Starting a Mobile Auto Detailing Business sounds rather simple, right? You go get yourself a plastic water tank, pressure washer and some supplies and since everyone has a car getting customers ought to be rather easy. In essence this is all true however if you want to be profitable and make the most amount of money it is a little more complicated than that really. Having been in the Mobile Auto Detailing Business for decades we have learned all the secrets to maintaining efficiency and hence we have written them down.

In my many articles on this topic you will find strategies for getting your clientele, enhancing word-of-mouth advertising, acquiring referrals, designing brochures, preventing equipment failure, clustering accounts and working in winter weather. Many of the tips you will find nowhere else, as we have discovered most of these concepts thru trial and error and learning the hard way. You should use these articles as a manual and as an exercise in thinking as you prepare your business plan and marketing strategy.

Our company started out as a small company and then grew hiring Independent Contractors operating 53 units in 39 cities. Eventually we broke the company into two different companies and called them The Car Wash Guys (www.CarWashGuys.com) and The Detail Guys and Detail Gals . We then franchised these companies in 450 cities, 110 markets, 23-states and 4-countries. Today I am retired and whereas we do not sell these franchises anymore, I wish to depart knowledge to the industry.

I wish to thank you for reading this article, as I know there are many other books out there that are also quite good on this subject; how do I know? Well, I have read them all too, in fact, whereas I did gain knowledge in reading each of them, I felt something was lacking and thus decided to write articles on this subject.

As you read these article sets you will understand why I felt this way and you will see the focus on the actual running of the business and not just the detailing of the cars, boats, aircraft, trucks, motorcycles or RVs. Although this is my first actual article on the subject for 2007, as I have written 1000s of pages of company manuals, I am quite certain it will not be my last. Perhaps this article is of interest to propel thought in 2007?

Very often we hear people saying "I want to spend more time with my family", or "I want to make extra income to improve my lifestyle". The answer to these wishes is a home based business.

Home based business offers you financial freedom, allows you to earn extra money to enjoy some of life’s little luxuries, and also provides the flexibility such that you are able to spend more quality time with your family. A home based business helps a dream comes true.

There is a great abundance of chances to earn extra income or profits online. However, in spite of the many opportunities that the Internet can offer, not all of them gives long-term achievements. You may come across some that give you the 'quickest and best ways to get rich" schemes, but there are also others that work on fraudulent activities.

In order to consistently earn the extra income that you are looking for, you need perseverance, persistence and motivation. There are other factors that contribute to the achievement of your goals.

To begin, following are some of the important tips that will lead you to a successful and effective home business.

1) Do your homework

It is important that you do the necessary homework about every home business opportunities that you come across. Why? Because there are simply too many home businesses thriving on the Internet. You need to assess and identify which it the one that is suitable for you.

2) Decision Making

Do not let emotions overrule your decision making process. Regardless of the type of home business opportunities, good decision making will help to create a realistic goal. With thoughtful decisions, all other steps will come in systematically and logically.

3) Know the business

To be successful, what is more important than knowing and understanding everything about the home based business? Additional information is readily available on online forums, or from those who have tried home based business.

In summary, you can make that extra income only if you have chosen a good business. You should focus on one business that will bring in profits than trying different home based business with uncertainties.

Home based business primarily refers to any business of production or service that operates and administered from the owner's home. The world over, home base business continues to generate dynamic interest among increasing number of people, of different background and for various interesting reasons.

Most people are basically tired of laboring on the so-called 9AM to 5PM day jobs. They want to stop those hassles they pass through every commuting and set up independently.

Some people just want the kind of freedom that can afford necessities of life only. Some are afraid of being laid off work and want a viable business to fall back on whenever the whistle of 'sack' is blown on them. Some no longer feel appreciated by their bosses and organizations. Some fellows were able to discovered that they posses certain innate talents that could benefit mankind and also land them in a new surge of financial empire.

Others just want to have more time to spend with their family. However, just like you, the general reason is that people want to secure the financial future for themselves and family.

