How To Become A Distributor With Dangote Group And Other Top Selling Brands And Soar Your Profits By SuccessDigest

If you get it right, there is plenty of money involved in wholesale distribution of the fast moving products of great companies in Nigeria. This week, SuccessDigest continues to show you how to get involved having broached the issues in a recent edition where great products of nine companies were showcased.

We detailed how you can distribute the products of companies such as Promasidor, PZ Cussons, Samsung electronics, Star Times and five others.
You can be the one who buys "from the source" and sells to a reseller.

Dangote Cement Plc, producers of Dangote Cement
 Mr. Anthony Chiejina, Group Head, Corporate Communications, Dangote Group, spoke on how one can become a Dangote Cement distributor.

Getting Involved In The Distribution Channel Of Dangote Cement
Chiejina says, “To start with, Dangote Cement Plc is Nigeria's largest Cement producer with operations in 14 African countries. In an effort to ensure distribution of cement pan Nigeria, the company is currently seeking credible distributors nationwide.

“So, what you need do after you have shown interest in becoming a distributor is to come and register by applying as a distributor. You have to fill an application form and go through some application processes. But even before you start preparing to face the application processes, you need to know why you should become a cement distributor for Dangote.

1. Nigeria and Africa at large is developing rapidly just as the population is rising. Infrastructures are being erected and cement is a fundamental material for construction work such as bridges, roads, houses, monuments, amongst others.

2. With the huge population in Nigeria and Africa at large, coupled with the present housing problems facing the government - this means that there is a present and future demand for cement, as the government and private real estate investors try to meet the pressing housing needs.

3. The Federal Government of Nigeria is currently implementing a plan that will require cement to be used for road construction. If you have foresight, you will know what this means. Did you remember what happened to the price of flour and cassava when the Federal Government made a policy that cassava flour should be the composite material used for baking bread, instead of the conventional wheat flour?

4. Dangote Cement is currently the dominant and leading cement company in Nigeria. Thanks to the business acumen of its founder, “Aliko Dangote”, a formidable management team and a strong distribution network - Dangote currently has over 3000 trucks registered under the brand.

5. For the records, Dangote Cement PLC is currently the biggest cement company in the world with factories spread across Africa and with the future potential to export to the rest of the world. So, it is high time you aligned yourself with the rapidly growing company that is backed by a strong management and become a distributor”.

The Requirements
Chiejina says, “For cement, there are two types of distributorship channels: Corporate and Individual. But the basic requirements are:

Detailed Letter of Application, Scanned Reference Letter from your bank, Passport Sized Photographs of the Managing Director, Passport Sized Photograph of the company's Representative, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration document and a minimum purchase of one trailer (600 cement bags monthly on cash-and-carry basis). For further details on requirements, please visit our website www.dangote.com or feel free to send completed applications to cementdistributor@dangote.com. So, please, ensure that you have the soft copy of all the aforementioned documents before you begin Application and let it be that you have a 48-hour registration period guaranteed.”

Mode Of Payment
This isn't a problem at all, as you can pay at any designated bank. That will be made known to you during the application processes.

Minimum Quantity To Buy, Price And Other Things To Know
This depends on the products you are purchasing. For instance, with cement, the minimum quantity to purchase as a distributor is between three to five trucks per month - that is to say, an average of 2,500 bags. Though, as earlier said, the "minimum purchase of one trailer (600 cement bags) monthly on cash-and-carry" is one of the requirements to meet at the start of the processing stage.

Any Registration Fees?
No, not at all! Registration for distributorship is free across the Group.

Requirements At Locations
None with us, but you must as well pay serious attention to this aspect - you need to do a thorough background check on your location, as it also helps your sales strength.

 Incentives For Major Distributors
Yes, one of it is the very low prices at which you will get the products.  We have cash rewards for top distributors during a given period. There are also dinners, customer forums and other periodic meetings with top executives where distributors can express themselves freely.

Becoming A Sub-Agent
We deal only with distributors. Sub-Agents are free to choose which of the distributors they want to do business with.

Parts Of The Country Where Distributors Are Still Be Needed
As you can see with all said and owing to the pedigree of the company - Dangote, distributors are therefore needed in all parts of the country. So, the choice is yours!

Advice To Prospective Distributors
Be customer-oriented, hardworking, consistent and you will definitely succeed as a distributor. Now, you may not have the capital to purchase 600 bags at a go, but that doesn’t stop you from doing this business. You can align with two or more people, form a corporation or company, become a distributor, buy your cement produce and split it accordingly amongst yourselves.

Other Facilities To Put In Place To Get Started As A Distributor For Dangote Cement.

1. You Need To Write A Business Plan For Your Cement Company: A business plan gives you direction and opens your eyes to the wealth of resources you have at your disposal. Who are your target prospects? How much would it take you to start a cement business and haul products to your selling point? What things can you add to make your product more superior than your competitors? These are the questions - among others - which you must answer in your business plan.

2. Study The Competition: Who is your competition? What are they doing that you can do better? You need to study and understand their strengths and weaknesses. This is your advantage!

3. You Need A Warehouse: You will need a warehouse to accommodate at least, a minimum of 500 to 1,000 cement bags. You can also talk to the town leaders in your vicinity, about allocating some space for you to store your cement products. It is advisable to rent a warehouse to prevent unexpected occurrences

4. You Need To Arrange For A Vehicle: If you can afford to buy a supply vehicle (possibly a van or mini truck), then get one. It will help you sell faster, and make work more convenient for you. A haulage truck will also be needed to haul your cement products from the factory at Obajana, Kogi State or Benue State. However, you don’t need to own the truck, a pay per delivery contract will do.

5. Learn from the Gurus and not the “GOOROS”: Do you know why there are so many struggling businesses in Africa today? It’s because they have been listening to the “GOOROS." - GOOROS, means novices.  To succeed in this business, you need to speak with someone already in the GAME. Learn from someone with a cement business outside your community.

Many established business owners are happy to give advice to serious entrepreneurs. They love industrious young people and are ready to go the extra-mile in helping them. Don’t be scared. The worst answer you will ever get is a “NO.” Rejection is part of the game.

In conclusion, I want to restate that there is so much money to be made as a cement distributor. Even right here in Nigeria, you can still function as a cement distributor, while still doing your day job. You can make a realistic profit of N300,000 monthly by distributing cement. All you need is action, hard work, and determination!

However, you must bear in mind that no business is hassle-free, so expect some challenges while venturing into this business. It is your ability to deal with these challenges effectively, that will make you a successful cement distributor.

UAC Foods Ltd.
Mr. Joseph E. Chukwuwike, Regional Sales Manager – Lagos 3 of UAC FOODS LTD, spoke on how one can become a distributor of their products.
Different Products Of UAC Foods Limited
Chukwuwike lists them as follows:
-          Gala Sausage Roll
-          Gala Chicken Roll
-          Kingsway Sausage Roll
-          Gala Tinkies
-          Funtime Cup Cake
-          Funtime Coconut Chips
-          Snaps Cheese Balls
-          Supreme Ice Cream (pouch and bowls)
-          Supreme Ice Lolly
-          Supreme Yogurt
-          Supreme Funblast
-          Supreme Crème Bliss
-          Delite Fruit Juice
-          SWAN Water
-          SWAN Soft Drink

 Becoming A Distributor Of Each Of These Products
Chukwuwike says, “Anyone can become a distributor of any of these products by applying for distributorship in writing, thus indicating interest. It could also be some group of persons who have a registered business name with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Whether an individual or group, there must be a registered business name; one that could accommodate the type of product you want to sell.”

