If you are going to run a mobile car wash you will need to make sure that you do not allow water to enter a storm drain, as that is illegal and those drains are meant for actually rain water.

Blocking storm drains is easy and then allow the water to evaporate a little and take what is left in the waste tank. Next you will want to make pre-arrangements to get rid of the water for instance contact the city or make a deal with a Coin Op car wash to dump the carwash waste water there which will go into their system properly.

Or you can divert the water if possible into vegetation and that should comply with the NPDES permitting, but be sure to run this by the local water quality control board or city.

One of the easiest ways to collect the wastewater is to dam up the flow towards the storm drain or block the storm drain completely. You can buy a vacuum, which both sucks and pumps the water from a Wal-Mart for about $79.00 and attach a garden hose to it to suck up any collected wastewater. Then you can put it into a small storage tank on your pick-up or trailer unit to remove it from the property.

There are other solutions also, which may include using a mat to wash on and there are a few companies, which sell these; “Car Wash Mats” or “Auto Detailing Mats” that you can purchase. I hope you will protect our Nation’s water supply and consider all this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

Copyright © 2009 Small Business Resource

Mobile Car Wash Waste Water Run Off

Many different businesses already employ virtual assistants or other online support for everyday tasks. What about those who are not quite as likely to dive into the virtual workforce? Small retail businesses, often know as Mom and Pop shops, are an ideal candidate for virtual employees.

Many owners of these smaller shops may not even realize that virtual employees are a possibility much less, know of the benefits of outsourcing their administrative, marketing or accounting needs. To many smaller retail stores, the thought of hiring on additional staff for any of these tasks can seem much too expensive. In reality, using virtual assistants, marketers or accountants is really a way to cut costs.

Let’s take a look at a few examples.

1. Virtual assistants on a project to project basis. Many small business owners often wish they could have someone on hand when they need them to help with projects of all sizes. Perhaps they need a new brochure or sales flyer designed. Maybe they have a large mailing that is making them pull their hair out! Virtual assistants can step in at a moment’s notice, at any time and support them to whatever degree is necessary.

2. Virtual assistants as marketing consultants. A lot of smaller mom and pop organizations think that marketing is not an affordable option. Yes, marketing can be an expensive venture, but it is vital and can be done on a budget. Many virtual assistants are very experienced in marketing their own companies, as well as assisting other businesses with their marketing campaigns. Their involvement with marketing can be anything from brainstorming and consulting all the way to running or managing the entire campaign.

3. Virtual assistants as webmasters or the online department of a mom and pop shop. Sometimes retailers, like most business people, tend to get in a bit of a rut. If your shop is doing well, you may not see the need for any additions or changes. However, in this increasingly online world, having your foot in the door of the online marketplace is key. This is where a virtual assistant can step in and save the day. Having a website is necessary these days. You may not want or be able to actually do business online, but you must have a site that gives information on your store, hours, address, etc. You can decide how deep in the online pool to swim, but don’t be so scared of drowning that you never test the waters! You can hire a virtual assistant to consult with you to figure out exactly what type of site you need, what you want to say, the most affordable way to get up and running, etc. Virtual assistants can also design, maintain and update your website on an ongoing basis.

So, whether you own the general store, a local restaurant, your town’s bowling alley or any other mom and pop venture, don’t be afraid to reach out to unconventional resources for help to ensure that mom and pop’s business stays strong long after the grandkids take over!

Dana Wallert is the owner of an online virtual assistance company. She has many years experience in sales and marketing, as well as office management. Find more about Dana and sign up to receive her free monthly newsletter at DW Office Solutions – Virtual Assistant Services

Copyright © 2009 Small Business Resource

Mom And Pop And Their Virtual Assistant

So, while cruising around the Internet, I found optimism in a Financial Post column by Lawrence Solomon from July 12, 2008. It’s titled “Abundant energy will power future growth.”

Solomon puts the supply of energy resources in proper perspective, and at least on this point, there is nothing to be down about. This is a MUST read.

Solomon noted, for example:

Never before in human history has energy been accessible in greater abundance and in more regions, never before has mankind had more energy options and faced a brighter energy future.

