How to Start a Tutorial Business

Tutorial service businesses can be targeted to students of all ages and any subject matter. Starting a tutorial business may be right for you if you excel at helping others understand subjects easier. Sometimes students have a hard time with coursework because of a disability or communication gap with their instructor. To run this type of business, you will need to research subjects, prepare training materials and write lesson plans.

Step 1
Pick a niche for your tutorial business. If you are more experienced working with elementary subjects, cater your business to that age level of students. You can also specialize in one subject, such as tutoring math for high school students. Pick out a few areas you are good in and familiarize yourself with every aspect of these subjects.

Step 2
Obtain necessary certifications. It may help you to take college courses related to the areas you wish to tutor or get your teaching certificate. If you plan on helping students study for exams, such as the LSAT, GRE or GMAT, a certification will help you find more clients.

Step 3
Legalize your business. Visit the Internal Revenue Service website for your Employer Identification Number. If you plan on using a business name other than you own name register it with the secretary of state. Visit your city government to obtain a business license to run your business in your city.

Step 4
Prepare your business documents. Create tutorial and training videos. Design print course material and assignments. Create audio and transcribe lecture notes or sessions for students who learn better by listening.

Step 5
Find a location for your business. Some owners prefer a physical location that students can go to, while others travel to another location, such as the student's home or school. Set up a website and offer training videos and print materials online. Allow the students to interact with the lessons.

Step 6
Promote your business. Network with your local schools and universities. Place an ad in the phone directory, radio and television stations. Ask clients you have helped to write a testimonial for your business. Interact with potential students via social media. Find where your customers frequent online and visit those locations to grow your business.

References (4)

• Entrepreneur: What is the growth of tutorial services in education industry?
• IRS.gov: Employer ID Numbers (EINs)
• Business.gov: Business Licenses and Permits
• How to Start a Tutorial Business

How to start Stationery and Office-Supply Business

Success of a stationery and office-supply business is contingent upon several variables. One often-overlooked success factor is customer service. Always be friendly to your customers and go out of your way to help them. Additionally, you should know the competition. Always strive to offer products that competitors do. However, include additional product lines or services. For example, include computer or fax services in your stationery and office-supply business if competitors do not.

Significance

One of the most important success factors for any business is location, according to Entrepreneur.com. A stationery and office-supply business is no exception. You must locate your store in a high-traffic area such as a strip mall, busy intersection or uptown at a major university. Moreover, make sure you are located near customers you want to target. For example, people with middle or upper-middle incomes have more to spend on stationery and office supplies. Rent a location downtown if you have a lot of potential business customers in the area. Business customers will often purchase in high volumes. Business customers also require massive amounts of copies. For example, a downtown advertising firm may need to make 50,000 copies of a brochure.

Features

Another business success factor is store appearance and ambiance. Keep your stationery and office-supply store neat and orderly. Keep the aisles clear of clutter. Use bright lighting so people can see what they are purchasing. Hang large signs throughout your store so people know where to go for certain items. Shoppers are busy. They do not want to spend extra time looking for items they need. Display new or sale items on end caps or at the front of the store. Encourage people to test out floor-model computers and other merchandise.

Suppliers

Suppliers are important to the success of stationery and office-supply businesses. You must be able to purchase your items at the lowest wholesale cost available. Larger retailers pay extremely low prices for products when they purchase them in volume. You may need to occasionally shop around for wholesalers that can provide you with a lower per-unit cost on products and stationery.

Promotion

Promotion is another important success factor for stationery and office-supply businesses. You will need to target your customers with fliers, newspaper classified and coupon magazine ads, and Internet marketing. Create a website for your stationery and office-supply business. Have employees hand out business cards inviting customers to visit the website for coupons. You can also hold drawings for those who visit the website. Give away gift cards and free office supplies. Have liquidation sales occasionally to get rid of old merchandise. Put the merchandise in dump bins near the front of the store.

Considerations

Like other businesses or retailers, stationery and office-supply stores may need to create special programs to increase customer loyalty. People will tend to shop more often at your store if you give them an incentive. Consider a loyalty program for your stationery and office-supply store. Start with a points system. For example, people can earn 100 points if they spend $25. Track people's purchases by assigning everyone a card and identification number. Gradually offer coupons of greater value or free items the more people spend.

