Submitted by Gayle Carson from Miami Beach, FL

Q: Hard time finding you on the site. Wanted to connect again as I knew you way back in the Direct Marketing days. Please email me if you choose to. No real question, just enjoy your column very much.

Answered 12/28/07 12:03:21 by Jack G. Hardy

A: Gayle, Please contact me using AskJack2Answer@mac.com - your e-mail was not included. My website is www.jackghardy.com

Submitted by hookman708 from Miami, Fl

Q: Hi Jack, I read your column every week and often get helpful ¿bits¿ of information I own a manufacturing company that I established over 50 years ago and today we face increased competition from China that makes it difficult to continue to operate at a profit. We need some serious expertise in updating many of our procedures. I know there must be some retired folks around who have that expertise, but I do not know how to reach them. The two areas I wish to ¿upgrade¿ immediately are: 1-Web advertising and web management. 2-Wharehousing and traffic management. Where can I find qualified employees to help us on an hourly or project basis? Thanks for you help.

Answered 12/26/07 19:09:09 by Jack G. Hardy

A: Hookman708, Your first step should be to contact SCORE - scoremiami.org - and copy the above info into a request for counseling (Box 30) - we have several people who can be helpful in reviewing your procedures, warehousing and web advertising included. Don't miss the Women's Congress at the Miami Beach Convention Center - January 24-25 - an excellent place to find helpful people - And remember, it's not just for women - it's for anyone who wants to do business with women - and the expo, opening and closing keynotes, and welcome reception on Thursday, January 24th are free of charge if you register in advance and cite SCORE by entering SCJ. The matchmaking and expo hall seminars are all included foc too. For all the details, visit www.thewomenscongress.com

Submitted by Gregor Richardson from Miami, Florida

Q: I am a college student and I have recently launched my own web startup. After working alone for some time, I'm now in need of partners, and I'm having difficulty finding them. Do you have any recommendations of where I can go in South Florida to find young, savy, web-minded business people? In my mind, the best place is right on campus, but so far I have not had much success with attracting people there. Are there any dedicated groups or places that you could refer me to where I may perhaps find a more receptive, eager group?

Answered 12/26/07 18:53:51 by Jack G. Hardy

A: George, Finding partners for any business venture is just as serious as finding a wife. It's too easy to make a mistake. So - focus upon the core values of your site. Seek others with a similar interest and with an desire to work with you towards a common goal. That means you have to be able to sell your idea to others is a way that clearly shows your enthusiasm and confidence. It's a question of being "contagious" with an idea. If you had given me your URL I could be much more specific. Jack G Hardy AskJack2Answer@mac.com

Submitted by osmany alcalde from miami, fl

Q: Hello Jack, I started an electrical contractor company back in 2003, i have been able to land a few jobs and make some capital. But now i am running out clients (have not meet any new building contractors for more jobs). how could acguire more costumers in this type of business?

Answered 12/19/07 16:00:15 by Jack G. Hardy

A: Osmany, Building contractors - as you know - are in a slump. Perhaps these are two alternatives. 1. Go back to those customers who are still working - establish how you might resolve an electrical installation problem for them (just avoid delayed payments). 2. Can you take on special jobs for homes? Insurance companies are re-examining code compliance for homes over 15 years old. How could you determine an entry to this market? Locate code inspectors? Determine a special offer? Jack

Submitted by Bianca from Miami, FL

Q: Hello Jack, can you help me find all the licences to open a small business, food related in South Beach. We will be importing fruits from Brasil and i am in a complete lost on where to start, what licence i need and so forth. Please help me get this started for i am extremely ancious;) But LOST:) Thank you

Answered 12/15/07 11:56:02 by Jack G. Hardy

A: Blanca, Oi! Visit: myflorida.com/ - you will find all the info there Jack

Submitted by Larry from Coral Gables, FL

Q: Jack, I have my own one person company and I do health care reimbursement consulting. A large proscpective client has asked me to get commercial and general liability insurance in the amt. of $1 million per occurance and $2 million aggregate. I've been to 8 agents and no one will offer this. Do you know of any resource? Thanks for any insight. Larry Reynolds

Answered 12/15/07 11:54:05 by Jack G. Hardy

A: Larry, Go to Google. In search box insert this question: health care reimbursement consulting professional liability insurance? Among others I found worth contacting is Chubb - an excellent insurer who manages difficult problems. Jack

