Buying and selling wholesale goods is frequently viewed as a sort of ‘get rich quick’ scheme, where sellers can make enormous profits from very little investment or work. Three months after they started, people just don’t understand why things haven’t gone according to plan! There are four myths in particular that seem to lead would-be sellers astray time and time again.

Myth #1: Ebay is the best place to sell your wholesale goods.

Now this is a particularly popular one. As the world’s biggest marketplace, eBay has made its fair share of millionaires. What you don’t hear about so commonly, is all the people who struggle to make a profit from eBay because 100 other people are selling the exact same products – for more competitive prices.

This is not a new situation. Supermarkets and large discount stores often run at a loss on some items in order to attract more customers. For small or new sellers, this is a deadly scenario.

The fact is, eBay is simply too competitive in some categories. Electronics, jewelry, designer clothing and computer games are all dangerous territory for the new seller. You won’t stand a chance against established sellers who’ve already got a strong following and highly competitive prices.

So what should you do? If your product falls into these or any other highly competitive category, I recommend shifting your focus to less competitive markets such as selling through classified newspapers in your local area.

While you won’t be reaching audiences of the size that online auctions sites such as eBay provide, buyers that use these alternative mediums to purchase goods are 9 out of 10 times more likely to pay significantly more for products. Not only will your margins can be much higher, you’ll also have far less competition to deal with.

It’s also a good idea to try using eBay international sites such as www.ebay.co.uk or www.ebay.com.au, as well as other auction sites with less competition such as www.trademe.co.nz and www.ubid.com. I find that these sites give consistently higher margins compared to eBay US, and the number of buyers is still very high.

One advantage of eBay US however, is that the huge amount of competition makes it a brilliant place to pick up cheap as dirt goods to sell elsewhere! It’s not uncommon to find best prices on eBay.

Myth #2: You can find all your wholesale sources online.

The Internet provides easy access to a great many wholesalers these days, and it’s a quick way of making initial contacts. However, it certainly doesn’t provide access to all wholesalers. If you’re serious about finding the best wholesale prices for your products, then it pays to check out other sources as well.

Try looking through trade magazines such as Closeout News and wholesale Merchandise, to name just a few. With less people vying for stock, there’s a good chance you’ll find some exceedingly good prices tucked away in the corners!

And another thing, in my experience, building up personal relationships with sellers is absolutely essential for getting the best priced goods. So whether you’ve found your supplier online or in a magazine, make a phone call, start up an email exchange, or have regular chats on MSN and get to know them.

The time you spend building a relationship will not only mean you’re in a stronger position to get better prices, but, because you know your supplier, you’ll be more confident that things will go smoothly when you finally do place your order.

Myth #3: Pricing research is unnecessary and takes up too much valuable time.

Whenever I mention this one, people always chorus: ‘But of course we know research is important!’ Well why don’t you spend more time doing it then?

The amount of people that pass over pricing research constantly amazes me. Everyone always agrees that it is important to research prices, but when it comes down to it, they seem to think that they just ‘know’ how much items cost wholesale, and how much profit they are likely to make later.

But how can they just ‘know’? This is not information we’re given at birth!(Or perhaps I’m just unlucky!) Prices are constantly in flux, and carrying out some decent (and yes, time-consuming) research is essential to a successful business for two important reasons:

1. Firstly, it’s important to get a good idea of the average resale price for your item before you get started. For a number of popular items (DVDs, electronics and computer games in particular), the profit margins tend to be very low. Despite this, many sellers just see the popularity of the item and dive in head first. Overly-saturated markets just mean a hell of a lot of work for very little in return. Throw big, established sellers into the mix and it’s almost impossible to compete. But you won’t know this until you research it first! So visit auction sites, read classified ads and any material you can get your hands on until you have a good idea of exactly what you’re going to get.

2. The second reason for research is that your preconceptions of value may be completely wrong. People have a tendency to believe that ‘wholesale‘ automatically means a fifth of the retail price. This is usually totally out of line! Some sellers have emailed me in shock when they realize that they actually have to spend a significant amount of money on their wholesale stock. ‘I always thought that purchasing a container of wholesale plasma TVs would only require a few hundred dollars investment, but it looks more like several thousand,’ wailed one seller recently, ‘Am I looking in the wrong place?’ Well, I’m sorry to shatter your hopes and dreams, but buying wholesale doesn’t always mean huge profits for very little investment. For some items, such a scenario is possible – but only if you do the research!

Myth #4: Niche items can be bought from individual wholesalers.

Finding a niche item that no-one else is supplying at a competitive rate is every sellers dream. However, if you think you’re going to be able to find a wholesaler supplier for the item by doing a quick Internet search for ‘Left-handed Guitar necks’ then you couldn’t be more wrong.