Take oil, the scarcest of the major energy commodities. In the Americas, proven oil reserves have increased from 170 billion barrels to 180 billion barrels over the last two decades, according to the 2008 Statistical World Review from British Petroleum. In Europe and Eurasia, proven oil reserves almost doubled, from 76 billion barrels to 144. Africa’s proven oil reserves did double, from 58 billion barrels to 117. Even the Asia Pacific region, where China and India are reputed to be sucking up everything in sight, has increased its proven reserves. And the Middle East, the gas tank of the world, shows no sign of slowing down — its reserves soared by almost 200 billion barrels, from a whopping 567 billion barrels to a super-whopping 756…

Most of the oil we know about lies in the well travelled portions of the globe. But most of the world remains unexplored — the interiors of Africa, Asia and South America have seen relatively little oil exploration. Oil exploration in the oceans, too, is in its infancy. For all practical purposes, mankind has limitless oil supplies available to it. The story is similar for natural gas and coal, the other major nonrenewable sources of energy.

Thanks, Lawrence, I needed that.

Raymond J. Keating
Chief Economist
Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council

Copyright © 2009 Small Business Resource

A Happy Note on Energy

Your first inclination may be to focus on “what it looks like”. OK … looks are important. BUT … there’s much more to it than looking like a fancy brochure.

If you want your website to actually attract customers AND make sales for you….you need to optimize for targeted traffic AND have content that converts visitors to buying customers.

Rather than dive into a lot of detailed “how” and “why” …. I’ll just recommend a resource that will do it all for you. From soup to nuts.

Simply check out these links and DO IT:

Website Development Questions

Website Development Services

Copyright © 2009 Small Business Resource

How To Create A Small Business Website …. That Actually Makes Money

IT consulting firms typically start with just a few people. And while it can be exciting at first for those people getting into the business, a few years of running the show can become monotonous and exhausting, and the need to expand becomes imminent.

Making Business Grow

Running a small business is a big job, particularly for just a few people who are required to do every aspect of the work. As the owner of small IT consulting firms, you need to plan to delegate some of this work to others in order to free up your time and allow more business. But you need to make sure your business is prepared to handle changes in workload before you begin.

Financial Stability

Sometimes small IT consulting firms will have an available source of funding that will cover hiring new employees. Other times you might have to wait to build income before adding personnel. Regardless, reviewing your finances will help determine where you are and when you can expect to support additional employees.

A Benefits Package

Good employees will expect to be offered a benefits package. Look into basic health insurance plans and find one that suits your small business. Since this is an expensive benefit, you can expect that the employee will pay the premiums, and that the health insurance coverage probably won’t start until three months on the job. You can offer additional benefits such as laptops, travel allowances, cell phone plans and uniforms to sweeten the deal.

Dependable Employees

Assigning responsibilities to others might be harder than you think if you are used to doing all the work yourself. As an IT consulting firm owner, you probably have developed high standards and have a hard time imagining anyone but you doing the job properly. Finding employees you trust is critical and will help ease the transition into a freer schedule. Giving new employees three months on trial will help you determine their working style and reliability. During this time, you can get feedback from customers and decide if the new hire is the right person for the job.

IT consulting firms are important to everyone today and yours needs to grow eventually. If you consider all the factors for business growth, you will have a better plan for your future.

Copyright MMI-MMVII, Computer Consultants Secrets. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}

Copyright © 2009 Small Business Resource

It Consulting Firms Helping Business Grow

Every time I speak in front of an audience, whether it’s 50 or 1,200 small business owners, I get the same old question. Then following my answer, I always see a roomful of dropped jaws and gaping mouths.

The question? How often do I need to reach out to my prospective clients and clients?

The answer? A minimum of 25 times a year, preferably 52 or more times a year.

Silence. Jaws slowly creak open and begin to drop. You could hear a pin fall.

52 or more times a year??? I’m not kidding. The comeback I often get is “Are you crazy?!?” Nope, I’m not crazy and I know it works because I do it. Now that you know me a little better, you’re probably expecting that I tell you how to create SYSTEMS around this and you’re right. Read on?