Requirements At Various Levels Of Distributorship
Chukwuwike says, “Snacks Category (Gala & other sausage rolls, Cup Cake, Coconut Chips):

1. A letter of application to our corporate office at Kilometer 16, Ikorodu Road, Ojota, Lagos. P.O Box 117, Ikeja, Lagos;

2. A letter of introduction / recommendation from your bank;

3. A written/printed copy of your business registration name (CAC);

4. Filed copy of distributorship form collected from UFL and returned with a passport photo;

5. Funds to pay for stock, minimum -  (N1 million to N1.5 million);

6. Purchase of our snacks basket;

7. Vehicle for re-distribution;

8. Pay non-refundable deposit of N50,000;

9. Shop / store to keep stock

Ambient Category (Delite Fruit Juice, SWAN Water, SWAN Soft Drinks):

1. A letter of application;

2. A letter of introduction / recommendation from your bank;

3. A copy of business registration name (CAC);

4. Filed copy of distributorship form collected from UFL and returned with a passport photo;

 5. Funds to pay for stock, minimum -  (N1 million to N1.5 million);

6. Vehicle for re-distribution;

7. Shop/store to keep stock

Frozen Category (Supreme Ice Cream, Yogurt, Funblast):

1. A letter of application;

2. A letter of introduction / recommendation from your Bank;

3. A copy of business registration name (CAC);

4. Filed copy of distributorship form collected from UFL and returned with a passport photo;

5. Funds to pay for stock, minimum -  (N1 million to N1.5 million);

6. Chest freezers or cold-room to hold stock

Are There Stages Of Registration Needed Before A Person Becomes A Distributor?
Chukwuwike says, “You are not expected to register in any association before you can become our distributor. You only need to register your business name with CAC.”

Incentives And Benefits For Distributors
Chukwuwike says, “We give our distributors rebates at the end of each month based on the volume of sales. Rebates are earned based on agreed volume graduation in percentage as stated in the Terms of Trade (TOT). Other benefits include trade promotions; incentive awards based on target achievement; gift incentives during special occasions by distributors (at the company’s discretion).”

Any Need For A Guarantor?
Chukwuwike says, “Yes, you need a guarantor.”

Region Or Location Boundaries?
Chukwuwike says, “Yes, you are regionally bound. Territories are delineated and allocated to distributors where they are expected to develop and sell in. Distributors are sanctioned if they cross territories to do their selling.”

If I don't have N1m or 1.5m to start but I have N500, 000 or N250, 000 do I have a chance of still becoming your distributor or a sub distributor?  At what level will I be playing in the distribution chain?

Chukwuwike says, “You will also have a place in the distribution chain and that is the category of below a million to N600, 000. You will be closely monitored for the space of 6 months to see how you are making progress. And if after 6 months you are not able to meet up you will not be given the license to become one of our major distributors. The business is capital intensive, if you trade with less than a million, your turn over within a week will be very low, it is the volume of your product purchased that determines your turnover volume.

“Better still you could join resources together as friends or colleagues to make up that amount to get your products then work at raising your supplies”.

 How Do I Know My Boundaries So That I Am Not Sanctioned?
Chukwuwike says, “In the form that you will be given to fill and submit with your passport photograph, you will be asked to state or choose your preferred location or coverage area. After you have specified that, our team will check our distributors’ data to ensure that that location is not yet covered.

If it has been covered already, we will suggest another location or do an adjustment that will be okay for you and the pre-existing distributor; and the moment that is done you don't have any problems - your boundaries will be defined so that everybody can do the business correctly without any complaints of their customers being diverted.”

Oruhtrade International Ltd., Producers Of GO 90 Insecticide
Mr. Frank Anokam, Admin Manager, spoke.

What Are The Different Products That You Have?
Anokam says, “The products we have for distribution now are (a) G.O. 90 Insecticide Drop (30ml) 12 bottlesx24 packets/carton (b) G.O.90 Aerosol Spray (300ml) 12 cans/carton (b) G.O.90 Rat and Mouse Glue Trap 72 packs/carton.”

How Can Anyone Become A Distributor Of Each Of These Products Or Are They Restricted To Some Group Of Persons?
Anokam says, “All you need to do to qualify for distributorship of any of our products is to come over to our office at Km 11, LASU-Isheri Road, Igando, Lagos. Tel: 08038188004, 08057006781. There, you will need to submit a formal application letter to the Human Resource Department (HRD), indicating your interest in the distributorship of our products.

“You must also have a registered trade name with the corporate affairs commission (CAC) and a functional current bank account.

“You are also expected to have a delivery van, to move your goods around to your sub distributors or retailers.

“You are also expected to have a secure storage facility which will be inspected and certified by the company’s inspection team because the products are highly inflammable. So we have to make sure the environment is safe and secure to avoid any accident.

“Another requirement is that you should be able to (buy) lift a minimum of Five Hundred Cartons (500 cartons) of the Drop (30ml), the Aerosol Spray or any other product as required, which amounts to N3-4million.

“A formal reply will be given to the distributor if he or she qualifies, detailing other terms and conditions of service as necessary.”

Do I Need To Provide A Guarantor?
Anokam says, “Yes you will need to provide of Two (2) guarantors”.

Incentives And Benefits For Distributors
Anokam says, “The Company compensates her distributors based on the volume of sales achieved by them (the distributors). These compensations are earned based on performance
“Other benefits include product promotions, incentive awards based on target achievement, and gift incentives during special occasions”.

Any Regional Or Location Boundaries
Anokam says, “It depends on the level of your distributorship and the location which you intend to operate from. When we have all these details we can discuss how it will favor you and other existing customers”.

Nutricima Plc -  Producers Of Freshyo, Bliss, Coast And Nunu. Nunu Includes A Range Of Powdered, Evaporated And Ready-To-Drink Milk. Freshyo Includes A Powdered Yoghurt Drink Format And Also A Ready-To-Drink Yoghurt Range. Bliss Includes Smoothies, Ice Teas, Ready To Drink Flavoured Milk Products And Instant Hot Drink Powders

 Titilayomi Osagbemi, PR Manager, Nutricima spoke.

Getting Involved In The Distributorship
Osagbemi says, “All you need do is get in touch with any of our representatives and have your money and outlet ready”.

The Requirements
Osagbemi says, “You would need a distribution van. Your location should be in a place that can move sales quickly and you should  have the skills and ability to redistribute your goods”.

Mode Of Payment
Osagbemi says, “All payments are made by cheque”.
 
Minimum Quantity To Buy, Price Et Al
Osagbemi says, “There is really no minimum quantity but we expect a distributor should buy something worth a minimum of N300,000”.

Any Registration Fees?
Osagbemi says, “No registration fees are required. But payment is made before goods are delivered”.

Location Requirements
Osagbemi says, “We expect a good location that should be able to drive good sales. And your location should not be close to another distributor”.

Incentives And Benefits For Major Distributors
Osagbemi says, “Our distributors get a certain rebate every quarter. I will not disclose the details but our incentives package is juicy.”