Niche products are hard to find precisely because they aren’t wanted by absolutely everybody. Thus, finding a supplier will take quite a bit of work on your behalf as these items usually can’t be purchased from individual wholesalers. Instead, you’ll have to contact large wholesalers, or even contact the manufacturer directly.

It’ll be a lot harder than you think, but if you’ve done your market research effectively and you take the time to find a good supplier, then your hard work will pay off.

SaleHoo is one of the fastest growing product sourcing portals on the internet. It contains a database of drop ship, wholesale, closeout and manufacturing suppliers offering thousands of product suppliers to consumers! Located at http://www.salehoo.com, visitors are allowed to sign up for unlimited and lifetime access to the completely searchable database of products and suppliers. The database is regularly updated, ensuring that the latest retail products are always available for purchase and SaleHoo carries the BBB Reliability Seal!

Join SaleHoo Today for their Special Startup Offer!

by Wayne M. Davies

For all you procrastinators out there, here’s a nuts ‘n bolts guide on how to legally postpone the filing of your income tax returns.

When it comes to putting things off, you can never plan too far ahead!

In many cases the IRS allows you to file a ‘no-questions- asked’ extension form. Which particular form you file depends on what type of entity your business happens to be.

CORPORATIONS:

Whether you are a “C” Corporation or an “S” Corporation, you must file Form 7004 by March 15. Doing so grants you an automatic 6-month extension for filing Form 1120 (“C” Corp) or Form 1120S (“S” Corp). So now you have until September 15 to file your corporate income tax return.

Note: Since March 15 falls on a Saturday this year, you actually have until Monday, March 17 to either file the corporate income tax return or file the extension.

By the way, this is true of any tax due date: if the due date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, then the return is due on the next business day.

To get a copy of Form 7004, click here:

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f7004.pdf

Note: all the links in this article take you to the IRS forms website. If “irs-pdf” is in the link, then you will be taken to a pdf file that can be saved to your hard drive or printed out; then you can complete the form by hand and mail it to the IRS.

If “irs-fill” is in the link, you will be taken to a pdf file with fill-in-the-blank capabilities, enabling you to complete the form online and then print it out immediately, without having to complete the form by hand.

PARTNERSHIPS:

You need to file Form 8736 by April 15. This obtains a 3-month extension to file Form 1065.

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8736.pdf

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES (LLC):

Same as partnerships — File 8736 by April 15 to get a 3-month extension to file Form 1065.

(The LLC is a cross between a corporation and a partnership. Legally, the LLC is similar to a corporation, offering limited liability to the owners. For tax purposes, the LLC is treated like a partnership.)

SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP:

You need to file Form 4868 to get an automatic 4-month extension to file your personal income tax return.

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4868.pdf

Now, before you start extending to your heart’s content, please keep the following guidelines in mind.

EXTENSION TIP #1:

Never forget the mantra of all tax extension forms:

The extension to file the return is NOT an extension to pay any tax due. It’s only an extension for the filing of your tax return.

In other words, do not view the extension as an opportunity to legally postpone the payment of your tax.

So if you have a balance due on the return, then you must still pay the tax by the original tax return due date. If you file the extension but do not pay the balance due on time, then you will pay penalty and interest for late payment of tax. (You will legally avoid the penalty for late filing, however.)

So what’s the point in filing an extension if you still have to pay the tax?

Three possible scenarios — first, some folks get most of their “tax stuff” organized and are able to get enough of their return done to get the big picture: “Do I owe or am I getting a refund.” You do the calculations, see where you stand, and if you owe, send in the extension form with a payment that’s pretty close to the final figures.

You may have a few deductions that you need to research, one last shoebox to peruse. You need more time, that’s all.

Second, you’re running way behind on tax matters this year. Hey, it happens! There’s no way you’re going to get the return done on time, and you know you’ll probably owe, so, be sure to file the extension, even if you don’t know how much you may owe or even if you can’t make a payment with the extension. The reason? Because there are penalties for late filing and penalties for late payment of tax. By filing the extension, at least you avoid the late filing penalties.

In short, by filing the extension, you can save yourself some money!

The third scenario is even more common — you know you’re getting a refund; you always get a refund. Maybe you’re self-employed and your spouse has a W2 job, and the spouse’s tax withholdings are always enough to cover both of you. And you’re in no hurry to get the refund.

Which brings me to:

EXTENSION TIP #2:

If you are getting a refund on your personal return, you have 3 years to file the return to claim the refund, without any fear of a late filing penalty.