The internet explosive influence on home based business

Since the Internet deputed and got established as the centre point of business growth, it has continued to positively influence the already bourgeois interest for home business among people globally. And I am sure you are one of them! After all, you've been searching for proven ways to use the internet to make sweet dollars in the comfort of your home. Great! This article will guide you towards starting a new home business in which you need absolutely no investment and can earn lucrative income.

Web directory submission is lucrative

Now don't consider it any problem if you are not familiar with directory or article submission, instead, bears in mind that it's a service you can provide. Today, every website owner have fully realized the power, benefits and huge profitability in getting high ranking in major search engines such as google, yahoo and MSN.

While there are many routes to achieve top ranking on search engines, nevertheless, searchers dearly love contents that are informatively written and educative at the same time.

So this informed the 'secret' reasons search engines, especially google.com hold informative contents in high esteem. In other words, the more valuable information available on search engines, the more people will continue to visit them to get answers to their queries. The guys behind the search engines know this; it propels their businesses and increases their popularity among online visitors. In fact, google was able to build (and still building) a mountain of billions upon this concept of providing solid information.

The birth of web directory online

Since it's not possible for the search engines owners to physically provide those informative materials themselves, then, the responsibility fall on the webmasters who want their websites seen on search engine to embark on this task. And equally insist that only websites with solid information must be provided. Those consider lousy are overlooked or banned completely.

But those who comply adequately get their websites' highly ranked on top of the search engines. For example, let's assume you search for "bedding" on google - only those websites with solid contents proofed to give satisfaction to visitors' desires will appear first on top. Now, do you know what this means to those webmasters? A great possibility of making new prospects and customers, strong enquirers, newsletter sign up and sales and more SALES!

Directories help link popularity and search engine visibility. Since one of the main factors being employed by major search engines is called 'Link Popularity' in ranking websites, web directories have sprung up online to catch on this vital trend.

Here is the basic how it works

Directories are similar to yellow pages of all quality websites. If a website is submitted to such directory and accepted, the benefits accruable are mouth-watering. The webmaster will basically enjoy two profound benefits, thus: a) quality one way inbound links, and b) higher position in search engines.

Likewise, a quality article submitted to search engine friendly directory is capable of giving you quality traffic. How? They add inbound links to your site, thereby 'connecting' such websites to search engine recognition. For example, let me use the above keyword "bedding" again. If an article based on that keyword was submitted to quality article directories, and later, a visitor query google with that keyword, then, the chances of that site showing up higher is very high.

Webmasters need directory submission service

I believe your answer is a resounding 'Yes I am ready...' Now in this article, I will not only show you these ideas but will reveal a place you can lay your hands on customers in the next couple of days from now.

At this stage, you're cleared on the fact that directory submission service is highly sought after by webmasters because it's proven to help them improve incoming links, which also produces much needed top ranking in the search engines.

How to get started

Basically, your job entails researching search engine friendly directories, research where webmasters congregates and advertise to them; locate places/job boards where webmasters search for people to submit to directories on their behalf. Though webmasters can be found in many ways, but I advice you limit your search to forums where those who need this service openly admit it.

Here is how to accomplish this task...

1. Firstly search the web for the list of only search engine friendly directories. Visit google and type in keywords such as "viable directories" or "list of directory sites" or "list of best directories" "list of directory" and so on. Carefully wade through the results and chose at least 100 you find most viable. For article directory, simply type in keywords such as "article directories" and "list of article directories" and so on.
2. Carefully read through rules of submission of each directory and note them down with their Page Rank. You must have installed Google Page Rank toolbar which you can download at http://toolbar.google.com/ to find the page rank of the visiting websites.
3. Spend a week to test-drive the directories you select by submitting a test website and an article to them and watch the results. Why should you do this? It will give you a leeway to fully separate the results-oriented directories and also use as testimonial when you're finally ready to roll out your new home based business.