Becoming A Sub Distributor
Osagbemi says, “As a sub distributor, you deal directly with the major distributor in your area of sales”.

Parts Of The Country Where Distributors Are Still Needed

Osagbemi says, “We can never have enough distributors. We need distributors from all over the country especially from the Northern parts”.

Advice To Prospective Distributors

Osagbemi says, “Be diligent and with time you’ll make it”.

Lafarge WAPCO Plc - Producers Of WAPCO Cement

Requirements For Becoming A Distributor
Just walk into their office and you would be required to fill a form. The form requires you to fill in some personal details. And when submitting the form, you are to attach a photocopy of the following document:

1) A copy of your company's registration  certificate with CAC.

2) A formal application letter of intent indicating your interest to be a distributor.

3) And a reference letter from your bank which you will obtain from the bank where your registered company holds a corporate account.

A distributor is expected to buy nothing less than five truck loads of cement. A truck load of cement consists of about 600 bags.
But the good thing is, if an individual cannot afford this on his or her own, he can partner with an existing distributor or another new distributor and they can put their resources together to buy the five truck loads of cement.

Facility Requirements
You need a warehouse. You also need pallets on which you would put your cement bags.
Then you need to make sure your warehouse is not in a place where rain or any sort of water can enter.

Incentives For distributors
An authoritative source said, “Our distributors that meet up to their required targets are rewarded with trucks and sometimes trucks of cement. We also give out gifts such as cars, generators, refrigerators, television sets, etc, on a yearly basis”.

La Casera, The Beverage Producing Company – Producers Of The Popular La Casera Soft Drink

The Requirements
A top official of La Casera Beverages Company, who pleaded anonymity, said it is vital for distributors of La Casera to have an in-depth knowledge and experience in beverage products distribution. Other requirements, according to him, include having infrastructure for distribution of the product, financial resources to procure the product and good marketing strategies.

Mode Of Payment
The official stated that one can pay at any designated bank and that everything is done on "cash and carry", basis.

Minimum Quantity To Buy, Price And Other Things To Know
The official said that a distributor who wishes to be taken seriously by La Casera would need to buy a minimum of 5000 pieces and have the sales personnel to market the product. He added that such a distributor would then be qualified to enjoy incentives such as gifts of electronics which the company gives out from time to time.

Any Registration Fees?
The official said there is no registration payment before becoming a distributor. He added that all one needs to do is just to show interest at their office and an official will be at hand to check for compliance to requirements and supervise.

Regional And Location Boundaries
The official said, "The distributor should be the only one covering a particular area but in case two distributors are covering same (large) area, they just have to demarcate their market - meaning, they must not encroach on each others' market areas," he said.

Advice To Prospective Distributors
The official therefore advised prospective distributors to go for all the brands of La Casera, sell more of them and make profit, as the Trade Volume Incentive - which is an additional incentive of the product for every minimum of 5000 or more pieces exists and is very attractive. “La Casera is looking forward to receiving distributors from all parts of the country - be wise” the official said.

Hot Steps On Becoming a Millionaire by Age 30 or Even Less!!!---------A MUST READ

Getting rich and becoming a millionaire is a taboo topic. Saying it can be done by the age of 30 seems like a fantasy.

It shouldn’t be taboo and it is possible. At the age of 21, I got out of college, broke and in debt, and by the time I was 30, I was a millionaire.

Here are the 10 steps that will guarantee you will become a millionaire by 30.

1. Follow the money. In today’s economic environment you cannot save your way to millionaire status. The first step is to focus on increasing your income in increments and repeating that. My income was $3,000 a month and nine years later it was $20,000 a month. Start following the money and it will force you to control revenue and see opportunities.

2. Don’t show off -- show up! I didn’t buy my first luxury watch or car until my businesses and investments were producing multiple secure flows of income. I was still driving a Toyota Camry when I had become a millionaire. Be known for your work ethic, not the trinkets that you buy.

3. Save to invest, don’t save to save. The only reason to save money is to invest it.  Put your saved money into secured, sacred (untouchable) accounts. Never use these accounts for anything, not even an emergency. This will force you to continue to follow step one (increase income). To this day, at least twice a year, I am broke because I always invest my surpluses into ventures I cannot access.

4. Avoid debt that doesn’t pay you. Make it a rule that you never use debt that won’t make you money. I borrowed money for a car only because I knew it could increase my income. Rich people use debt to leverage investments and grow cash flows. Poor people use debt to buy things that make rich people richer.

5. Treat money like a jealous lover. Millions wish for financial freedom, but only those that make it a priority have millions. To get rich and stay rich you will have to make it a priority. Money is like a jealous lover. Ignore it and it will ignore you, or worse, it will leave you for someone who makes it a priority.

6. Money doesn’t sleep. Money doesn’t know about clocks, schedules or holidays, and you shouldn’t either. Money loves people that have a great work ethic. When I was 26 years old, I was in retail and the store I worked at closed at 7 p.m. Most times you could find me there at 11 p.m. making an extra sale. Never try to be the smartest or luckiest person -- just make sure you outwork everyone.

7. Poor makes no sense. I have been poor, and it sucks. I have had just enough and that sucks almost as bad. Eliminate any and all ideas that being poor is somehow OK. Bill Gates has said, "If you’re born poor, it’s not your mistake. But if you die poor, it is your mistake."

8. Get a millionaire mentor. Most of us were brought up middle class or poor and then hold ourselves to the limits and ideas of that group. I have been studying millionaires to duplicate what they did. Get your own personal millionaire mentor and study them. Most rich people are extremely generous with their knowledge and their resources.

9. Get your money to do the heavy lifting. Investing is the Holy Grail in becoming a millionaire and you should make more money off your investments than your work. If you don’t have surplus money you won’t make investments. The second company I started required a $50,000 investment. That company has paid me back that $50,000 every month for the last 10 years. My third investment was in real estate, where I started with $350,000, a large part of my net worth at the time. I still own that property today and it continues to provide me with income. Investing is the only reason to do the other steps, and your money must work for you and do your heavy lifting.

10. Shoot for $10 million, not $1 million. The single biggest financial mistake I’ve made was not thinking big enough. I encourage you to go for more than a million. There is no shortage of money on this planet, only a shortage of people thinking big enough.

Apply these 10 steps and they will make you rich. Steer clear of people that suggest your financial dreams are born of greed.

 Avoid get-rich-quick schemes, be ethical, never give up, and once you make it, be willing to help others get there too.

How To Diversify, Build A System And Keep Your Business Going Without Crashing

 

If there’s one thing entrepreneurs love to do, it is creating jobs for others. They are never satisfied. They keep thinking of how to reinvent themselves. This is the story of Awobajo Adeleke who started out with one business and ended up diversifying along the line. How was he able to do this? Find out in this interview.

Can you introduce yourself?
I am Awobajo Adeleke and by God’s grace I'm married with kids. I have been an entrepreneur for close to two decades. I love creativity and I like to try new things. I’m a risk taker and most of all I’m a serial entrepreneur - by this I mean I have streams of businesses I operate.

What are your streams of businesses?
I started my career as a studio photographer under the name - In and Out Photographers. It became a success up till date and just recently I set-up my own digital lab outfit (Care Digital Lab) where we process pictures. And lastly I run an Academy where we train people on various aspect of soap, airfreshner, body spray making etc.