The reason people go into semi-shock is they start to realize their boring cookie-cutter quarterly mailing isn’t cuttin’ it. It gets even worse when I’ve got someone in the front row who’s super-proud of their monthly e-zine, thinking they’re doing “what it takes to get clients” and yet they’re wondering why the pipeline of prospects is not full enough, and their bank account leaves a little to be desired.

It’s because they’re not “touching” their prospects (and clients) enough. Well, one of my clients, Jill Foster of www.TheMortgageArrangers.com, came up with a brilliant campaign during our coaching to change that. She got her hands on the list of Obscure Holidays (National Punctuation Day, National Poetry Day, National Wear Red Day For Women, etc.) and sends a postcard to her prospects, clients and joint venture partners each month (in addition to all the other ways she reaches her list). In each postcard mailing, she somehow finds a way to tie it in to the mortgage services she offers, while adding high content and high value. It’s funny, irreverent and gives her another excuse to be in TOUCH with her list.

• Sometimes you want to be in touch to add high value and high content (this establishes credibility faster than anything else I know).
• Sometimes you want to be in touch to promote your products and services (this keeps you in business).
• Sometimes you want to be in touch to say “happy birthday” (this shows you care).
• And sometimes you want to be in touch to just say “hi” or “I was thinking of you when I read this” (this shows you’re not heartless).

All these ways of TOUCHING your list build the “know, like and trust factor” that we’ve talked so much about in this e-zine. That’s because people don’t buy from those they don’t know, they don’t buy from those they don’t like, and they CERTAINLY don’t buy from those they don’t trust.

OK, how can you do this without going absolutely bonkers? It’s all about SYSTEMS, my friend, as always. Example: One e-zine per week (like this one). One mailing per month (your Virtual Assistant can stuff the envelopes and take care of the printing and postage). A few personal notes, handwritten. A Hallmark e-card. Etc.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT:

Start thinking about ways to be on your clients’ and prospects’ radio screens over and over again, by bringing high value and high content, or just by touching base to say hi. Create a system for everything.

Not sure as to how to systematize all this and put your marketing on auto-pilot? I show you exactly how in the last chapter of the Client Attraction Home Study System?. Here’s where you can get your own copy: www.TheClientAttractionSystem.com.

© 2005 Fabienne Fredrickson

Fabienne Fredrickson, The Client Attraction Expert, is founder of the Client Attraction System?, the proven step-by-step program to help you attract more clients, in record time and consistently. To learn more about Fabienne’s Client Attraction Home Study System?, sign up for her FREE client attraction tips and no-charge teleclasses on attracting more clients, visit http://www.ClientAttraction.com.

Copyright © 2009 Small Business Resource

You Have To Touch Your Clients More Often To Be More Client Attractive

Copyright © 2009 Small Business Resource

Featured Business: Cool Moose Cafe

Too many politicians deal in a fantasy-like land, while economists (well, at least, a good number of economists) deal with reality.

Economist Thomas Sowell pointed this out in a recent column. He was focused on politicians who love to give things away, noting that in order not to take responsibility for the costs involved, often push those costs onto the backs of business owners.

Sowell wrote:

The most politically painless way to hand out goodies, without taking responsibility for their costs, is to pass a law saying that somebody else must provide those goodies at their expense, while the politicians take credit for generosity and compassion.??

Employers are ideal targets for such mandates, since there are always more employees than employers, and that is what counts on Election Day. Whether it is health insurance, time off with pay or whatever, these mandates on employers can be washed down with a little rhetoric about business’ “social responsibilities.” …

While you are enjoying all the goodies that politicians are sending your way, you may notice that your taxes are going up or that the money you earn or the money you have saved won’t buy as much as it used to…

If you are someone looking for a job — maybe a young person entering the labor force or a woman coming back into the labor force after spending a few years taking care of a small child- — you may find that there aren’t as many jobs available as there used to be before employers had to pay for “social responsibilities,” in addition to paying for the value of an employee’s work.

Sowell points that informing people that there are no free lunches makes economists less popular than politicians.

Raymond J. Keating
Chief Economist
Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council

Copyright © 2009 Small Business Resource

Politicians vs. Economists

Copyright © 2009 Small Business Resource

As the Pain Trickles Down…