I have done some courses and seminars on Internet marketing and I am
sure that people are making money on the Internet. I can find tools
and how to guides for Internet marketing and I can work out how to use
them. I need to work out what to sell on the Internet to make money.
My goal is to make $10,000 gross profit by the end of the next 3
months. I would prefer to sell a product but I will also consider
selling a service as long as I do not have to provide the service.
There are some articles that say I should focus on a niche like
camcorders rather than broad products like electronics. I do not want
to know how to choose a niche. I need someone to tell me which niche
to choose that will make me money.

Can you find me 5 entrepreneurs or companies that can create a
business plan for me? They should start by providing me with a number
of ideas of internet businesses that I could start that would get me
to my $10,000 target. Then I will narrow down to one idea that they
will then write a business plan for. The plan should include things
like
what are we selling?
who are we selling to?
what is our competitive advantage?
what is the revenue and profit projections?
what is the marketing plan?
what are the startup and continuing expenses?

Please provide their contact details and an estimate of their asking
price for the business plan. They should have experience starting
successful web sites or experiences helping others start successful
web sites.

Most of the services I have found on the internet teach you how to do
the marketing or they sell the marketing tools. I do not need help
with how. I need someone to give me the answers on what I need to sell
in order to make money. I have found plenty of web sites that help you
write a business plan. I do not need help formatting a business plan.
I need someone to come up with the ideas and numbers that go into the
business plan.

They should be in the USA as I prefer to sell to the USA. I am located
in Los Angeles.

Thanks for asking!

The following individuals or companies are all excellent candidates
for business idea consulting for an Internet-based business. Each
expert has a different perspective applicable to Internet business.
All are reputable. Not a fly-by-nighter in the bunch.

Jim Sterne
Target Marketing
Web Business Strategy Consulting
http://www.targeting.com/sterne.html

Target Marketing 
211 E. Victoria Street, Suite E 
Santa Barbara, CA 93101 
phone +1 (805) 965-3184
fax     +1 (805) 965-8687
jsterne@targeting.com 
www.targeting.com 

Project Estimate: $10-20K

Dr. Ralph Wilson
Wilson Internet Services

One Hour Telephone Consult $125
On-site Consulting Hourly Rate: $375
On-site Consulting Daily Rate: $3000, plus travel/accomodation

Contact Form:
http://www.wilsonweb.com/contact/?aboutus


Westlake Consulting Group

Founded in 1996, this group has become one of the most respected names
in Internet Strategy consulting.

"Wilson Internet Services has enjoyed a widespread reputation helping
small and medium-size organizations plan and succeed in online
businesses. We intend to continue serving this very important segment
as our contribution to assisting the diffusion of Internet technology
to those who might not otherwise have access to this evolving
communications medium.

We are able to make available a very limited amount of telephone
consulting to those who need to ask an expert specific questions to
get them over a roadblock in planning or Internet learning. Our normal
consulting rates compute to $375 per hour. But in order to be
accessible to small businesses we offer a single hour of telephone
consulting for $125 per hour (one hour minimum and maximum). We'll
speak with you briefly to make sure we can help you with the kinds of
questions you have before turning on our consulting "clock.""

Wilson Internet Services - Telephone and On-Site Consulting
http://www.wilsonweb.com/consult/?greenbar


Brett Tabke
Webmaster World 

Brett is one of the Internet's premiere Search Engine Optimization
experts. In the course of becoming so, he's learned a tremendous
amount of information about what business ideas are successful, what
is not, and why. I've followed his postings and articles for many
years. I'd trust my business to him. He's an Internet guru.

Reputable SEOs charge from $1,000 - $100,000 per project, depending
upon niche and challenges compared to projected profitability.

Brett Tabke
512-231-8107 (9a-3p cst mon-fri gmt-6)


Weidman Consulting

"Weidman Consulting, Inc. is an Internet marketing and strategy firm
located in the Rochester, NY area. Weidman Consulting is not a Web
design firm; our goal is to help our clients understand how to use the
Internet in an effective and profitable way, and guide them through
that process."