How lucrative has the photography business been for you?
I must confess to you that it has been very lucrative. But not without factors such has consistency when the going was tough, years of hardwork, commitment, innovation, customer satisfaction and the fear of God.

As a photography entrepreneur what stages did your business go through before attaining where it is today?
The journey has been very challenging and exciting. Interestingly, I started as a campus photographer using analogue back then in 1993. Five years later, I moved from being a photographer on campus to owning a studio where I ply my trade as photographer. When photography went digital, I had no choice than to switch to digital photography in 2004. And today, I own a digital photo processing laboratory that is barely six months old.

Why did you choose to diversify into owning a photo lab?
For me, this diversification from studio photography is actually a fulfillment of a life-long dream or vision. I considered certain factors before diversification. I consider owning a photo lab as a much more sustainable business that I can easily hand down to my dependants.

But looking at it from the perspective of an entrepreneur, I will say that diversification occurs when you decide to spread your resources into a department under the umbrella of same industry or different one as the case may be. Secondly, business diversification also occurs when as a business owner you need to share your risk.

What are the necessary steps required for business diversification?
For any business owner to think of successfully diversifying you need to have an existing business that is up and running on its own based on a system you have created.

You need to focus on a business you have a good knowledge of, it must be a business you are passionate about, you must be driven by a vision and lastly get a mentor in your line of new business that can be a reference point in this pursuit.

What is the secret to sustaining a business especially when the owner is not there?
Many businesses have collapsed today majorly because there was no proper system in place. Some businesses remain grounded when the owner is not in town or pass on. However, to guard against business breakdown, an entrepreneur ought to put a system in place. When we talk about a system I refer to set of procedure or carefully planned steps or process to achieve company goal.

For example in my organization we have our daily devotion, we have procedures for payment, handling customer enquiries or complaints, how money is banked, resumption and closing etc. when everyone of your staff are aware of these procedures and when they are meant to be carried out, there’s no way the business will not survive. Don’t forget to be conscious of monitoring the system so as to take necessary action should there be a default in the system you’ve put in place.

What is your advice to business owners who wish to diversify now or in future?
First, you must learn the necessary skills needed for your line of new business. Endeavour to put your system in place as I explained earlier. Don’t overlook customer issues.

Treat them appropriately as they come. Never put inexperienced personnel in key positions. Carry your staff along in all that you do. Be sincere and open in all dealings. And lastly have good managerial and supervisory skills.

From Success Digest Paper

Success Story:Eric Muthomi – The Kenyan lawyer who built a successful business from a simple ‘banana idea’

KENYA -

Africans consume up to 40 percent of bananas produced in the world every year. Like maize, rice and wheat, bananas are one of the most important and widely eaten food staples in East Africa. Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi are among the world’s largest producers and people in these countries eat up to 400 kilograms of bananas every year – the highest consumption rate in the world! Despite this huge demand and market, many smallholder banana farmers in Kenya do not make enough money from their harvests due to poor storage, wastage and exploitative middlemen. In just three years, Eric Muthomi, a 27-year old law graduate has built a successful business from solving the banana problem in Meru, his Kenyan hometown. This article tells the inspiring story of this young man and his brilliant idea which has won several awards and placed him on the 2013 Forbes List of Best Young African Entrepreneurs.

The 'banana availability' problem...

In our previous article, 3+ guaranteed ways to find profitable business ideas in Africa, we identified problem solving as one of the easiest ways to find lucrative business ideas on our continent. If you can solve a serious problem that affects people in their work, business or daily lives, there is a high chance that you will make money. This is exactly what Eric Muthomi is doing by solving the ‘banana availability problem’ in his native Kenya.

Due to the huge demand for bananas and its strategic importance in food security, there are over 400,000 smallholder banana farmers in Kenya. More than 60 percent of these farmers (who are mostly in remote rural areas) earn a full income from selling raw bananas (both ripe and unripe) on the local markets. However, due to the production cycles of the crop, there is an excess supply of bananas to the markets during harvest time. As a result of this oversupply, many farmers make very little money from their banana harvests and are routinely exploited by middlemen who take advantage of the low market prices.

Because raw bananas have a short shelf life (can rot easily), they have to be properly stored or processed if they must last long. Due to a lack of storage and processing facilities, bad roads and poor access to markets, about half of the bananas harvested in Kenya every year get rotten, are wasted and never get sold. As a result, many Kenyan farmers suffer serious losses after all the money, time and effort invested in farming bananas during the year.

Bananas are not available all year round; they become very cheap during harvest time and expensive in the dry season. This is dangerous for a crop that is used to avoid famine and serves as a food buffer in times of scarcity between cereal harvests. In addition to this problem, thousands of farmers remain poor as a result of waste and poor yields from their banana harvests.

Eric Muthomi’s solution to the rescue…

Eric is a 27-year old graduate of law from the Catholic University of East Africa. From an early age, he had made up his mind to start his own business after school. He first noticed the problems most banana farmers were facing in Meru, his hometown in Central Kenya and one of the largest banana producing regions in the country. He decided to start up a company that would buy raw bananas from local farmers at guaranteed prices, process them into banana flour and package them for sale in the market. This is the idea that formed his company, Stawi Foods.

Stawi Foods(stawi means ‘prosperity’ in Swahili), has improved the lives of thousands of banana farmers by providing them with sure income. It has also helped to increase the shelf life of bananas which would have rot and wasted if they are not sold soon after harvest. The banana flour, which is made from processed green bananas, is gluten free, nutritious and can be used to make baby food, porridge, mashed food, baked foods and soups. This versatile branded product which is sold as ‘Stawi Natural Banana Flour’ is distributed in several major supermarkets across Kenya.

Eric Muthomi’s idea now allows smallholder banana farmers in Kenya to earn 30 percent more on their bananas than they would have made if they sold it in the local markets. In addition, selling their banana harvests to a guaranteed buyer (Stawi Foods), protects them from the low and fluctuating prices of banana in times of harvest and scarcity. This is helping many young people to remain gainfully employed as banana farmers.

At the moment, this young company (which only started business in 2011), works with more than 100 groups of farmers in Meru which supply the raw bananas used for making Stawi Banana flour. The raw bananas are processed using both manual labour and processing equipment by a team of full-time employees and casual workers. As his Stawi Banana Flour gains popularity across Kenya and the East Africa region, Eric Muthomi expects to partner with more farmer groups across the country to get the raw materials (green bananas) it needs to produce more flour to meet the growing demand.

Since he put this amazing idea to action in 2011, Eric Muthomi has attracted a lot of local and international attention. In the same year he started Stawi Foods, Eric won the top prize in the 2011 Nature Challenge Africa competition sponsored by the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) Kenya in partnership with NETFUND which encourages businesses on sustainable use of natural resources in Africa. In 2012, he won a business plan competition organized by Kenya’s Ministry of Industrialization which looks out for innovative business ideas every year. Eric beat over 3,000 other contestants who own young and startup manufacturing businesses to become the 2012 winner.

In the same year (2012), Eric Muthomi won another award for his brilliant business idea in the Chase Bank Enablis ILO Business Launch Pad Competition in the Agribusiness Agro-processing category. This award rewards the most exciting and promising business plan among Kenyan entrepreneurs. He was also listed by Forbes Magazine as one of Africa’s Best Young Entrepreneurs. With all this attention, Eric believes it will not be long before he penetrates the East African regional market which will act as his stepping stone into international markets like Europe and North America.

