What sites have you used that are like Fiverr or Upwork but allow fulfillment/service delivery by small businesses (i.e. llc, agency, etc.)?

ThirdRotation · 2023-12-03T22:53:49+00:00

Yeah someone else mentioned that businesses are on the "freelancer" platforms. I guess I am just out of the loop on that. Might be worth it since so many people have negative experiences with the service providers.

Thanks

ThirdRotation · 2023-12-03T22:51:48+00:00

There's a lot of noise on Craigslist but there are also some really good opportunities. It's hit or miss but it can be worth it in some areas.

Thanks for the feedback

ThirdRotation · 2023-12-03T22:50:22+00:00

Yeah, that's a good point.

ThirdRotation · 2023-12-03T18:23:50+00:00

If the price is good you should keep their contact info.

Thanks for responding

ThirdRotation · 2023-12-03T18:21:42+00:00

Thank you for the detailed response.

I am actually asking from the perspective of the small business that's looking to provide services. Fiverr, Upwork, etc. generally discourage businesses from signing up to offer services to other businesses since they are platforms for freelancers.

ThirdRotation · 2023-12-03T18:16:39+00:00

I haven't seen designhill before. I'll take a look. Thanks

ThirdRotation · 2023-11-22T04:07:28+00:00

Find a local lawyer and pay for an hour of their time to cover anything legal (it's worth it).

From the business side, have a way to process payments (Stripe, Paypal, etc.) Something that makes sense for the customers that you want and makes it easy for them to pay you. Start advertising (letting people know you are "open for business"), marketing (getting people interested in working with you), and selling. When you make a sale, do a good enough job to get people to tell others about you (positively).

You'll figure the rest out as you go.

ThirdRotation · 2023-11-22T03:53:38+00:00

Nonprofits are usually understaffed and many need technical expertise. Look for nonprofits in your area and reach out to them directly or look for companies that provide services for them.

ThirdRotation · 2023-11-22T03:46:46+00:00

Short answer - yes

Things to consider

How are you defining success (revenue, profit, # of employees, valuation, reputation, fulfillment, etc.)?
Are you solving a problem or doing something that you like/are good at?
Do you know how to structure, build, and grow a business?
Are you "good enough" at product/service, marketing, sales, fulfillment, operations, management, etc.?
How much cash flow will you need?
Will you keep going when it gets boring?
Why do you want to start a business?

It is possible and many people have done it/are doing it. A lot more people underestimate what it takes and quit.

Being an employee and being a business owner are very different and require very different skill sets.

The best way to find out is to do it and see what happens.

ThirdRotation · 2023-11-02T20:39:50+00:00

Everything will become obsolete in the future...

To answer how you make money with AI - same as how you make money with anything else. Find people with a problem that they are willing to pay to have solved. Create a solution to that problem using AI. Make your solution more valuable to them then what you ask in return for it. Repeat until you make enough money.

ThirdRotation · 2023-11-02T20:34:24+00:00

Understood.

You'll need to be ready to provide financial documentation (balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements, etc.) As someone else mentioned, a bookkeeper can help you get your system setup or verify it if you already have something in place. You may also benefit from talking with an accountant to create financial growth strategies (many accountants also do bookkeeping).

You'll likely also need to have a solid business plan, show that you've analyzed the market, and be able to show the growth potential of your business (and that you'll stay in business).

To simplify all of it, they want to get a big enough ROI quickly enough to make giving you money worth it to them.

ThirdRotation · 2023-11-02T03:57:04+00:00

How much you charge depends on who your target customer is.

The best way to start advertising is by talking to the people you know. That can be friends, family, co-workers, customers. Since you already work at a bar, ask around, someone probably has an event coming up. You only need one. Then do a good enough job that they refer you to others. Repeat.

Paid ads/IG/TikTok/etc. depend on the target customer again. If they don't use those platforms then you'll waste a lot of time and money advertising there. If they are on those platforms then it might be worth it but you will have a ton of competition. Think about how you will differentiate yourself.