Submitted by Robb Moffett from Miami

Q: Dear Jack, I enjoy your column and advise quite a bit. I have a question I am hoping you can help me with. I need to find a very small ( 10x10) manufacturing space here in Dade or Broward that I would use infrequently. I live in a small apartment with no place to make items, I currently use my nephews backyard in Hollywood once or twice a month to cut and prepare some of my items and assemble the prepared pieces in my apartment, but my nephew is moving and I am losing the space. I can assemble most of the items with few problems in my apartment but for some production I need to use a table saw, router and drill press that are not suitable for my apartment. I notice there are numerous commercial buildings with office space for as low as $250 for a small office but I can not find a similar small inexpensive manufacturing space anywhere, the cheapest I have found is close to $1000 a month. Do you have any good ideas? Thanks again, Robert Moffett

Answered 12/15/07 11:46:59 by Jack G. Hardy

A: Robb, Manufacturing space tends to be more expensive - not many sites available. So go to http://miami.craigslist.org/ -- Under Housing I looked at Parking & Storage. Most likely you could convince somebody to let you use a rental storage space as a workshop. Try it! Jack

Submitted by Mucha de la Torre from Miami

Q: Buenos días. Es un placer leerlo. Tengo un blog.Soy blogger del Nuevo Herald, y permítame presentarme. Mi nombre: Mucha de la Torre. Mi blog es acerca de mí, mis emociones y como una mujer que tiene mas de 50 años ha llegado a superar y ver la vida de una manera diferente después de la muerte del compañero de su vida. Refuerzo el momento, el ahora, siempre con pocas palabras. Es importante poder hablar y poner en contesto lo que uno quiere, e ir "al grano" de lo que uno desea. Lo admiro, y lo sigo... Gracias simplemente por leerme. Mi blog.. recomenzar.blogspot.com elnuevoherald.com

Answered 12/10/07 19:44:25 by Jack G. Hardy

A: Muchissimas gracias! Las palabras tuyas me estimulan a escribir la proxima columna! Abrazos... Jack G Hardy

Submitted by Rooply from Miami Springs, FL

Q: Dear Jack, my name is Hebert Garces and I am the creator of Rooply and the owner of Rooply Corp. Rooply is a new twist in crossword puzzles that can be played in a board game format and also as an online game. I started Rooply Corp. on May 2007 as a close corporation with 1,000,000 shares. My idea ¿was¿ to finance the manufacturing of the board game and the development of the online game with a home equity loan. My question is: should I start the website with the basics of the online game risking that the people who visit it will label it too hard or too boring? Or should I wait to get the financing I need to at list fully develop the online game? If this is the case, any advice to help me find investors that could be interested in investing on my company? A Rooply¿s demo with just the basics is available at: www.advicecg.com/rooply/ In there you can play the game alone or with other three friends in three different levels: Novice, Intermediate or Master. Thank you for your time.

Answered 12/10/07 19:41:49 by Jack G. Hardy

A: Hebert, There are many steps to accomplish: Here are some of them: 1. Market Research - Determine is Rooply boring or not? What age group will be your prime and secondary target? Lots more market questions need answers. 2. Pre - Business Plan: You need a place to start your business development thinking. Please visit amazon.com - look for Core Value Proposition. It's an easy way to do the up front work needed BEFORE preparing a serious plan. 3. Financing: Have you set aside funds to develop your game? If the answer is "no" - stop now. 4. Forget the idea that so many people have - investors will provide the money needed. No investor will put up money unless it's easy to see an excellent and short range return on money invested. 5. Register with SCORE for online counseling - www.score.com - select from over 1300 counselors - look for one with experience in your area. AND a PS - No, I wouldn't start online until I had more info and a startup business plan in hand. Also would want to investigate a patent Jack G Hardy AskJack2Answer@mac.com

Submitted by Rooply from Miami Springs, FL

Q: Dear Jack, my name is Hebert Garces and I am the creator of Rooply and the owner of Rooply Corp. Rooply is a new twist in crossword puzzles that can be played in a board game format and also as an online game. I started Rooply Corp. on May 2007 as a close corporation with 1,000,000 shares. My idea ¿was¿ to finance the manufacturing of the board game and the development of the online game with a home equity loan. My question is: should I start the website with the basics of the online game risking that the people who visit it will label it too hard or too boring? Or should I wait to get the financing I need to at list fully develop the online game? If this is the case, any advice to help me find investors that could be interested in investing on my company? A Rooply¿s demo with just the basics is available at: www.advicecg.com/rooply/ In there you can play the game alone or with other three friends in three different levels: Novice, Intermediate or Master. Thank you for your time.