3 Things we should learn from Eric Muthomi’s success...

Our goal for sharing the success stories of African entrepreneurs is to inspire you and also show you what is possible. However, on the road to success, there are often hard lessons, tough choices and rough challenges.  Eric Muthomi’s experience on this road is rich with lessons that will inspire you to take action on that business dream of yours. Read and learn…

#1 - There will never be a ‘perfect time’ to start your own business

Eric Muthomi has caught the world’s attention because he decided to take action on his dream even though he had a reason to postpone it or wait for the ‘right’ time. When he started his business, Stawi Foods, he was only 25 years old and fresh out of university. He didn’t even have any money to start a business so he borrowed from his family. In a previous article, we explored 10 interesting ways to raise the capital you need to start a business. You should check it out!

Apart from the challenge of getting start up capital for his business, Eric had to scale through the long and tiring licensing requirements and approvals that are compulsory for ‘food processing’ and ‘manufacturing’ companies in Kenya (a similar experience across many African countries). In addition to all these, he also faced the problem of inadequate and expensive power supply that seriously affects manufacturing businesses in many parts of Africa. In the face of all these excuses (problems), Eric is now the CEO of a successful business that is changing lives in his country. If you keep waiting for the ‘perfect time’ to start your business in Africa, that time may never come. You can either keep making excuses or start doing something with what little you already have! (photo credit: beyondblessedblog.com)

#2 – Inspire yourself with the problems around you.

One of the things that stand out from Eric Muthomi’s story is the simplicity of his business idea. He didn’t invent it; it’s a problem that has always existed for centuries. Smallholder banana farmers in his country have always suffered from wastage, low prices from middlemen and poor access to good markets. By thinking of a way to solve these nagging problems, Eric stumbled on an idea that is today a lucrative and successful business.

Many of us spend too much time complaining and whining about the many problems that surround us here in Africa. We are blinded by all the complaining that we often do not see the huge goldmines that lie in solving these problems. Eric’s story shows that if you take the time to think of creative solutions to existing problems around you, it’s very likely that you will stumble on an interesting business idea. The lesson here is simple: don’t let problems frustrate you, use them to inspire yourself!

#3 - Make money and help people at the same time

Eric Muthomi says “ I am happy when farmers come up to me and thank me for getting them a market for their product. It is such a satisfying feeling.”

While the goal of starting a business is usually to make money, touching lives and affecting people positively can be a rewarding experience which money cannot buy. The great thing about using ‘problem solving’ as the basis for your business idea is that it removes pain, frustration and/or suffering that already exists in people’s lives. In the case of Eric’s business, it allowed thousands of poor rural farmers to remain in business while earning more money from their banana harvests. His business is creating jobs for Kenyans and will help to earn foreign exchange for his country when he starts exporting his ‘Stawi Natural Banana Flour’ product. It’s always a ‘win-win’ situation when you have a business idea that can make money and help people at the same time! 

Do you have an idea that can solve an existing problem?

Eric Muthomi’s success story proves again that lucrative opportunities are available to people who can find solutions to serious problems affecting Africans. In our popular article, 3+ Guaranteed ways to find profitable business ideas in Africa, we identified problem-solving as one of the easiest ways to find ideas that can become very successful businesses.

This article was written to inspire you to look out for, and exploit similar opportunities in your environment. We suggest that you start making a list of problems you have noticed and their possible solutions. Are there any products or foods in your area that suffer the same wastages and face the problems like the bananas in Kenya? Can you creatively copy and apply Eric Muthomi’s business formula to your local environment? Think!

We would love to hear from you about your successes, challenges, advice and questions. Do not forget to leave a comment in the section below and share this inspiring story with your friends using the Facebook, Twitter and Google+ buttons below. You should also explore other inspiring profiles of successful African entrepreneurs in the Get Inspired section of this website!

To your financial success!

How To Start a Day Nursery Also Called a Daycare Centre--Part 1 By The Startup Team,Pictures Inside

 What is a day nursery and who is it suited to?

It's no easy route to riches, but if you love working with kids this could be for you

A nursery is a pre-school childcare facility and is staffed by trained carers. They are typically open all year round and all day to cater for working or busy parents.

But, if you aren’t sure about committing to a full-time business, there are other ways that you could be involved in childcare – from running a crèche to a playgroup. You could even set up as a self-employed childminder at home, read our guide on how to become a childminder here. Not all require you to be fully trained or to work full-time. But anyone caring for children under the age of eight will need to be registered with the local authority.

Running a nursery is certainly not a ‘get-rich-quick’ plan. In fact, you could probably make more money driving a taxi than running your own nursery. But, if you want a job – and a business – that offers hourly challenges and a lot of rewards then this could be just right for you.

It is a business that tends to attract working parents – either because they think they could do a better job than the nurseries already on offer, or because they discover that there is nothing available in the area at all.

After her children were born, Kate Willink decided to leave her job as a management accountant but kept on some work by doing the books for the local nursery. When one of the nursery nurses left, she decided to set up her own nursery called The Wooden Horse in Easingwold, North Yorkshire.

“I couldn’t go back to my job,” she explained, as the hours that she worked meant that she would never see her children. “This is the next best thing. It isn’t as much money but I get other things from it. It is mine and my partner’s business and I get to see the children develop.”

But don’t fall into the trap of thinking that looking after your own children will give you the experience necessary to run a nursery. You need to have the patience of a saint. One child screaming or crying can be tiring, but imagine 20 or more kids all competing for your attention. You will need endless enthusiasm and energy. Don’t expect to win prizes for your fashion sense either. Nappy changing and baby feeding could soon spoil your best clothes. But if you can cope with the tears and tantrums, this is a business that offers much more than financial gain

 

Creating a day nursery business plan

First things first. You need to check out the competition; to help you, your local council will have a list of all registered childcare providers. As well as checking out existing nurseries, look at playgroups, mother and toddler groups – anything that will be your competition. And don’t forget that might include nannies.

Find out whether there is a market for another nursery. A census can tell you local birth rates, the number of nursery-age children and the general economics of an area. Not only will this give you information on how many children there are but it should allow you to build a profile of your typical customer.

Kate Willink, founder of The Wooden Horse in Easingwold, explains that she and her business partner spent six months simply writing the plan for their nursery. She used the local library, the council and the internet to find useful background information on the area, the average wage and even figures for how many children go to nurseries in the county. Armed with demographics, customer profiles and a financial projection for the first 12 months, her business loan was quickly approved by Barclays.

You should also think about how many children you want to look after in your nursery as this will affect the property, staff and pricing. If this is your first venture, don’t try and compete with the chains that offer places for over 100 children. But to be viable, you will probably need to have at least 25-30 places.

Once you have looked at the competition and defined your ideal customer, you should start to get a feel for what to charge. Prices will vary across the country; the average cost of part-time (25 hours a week) care for children under two years old is currently around £110 a week nationwide, while in inner London it is more than £140 a week – average figures for your region can be found here. The price will also vary according to how old the children are, as it costs more to look after babies than toddlers.