References (5)

• Entrepreneur: Invitations & Stationery
• Entrepreneur: How to Find the Best Location
• Quick MBA: Porter's Five Forces
• Entrepreneur: 50 Ways to Save Money in Your Business
• How to start Stationery and Office-Supply Business
  

Resources (1)

• DM News: Rite Aid Launches Loyalty Program Nationwide
  

Photo Credits 

• How to start Stationery and Office-Supply Business
• How to start Stationery and Office-Supply Business

How to Start a Stationery Business

You can choose from a number of business models when opening a stationery store business, so you must first decide on the products and services you wish to offer. Consumer stationery stores sell pre-printed, custom printed or blank stationery and invitations. Business stationery businesses sell custom printed stationery and related items for business use. Both business types may provide in-house printing, or contract with a wholesale vendor for printing services, but each requires different marketing and advertising strategies, merchandise stock inventory and pricing structures.

Step 1
Create a business plan outlining all aspects and details of your business including start-up and operational costs, target customer base and related marketing plan. Visit the U.S. Small Business Administration website for free detailed business plan and other small business start-up information (See Resources).

Step 2
Search your local newspaper ads or consult a commercial real estate agent for store space. Your real estate agent can provide valuable information regarding customer demographics and street traffic counts. If you are opening a virtual store, contact a local web designer or online hosting company who will assist you in designing a store, purchasing a domain name and e-commerce hosting package. If you are operating a retail store, at least basic website is recommended. An e-commerce web presence combined with a retail store can help increase overall sales and online credibility.

Step 3
Decide on a business structure -- proprietorship, limited liability company or corporation -- based on your business plan and file the necessary paperwork with your state office. The SBA website provides free business structure information, and your state office or website will provide the necessary paperwork and fee schedule.

Step 4
Obtain local business permits from your town hall, state retail tax license from your state's department of taxation, and Taxpayer Identification Number from the internal revenue service inline. If you will hire employees, the IRS requires you to obtain an Employer Identification Number. There are no special licenses or permits required to operate a stationery store, but you may need to apply for health and safety inspections if providing printing services on premises.

Step 5
Purchase store supplies from retail store display and supply distributor, office gear from an office supply store and printing equipment (if applicable) from a printing equipment distributor.

Step 6
Purchase initial stock from your stationery suppliers. Partner with stationery suppliers in your region to ensure faster shipping times for special orders. This will save money by limiting your stock-on-hand and allow you to restock merchandise quickly as it runs low. Some suppliers will provide catalogs, merchandising and display aids for free or at a reduced cost.

Step 7
Purchase marketing materials from a local print and sign shop. Business cards, signage, brochures, fliers and other marketing aids will be used to spread the word on your new stationery store business.

Things Needed

• Business plan
• Retail or virtual store
• Local business permits, state tax license and federal tax numbers
• Store supplies and office gear
• Initial stock
• Marketing materials
  
  

Tips

• Your stationery store's appearance and marketing efforts will need to reflect your customer and product type. Retail consumer stores generally have more leeway in decorating and marketing options, while business-to-business stores will need to adhere to professional business decor and marketing.
  
• Take advantage of free or low-cost training, merchandising services, displays and catalogs whenever possible. Partnering with your stationery distributor can save you time and money, and you will learn the finer aspects of the stationery businesses quicker than on your own.
  
• Research the stationery industry before, during and after your start up to gain advice, spot trends and new products.
  

Warnings

• Avoid combining a business and consumer store unless you have the means and space to market, advertise and service both customer types. Both store types, stock requirements, advertising, sales efforts, pricing strategies and business models are very different, and you will risk financial difficulty attempting to service both markets at once.
  
• Providing custom printing services in-house can add greatly to your startup and operational expenses. Even a small printing press requires a considerable investment, and can take years to operate properly. There is also the possible increased cost of insurance, and periodic safety and environmental inspections. Use a contract printer instead to minimize costs and risk, and you can always offer these services in the future if the business warrants.
  

