A scenario to increase my cash flow problems

Thanks, Rob. You got me thinking.

In fact, I'd go a 30% or 40% return. As long as the numbers work.

You see, during the first year I have to pay commissions, pay for the printing, and purchase the displays. But for the following years, for each advertiser that resigns (and on a payment program, most would) there is very little expenditure that I have to make.

The first year is all about getting it set up. So up to or even a bit beyond breakeven is fine by me, I'll make my profits during the next year, and the next, and the next.

A payment program would help me to get as many as possible up and going as quickly as possible, and an investor would give me the cash flow that I needed for the first year.

Hell, I'd even give away a part of the business.

10 salesreps completing just 1 location a month, would be 120 locations in a year. 120 locations times $1500 profit for each of the following years is $180,000 per year. Year after year.

These aren't figures I've just pulled from the air either. On my own, I'm doing a little better than 1 location a month and $1500 profit, and that's without monthly payments.

Sorry, Don. Not giving it away.

I've already got competitors out there, I don't need more.

However, I will say that it's something that has already been posted on this forum. It's just that I made a bit of an improvement over what everyone else is offering.

How do I know it's an improvement?...because I've replaced two similiar displays which were entrenched in the locations already. The location simply liked mine better.

The point for anyone reading this, is that anyone can create a business, just look around, read these forums, pick your target, and do it.

Which is not to say that it will work the first time. I tried a marketing concept out on oil change places, it showed them how by making incremental (small) increases in four seperate areas of their business, they would increase overall revenues by 30% or more. They all loved it! The problem (at least in Michigan) is that no could afford it (minimum $5000 to get started.)

Yes, I was dissapointed at the time, but then I tried something else and it struck a nerve.