But like any business, it will take time to get set up properly. Your business plan should allow some time before parents are beating a path to your door. It will probably take at least a year before you are full and it can be hard going on the way, says Ilana King of Blooming Babies Day Nursery in Stamford-le-Hope, Essex. “I assumed that the children would come in at a steady rate but that isn’t the way it happened. We had a very long period with very few children and then a huge influx.”

The good news is that you don’t have to hire all the staff until the nursery fills up and there are flexible finance packages available – for example, loans with capital repayment holidays

 

Starting a day nursery: Rules and regulations

Childcare is a very sensitive issue. So the amount of red tape covering this area should come as no surprise.

Under the Children Act of 1989, anyone providing day care for children under the age of eight that exceeds two hours must be registered with the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted). The registration requirements differ depending on whether you will be operating the nursery from your own home or from dedicated non-domestic premises – this article assumes you will have dedicated premises. For a guide to registered a childcare operation from your home, click here.

Before you begin the registration process, you need to complete two preliminary stages – a DBS check and a health declaration booklet. A DBS check, formerly known as a CRB check, scans your history for prior criminal convictions to ensure you are suitable for looking after children. Application fees cost around £50, and you can apply online here.

The second pre-registration stage requires you to fill in a health declaration booklet, which requires you to detail any health problems and notify Ofsted of any medications you are taking. The current health declaration booklet can be found here.

The registration process looks at the ability of the day-care facility to provide care which conforms with the 14 national standards for day care and childminding. The 14 national standards are a baseline of quality that you, the staff and the premises must adhere to. During the registration process, you will need to demonstrate to Ofsted that you comply with the standards which include:

All members of staff must be ‘suitable’ to look after children, which means making sure they have had the appropriate police checks, and no unvetted person is left alone with the children. The manager of the centre must also have at least two years’ experience as a qualified nursery nurse, between one and two years’ experience in a supervisory role, and a relevant nursery qualification.

All staff must meet the necessary training requirements. At least half of all staff must have appropriate qualifications (at least level 2 qualification for a day-care setting). All staff must have health and safety training and a child protection procedure induction within their first week of employment.

The size of a group of children must also never exceed 26, and should follow the following staff-per-child and space-per child ratios.

Age of children	Space required per child	Staff ratio
Up to 2 years	3.5 square metres	One to three children
Two-three years	2.5 square metres	One to four children
three to seven years old	2.3 square metres	One to eight children

^{*Table information taken from the National standards for Day Care and Childminding.}

You must also provide a minimum of one toilet and one wash hand basin with hot and cold water available for every 10 children over the age of two years.

The children’s needs and welfare should be promoted through appropriate activities and play, which develop children’s emotional, physical, social and intellectual capabilities.

The premises must be safe and secure, and any furniture and equipment must be well maintained and conform to safety standards.

If you are intending to convert a residential property, things get a little more complicated as you will need to apply for planning permission. In particular, the planning authorities will check for adequate parking for all the parents dropping off and picking up their children. And if the local residents aren’t behind the plan, your application could be held up for a long time.

“It took us 12 months to get planning permission for one nursery because it was in a residential area,” explained Pat Perkins of the Wingfield nursery in Leicester. “The residents didn’t want a nursery and twice we were given permission but they challenged it so you automatically lose it and we had to go to appeal. But we met the criteria 100% and we didn’t go away.”

You should also seek advice from your local environmental health department to ensure you comply with legal obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Food Safety Act.
Ofsted will also notify your local fire authority of your registration application, and they may contact you to arrange an inspection. You will then have to meet any recommendations made to you by the fire authority.

Once you are registered, Ofsted will assess the nursery at least once every three years to make sure it conforms with the national standards.

More detailed information on the registration process and the national standards can be obtained from Ofsted or your local authority.

Day nursery costs

Firstly, and most importantly, you must find suitable premises. The regulations set out how much space you will need per child, so once you have worked out how many children you want to have you will know the minimum space required.

You can either rent or buy. But if you want to rent, make sure that you have a reasonable lease on the property. It will be very hard – and expensive – to move after only two or three years in a property.

If you don’t want to build the nursery from scratch, you could look at modular nurseries. They are significantly cheaper and can be up and running very quickly. But they might not be popular with the local planning authorities – particularly if you are in a green belt area. So before you make any investment, make sure that the local planning department will give approval for them.

Based on a nursery for 25-30 children you should expect a minimum outlay for a modular nursery to be upwards of £80,000. But to build a nursery from scratch the sky is the limit depending on the location and size of the building.

If you are making structural alterations to a building that already exists, you will need to factor in several thousand pounds depending on its current state. The building might also require some work to bring it up to fire safety standards; for example, ensuring that you could evacuate all the children in an emergency. You should also ensure that there is adequate security, for example, extra locks on doors and windows to keep strangers out and children in.

You should also budget at least £8,000 for toys and equipment. This can include anything from books to tricycles, and puzzles to bean bags. And don’t forget that with 25 children playing all day long, the equipment will wear out more quickly than normal. Setting aside a regular amount for replacement should help when the bills come in, but you can also save by buying second hand, as long as the equipment comes with a Kitemark, and is thoroughly disinfected before use.

50 Tips for Starting Your Own Company

Starting your own business isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s stressful and pretty much demands your complete focus. On the plus side, it can also be a fulfilling experience professionally and personally.

Here are 50 tips on how to make your business come to life:

1. Do a self-inventory.

Not everyone has what it takes to start a company. That’s not to say that your idea is not brilliant. It just means that you may not have the personality traits to handle launching a company of your own.
Before investing any time or resources, evaluate yourself and see if you have some the typical traits of an entrepreneur. Are you motivated, able to adapt and confident? Are you resilient?

2. Develop an idea.

Don’t just start a business because something is in vogue and you think commercializing it will make money. Develop a business concept that you're passionate about related to something that you have experience with. From there, come up with a product or service that you believe can enhance the people’s lives.

3. Test the plausibility.

Once you’ve settled on an idea, figure out how you can make it become a reality. Is the product or service something that people want or need? Can you make a profit selling it? Does the product work?

4. Write a business plan.

A solid business plan will guide you going forward. It’s also needed for presenting your idea to potential investors. Your business plan should include a mission statement, a company summary, an executive summary, a service or product offerings, a description of a target market, financial projections and the cost of the operation. Learn about how to write a business plan at SBA.gov.

5. Identify your market.

Even though you may have detected some interest in your business, you need to do more homework. Assess the market, targeting the customers most likely to make a purchase. Perform a competitive assessment.

6. Determine the costs.

Do additional research and find out the standard cost factors within this industry. Not only will this help you manage your business more effectively, investors will want to know this.

7. Establish a budget.

Once you determine how much money you’ll have to work with, figure out how much it will take to develop your product or service and create a marketing plan.

8. Find the right investors.

You’re going to need some sort of funding to start off, whether from your savings, credit cards, loans, grants or venture capitalists. Find an investor who shares your passion, someone you believe you can work with.

9. Listen to investors.

Whether you like it, investors do have a say in your company. And you need to listen to their advice or suggestion. But that doesn’t mean you have to do what they tell you.

10. Set up a great support system.

You’re going to be investing a lot of time and resources into your new business venture. Be certain that your family is on board. They must be aware that this process will be challenging financially and emotionally.

11. Determine the legal structure.

Settle on which form of ownership is best for you: a sole proprietorship, a partnership, a limited liability company, a corporation, an S corporation, a nonprofit or a cooperative. Find out more at SBA.gov.

