Bulk Candy Vending - Pros and Cons

Pros: extremely low maintenance, excellent return on investment (ROI)

Cons: difficult to secure locations, requires small initial investment

Everyone has seen a gumball or candy machine in the lobby of a restaurant. Have you ever wondered who owns those machines? Most bulk candy businesses are owned by small, independent operators who have negotiated their way into another’s place of business.

The vending operator either gives the owner a percentage of the revenue or promises to give a percentage to charity.

A quarter vending machine that offers three different types of candy can be bought for about $200 and the candy to fill it costs around $50. In a good location the machine can easily bring in around $25 per month. That means that you can pay off the entire asset in about six months or roll your profit into a second machine. After another six months, you can buy two more machines.

This may not seem like big money, but it is planting the seed for big money in the future. If you don’t have the money or credit for real estate, this is one way to turn a couple hundred dollars into a couple thousand.

The hard part is finding locations. You will have to learn some sales skills and utilize the power of persistence as you knock on doors. You might approach 20 different businesses before you get your first location.

However, once you get a few locations, finding more will get easier.

6 Basic Steps To Building Business Credit

Whether you have a start-up business or are looking to grow an established business, you need credit to fund your venture. Regardless of the condition of your personal credit, you can obtain the business credit you need without being exposed to the risks of personal guarantees, and without affecting or using your personal credit. How?

By following these 6 steps:

1. File for Incorporation: If your business is not yet set up as a corporation or LLC, this is the first step. If you are already incorporated, you’ll need to review your corporate
records to ensure that they are current and that your corporation is in good standing.

2. Comply with Basic Business Requirements: Prepare financial statements and a
business plan, ensure that your business meets all pertinent local, state and federal
requirements (such as for licenses and fees), obtain an Employer Identification Number
(EIN) from the IRS, and have a business telephone line and address.

3. Complete a Credit Bureau Check: Next, find out if there is any adverse information
currently reported against your business with any of the credit bureaus. If so, resolve
these issues.

4. Register with Credit Bureaus: Once all of your ducks are in a row, register your
business with the major business credit bureaus. This will start the development of your
business credit profile.

5. Obtain Credit: Find companies that are willing to grant credit to your business without a personal credit check or guarantee. Pay these bills in a timely manner, and ask your
creditors to report your payment history to the business credit bureaus.

6. Build Your Credit History: Keep in mind that your credit history must be built up over
time. Avoid applying for too much credit at once, as this in itself can have a negative
impact on your credit score. Once you have a favorable credit history with 5 or more
businesses (i.e. “trade references”), it will be easier to obtain additional credit and
funding from other sources.

Many Americans assume that starting a business is something that’s financially out of their reach. They may believe that only those with large sums of money or ready access to deep-pocketed investors can afford to start the business of their dreams. Luckily, this just isn’t true. By following the steps outlined in this article you too can realize your business ownership dreams.

Fool's Gold - Don't Believe the Hype

Have you had a chance to listen to AM Radio these days? Just a couple hours will give you all the doom, gloom, fear, and hopelessness you need! Fannie Mae, IndyMac, Lehman Brothers, foreclosures, massive lay offs, government bailouts, you name it.

It’s depressing, people!

As a stock market investor, I have a propensity to gravitate towards any media concerning investing, financial planning, income-generating real estate, and you guessed it, gold! I can never get enough, honestly. Whether it’s online, TV, radio, magazines, newspapers. In order to be a truly effective, independent investor or manager of wealth, I need to be able to make an informed opinion. Right?

The show (on AM Radio 860 – in Philadelphia) is the American Advisor with Joe Battaglia. Joe Battaglia works exclusively for Goldline International and is in their employ, in a marketing capacity. Goldline is a major distributor of gold, silver, platinum, and even palladium, to collectors and investors alike, based in California. I think Goldline utilizes other radio personalities in various regions of the country. Day after day, Mr. Battaglia gives you a recap on the market and what current events are making an impact in the metals industry. I love the show, actually. It’s not your typical mainstream news show.

To increase both the price and demand for gold, one must paint a very distinct picture of our nation’s present economic condition. Terms like depression, recession, default, and bankruptcy are used with careful precision. You have to appreciate the psychological aspects of disseminating a show like this, on a daily basis, in an attempt to target the general listening audience - calling them into action; whether that be calling into the show or more importantly, buying some gold!