Answered 11/29/07 19:01:25 by Jack G. Hardy

A: Hebert, There are many steps to accomplish: Here are some of them: 1. Market Research - Determine is Rooply boring or not? What age group will be your prime and secondary target? Lots more market questions need answers. 2. Pre - Business Plan: You need a place to start your business development thinking. Please visit amazon.com - look for Core Value Proposition. It's an easy way to do the up front work needed BEFORE preparing a serious plan. 3. Financing: Have you set aside funds to develop your game? If the answer is "no" - stop now. 4. Forget the idea that so many people have - investors will provide the money needed. No investor will put up money unless it's easy to see an excellent and short range return on money invested. 5. Register with SCORE for online counseling - www.score.com - select from over 1300 counselors - look for one with experience in your area. Jack G Hardy AskJack2Answer@mac.com

Submitted by Anonymous from miami, fl

Q: Hi Jack I have a small childrens boutique and limited resources. I am scared that if I do my website, I have to now supply merchandise to the web and to the store. Also my field has become totally saturated both web and brick & mortar, how do I change gears and keep from loosing even more customers.

Answered 11/21/07 19:20:55 by Jack G. Hardy

A: Dear Ms. Anonymous, There is an age old addage - "The least expensive source of new or repeat business is your present client list." So I hope you DO have a client list on your computer. Could it be that you wisely collected client e-mail addresses? If so, you're "golden" - forget website for now, concentrate on making solid offers to customer and passers-by. And it doesn't always have to be price-off. Mix and match 2 for the price of 1 1/2. Use your imagination. Make the season work for you: PUT A SIGN IN YOUR WINDOW NOW - Best Black Friday deals HERE - FIGURE YOUR DEALS so you make money, don't give it all away. Make sense?? Feedback: AskJack2Answer@mac.com

Submitted by Fred Falk from Aventura

Q: Dear Jack; I am considering the vending machine business... What are some of the questions I need answered in order to evaluate the opportunity?

Answered 11/13/07 21:38:36 by Jack G. Hardy

A: Fred, First do your research: search internet for complete info Second, talk to people already in business -ask them to share how they started, problems, financing Look up trade magazines and websites - Use Google - Ask in form of question: How do I start a vending machine business? Check out this info from US Attorney General http://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,1607,7-164-34739_20942-44728--,00.html Jack

Submitted by Jay from Weston, FL

Q: WOW! Your discussion of Target Marketing was the best basic primer I have ever seen. Can't wait for the "Rest of the Story".

Answered 11/13/07 21:30:29 by Jack G. Hardy

A: Jay, Thanks!!! your kudos help keep the fire burning Jack

Submitted by Juan Ameneiro from Miami, Florida33125

Q: Dear Jack, I started a blog for my business a couple of months ago. A few weeks into the blog I would see some of my posts on the Google search results when conducting research. Now I can not event find any of my posts when I type the exact heading in the search box. I am not sure if I did something wrong in order for my posts to stop showing up on searches. At the end of the day when I posted on the blog I would ping the blog on www.pingoat.com. I have done this from the beginning. Please help. Juan Ameneiro 786-472-8500 Cobra Transmission http://www.cobratransmission.blogspot.com/

Answered 11/13/07 21:29:34 by Jack G. Hardy

A: Juan, Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. But your blog has all the appearances of a sales website. Are you expecting people to leave comments about various products you offer. Perhaps you should open a sales oriented website - and look at AdWords to provide promotion. Jack

Submitted by Analia from Fort Lauderdale

Q: I do business card photo, children, babies, pets, weddings all kind of events. I don't have a office yet, I can go the customer's house or office. I live in Fort Lauderdale but I can go to Miami and Palm Beach.