Have you ever dream of engaging in a money making home business instead of working in the office form 8 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon? Making money from home is very convenient. When you are engaged in money making home business, you own your time and you can work whenever you want. You really don’t have to wake up very early in the morning and start your day by battling off the traffic. You can start your working day by simply propping your computer on a pillow and work while wearing your pajamas.

When you are engaged in money making home business, you are not directly accountable to anyone else but yourself. Unlike when you work in the office where you boss would continuously pester you about work and how you are not giving you best effort to make the company richer, you only work for yourself when you are engaged in money making home business. This means that if you are lazy and do not work enough, then you will not have much income but if you work hard and put in some extra hours of work, then you could earn extra income.

Another advantage when you are engaged in money making home business is that you get to spend more time with your kids. Working from home is great to for young parents with kids since this would mean that parents will have more time to spend with their kids than battling off traffic in going to and fro the work place. Besides, when the children are still very young, it is always advisable for one of the parent to stay at home and take care of them. Working at home will enable a parent to supervise the activities of their children instead of simply leaving their care to some stranger who may not really feel the way a parent.

Helen Keller said, "It is a terrible thing to see and have no vision." Ask yourself a question. Do you know what an opportunity looks like? Describe it. Define it. Bottom line...would you know one if it bit you on the behind? Everyone says they are looking for "one", Being at the right place at the right time isn't enough. As network marketing industry legend Randy Gage says, "It's about recognizing a magic moment of opportunity and acting upon it."

In network marketing and home-based businesses, everyone says they have the "perfect opportunity." So how do you evaluate? What is the difference between a golden opportunity and fool's gold?

The scope of this article is to help you evaluate businesses, determine indicators of success and outline potential risks. I am a CPA, business owner and consultant. I look at businesses from top to bottom, start to finish. There are some fundamental characteristics that will tip you off to a good opportunity. A little homework and investigation can go a long way in helping you make a wise decision.

Nine out of ten business failures are due to lack of general business management skills and proper planning. Misery loves company and mistakes involving any of these three M's will put you in the distinct company of the "nine" out of ten businesses that fail: Money, Management and Marketing.

Money. It takes a long time for a start-up to become profitable. It usually takes a whole lot longer than the majority of business plans will project. Business projections that seem too good to be true in the first few years are probably just that. Even the best product ideas, greatest management and marketing won't be enough if you run out of capital before you achieve sufficient momentum, exposure and market acceptance. You have to look at what is going to happen if the company has a bad first quarter, second quarter or even a bad first year. If a company is relying on cash flow to be generated in the beginning months and quarters, beware.

Management. If you are looking at a start-up company, the management of that company needs to be seasoned veterans, not first time entrepreneurs and their five closest friends. Yes. You need the visionaries, but you absolutely must also have long range planners, people who have started small and grown big, know the industry, react quickly to change, etc. To be successful, a new company will go through many stages such as introduction, market penetration, exponential growth, expansion, etc. A company can be mortally wounded if they are not equipped to handle each of those stages.

Marketing. Great ideas, innovative products and services die unrealized due to inadequate marketing. There are two marketing forces: the "push" and the "pull". The lack of attention to the latter is where the ball most often drops. The "push" is the strategy that "pushes" the product through the marketing pipeline and gets the product out to the consumers. This creates exposure to the consumer. The "pull" is the piece that makes the consumer aware of their need for the product. It tells them what the product will do for them and entices them to "pull" the product out the other end of the pipeline. A company's marketing plan must be able to evoke emotion in the end consumer. Emotion that is tied to a need or want that their business can fulfill. Otherwise, all the exposure, fancy packaging and "opportunity" appeal will be wasted.

People typically fall into two general categories. The optimist who wears rose colored glasses and the pessimist who wears dark shades. Both can see. However, you need to take those glasses off when looking at various network marketing or home-based business opportunities and compare them to a set of standards that will clue you in to the ones with real potential.