References (4)

• Entrepreneur: Invitations & Stationery
• Noteworthy Notes: Own a Stationery Business
• Self Employment in the Arts: Stationery is a Great Place to Start
• How to Start a Stationery Business
  

Resources (4)

• Greetings etc.: 10 Ways to Make Your Stationery Store Obsolete
• Style Me Pretty: Starting a Stationery Business
• National Stationery Show
• Small Business Administration

Photo Credits

• How to Start a Stationery Business

• How to Start a Stationery Business

How to Start a Public Transportation Business

Shuttle businesses provide useful transportation for two types of riders. Customers with airport reservations, but who want to avoid driving and parking inconveniences, ride to the airport’s door in a regularly scheduled shuttle bus or van. Vehicles pick up pre-booked customers at home or office locations, although last-minute customers can frequently be accommodated en route to the airport. On-demand shuttles function within many outlying regions that lack public transportation. Some shuttles transport customers to regional or hub airports, while other vehicles provide rides to customers on personal business.

Step 1
Organize your shuttle business. Select a business structure with a Certified Public Accountant familiar with transportation businesses. Consult with a commercial insurance agent with similar expertise and strong liability background. Visit your city or county clerk’s office for a business license, and inquire about local permits. Ask your state department of revenue about applicable sales taxes. Contact your state department of transportation about state regulations or permits.

Step 2
Analyze the shuttle service market. Obtain a regional map, and pinpoint the regional and hub airports within a two-hour drive. Identify shuttle services that currently serve those airports, and note any areas that lack airport transportation. Research local and regional transportation networks to uncover potential need for on-demand shuttle service.

Step 3
Establish your shuttle service area. Determine a geographic area within which you can provide reliable shuttle service. Identify area airports and other possible destinations, and travel those routes at different times to estimate drivers’ travel times. Utilize this information to create an operations framework for your shuttle business.

Step 4
Develop commuter and tourism packages. Encourage repeat commuter business by creating discounted packages for frequent airport commuters and business users. Design tourist-focused packages that include airport transportation, shopping or attraction transport and meal options.

Step 5
Obtain multi-passenger shuttle vehicles. Estimate the number of vehicles needed for your shuttle routes, and work with your accountant to determine if a purchase or lease option better meets your needs. Obtain handicapped-accessible vehicles to ensure that disabled passengers can easily be accommodated.

Step 6
Hire qualified shuttle drivers. Find courteous, experienced drivers with demonstrated customer service experience. Former bus drivers and other large vehicle operators may be good candidates. Contact your state department of motor vehicles to determine specific driver license requirements for shuttle vehicles.

Step 7
Market your shuttle business regionally. Work with a graphic designer to create rack cards and business cards. Place these promotional materials at hotels and tourist attractions, and consider a kiosk at regional and hub airports. Place ads featuring introductory discounts in regional newspapers' business pages. Join your city’s Chamber of Commerce, and market to fellow business members at networking events and expos. Find your chamber through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Things Needed

• Business structure documentation
• Insurance documentation
• Business license
• Local permits (if applicable)
• Sales tax license (if applicable)
• Permits from state department of transportation (if applicable)
• Regional map with airports and existing shuttle services
• Shuttle business operational framework
• Commuter package documentation
• Tourism package documentation
• Shuttle vehicle documentation
• Shuttle driver license requirements
• Rack cards
• Business cards
• Ad rates and copy for newspaper ads
  
  

References (6)

• IRS.gov: State Revenue Sites
• United States Department of Transportation: Federal Highway Administration: State Transportation Web Sites
• Airport Shuttle Operators Directory: Search by State
• Veolia Transportation: Providing Value to Passengers and Airports
• Department of Motor Vehicles: Search DMV by State
• How to Start a Public Transportation Business
  
  

Resources (2)

• VCI Mobility: Commercial Use Wheelchair Vans and Buses
• Americans With Disabilities Act: Non-Discrimination by Public Accommodations
  
  

Photo Credits

• Bus. Bus in parking area/ parking lot/ car park image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com
• How to Start a Public Transportation Business