Answered 10/30/07 16:30:34 by Jack G. Hardy

A: Analia, Focusing upon your opportunities is of primary importance. I suggest using the The Core Value Proposition (corevalue-proposition.com) It provides a simple, easy to use 4-step planning process. Its techniques provide synergy to the dynamics of developing a successful business. The process generates power to grow a business with products and services that are competitively unique. This process provides a customer oriented solution to innovative thinking, business planning and development (available at amazon.com).Message: you need to focus upon your market; open those doors that are easiest to open. Make sure you have sufficient capital BEFORE making a comittment. JAck

Submitted by Anonymous from miami, fl

Q: hi jack i am a tile contractor that is just entering into the market.I would like to know the best way to market my business. Can you provide statistics from reports. What is the most commen method that construction contracting businesses use to generate leads. How effective is the yellow pages for contracting companies. Can you provide me with statistics. thanks

Answered 10/29/07 21:24:29 by Jack G. Hardy

A: Dear Anonymous, As a tile contractor I assume you are an installer, not a wholesaler. Q: Can I give you statistics? A: No. Q: What is the most common method the construction contracting businesses use to generate leads? A: Personal networking with primary prospects accompanied by referrals. Q: How effective is the Yellow Pages? A: For your business, tile installing, important for attracting home owners who don't have a referral. For construction, secondary - use a smaller ad to keep your name and info available. AskJack2Answer@mac.com

Submitted by Analia from Pompano Beach, FL

Q: I opened a photography corporation and I want to do advertise, but I don't know Where, How, What is the best? Can you help me? Thanks

Answered 10/29/07 00:57:19 by Jack G. Hardy

A: Analia Good question, where to advertise? In order to give you an answer I need to know what type of photography service you provide? What is it you DO for your prospective customers? Portrait? (adult, children) corporate activities? Catalog photography? Digital or film? How are you better than your competition? Who is in your target market? Young parents? Where are they? Miami-Dade County? Kendall? How much have you budgeted for advertising? Please post another question with answers to the above - I'll give you an answer. Jack

Submitted by Anonymous from Key West, FL

Q: Dear Jack, I enjoyed your column on "focus" immensely and hope you can help me narrow my own direction. I am trying to get my fledgling service practice going (it is a professional service for which I am licensed and certified) I have worked many years towards this goal but am finding acceptance obstacles that seem to be unique to my geographical area in Florida. These same hurdles do not seem to occur in the same way to my colleagues in other state locations. Is there an agency that can assist me to identify the exact problems I am having and give me advice on how to overcome them. If this is for publication I need to remain vague because a description will be recognized. If this will not be published please let me know and I will tell you exactly what is the problem as I perceive it!!! Thank you in advance for your help....

Answered 10/05/07 13:32:15 by Jack G. Hardy

A: Anonymous in Key West Yes - register right now for counseling at SCORE - www.scoremiami.org - and include your problem specifics in Box 30 of the registry form - your confidentiality is fully protected. You can ask for contact by phone or e-mail. Jack

Submitted by jason from miami fl

Q: jack,My wife and i want to start a children day care and we either want to buy from a owner that is willing to sell or just start fresh. I have the founding to start but do you have ideas that will help me buy from a previous owner. Should I ask for tax returns to see if the business was making a profit. Any hints let me know.

Answered 10/03/07 23:05:19 by Jack G. Hardy

A: Jason, Please use a SCORE financial counselor to help you with this transaction. I am not skilled in advising. Go to www.scoremiami.org - prepare a request for counseling. Put a complete description of what you plan to do in Box 30. Do it TODAY! Jack

Submitted by PRADHAN from Bangalore -INDIA

Q: Dear Jack, Please Provide Home Based business details like Internet business or Typing business We are located in Bangalore - India and any few web site details regarding the said text Thanks and Regards, Pradhan Email ID -pradhanin@yahoo.com

Answered 09/18/07 10:06:17 by Jack G. Hardy

A: Dear Pradhan, Yes, the world really is flat - yours in the first question to come from the other side of our globe. Welcome! You ask, "Please Provide Home Based business details like Internet business or Typing business." The question is so broad - its almost impossible to answer. So let me assume you want to start a business in India that can reach out to the world! Please keep in mind that our two contries differ in many ways when related to start-up businesses. But if you want detailed info here are excellent sites to visit: www.sba.gov - review and consider the info located under Small Business Planner. Then go to www.marketingprofs.com and register. It is a worldwide site where many of your questions and doubts can be answered in detail. Check out their files for questions alreaddy answered. A plethora of info! And - the best place to learn the business - work in a company in Bangalore that provides these services.