We are on the last quarter of the year and while business are still desperately trying to reach their quota and forecasts, some are already planning for 2010. With a down economy in 2009, all businesses are emphatic that the economic recession is bound to end soon. And hopefully that will come in 2010 although nothing has been definite as of yet. But it never hurts to plan right?
Among the business planning alternatives being done at the moment include budgeting and the new marketing strategies for the coming year. As they say, there is nowhere else to go but up and for sure, a lot of top management honchos are putting their minds together to make sure that they have something to look forward to. With some of the biggest names declaring bankruptcy or looking for buyers this year, these are the things standing organizations want to avoid. And while many organizations are continuously cutting bonuses, laying off workers and trying to make do with sufficient funds, you can bet that this conservatism measures will be carried on to the next year.
If there is a time that makes it hard to make the necessary business planning for companies, it has to be for the current 2010. No one knows what will happen in the coming year and while many share optimism and hope, the confidence level of business organizations is still not at 100%. But then again, they can always append their business plan if management deems it fit to do so for the sake of improving corporate operations.
Hotdog is one of the most favorite foods of kids. That is why selling hotdog considered as a good business. Hotdog cart industry is growing for the reasons; it is easy to set-up, low capital but high profits, recession free and most of all hotdog is all time favorite, thus it is easy and fast to sell.
Starting guide:
- Choose the best locations for your cart. There are many possible locations for this business to name a few are schools, festivals, event fairs, construction sites, in front or near office establishments and wet market.
- Be ready with your equipment and supplies. Research for the cheapest suppliers of equipment and supplies but make sure to check their quality.
- Prepare your approximate financial investment to be use in the business. List down all things that needed to purchase, and then canvass the prices for your reference. It is best to plan ahead to avoid financial shortage.
- Secure a vendor’s permit in your local community. It is good to operate legally.
- Prepare a food costing. This will help you determine how much will be your revenue and will help you to plan the product pricing.
- Attend seminars, being updated in this business may help you to survive and make a good profit to this business
- Plan how you will present your product to the customers. Make it simple, clean and presentable to lessen the food cost expenses thus you can sell your hotdog in a low price.
- Find ways on how can you make a free advertisement for your hotdog cart to your target consumers.
- Be good in servicing your customers; make sure you satisfied them so that they will some back again.
- People can buy hotdog anywhere. So make sure you make yours special. The battle is the cooking process and the sauce that you prepare. I suggest you research for the best recipe for your sauce. Experiment, offer a food test to the public and make a survey for the best one.
Things that you need to prepare; Food cart, Hotdog supplier, Hotdog stick supplier, Hotdog sauce recipe, Food cart signage, Drinks and other needed equipments.
Internet café is a good business to those who have a passion with desktop and internet. This business merely requires a minimal capital. What does the industry all about? The company provided a space with units of computers and internet line and let the customers used the computer and internet access with some food and drinks to serve in exchange to a standard fee.
What are the requirements needed in setting-up an internet café?
- Business plan, this will discuss the number of computer units you will provide for the business, may also involve the location of the shop, the marketing strategy including banner, company name, the shop design and the likes.
- Prepare and accomplish necessary permits, to avoid interruption in operating the business, you must get all the needed permits most specially the license for the software that you are going to use,
- Start-up capital, be sure to have enough capital in starting up the business, covering operating costs, such as internet provider, electricity, telephone and others.
- Prepare a business model and revenue assumptions to oversee the monthly income of the business and the estimated time for return of investment.
- Tables, chairs, and other computer accessories such as printer, mouse, camera, and headphone these things are very important to the business.
- Electronic billing system, this will help you to track the usage and manage to monitor the revenue
- Lists of available foods and drinks to serve
Internet café business is easy to operate, that is the reason why many people are into this business. The question is how you will stand out in the industry. Be updated with the technology may help. Know some technical and networking knowledge. Make sure that you are in standard rental fee in your community and make it lower if possible. Make a promo; it can catch an interest of the customers. Design your place that will make them comfortable; this will make them stay longer in your place. Be nice and approachable; good customer service is one of the key of the successful business.
Cleaning service divided into two-market area. The commercial, which offers the janitorial services and the consumer, which deal with residential made services. You can choose your target market, or you can offer both services.
Few companies are offering this service, but the possibility to grow the industry is high. The cleaning service considered as one of the business who only needs small amount of capital. In fact, for starter, you can use your home as your office.
Things needed in starting up a cleaning service:
- Determine your target market
- Plan the type of service you want to offer
- Write a business plan
- Determine the effective and low-cost marketing strategy
- Choose the location of your office (you can set-up your home as a temporary office)
- Prepare cleaning materials, look and sort for the good suppliers.
- Secure necessary permits
- If you only have few clients and you have the interest and the heart to do the cleaning, do it on your own to minimize expenses. Nevertheless, when your company is starting to grow, look for the best and efficient work force.
- Prepare a good contract and competitive Pricing
Competition is tough in every business. In this industry, the organization does not have any products to sell, what you need to market is the service, which is hard and a very competitive one. The main factor that you need to consider is the client-satisfaction. The question is how to satisfy your client?
- It is a matter of a good service; find ways on how to give a good service, study and know every clients needs and how they want the service done.
- Minimize complaints, it is always better to hear a good feedback than hearing a complain from your clients, always assured that everything is in order whenever there is a client call. Make your workers always-available 24/7 to avoid delaying factor, make sure you a have a complete set of cleaning materials and always have an extra set.
- Make your service unique, this will help to prolong the contract
- Be updated with new technology (cleaning materials)
- Prepare the variety of choices for your services
What is catering? It is a way of supplying foods and services to an event. This business has a lower starting capital than a conventional restaurant. The start-up cost of operating a catering business will depend on what equipment and kitchen utensils are you going to buy for your kitchen. If you do not have enough money, you can look for a business establishment who are into equipment/kitchen utensils renting business and you can use your house as a commissary to minimize your expenses.
Basic needs in operating a catering business:
- Business plan – This would be needed in starting not only in catering, but also in all kinds of business. If you do have a good business plan and you implement your plan accordingly, there would be a high percentage for the business to succeed.
- Kitchen / commissary – It is a necessary and a very important factor in starting this business.
- Kitchen utensils and equipment – You can easily operate the business if you do have a complete kitchen equipment and utensils, even if you just rent those things
- Tables, chairs, tablecloth and the likes – These are the basic and important things that are needed to acquire before starting the catering operation.
- Delivery car – If you do not have enough money to purchase a car, you can always have it rented. The important thing is you deliver your food in an organized and best way that you can.
- Efficient employee’s – the number of employee’s or assistants needed will be based on how big is your project, but surely you will be needed a waiter, cook, driver (if you do not know how to drive), and a janitor.
- Menu list or course menu – you should be ready with what to offer with your future clients.
- Pricing and quotation – this would be planned well; you do need to research and survey for the competitors price. Be competitive in offering a quotation, especially if you are new to the industry.
- Suppliers – Research and look for a cheaper but has a good quality products supplier. Do not get rush in completing your needed things to comply the business. Remember that time is gold, and the customers do not need an incompetent and undependable caterer.
The industry of a catering business is getting big, for the reasons of high possible income and a potential growth of the business, mainly because food is one of our basic needs. That is the reason why numerous people are saying that food is a good and profitable business.