Weidman Consulting.com
http://www.weidmanconsulting.com/

Estimate projects in the $10K plus range.

e-mail: info@weidmanconsulting.com 
US Mail: Weidman Consulting, Inc.
110 Rosebud Trail
Webster, NY 14580 
Phone: 585-787-7860 
Fax: 585-787-9293 


Smart Marketing Concepts

Smart Marketing Concepts
P.O. Box 260842
Tampa, FL 33685
Business Phone: 813.888.5954
Email: contact@smartmarketingconcepts.com

Projects in the $3,000 to $15,000 range.

Small Business Internet Strategy Consulting
http://www.smartmarketingconcepts.com/Internet-Marketing.htm



Answer Strategy
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Personal knowledge, experience, bookmarks



I hope you find these referrals useful. Should you have any questions
about the materials or links provided, please feel free to ask.

Best regards,

---larre

---

Clarification of Answer by larre-ga on 08 Jun 2004 19:37 PDT

My apologies. My formatting was poor. Westlake Consulting split into
two entities in the recent past, and their focus changed. I
accidentally left a reference in my document.

The Answer -should- read:

Jim Sterne
Target Marketing
Web Business Strategy Consulting
http://www.targeting.com/sterne.html

Target Marketing 
211 E. Victoria Street, Suite E 
Santa Barbara, CA 93101 
phone +1 (805) 965-3184
fax     +1 (805) 965-8687
jsterne@targeting.com 
www.targeting.com 

Project Estimate: $10-20K



Dr. Ralph Wilson
Wilson Internet Services

One Hour Telephone Consult $125
On-site Consulting Hourly Rate: $375
On-site Consulting Daily Rate: $3000, plus travel/accomodation

Contact Form:
http://www.wilsonweb.com/contact/?aboutus

"Wilson Internet Services has enjoyed a widespread reputation helping
small and medium-size organizations plan and succeed in online
businesses. We intend to continue serving this very important segment
as our contribution to assisting the diffusion of Internet technology
to those who might not otherwise have access to this evolving
communications medium.

We are able to make available a very limited amount of telephone
consulting to those who need to ask an expert specific questions to
get them over a roadblock in planning or Internet learning. Our normal
consulting rates compute to $375 per hour. But in order to be
accessible to small businesses we offer a single hour of telephone
consulting for $125 per hour (one hour minimum and maximum). We'll
speak with you briefly to make sure we can help you with the kinds of
questions you have before turning on our consulting "clock.""

Wilson Internet Services - Telephone and On-Site Consulting
http://www.wilsonweb.com/consult/?greenbar


Brett Tabke
Webmaster World 

Brett is one of the Internet's premiere Search Engine Optimization
experts. In the course of becoming so, he's learned a tremendous
amount of information about what business ideas are successful, what
is not, and why. I've followed his postings and articles for many
years. I'd trust my business to him. He's an Internet guru.

Reputable SEOs charge from $1,000 - $100,000 per project, depending
upon niche and challenges compared to projected profitability.

Brett Tabke
512-231-8107 (9a-3p cst mon-fri gmt-6)



Weidman Consulting

"Weidman Consulting, Inc. is an Internet marketing and strategy firm
located in the Rochester, NY area. Weidman Consulting is not a Web
design firm; our goal is to help our clients understand how to use the
Internet in an effective and profitable way, and guide them through
that process."

Weidman Consulting.com
http://www.weidmanconsulting.com/

Estimate projects in the $10K plus range.

e-mail: info@weidmanconsulting.com 
US Mail: Weidman Consulting, Inc.
110 Rosebud Trail
Webster, NY 14580 
Phone: 585-787-7860 
Fax: 585-787-9293 


Smart Marketing Concepts

Smart Marketing Concepts
P.O. Box 260842
Tampa, FL 33685
Business Phone: 813.888.5954
Email: contact@smartmarketingconcepts.com

Projects in the $3,000 to $15,000 range.

Small Business Internet Strategy Consulting
http://www.smartmarketingconcepts.com/Internet-Marketing.htm

My apologies on proofreading. ---l

---

Request for Answer Clarification by iannp-ga on 11 Jun 2004 15:11 PDT

I have contacted 4 of the names you have given me. Two of them replied
and here is what they said.