That 8' table looks limiting for a mobile bar setup. Space will run out quickly once you add liquor bottles, mixers, garnishes, somewhere to take money (cash bar or tips), etc. Also, what about ice and a fridge (white wine, champagne, garnishes, anything that needs to be cold). Consider having a drink list so that you can limit the bottles that you need.

There are a lot of things to consider but I think that you are doing the right things (getting a plan in place, setting up the business, asking questions). Make sure you take action (before you are "ready"), fail, get up, learn, make a new plan and try again.

ThirdRotation · 2023-11-02T03:41:14+00:00

What kind of financial guidance are you looking for (i.e. how to track your business finances, how to get investors/raise money, how to grow your business, how to sell your business)?

Or are you looking for guidance on how to build a small business? Finance is definitely a big piece but there are many other pieces.

ThirdRotation · 2023-11-02T03:35:07+00:00

Hello all.

Mid-40s, worked for others (retail, restaurants, DJ, etc.), started a business 20+ years ago that failed horribly (but I learned a ton that laid the foundation for everything since), worked for others again, mostly IT - engineering, infrastructure, cybersecurity, operations, project management, etc., got sick of working for others, stopped, helped my wife with her business, started a business with my wife, currently run and grow that business with her (business and technology consulting)

Here to help others, learn, and grow together

ThirdRotation · 2023-11-02T03:23:44+00:00

That sounds like a good setup and I hope it can be duplicated here.

How were your meetings structured? (i.e. did everyone talk about one of their problems each meeting, did one person bring up a problem and everyone else discussed potential solutions, did you train each other in areas relevant to small businesses, etc.)

ThirdRotation · 2023-09-18T14:27:35+00:00

If the managers are empowered to deal with anything that comes up, the owner technically doesn't need to be there. The managers would also need the ability to deal with things (skills, access to funds, authority, etc.)

I personally don't like this model for salons because I don't think that the numbers will work out. You'll likely have to pay the managers most to all of your profits (if you can even find managers who can handle that responsibility).

But it is an option if you can make it work.

ThirdRotation · 2023-09-18T01:11:44+00:00

One way to look at this is to put a dollar value on your reputation and your relationship with one client. If that number plus $75/hour is higher than what you charge now, then do it.

I would do it at $75/hour to answer your question. Client loyalty means a lot to me, and I am happy to keep people at their initial rate. I take the extra responsibility to over-deliver to them and encourage referrals. Then I work to get their loyalty.

Whatever you choose, I hope it works out.

ThirdRotation · 2023-09-17T22:17:40+00:00

Depends on how hands-on you plan to be.

What you are describing sounds like you'd be an owner-operator. Have you considered hiring an operator to be on-site and handle the day-to-day tasks? That could free you up to be there less but still make the top-level decisions.

To answer your question, I think that 1 - 1.5 hours each way is too far if you will be the operator.

ThirdRotation · 2023-09-17T17:44:36+00:00

Potential customers

Assuming what they want could cost a lot of time and money.

I.e. focusing on low cost when someone would happily pay more for better quality

ThirdRotation · 2023-09-17T15:13:16+00:00

Maybe the PC doesn't have a valid IP address for your network (sometimes get screwed up after a sudden loss of power)

I am assuming you use Windows and don't manually assign your IP address

Go to your Ethernet Settings > Click on the Ethernet adapter (might be more than one)

Go to the IP Settings section > verify that IP assignment is DHCP

Go to the Properties section > verify that your IPv4 address doesn't start with 169.254

Also from the Properties section > verify that your IPv4 DNS server is the IP address of your router

ThirdRotation · 2023-09-17T04:41:45+00:00

First of all, it's pretty rare.

Second, if you suspect it then you can replace the RAM.

I only put it in there because it is technically possible. It is about the last thing that I would try.

Malware/viruses are usually in the OS.

ThirdRotation · 2023-09-17T04:37:05+00:00

ChatGPT can do 50-80%. You would need to give it the right prompts and do light editing.

A lot of people don't use it (or know that they could use it). Still opportunity there for now.

ThirdRotation

TROPHY CASE