The last thing you have to do is be ready to act! Alfred North Whitehead, a British Philosopher, said, "Without adventure civilization is in full decay." Take a look at where you are right now. Then, ask yourself where you will be in five years? Are you on your way to decay? Network marketing is not the network marketing of 15-20 years ago. Things have changed and it is a growing viable option for those who truly want to change their financial situation.

The trick is to find those home-based businesses and network marketing opportunities that have the capital, management; product and marketing plan to achieve sustainable success. If you are actively looking, and know what to look for, when opportunity knocks you won't risk being out to lunch!

Q. Does the ADA require employers to have telework programs?

A. No. The ADA does not require an employer to offer a telework program to all employees. However, if an employer does offer telework, it must allow employees with disabilities and equal opportunity to participate in such a program.

Q. May permitting an employee to work at home be a reasonable accommodation, even if the employer has no telework program?

A. Yes. Changing the location where work is performed may fall under the ADA's reasonable accommodation requirement of modifying workplace policies, even if the employer does not allow other employees to telework. However, an employer is not obligated to adopt an employee's preferred or requested accommodation and may instead offer alternate accommodations as long as they would be effective.

Q. How should an employer determine whether someone may need to work at home as a reasonable accommodation?
A. This determination should be made through a flexible "interactive process" between the employer and the individual. The process begins with a request. An individual must first inform the employer that s/he has a medical condition that requires some change in the way a job is performed. The individual does not need to use special words, such as "ADA" or "reasonable accommodation" to make this request, but must let the employer know that a medical condition interferes with his/her ability to do the job.

Then, the employer and the individual need to discuss the person's request so that the employer understands why the disability might necessitate the individual working at home. The individual must explain what limitations from the disability make it difficult to do the job in the workplace, and how the job could still be performed from the employee's home. The employer may request information about the individual's medical condition (including reasonable documentation) if it is unclear whether it is a "disability" as defined by the ADA. The employer and employee may wish to discuss other types of accommodations that would allow the person to remain full-time in the workplace. However, in some situations, working at home may be the only effective option for an employee with a disability.

I have read countless books and attended seminars regarding online and offline business. The truth fact is that you will find many of these factors hold the truth for both online and offline businesses. So what makes an internet business profitable with millions of website around? They are very much common sense reasons but vital factors that many internet marketers failed to follow. So here goes…

1. Strong Demand for the Product or Service.

There is nothing worse than creating a service or product and find out that little or no one is interested in buying. Another pitfall in "Internet Selling" is that some business owners sell stuff online so that people can easily find in shopping malls or along the streets. Instead, you must find an area where there is already a high demand for a particular product or service, and then you sell the solutions to problems where millions of people are willing to pay for it. A good point to start thinking is to ask yourself what is your passion. This is very important as you will need extra strength to carry you through the difficult times.

2. Passive Income.

Just like any author of a book, he gets paid every time someone bought a book from the bookstore. By doing this, this author is creating a stream of income that will give him time and freedom to do other things like spending more time with our family. Of course passive income doesn’t come automatically. Online business is almost the same as tradition brick and mortar business. We have to work on it. But the best part for online business, when the thing kicks off, the others are automated.

3. Low startup and Running Cost.

Comparing to online business, a brick and mortar business cost a lot more to set up and operate. There are many successful internet giants that require millions of dollars to set up and maintain. E.g. Yahoo! Google, Amazon. There are however super high yield business that anyone can set up and operate for less than $500 if you know how. The truth fact in my humble beginning, I do not have a lot to start with. Thus, it pushes me to be more careful and creative and use every dim to the max.

4. Ideally No Inventory.

An ideal internet business probably has little or no inventory. The reasons are very simple. Inventory cost a lot of money. No.1 – to purchase or manufacture stock; No.2 – to store inventory; and No.3 – Shipment. While you can indeed make a lot of money from inventory related business, it is a lot of work at the same time, especially if one is holding a full time job. You may want to consider to go for business where the product or service is digital (immediate delivery over the internet). So if you decided to sell physical goods over the internet, you might want to consider a manufacturer and distributor to take care of the storage and shipping for you.