"I usually work with large companies that need help
with their with marketing. It sounds like you need
help deciding what business you want to be in.
I'm afraid that's beyond my scope. But thanks for
asking and I wish you all the best."

"Thanks for your note. I only offer one-hour consultations and just 
don't have the time to take on projects like business plans."

Their web sites also indicated that they focus on the how to market
rather than what to market. Can you confirm that these are the best
people you could find that could help me write a business plan? Do you
think that there is just no one out there that can help me? Do you
think you could find someone who can create business plans but are not
focused on Internet marketing? Is there someone that sells already
created business plans?

I really want to get started making money on the internet but am still
stuck at step 1. Any advice will be appreciated.

Thanks

---

Clarification of Answer by larre-ga on 11 Jun 2004 15:39 PDT

"Do you think you could find someone who can create business plans but are not
focused on Internet marketing? Is there someone that sells already
created business plans?"

Yes, and yes. I'll get to work on locating such services immediately.

---l

---

Clarification of Answer by larre-ga on 11 Jun 2004 16:47 PDT

I have located a business consultant who can help you decide upon an
Internet business, assist you with writing a business plan, and help
guide those first steps. I feel confident that it'll be a good match
up - the Hulsey's work with individuals who're just gettting started.

Their fees will depend upon the services you need, but they work with
individuals and small businesses, and understand those cost
constraints.

Jim and/or Sue Hulsey 
Hulsey Enterprises 
Post Office Box 15152
Little Rock, Arkansas 72231
(501) 835-2103

Email: jim@goseeus.com

The Hulsey's work on an entrepenuer's schedule, so they're easily
available. If contacting them on a weekend, I'm sure they'll be able
to accomodate you -- just email first to set up a convenient time for
all.

---larre

---

Clarification of Answer by larre-ga on 11 Jun 2004 23:02 PDT

Hello again,

I spoke with several more business and Internet consultants and
marketers this evening. All would be glad to help create a business
plan, or brainstorm ideas for a business to begin yourself, however,
none are willing to guarantee, or even come close to a guarantee that
a startup business income would be at or near 10K within three months,
unless you're planning to buy an existing, profitable business.

Just as in the bricks and mortar sector, you can either buy your way
into a business with an income stream, or invest sweat equity. From
your question, I'd concluded that you are willing to consider a
substantial monetary investment in order to reach your stated income
goal within three months.

Online or off, the standard investment formula would be yearly income,
doubled, i.e. for a business earning $120,000 a year, the asking price
would be approximately $240,000. Business financing might be
available, depending upon the proven profitability of the enterprise,
or your own credit standing.

If offers sound too good to be true, they usually are. But scam
artists abound, and are willing to separate you from your money with
few scruples.

Business acumen, without some sort of financial backing, will only
carry to a certain extent, and usually not to the income level you're
expecting, unless you have a proven track record. Great advice is
available, and if leveraged into "proven savvy" may help an
organization obtain financing, but again, involving a hefty up-front
fee.


Free Business Advice 
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Usually business advice is very costly. However, there's a consulting
service available to anyone who asks, free, from the Small Business
Administration. It's called S.C.O.R.E. -- The Service Corps of Retired
Executives.

Not only can you ask questions online, you can meet with S.C.O.R.E.
volunteer consultants in their offices in L.A. All S.C.O.R.E.
volunteers are experienced entrepreneurs or corporate
managers/executives who're eager to pass along the benefit of their
knowledge and years of experience.

S.C.O.R.E. Website 
http://www.score.org/

The Los Angeles (Chapter 9) of Score offers 70 one-on-one counselors,
available by appointment.

S.C.O.R.E. Los Angeles
http://www.scorela.org/ 


 
Resources
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Wall St. Journal

The Wall Street Journal offers a online Business For Sale Marketplace.
While I'd certainly recommend that anyone considering buying a
business retain a business broker, real estate agent, or attorney
specializing in business purchase, this site might be helpful in
showing you the sort of businesses that are for sale in various
regions of the country, and online businesses as well, for price
comparisons.