That’s right. As long as you file your return within 3 years of the original due date (for Year 2002 returns due April 15, 2003 — that would be April 15, 2006), you’ll get your refund and there is no penalty for “filing late” — even if you file after the extended due date of August 15.

Bottom line: if you think you may owe, if at all possible, do enough calculating to send in a payment with the extension; if you’re getting a refund, still send in the extension (just to be safe), but relax, you’ve got plenty of time to get your money back (assuming you didn’t need it yesterday!).

Oh, one more thing:

EXTENSION TIP #3:

This article only deals with federal extension rules. State rules vary considerably, so be sure to check with your state’s tax department or your local tax professional to get the scoop on the extension rules for your particular state.

Some states simply piggyback off the federal rules. Others don’t. So be careful here or you could be penalized severely for assuming that your state’s rules are the same as the feds.

Many Happy Returns!

Copyright 2003 Wayne M. Davies Inc.

Wayne M. Davies is author of the new eBook, “The Tax Reduction Toolkit: 29 Little-Known Legal Loopholes That Will Reduce Your Taxes By Thousands (For Small Business Owners and Self-Employed People Only!)” Don’t file another tax return until you visit The Tax Reduction Toolkit, part of the Ultimate Tax Reduction Guide.

Although there are advantages to selling your own proprietary products and services, there are also drawbacks. For example, the time and investment required to produce your own book, invention, or other product could mean a long delay in receiving profits and cashflow essential to your business survival.

For this reason, you may decide to sell other people’s products and services, either exclusively, or to complement your own product line.

You could stock an entire retail store with products, buy a franchise or other business, or obtain a distributorship or dealership. However, this could require a substantial financial investment.

Here, then, are just a few, low-cost ways to profit from selling other people’s products and services.

1. Commission Sales

Act as a sales representative or agent of a company and sell their products or services for a percentage commission of the sales price.

Many companies on the Internet offer associate or affiliate programs that you can join to earn commissions selling their products and services. Sometimes you can even make money from the efforts of other affiliates who sign up through your website.

Thus, without having a product of their own, some persons are earning their sole but substantial income from affiliate programs.

2. Consignment Sales

You can take other people’s products on a consignment basis, making your commission when you sell the item. Many second-hand shops, arts and crafts stores, and other retailers operate this way.

You can also sell products of others through Internet auction sites such as eBay or Yahoo! Auctions.

3. drop shipping

You could buy inventory wholesale and try to sell it retail, but what if it doesn’t sell? Even if you do sell, do you really want all that money tied up in stock? For these reasons, many businesses use drop shipping as a method of doing business.

Whether from your home, retail store, directly from your website or through an online auction, you can arrange to sell an item before you purchase it. That way you have nothing invested in inventory and won’t get stuck with stock that won’t sell.

For example, let’s assume that you have just sold a product to a customer for $100.00 plus shipping charges of $15.00. Having received the customer’s payment, you now need to e-mail or fax your order to your drop ship supplier. You will need to pay your supplier your cost of $50.00 plus $15.00 shipping, leaving you a $50.00 gross profit. Your supplier will now ship the product to your customer.

4. Finders’ Fees

Did you know that you can earn fees simply by introducing buyers and sellers?

For example, a mining company may need to buy certain hard-to-obtain equipment for their operations. You could negotiate a percentage finder’s fee for finding this equipment for them.

Conversely, you could also obtain a finder’s fee from a company that is trying to sell off their excess machinery but is having difficulty finding a buyer.

5. Joint Ventures

Joint venture arrangements can be profitable. As an example, you could arrange to feature someone else’s product in your e-zine or newsletter in return for a commission, even if they don’t presently have an affiliate program.

The above list of low-cost ways to make a profit from other people’s products and services is by no means exhaustive. However, it certainly illustrates that, with some effort, other people’s products could make you rich.

J. Stephen Pope, President of Pope Consulting Inc., has been helping clients to earn maximum business profits for over thirty years.
]]> http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/2426/other-peoples-products-can-make-you-rich/feed/ 0 http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/2139/can-i-shop-if-i%e2%80%99m-stay-at-home-mom-or-dad-i%e2%80%99m-disabled-or-if-i%e2%80%99m-retired/ http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/2139/can-i-shop-if-i%e2%80%99m-stay-at-home-mom-or-dad-i%e2%80%99m-disabled-or-if-i%e2%80%99m-retired/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:28:40 +0000 admin http://www.businessideasdirectory.com/?p=2139

The answer is a resounding yes, you can. In fact, most mystery shopping assignments are performed by shoppers on a part time basis and this is perfect scheduling for stay at home moms, dads, retired or disabled persons.