With our recent mix of recessionary fears, inflation, a declining dollar, housing crisis, etc., it was clear that gold (and other precious metals) would benefit.

The commodity boom has been very kind to gold. In March of 2008, gold hit its record peak at $1035 and showed no signs of slowing. Pundits argued that gold was acting as more then merely a hedge – that there was real demand by countries such as India for the shiny stuff. It was evident that the rise of the rupee would spur gold demand.

What has really changed in the eight months gold peaked? Well, a lot. There is a credit crisis, unemployment has risen, and consumer confidence is at record lows. So, you would assume that gold is about $1500/oz. by now too, right? In mid-November of 2008, the spot price for gold was $727.00. That's a 30% decline by my calculations.

Also, in those eight months, the dollar rallied, miraculously changing its course. And oil? Declined 60% from its peak.

Although many will state, “buy low, sell high,” that never truly appears to be the case. Often investors will finally come off the sidelines, when prices are at or near highs. Many bought gold above $1000.

Like any investment, there are risks to acquiring gold. If gold has the potential to be 15% to 20% of your portfolio, you could sustain significant losses. Not only are you preoccupied with the day-to-day fluctuations in spot prices, you will be buying gold at a value significantly over the spot price from a dealer; especially during times like these when you are being told that there are “global shortages.”

- If you decide to retain physical custody of your gold, you will incur shipping and insurance charges.
- If you elect to have a company hold your gold, you will pay for storage. And this is merely for bullion coin.

Did I mention that there is also gold with a collectable value? Forget the five to ten percent premium over spot now. You could easily see 35% premiums for your purchase. Some coins offered are rare or have some element of historic value too.

My intent is to show you that it would take a significant spike to overcome these costs. You may NEVER recover these costs. I know my gold will retain value. I nkw I can hold it in my hand. But, am I wrong for wanting to make a profit?! If you happen to have purchased gold at a price level of $300 - $500, I tip my hat to you. You have a nice capital gain. But, what about those who did not? Imagine if we had to buy stocks with these additional high premium burdens? Many online brokers provide transactions to the investor now under $10.

If gold helps you sleep at night over fear and panic of our fiat currency system or America’s deteriorating financial situation, by all means, acquire your gold.

But, for most others, forget about it. Listen to the American Advisor for the entertainment aspects. There may be much better alternatives for your hard earned money.

Spend Thousands to Own Nothing

Not too long ago, people involved in real estate put their little heads together to supplement their real estate activity.

But, how were they going to do this? The ins and outs of owning real estate can be very grueling. Tenants can be very difficult and being a landlord is not the glamorous job it’s made out to be.

So, Why Real Estate, anyway?

Books like Rich Dad, Poor Dad told you to invest in real estate. You could acquire an asset that was appreciating in value, could provide an ongoing source of passive, residual income; it could provide certain tax reporting and bookkeeping advantages, as well as really help the community to refurbish a home in their neighborhood. Real estate has been a major source of wealth in this country for centuries. In theory, that sounds acceptable, doesn’t it?

So… why aren’t you running out and canvassing your neighboring towns for deals this very moment? What are you waiting for?

It’s probably the same reason you don’t own a business. These things require a great deal of financial management, planning, and knowledge to carry out. There are barriers to entry. So, it at this point, it is merely a dream.

Ok, so what are the real estate people selling then? Are they selling tips and techniques to buy real estate?

No. They are selling the dream to you. They are telling you that you can escape the “rat race,” and to enjoy endless hours of quality of free time with your family,” and most important, to “live the good life.” And you are so desperate to make a change in your life; you’ll do whatever they tell you to. You've seen the "regular joe" sitting with the younger, bikini-clad wife, in Aruba, poolside, with a tall drink in their hand, and wanting to share their “easy money-making system" with you. You want to be that person. So, you buy – and end up ashamed and disappointed.

The funny thing is whether it’s the late night infomercial, the online ad, the billboard, or the magazine… you’ll buy another “get-rich-quick-scheme.” It’s inevitable. Of course, you’re too embarrassed to share your mishaps with others.