Wall Street Journal Business For Sale Marketplace
http://www.bizbuysell.com/cgi-bin/xhome?J=J

Entrepreneur Startup Kits

Entrepreneur Magazine offers Startup Kits for twenty different small
businesses that are considered up-and-comers in the near term. You'll
find online businesses are represented among them. "The" product or
service that is right for you will depend upon your existing skills
(sales savvy, managerial experience, customer service expertise).

Entrepreneur Startup Kits
http://www.entrepreneur.com/toolkit/0,4763,,00.html


Also noteworthy is Entrepreneur's Small Biz series title: Creating a
Successful Business Plan (CD). In addition to walking you more
speedily through the business planning process, it includes a unit
which will help you evaluate the profitability of unique selling
propositions for any product or service.

Creating a Successful Business Plan
http://www.smallbizbooks.com/cgi-bin/SmallBizBooks/00099.html?id=M9CAfJgk


Please let me know which direction/options best suit your requirements
and interests, and I will seek further resources on your behalf.

---larre

One thing to consider is that most people capable of producing the
kind of plan you describe would be better off selling on the internet
themselves rather than writing business plans.

I am a good example. I put together a plan like you describe a year
and a half ago. I walked away from my job and today I have two
profitable internet businesses. Selling on the web is much more
profitable than doing consulting.

In other words, the people who are in the business of providing ADVICE
about how to make money on the net, probably do not know what they are
talking about...

Just my 2 cents...

I am still searching for a way to make a good income on the Internet.
I have been working on the web site www.dectrader.com but it appears
the products we are trying to sell are not in demand on the Internet
even though billions of dollars worth are sold every month around the
world. I am considering other products and also looking for what
products are in our line of business that are in more demand on the
Internet. Many of the products I have looked at will not sell on the
Internet because my suppliers want to sell to me for more than I can
sell them for on the Internet.

Here is my response to the comment about creating a business plan that
will be written best for an investor. I have the means, capability and
resources to create this Internet business without any investor money.
I am the investor and I am trying to convince myself that the plan
will create profit. So far I have not been able to write this plan. It
is not a matter of formatting the plan to make it convince me that it
will work. It is a matter of what content to put in the plan. I need
to know what product to sell, where to buy it from, who to sell it to
and how will I market and sell the products. I am not interested in
creating a business plan that I can take to venture capitalist. I need
a plan that will make a business that will be my source of income. I
read about a lot of people that have started a business and are making
millions in sales per year in the first year or second year. I know it
can be done and I will keep looking for the answers.

I know this is almost one full year later but I was curious whether
the REAL question was ever really answered. I know that the query was
solved - to provide five consultants/businesses - but the underlying
needs...were they ever met?

If not, I'd suggest that the person who asked IANNP-GA should rethink
the approach and instead of asking for five businesses who will give
you the answers you need, even though the answer will be publicly
posted for all to see, one should simply ask for a top 10/25 list of
the best selling Internet items. In short, you will get your initial
question answered and then I am sure you can contact one of the
consultants to decide how best to market yourself and your company.

My question was not what the successful plan was but to find who could
help me find the answers. I did not find a consultant or marketer to
help me put a plan together. I have been looking at what are the best
selling products to get direction on what to sell. You can find
different sources of information about what are the best selling
products on the Internet eg http://www.shopping.com/CDI/cdi.cmp .

My initial response to these best selling products is that in order to
get someone to click on listing in shopping.com I would need to have
the best price as I have no reputation to attract them with. So far
many of the products I looked at from suppliers would not work. The
suppliers are asking for higher prices than the price I can sell for
on shopping.com, ebay and other places I would advertise in. I am
developing a automated method for going through thousands of products
to find which ones I can buy for less than the currently advertised
best price. If none of my hundreds of vendors will sell cheap enough
to me so that I could make a profit then I will sit and think of
another strategy.

I understand there are other ways to market products rather than
having the best price on ebay, shopping.com etc but I have not started
working on these yet.

Do you have any other advice you would like to give?