5. Global Reach.

One of the most amazing aspects of the internet is that your audience is "The World". Instead of just selling to your countrymen where the market may be too small to make your venture a profitable one, your niche markets will be selling to the world which will have huge potential. The good thing about selling to the niche markets is that it is a lot easier to advertise and dominate the markets when there are approximately 935 millions internet surfers online daily. A very good example will be teaching your parrot to speak Chinese when this can bring in hundreds of dollars in profits!

6. Products that have High Profit Margins.

Whether in an online or offline business, you must sell a product where you can earn high profit margins. In this case you will be able to invest more in your marketing campaign. In fact, selling of information products or intellectual properties online such as e-book, software, DVDs, MP3s will be most ideal. Though they may cost a lot of money to produce in the first place, they can be downloaded for unlimited times on the internet!

And yes it may be hard work on a weekly basis if you want to succeed. But within a few weeks you will see your business growing if you are on the right track and you will find the success that other people only sit and dream about in time to come.

If you are looking for more time with your family, yet making extra income, a home business is what you need. It has become a trend to set up businesses from home because of its flexibility and most importantly, it is less stressful as compared to working in a company.

How do you start a home business then? It is not as simple as ABC but it involves some skills that you need to ensure successful and effective operations of your home business.

1 - Planning

You should process the skill of planning. Planning is essential to any business. To begin with, you should produce a comprehensive business plan. This is the blueprint of the future of your home business. The plan should include the business objectives, proposed action plans to accomplish these objectives and the time line for these tasks.

Besides, as part of your planning process, you should conduct market research to gather some information about the demand and supply of products on the internet. This will help you plan effectively for your home business.

2 - Selling

Are you a good salesman? The ability to sell is critical to the success of the business, because no matter how good your product is, if you do not possess the right selling skills, it will be ignored and forgotten.

So, first of all, check out the companies selling the same products and their performance. Study and analyze their strengths and weaknesses to enhance your selling methodologies. Then, most importantly, know your target market. Understand your customers’ requirements so that you can reach out to them and provide support to their needs.

3 – Marketing

Once you have planned your business and selling approach, next, you need to market your product. Marketing is critical to ensure a successful business. You can start by distributing business cards to family members, friends and acquaintances.

You can also post your business on online bulletin boards. Create a blog for your business to share the essentials about your business. The whole idea is to create awareness that you have a business and to generate interest in your products.

In summary, these skills are essential to help you maximize your business growth and bring in profits from your home business.

If you have wanted to find a way to make work from home without all the of the selling of products and nagging your friends, you should take a look at online affiliate programs. Affiliate programs are an excellent way to work from home and make some serious money.

How Can You Work From Home and Make Money Online?

You must have a website!

You must have a website!

People love content websites.

You need to get setup with a website that is ready to sell right of the bat. With 2-5 different business opportunities that you will join and will probably cost you in the neighborhood of $100 to get started.

Being involved with more than 1 company is essential in your work from home business. Most people start with 1 opportunity and they sit there waiting for people to come visit their site but they have no one coming because they do not know how to market their business.

There are however programs out their that will do all of this for you. For example, You sign up for xyz company and they will give you a free website for you to advertise. This is exactly what you want but we need to take it a step farther. Find a company that will offer you 2-5 opportunities along with the website and you will be in action immediately. Most have a 30-90 day action plan that you can follow day by day to get you going strong.

Find a business that you are excited about. It may be health care, hair care, makeup, vitamins, business opportunities, etc. The list is endless. Just make sure that the company has a great track record before getting started with them. I always make sure that I have a well known top money earner in online businesses above me and involved with a business before I get started with them.This is very important to your success. By finding someone who has achieved what you are looking to achieve it will allow you to learn from mistakes that have already been made and setting you off in the right direction.

And remember, Have fun and make some money.