trying my hand at being a "finder"...
 

The way I'm doing it is based on contacts. We have wealthy overseas entrepreneurs looking to buy or license technology which they can then bring overseas, to sell or manufacture.

We have our first potential client, and found some possible candidate businesses which may have what he's looking for.

I don't know how this will play out in this case, but there's money to be made here...

However, to do it well you need to know two things, I would say:

1. you need to be good at the "contacts" game, and
2. you need to know about "toll positions" (so you don't end up getting screwed)!

I'm doing this with a partner, who is a master at having amazing contacts... On the other hand I know quite a bit about toll positions, so we'll see how this works out...!

Best wishes,

Dien

I like the sound of this...
 

Hi Dien,

Thanks for sharing.

For some reason, I've sort of avoided the
"finder" business.

Maybe because at first blush, there
doesn't seem to be a way to create some kind
of toll position.

Your post is making me have a re-think.

"To be the link between SUPPLY and DEMAND"

How would you do it for, say, a
finance-providing "toll position"?

There are tons of people out there looking
for loans/capital (DEMAND)

And on the other end are a few folks with
loose cash seeking ROI (SUPPLY)

How would you tie this up?

From where I sit, I could put up ads to
attract leads seeking capital. That seems
clear enough.

Now...

How would you get the people with the cash
and tie it up so you don't get screwed?

Thank you

Duh! What was I thinking?
 

Of course you'll put up ANOTHER ad to attract
investors!

Wow! I must be tired from looking at the laptop
screen all day...

Another kind of "toll position"...
 

Hi unpinkpanther,

Good contacts are a kind of toll position...

By "contacts" I don't just mean you can look them up in a phone book. I mean you have a relationship with them...

For example, if there's a guy, call him Joe, who's a multi-multi-millionaire, and wants to invest some money. Let's also say you have a friend, Wendy, who has a startup company making money, but she needs more investors.

If you call Joe up, and he's never heard of you before, what's the chance he's going to listen to your proposal? Probably pretty close to zero!

But... If Joe knows you and trusts you, and you call him up with a proposal, what's the chance he'll at least listen to you, and consider what you say? It's a heck of a lot better!

These relationships are a kind of "toll position"... Because they are not easy to get, and it takes time to build up many of these kinds of relationships. But, they can be valuable... They are literally worth money, if you know how to use them (in a way where you don't "burn" them, which usually means taking a "win/win" approach)...

I hope that helps to answer your question! :)

Best wishes,

Dien