If you are working from home, you can and should set your sights on doing business with the largest companies in the world.
We currently do business with a realty company and have inquiries from a brand name technology company and two oil companies. All of them are in the Fortune 500 - and we work from home - in a home office. At FunCareers.com we practice what we preach!
In our particular case we are providing software to these companies but whatever it is that you do, or are planning to do, you could be providing products or services to these billion dollar juggernauts.
You might think that what you have to offer would not be of interest to a large company and that it would be difficult to get the business, but you'd be wrong. Getting work from a F500 company is as easy as getting business from any other company or individual. It sounds simplistic but it's true.
We know a woman that provides a consulting service and is currently under contract with one of the largest universities in the country, if not the world. She does much of the work from her home office. Have a look at her site at http://www.jenniferinc.com to see just one of the services she provides.
You might think that you *have* to know someone high up in the organization to get the gig but once again you would be wrong. Only one of our contacts came about that way, the others came through our websites! Of course you will need to talk with a person that has the authority to purchase, but you'd be surprised the number of people that can be in a large organization.
Here are are some basic facts:
Fact: A big company needs products and services just like a small company. If you have what they need, then they will be happy doing business with you.
Fact: You can charge more for the same service when
dealing with these ultra large companies, in fact they expect it! If you price your products or services too low they may not do business with you. They are used to paying premium prices for premium services - the kind you supply!
Fact: Just like any relationship, who you know can count. Look at your degrees of separation from the company you want to work with and see if anyone you know, knows someone that works there. If not, see if someone you know, knows someone, that knows someone that works there. The first step is to get in the door and talk to them, only then can you find out if your product or service is what they need.
Fact: Big companies are screwed up! Many large corporations are still in business simply because they have huge cash flow and can afford to make many mistakes without it seriously impacting the bottom line. If you feel intimidated by doing business with these guy just remember, your business is probably better run and more efficient than theirs!
Steps to Take:
The simple steps to doing business with Fortune 500 companies is to first do your research, find out about the company, what they do and how your product or service could benefit them.
Next, locate the person or title that would be appropriate for what you are selling, then either through personal contact, degrees of separation or research, find out how to get hold of that person and to make your pitch.
After that, it's up to how good a job you do selling your home business services to the biggest companies in the world.
About the author:
http://www.FunCareers.com: Top home based businesses reviewed. Expert authors profile the best home based businesses so you can find a great home career fast and easy. Visit now!
Your own business is very rewarding. However it's not easy. Forget the myths now and prepare to work.
Even though there are many rewards of having your own business, it is hard work. Don't be fooled into thinking differently. When I started my first business, I realized that I had to embrace the opportunity to learn as much as I could. I learned very quickly that you cannot get rich over night and I also learned that there are many characteristics to a business that you must embrace in order to carve a path to be success. I find that Money, Planning, Patience, Time and Product Knowledge are key points in a home business that take a certain approach. Let's try and tackle them together.
Money
It takes money to get a business started and it takes money to sustain a business. In other words you need money for an initial investment in the product you are selling, materials for your home office to support the business and your clients and money for marketing your business. It is important that you define and list all known expenses for your business because there are always expenses that we all miss along the way. Too many unaccounted expenses can cause problems down the road. Don't be fool yourself into thinking that you are not going to risk any money. You have to manage money correctly and think ahead about how you want to invest.
Planning
When starting a business you have a million great thoughts running through your head. Write them down! All ideas should be written down so you can plan accordingly as when to concentrate and implement your ideas. Too many ideas and thoughts are never bought to life because people forget them. When you have a great idea on paper you can actually plan to see what it takes to turn that idea into reality.
Patience
Remember you may not become a millionaire over night. There are no "get rich quick" opportunities. However, you increase your chances of making enough money to make a living on your own terms if you are patient and keep moving forward with your business plans. Be patient and realize your building a client base for your product.
Time
You can't start a business and run every task within minutes. I used to have this mindset. The reason for this mindset is because of the computer age we live in. Computers make things happen so fast that we are a now society of instant gratification. In fact, a lot of business opportunities I see promote working part time hours to make full time money. In some cased it may be true. However, be prepared to put in the hours if you want to earn money on your own. Computers do not replace the human thoughts, passion and creativity that go into running your own business. Time must be set aside and managed accordingly. Especially if you still have a day job, time management is essential and get ready to burn the midnight oil a few nights.
Also, be persistent because instant gratification does not happen often while running a business. However, hard work is needed and you must be persistent in your pursuits.
Product Knowledge
I saved the best for last. Here's why. Most people think that the product they are selling sells itself. This happens a lot when you are selling someone else's product. However, you realize quickly that you have to overcome many objections of your product. This is where product knowledge comes in. The more you know about your product the more confident you sound when you talk about the product with a prospect. It's simple as that. Not taking the time to learn about your product could lead to frustration and eventually you will loose interest in selling the product. People do want your product, you have to do the work and sell it to them.
The approach and mind set you take to Money, Planning, Patience, Time and Product Knowledge in regards to your home business can be very crucial as to how you move forward. It takes a lot of these things to run your business so don't fool yourself into thinking anything different.
About the Author
Topher John is a webmaster for http://beinbusiness.net. He specializes in building internet small businesses. His interests are the healthcare industry, specifically how it relates to the family and physical fitness.