Exposure

It probably starts with talk radio in your area. Usually on the AM dial. It will be a channel that may discuss things like owning gold, real estate, or being in the stock market. The guys running the show come off being overly simple and uncomplicated – dumb even. Like you, perhaps? Not like bankers or CEO’s with droves of discretionary and/or disposal incomes. They go on and on about “what a great time it is to buy real estate,” and how it easy was for simple folk, like them, to be successful – all while you are on your way to your thankless, 10-to-12 hour job that day.

Come to the Free Seminar In Your Area (Everything is Free)

Free is one of the sexiest words in any language. Free turns heads and stops traffic.At the Free Seminar (well, the pad and pen are free), you will find out everything you need to know to be successful in real estate. (Yeah, right!) First, it’s the “buy-in.” The speaker makes themself out to be “just like you,” and “was going through the same thing you were.” Now, they want to help you escape your bane existance.

Why Do They Want To Help Me?

Towards the end of the seminar, it becomes clear. There is a “mentoring program.” And to be eligible, you must be interviewed. They state that they are looking for the “right people” to both mentor and partner with. Who do you think is this right person? The right person will have excellent credit, high net worth, and be somewhat starstruck by interacting with the radio personalities they have heard so often on the radio. They become so enamored with the idea of being someone's landlord, the part about paying ten thousand, twenty thousand, thirty thousand is no longer relevant.

The real reality is that there is not that much positive cash flow after you pay for the property's mortgage and address any business expenses that month from maintaining the property. How much is positive cash flow, typically? Between $150 to $400 at best? How many homes would you need to own to live this "dream"? 10? 50? 100?

Up until they flash the big number on the screen (of course in the final few minutes) of the seminar, everything was FREE. And then it hits you. You are not talking to real estate people; you are talking to marketing people. Who let’s be honest, have no real interest in your success. It's all about the script and closing the deal. The deal being the mentoring fee.

So, what are you really paying for then?

Think about this… Don’t you think there are more people actually “buying the dream” than “buying the house?” Of course! Now you got it! So, yes, you can spend thousands on real estate --- and own nothing!

Ok, I have a secret for you. Work At Home Jobs DO NOT EXIST!

"Wait a minute, there are ads everywhere, entire websites are set aside for these types of jobs, and I get e-mails about them all the time. Sir, you must be mistaken"!

Well, you got me. Yes, there are bookkeeping/accounting positions, data entry, mental health, customer service, medical billing, and answering service positions that can be had. But, FAR from the level of attention being marketed to you! Do you even know anyone who has worked from home? Or do you only know them from Saturday night infomercials on TV?

There appears to be just enough of these positions to maintain the wonder and credibility of it all.

As I have stated in previous articles about marketing, the intention is to “sell you the dream,” not the product.

"What does that mean? “Sell me the dream?”

It means that marketers feel you want to work in your pajamas. You want to roll out of bed, stomp down a flight of stairs and start your work day, bad breath and bed head be damned!

No more $4.25 a gallon gas, no more spilling coffee on your crotch, in the car, on the way, and no traffic jams.

And you will do and spend whatever it takes! Answer this, the last real job you had, did you have to pay anything to receive an offer?

So, why would you pay for a Work At Home job?

I have been working in the staffing and HR industry for over 12 years, all over the country, and NEVER had an employer seeking anyone to work from home.

Not that working from home does not have its merits for an employer… an employer will not have to deal with an employee commuting to work late or get in the middle of a co-worker gossip and complaining.

Honestly, I think employers should take a hard look at this option.

But, it will never work. Why?

People need discipline. They need a schedule. A routine. They need to be monitored and supervised. They need someone close by to assist their emergencies and answer questions.

There are too many distractions at home. The kids, the spouse, the neighbors, the telephone…Jerry Springer!

"Hey! I just typed Work From Home on Google and 146,000,000 items appeared!"

Of course it did. And I’ll be 146,000,001 by the time I publish this article.The articles will mention the positions I mentioned, but will not offer any resource to attain them or provide you with any real leads.They want you to pay for a recurring subscription to their site, sell you an eBook, or wish to transfer some useless list to you. In the end, you have wasted time and money. You are better off spending your time seeking a legitimate work AWAY from home job!

Well, you may be right…

Have you gone on these sites? Most sites are trying to get web traffic in order to “Make Money Online.”

Wait, did you say “Make Money Online?!” There were 16,900,000 results for that search on Google! Forget about "Work From Home," I'm on to something here!

Umm...Err...Ahh...Yeah... Sure you are.