12. Select a business name.

Decide on a name that best suits your business. Then check to see if the domain name is available online, as well as if it’s free to use in your county, state and in the country.

13. Register your business name.

If your proposed business name is available, register it with the county clerk, have it trademarked at the state and federal levels and secure a domain name.

14. Take advantage of free resources.

Numerous free resources can offer advice, training and assistance. SBA.gov is a great place to look at to find local resources.

15. Determine tax obligations.

Now it’s time to wrestle with the tax obligations. In the United States, four basic types of business taxes arise: income, self-employment, taxes for employees and excise taxes.

16. Secure permits and licenses.

According to NOLO, you’ll have to pick up a federal employment identification number (unless the company is a sole proprietorship or a limited liability company without employees.) Apply for state licenses. Pick up a local tax registration certificate. File for local permits, if required, such as a conditional use permit or zoning variance.

17. Buy insurance.

Make sure that you arrange for the proper insurance for your business. This will vary according to the type of business. If you’re working from home be sure that your homeowner’s insurance covers theft or damage to business assets, as well as liability for any business-related injuries. 

18. Set up the books.

Figure out if you’re using a cash or accrual system, determine the fiscal year for the business and set up a recordkeeping system.

19. Choose a business location.

Select a location that best fits the needs of your business, one that offers an opportunity for growth, the right level of competition and proximity to suppliers. It should also be accessible to customers.
Related: Office Space à la Carte Is on the Menu for Some Entrepreneurs

20. Don’t worry about an office.

If you’re not making any revenue, then don't concern yourself with an office or warehouse ust yet.

21. A patent can wait.

Patents can cost thousands of dollars. Wait to pursue this route until you have a few customers paying the bills. A patent is less useful if you can't enforce it or have the money to see it through.

22. Be flexible.

Chances are that your original idea will have to be modified. Being able to pivot and adapt to create what customers want will determine if your business will fail or succeed.

23. Share your ideas with friends and family.

Your nearest and dearest will most likely be the most honest with you about your business. Don’t hesitate to seek their advice and suggestions.

24. Ignore the naysayers.

At the same time, there’s a difference between constructive criticism and someone's quick jab projecting that your business will fail. Follow the example of French Internet mogul Xavier Niel and ignore them.

25. Don’t become angry.

If your idea is rejected by customers or investors, don't just succumb to anger. Find out what they didn’t like, make adjustments and go back to them when you’ve made the changes. There's the possibility that the timing was wrong as well.

26. Deliver the product or service fast.

Your business is a work in progress and if you launch your product or service quickly, you will be able to build a community of customers who can provide valuable feedback that can help you improve the offerings. In the words of LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, "If you're not embarrassed by your first product release, you've released too late

27. Offer new products or services.

If you already have customers, be sure to hold on to them by providing new products or services.

28. Be patient.

Always keep in mind that success won’t happen overnight. It’s going to take some time before you make a profit.

29. Overdeliver at first.

Once you land a new client, be sure to go above and beyond the call of duty for at least the first month. You’ll have this customer hooked from then on.

30. Blog all the time.

Don’t be ashamed to share both your triumphs and struggles. Customers will enjoy your honesty.

31. Avoid fights with partners

If you have disagreements with partners, then sever ties as soon as possible. In-house bickering will prevent you from focusing on growing the business.

32. Don’t worry about dilution.

So an investor has required a stake in the company. Recognize the fact that eventually at one point or another you'll have to give up some control of the business. Accept it and move on.

33. Hire a copywriter.

Unless you’re an excellent writer, hire a copywriter to compose emails for highly targeted customers. A copywriter will also prove handy for press releases and other pieces to spread brand awareness or provide business updates.

34. Prepare for meetings.

When preparing for a meeting with a client, read up on everything that’s available, steeping yourself in information about the industry, that firm's employees and its competition.

35. Don’t fear the competition.

Don’t bad-mouth the competition when talking to investors or customers. There’s no need to become an object of pity. In fact, talking in this manner might even point customers to a competitor who may offer a product or service that you don’t. Remember, when competition exists, there’s a market for your business. Use that knowledge as inspiration to outperform a rival.

36. Benefit from word-of-mouth.

Nothing beats some good old-fashioned word-of-mouth marketing. Let friends, family members and influencers in your field spread the word about your product or service.

37. Network.

Don’t be afraid to get out there and show your face to the public, whether at a conference or just being out and about with friend on a Friday night. But try to stay local because travel can dwindle your budget.

38. Provide outstanding customer service.

Interacting with people is a big part of the job. Your business may gain new customers because you made them feel important. For example, Zappos wasn’t the first online store to sell shoes, but the company perfected its customer-service department and won over shoppers.

39. Be sure your website functions.

Potential customers want to know as much about your business as possible and they should be able to quickly access that kind of information on your website.

40. Don’t be overly concerned by the economy.

Some of the best businesses have launched during a recession. In fact, half of the Fortune 500 companies listed in 2009 were founded during such times, according to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

41. Make sure clients pay their bills.

Always be certain to receive payment for your products or services. Instead of being taken advantage of of, establish a time frame for payment. It also wouldn’t hurt to accept credit cards and have an online payment system set up.

42. Find the right employees.

Hire the right people for the job. Even though it's your business, you won't be skilled at every task, which is why you need qualified people to complete the work.

43. Assign responsibilities.

Eelegate attainable tasks to employees. This is all about effective management.

44. Know that honesty is the best policy.

If any issues with employees emerge, be sure that they are addressed. No one enjoys being talked about behind their back.

45. Remember that opposites attract.

Hire people with skills and personalities that are the opposite to yours. They’ll challenge you and will bring different skills and talents to the business that you don't.

46. Say goodbye to your social life.

You’re going to spend a lot of time devoted to the business. Even if you plan a night out, you may leave early because a lightbulb just went off. Hopefully those closest in your life will understand.

47. Recognize that you'll be the final person to be paid.

As the CEO, you’re the last to collect a check. That’s just how it works until there’s adequate revenue.

48. Arrive at a useful definition of success.

Just because your business hasn’t made you a millionaire (yet) doesn’t mean that your enterprise is a failure. If you’re able to make some sort of profit doing something that you’re passionate about, isn’t that a success story?

49. Realize when it's time to move on.

Failure is inevitable. If things aren’t working out and you’ve done all you can, then put aside your pride and close up shop. Something like this is not easy to accept. But it’s for the best.

50. Don’t just rely on the advice of others.

Despite my offering up all of these tips for you, perhaps the most important piece of advice is something learned the hard way: While many people may offer a startup assiistance, recognize that in the end you’re the person running the show and the one responsible for the company's success and failure. If you understand what worked and what didn’t, you’ll burnish the skills and knowledge to run your business.

How To Choose A Business Coach

Every football team requires a Coach to succeed. The same is applicable to businesses. You need a business coach to succeed. Having said that, there are many small business coaches to choose from, so it helps to have clarity about what you're looking for in a coach.

Properly selecting a business coach or consultant (or business advisor) is not easy. But since the cost associated with a poorly selected business consultant can be high, the payoff of taking the time to make a good choice is a good investment.

Choosing a business coach for you will lead to a productive and inspiring relationship. Take your time to do your homework and you'll certainly find the right coach for you.