Mystery shopping can be done by almost any adult over 18 years old. Since businesses can be patronized by almost anyone, a mystery shopper who blends in with the typical shopper at that establishment is definitely an asset.

There are even mystery shops which require customers of a demographic segment, such as race, or children, seniors, or disabled customers.

The goal of mystery shopping is to see how the customer is treated by employees especially if they don’t fit the profile of the “typical” customer.

There are some assignments which require you to bring along children for authenticity sake, and if you organize your day and schedule, you can plan to complete the assignment with your well behaved children in tow.

There are also assignments where age requirements must be met, such as the purchase of tobacco products or alcohol, where the purchaser must be of legal age. Many students accept these types of assignments and earn good part time money with age requirement shopping assignments.

Have you ever walked into a retail establishment, or restaurant and the employee took one look at you, or not, and decided that you were not worthy of their best service? For whatever reason?

This is the basis for mystery shopping, which requires that all customers must be treated with dignity and courtesy, regardless of their background. The Mystery shopping tool enhances that commitment to treat all customers fairly and to assist businesses from avoiding bankruptcy through failure to observe and practice legal regulations, loss of customers or even lawsuits.

When you sign up to be an independent contractor with a mystery shopping company, they frequently ask you to identify your ethnicity, age or economic status for this very purpose and some mystery shops require shoppers who have limited financial resources or poor credit report.

There are even companies who specialize in disabled mystery shoppers since the Americans with Disability Association requires that establishments be accessible to disabled patrons and that reasonable accommodations be made for those with disabilities.

Remember, mystery shopping can be a rewarding experience where you get to interact with people from all walks of life. It can be a learning experience, and best of all, you get to make a valuable contribution to improve and enhance the customer service provided in your community.

LOANS FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS–can build your wealth in Financial Brokerage. Why? Because Health Professionals, as a group, are:

• Well-educated, alert, intelligent, capable.


• High-earning individuals who seek a good life style.


• Hard workers who are ambitiously upwardly mobile.


• Honest and reliable who do honor their loan promises.

FOR THESE, AND MANY OTHER GOOD REASONS, being a loan broker for health professionals–medical doctors, dentists, podiatrists, nurses, chiropractors, etc.–can be highly lucrative to you. To get started:

1. Develop a list of lenders who specialize in health clients.
2. Contact several of these lenders to act as a broker for them.
3. Run small classified ads in local and health publications saying:

LOANS for health professionals. Call day or night 123-4567 for details about these loans.

4. Get full info from each caller, namely: Amount needed; Time for which loan is needed (its Term); Purpose for which the money is needed; Interest rate that’s acceptable; Professional’s Education; Health Speciality, etc.
5. Give information to your lender, after the Health Professional gives you permission to do so. Use a Release Form so you’re not accused of giving out personal info without permission.
6. Collect your fee from the Health Professional after the loan is obtained. Your fee will usually be 5% of the loan amount on loans up to $1-million. Thus, your fee on a $1-million loan will be $50,000. Most health professional loans are less than this.
7. Expand your loan services to other health professionals by asking the person you’re serving to suggest his/her associates who might need your expertise. Word-of-mouth is the best kind of advertising you can get because one friend tells another about you and the good service you’ve provided.
8. Try to attend local medical, dental and other professional meetings to present information about your services. You can do this by giving a talk on financing for health professionals. Or, if you don’t enjoy speaking in public, you can pass out leaflets describing your services to the attendees. You can then answer any questions they call into you on the phone. Soon you’ll be the “Most Wanted Person in Town,” earning a high income helping health professionals get funding they need!

Tyler G. Hicks, the president of International Wealth Success Inc., is the author of many wealth building publications, including the Four Doctor Loan Programs Kit.

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Fleeced, ripped-off, cheated, conned. We’re all afraid of losing money to wholesalers who turn out not to be the real deal. The horror stories can certainly be very off putting – especially to those just getting started. The trick is to spot it and stop it before it’s too late!

So what are signs that you’re dealing with a crook?

