Starting a business in a low cost way towards 2012!

How to start a business? How do you build a successful business from scratch? What's the secret to starting or building a business from scratch? How do you grow a business with limited resources? What's the business success secret of successful entrepreneurs and drop out millionaires?

Every entrepreneur aspires to become the next Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett, Richard Branson, etc. But only a few know what it takes to get the level attained by these great entrepreneurs. 

We will be revealing the best small business startup ideas for entrepreneurs who wish to take the entrepreneurial status by next year. If you think it is still early to think about next year, we don't think it is if you want to get ahead of the competition.

As the global economic changes, technology progresses and people needs and wants shift, it is the perfect time to be looking at what business opportunities lie ahead in 2012. Due to the recent recession crisis, a lot of people want to start a business but do not have a lot money to invest in. So, you have decided you want to start a business but you don't have much cast to invest?

Below are some of the budget business ideas we put together to help you start a business inexpensively:

1. Second Hand Stores

People are less inclined to spend the money to buy new at the moment for products like baby clothes which are soon outgrown and need to be swapped frequently. Search and browse through second hand stores for inexpensive and bargain items such as furnitures. Refurnish and reuse is a great way to save cost. Besides, you have furnitures that stands out from the rest in an in creative way.

2. Social Media Consultants

With the rise of social media platforms like Facebook, Linkedln, Twitter, Blogspot and etc, many companies are making full use of the circulation to benefit their brand and services. You could save up by relying on the social media as your consultants to help market your brand to your audience worldwide. It is important for a company to identify the social outlet that is going to give you the best return on your time and investment.

3. Low Cost Logo Design

There is no need to spend thousands of dollars on a business logo design. The new way is through the internet-based logo design services. We found LogoDesignCreation.com as featured on Wall Street Journal article, offering Starter Logo Package at only $39. This package specifically targets startup businesses who are looking to have a business logo done affordably within a few days time. For only a few hundred dollars or less, you can own a well designed logo that fits your business image.

4. Build a website on your own

If you can't afford to have someone custom-design your website, put your site up for less than $100 using tools such as WordPress and Blogspot that provide templates and tools that makes it easy to create a basic website of your own.

5. Self-made videos
Put videos to present your product or service on YouTube or any other video-sharing sites to help promote and spread your brand. Create video tutorial to educate your customers, or show to potential buyers how your products work. Well produced web videos can drive a lot of traffic which in turn build customers, and awareness of your brand.

6. Networking

Learn how to cultivate relationships and give referrals to others. Master the art of networking. Network with others who are doing the same type of work with you. Let them know your existence.

7. Local Marketing

Even if you are trying to reach the global market, your local area offers opportunities to build a buzz about what you do. Use word of mouth in your local area. Your brand would be known in the form of recommendation from a friend or family members.

For a startup entrepreneur, getting the word out about your business is important. Looking for ways to market the business can be challenging if you have limited resources. The points above are only some of the ways you can startup and market your business in a budget manner. Instead of spending thousands of dollars to startup, add a bit more of creative thinking and imagination, you CAN put everything to work and watch your business roll! Good luck entrepreneurs!

Cheap & Still Good… Are You Actually Serious?

This will be a follow-up to my previous post of Expensive VS Cheap. Many have asked: How come there are countless online design firms offering such low price for respectable quality logo designs equivalent to those of high-end prices? Could they earn a profit? How are they able to sustain their business? And finally, are they a legit, reliable design firm to deal with? Consumers are genuinely very concerned and curious over this matter as to how a business offering low-priced services could in short, survive and still churn out quality logo designs.

Well, it all boils down to how the company works to minimize its cost. For instance, some online design companies do not provide a contact number be it toll-free or not, as it helps in playing down the cost involved in having a hotline customer service. The absence of having a phone line for customer service will help reduce the cost of the designs you are paying. More often than not, many design firms do have an online feedback system (live operator chat, e-mails and the likes) as a much cheaper alternative.

Design agencies with a fixed line or toll-free customer service number usually offer higher design rates as you are actually paying for these accommodating yet hidden and costly service provided by the respective design firms. This is true when you compare prices between those online logo design companies with and without a direct telephone link to their customer service.

So, if you prefer to communicate with the head designer responsible on handling your design project than you must be more than willing to fork out the price attached to the design you are getting. On the other hand, if you have a preference to skip the hassle of actually having to talk to the designers you are assigned to (similar to conventional local design company), those low range priced online design firms are definitely your choice. In all honesty, for me, I would prefer to at least, be able to communicate to the designer in-charge of my project be it via the phone or the Internet. It is just as vital to be able to explain to the designer your visions, requirements and the creative direction you want to take.

Besides, these online design companies are able to survive because they manage to produce the designs at a very fast rate while at the same time maintaining the quality of their work. This further helps to make up for any losses incurred from their low-priced services. By hiring permanent in-house designers instead of freelance designers also help to minimize the total cost of the whole business.

With more and more of these cheaper online design firms sprouting on the Internet, choices are aplenty and it is up to your judgment on choosing the right one that work best for you company.