The Role Of The Business Coach

The role of a business coach is to supplement your knowledge so you can make sound, informed decisions. Understanding this is critical to creating a good working relationship that achieves desired results. Although the consultant provides advice, you are responsible for the final decisions.

Defining The Work

It is easier to select a business consultant if you know what results and "deliverables" you want. Deliverables are the components of the finished product (the plan) that you expect the consultant to complete. Clearly state what needs to be done. Specify what you expect to be produced (e.g., a business plan). This initial effort will save time.

Expertise Of The Coach

Consultants vary greatly in their level of expertise. Consultants loose their value when they get out of their area of expertise.

• What Is The Consultant’s Special Area Of Expertise?  Does the consultant’s area of expertise match what you want them to do for you? Ask if the consultant has done similar work for other groups. Choosing a consultant with the exact area of expertise you want can increase the quality of the work and may reduce the cost. Problems with consultants often arise when they work in areas in which they are unfamiliar.
• What Is The Coach’s Knowledge Of The Industry?  Has he worked in the industry? Does the consultant personally know the industry players? Choosing a consultant who is knowledgeable of the industry will improve the quality of the result and decrease the amount of time needed to achieve the result.
• Will The Coach Provide An Independent Perspective?  Will the coach provide a perspective that is based on actual research findings? Or, is the consultant apt to provide hearsay and information not documented?
• What Are The Research Capabilities Of Analyzing Existing Statistical Information? Can they effectively do surveys or focus groups if needed? Do they know people to ask in the industry?
• Ask For A Sample Of The Coach’s Work. Request for the coach reports and other materials he has developed for other clients that relate to the focus of the work you are asking for.

Choosing the right coach or consultant for you will lead to a productive and inspiring relationship. Do your homework and you'll certainly find the right coach for you.

Work with these ideas and your success is guaranteed!
Take Action Now!

His name is Wonderful By Bishop David Oyedepo

RCCG HOLY GHOST CONGRESS 2012 "SIGNS AND WONDERS" - DAY 5

Title: His name is Wonderful

Minister: Bishop David Oyedepo

Bible verse: Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called

Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Every child of God is born to be a wonder to the world. According to John 3:8, everyone born of the spirit is born a living wonder. Mark 16:17-18 says” And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

By divine ordination, every child of God is born a sign and wonder by divine ordination. Isaiah 8: 18 says “ Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion”.

Even though we know who we are, we need to know how to operate in that realm. What do you need to do to be a sign and wonder.?
Exodus 4:17 says “And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs” and Isaiah 11:1 says “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD” Combinning these two verses, it is clear that to be a sign and wonder you need to carry Jesus every where you go. The name of Jesus is so full of wonders and engaging that name ‘Jesus’ is one way to evoke signs and wonders to flow in our life.

In Acts 3: 6 Peter had no money to give the lame man but with the name of Jesus he was able to do wonders and the lame man got up and began to walk. The name of Jesus can bring anybody out from issues of life.

You need to know how to engage the name of Jesus to see wonders in your life. There is healing, protection, blessing in the name of Jesus. The name of Jesus is key to answered prayers, when you pray to God in the name of Jesus,you grab God’s attention. The name of Jesus opens the doors of heaven ( John 14:12) The name of Jesus is anointed, the name of Jesus destroys yokes, demons are subjected to the name. When you engage that name against the operation, the anointing goes forth to fight on your behalf.The name of Jesus guarantees peace in troubled times. There is counsel in that name so when your soul is troubled, call upon the name of Jesus. The bible calls Him the Prince of peace.


With the name of Jesus in your hand, a new day dawns on your life. With faith in the name of Jesus, there is a change of story for you! The bible says in that the signs will follow those that believe, the name puts you in command of every situation in your life. When we engage the name of Jesus n faith, miracles, signs and wonders will follow.

The depth of understanding you have in the name of Jesus will determine the result you get when you make use of the name. Your spiritual understanding of the name of Jesus is key to experiencing your signs and wonders, the name of Jesus is full of wonders

Christianity without the supernatural is fake religion, if the supernatural is not happening around you then you are not experiencing true Christianity. By engaging the name of God, you experience the supernatural things, you start to get things . The name of Jesus is a gift from God to the believer, the name of Jesus is the key to every door, you can use the name of Jesus to cross your red sea and overcome your problems.

Prayer Point: Jesus touch me tonight, give me an answer tonight! Go ahead and engage the name Jesus against that challenge in your life!!!!

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Book Spy:Adsense Secret Unleased

 

Yea first of all happy new month yesterday I made two interesting posts,the first one about the success story of how a 23years old waitress acquired a restaurant and wen further to build an empire of more than 75 branches whereas the second was how to earn good money from Adsense I advise you to scroll down to read more on them after this post.

Alright lets go to our today's post.

Chapter 1

Earning a Comfortable Living from AdSense Reviewed

Technically, there is only one way to earn money from AdSense. You create a website, and paste the AdSense code into the pages. You then drive traffic to that site, and you earn money when people click on the ads that are being served by Google. That sounds easy enough, right?

It is easy, but it takes more thought and effort than that. What you must remember is that you only earn a few cents when someone clicks an ad, for the most part. That amount can be as little as three cents, and on up to five dollars. The most successful AdSense publishers are targeting keywords that pay the most amount of money.

These AdSense publishers use a variety of tools to find out what the high paying keywords are. These tools include keyword research tools, such as Word Tracker and Keyword Elite.

They spend a great deal of time researching those keywords, finding out what the top keywords are, in terms of number of people searching for them, and what word combinations are being used. These are words and phrases that they will target in the content of their sites.

Next, they determine which of those top keywords topics pay the most money per click. Those who have been in the AdSense game for a while are not going to build sites that target keywords that only pay three cents per click!

They are making a living, and three cents doesn’t go very far in reaching their goal.
These AdSense publishers use the tools that Google provides to help determine which keywords are paying the most to the publishers. Unfortunately,you won’t find these tools inside your Google AdSense account. You need a Google AdWords account for this.

You see, Google has two programs: Google AdSense and Google AdWords. Those two programs work together. Business owners use Google AdWords to promote their products and websites. When you publish Google AdSense ads on your site, the ads that are being displayed are those that people using the Google AdWords program have paid Google to run.

Fortunately, it is free to set up a Google AdWords account. You just set it up, and get in there and start using the tools that are there to see how much bids are for the keywords that you’ve discovered using keyword selection tools such as Word Tracker and Keyword Elite.

By doing this, you have access to the same information that the people who are paying for ads has, and this helps you to build more profitable AdSense websites.

This is a secret that Google won’t tell you about, and few AdSense publishers will share with you. Having a Google AdWords account is the key to finding out which keywords are going to pay you the most amount of money per click.

Choosing the right high paying keywords, however, isn’t all that there is to it. You also must have the traffic. Low traffic sites won’t make you a full-time living. This is why most publishers have more than one website.
They find the top keywords in terms of number of searches, figure out the keywords from that list that pay the most amount of money per click, and then build sites accordingly.

A successful AdSense publisher may have sites on topics such as fishing, weight loss, video games, making money, and more. When you have multiple sites, you can make a nice living with a mid level amount of traffic to each site.
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This is just part of the chapter one of what the volume one of this book really contain, and don't forget that this book has volume one,two and three so if you want to get the full book just contact us and you shall get it within the hour.

Call us on 2348089012771.