Step 1: Attend several Dale Carnigie style Sales motivational training courses.

Step 2: Visit new construction sites and offer to do Basic Phone/Cable/Network jacks a $24.75 a pop. Builders love to save money.

Step 3: After several of these jobs, you'll be in debt to a point where you will want to heavily discount a large project your quoting against just to get the deal.

Step 4: Use deposit on above system to pay off outstanding debt.

Step 5: Continue using steps 2/3 to pay for the last job you did with the new jobs deposite money.

Step 6: In an attempt to get ahead, take on a project(That you quoted with the hope of making about $32 profit) or 2 that you have no business looking at (Advanced Automation is a great place to jump to)

Step 6:Fail Misrebly at project, THis includes, but is not limited to,
Substituting products like a Faroudja scaler for a DVDO without client consent.
Fail to get the [insert automation you quoted here] account you figured you could get and thus have no product for the client
Raise the price quoted significantly for completion... Labor ran over for various reasons... You failed to include [insert varouns components here], but need it to complete job....

Step 7: File Bancruptcy, Destroy any signage, business cards, letterhead you may have had, close up shop, disconnect cell phone and dissapear for 3 months minimum

Step 8: Refile business under new name and start over

OR

Step 8b: Go back to work for someone.


This seems to be the trend here in Chicago anyway. Seems like a pretty good play.

Let me ask you something.............

Did you do ANY research or a Business plan before going out on your own??? The Marketing Plan should be the number one priority in your business plan. And a successful business NEEDS a plan.

Asking for advice from other dealers is NOT going to net you many good suggestions more than likely. Talk to Reps and suppliers first.