In our experience, there are 6 particular indications that you may not be dealing with a legitimate wholesaler:

• The wholesaler doesn’t sound business-like or professional when answering the phone. For example, he will answer with a plain ‘Yes?’ or ‘Hello?’, without identifying himself or the business name.
• The wholesaler doesn’t request your business license or sales tax ID during the initial contacts. Most true wholesalers will require one of these. While this is not a hugely important deal, if you are looking at dealing in large amounts you will need to get registered and should check that the wholesaler is registered as well.
• The wholesaler gets shifty when you request a product sample. Most wholesaler are only to happy to offer a sample of their product (usually at a higher price) so if they do not offer this be careful and question their reasons for not offering one.
• The wholesaler’s claims to take a secure form of payment (credit card, Paypal etc…) but later turns around and says they only accept wire transfer or western union. Not all wholesalers that take western union and wire transfer are scammers, but this is the most common way scammers operate and you should always steer on the side of caution if you are asked to pay be these methods when not having dealt with or knowing the person first.
• Their website offers no physical address or contact phone for you to get hold of them. Be blunt, ask them for a contact address and phone number and if it is ok if you come in and have a look around their offices. If they are serious this will be no problem at all for them.
• They claim they don’t currently have stock in and still expect you to pay up front. If this has been happening make sure you get some photographic evidence of their stock with the days newspaper or something (while this doesn’t always work, it means some one must have stock that they know).

Although these are not hard and fast rules, you should certainly proceed with caution if one or more of the above apply to a new wholesale contact you have made. If you have any tips to add or past experiences then we’d love to hear from you. Your experience is valuable to the SaleHoo community and I’m sure others would appreciate your comments.

SaleHoo is one of the fastest growing product sourcing portals on the internet. It contains a database of drop ship, wholesale, closeout and manufacturing suppliers offering thousands of product suppliers to consumers! Located at http://www.salehoo.com, visitors are allowed to sign up for unlimited and lifetime access to the completely searchable database of products and suppliers. The database is regularly updated, ensuring that the latest retail products are always available for purchase and SaleHoo carries the BBB Reliability Seal!

Join SaleHoo Today for their Special Startup Offer!

by Wayne M. Davies

When it comes to filing your tax return, spending 37 cents could be the biggest mistake you ever make.

Millions of taxpayers make the mistake of putting their income tax return in a regular letter-sized envelope, sticking on a 37 cent stamp, and placing the envelope in their mailbox.

And millions of taxpayers “get away” with this mistake year after year.

Why do I say that putting your tax return in the mailbox is a mistake?

Let me explain.

Every year, a small percentage of mail doesn’t get delivered. The U.S. Postal Service doesn’t like to admit this, but it’s true.

Furthermore, even if your tax return gets delivered to the IRS, every year a small percentage of tax returns get lost by the IRS.

Don’t believe me? I’ll never forget the day one of my clients showed me a letter he received from the IRS:

“We regret to inform you that we received your return…. but have lost it.”

Honest to goodness, this actually happened!

So my question to you is this: What are you doing to do if this happens to you!

If your tax return doesn’t get delivered, or if it gets delivered but is subsequently lost inside the mammoth IRS, what are you going to do to prove that you actually mailed the return?

Just calling the IRS and saying, “Well, I mailed it on time. I know I did!” isn’t going to prove anything. And the burden to prove you mailed the return on time will rest on your shoulders.

You have two ways to solve this potentially dangerous problem:

OPTION #1: File your return electronically.

There are many benefits to e-filing. The one I want you to focus on now is this: When you e-file your return, you receive an electronic acknowledgement within 48 hours that the IRS has accepted your return.

Bingo! Now you have proof positive that the return was filed. ‘Nuff said?

E-filing is rapidly becoming the filing method of choice. But the majority of returns are still filed on paper, so here’s a second way to avoid the “missing return” dilemma.

OPTION #2: If you’re a “paper filer”, go to the post office and spend a measly $4.05 to send the letter via Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested.

Doing this will accomplish two very important things:

1. Certified Mail (which costs $2.30) provides the proof that the return was mailed, and that it was mailed on time, on or before the due date.

According to the IRS, a paper return is filed on time if it is mailed in an envelope that is properly addressed and postmarked by the due date. When you use Certified Mail, you will get a receipt postmarked by the postal employee, and that date on the receipt is the postmark date.

So, should the return get lost by the IRS, or if the IRS questions whether you mailed it on time, you will have written proof.

Plus, every piece of Certified Mail is assigned a tracking number which can then be traced by the U.S. Postal Service should a problem arise.

2. Return Receipt provides another level of insurance. For an extra $1.75, when the letter is delivered, the IRS must sign or stamp a receipt that documents the date of delivery. This receipt then gets mailed back to you, so that you now have the written proof that the IRS received it.

Technically, you only need to send the return via Certified Mail to prove that it was indeed mailed on time. But I really like the Return Receipt as well — it gives you that extra “peace of mind” to know that the IRS received it. And you’ll know exactly what day it was received. This is the proof of delivery.

So don’t run the risk of having your tax return get lost in the mail.

And don’t run the risk of having your tax return get lost in the piles and piles of paper that flood the IRS each year.

Think about it. Well over 100 million personal income tax returns are filed with the IRS every year, and the majority of them are still prepared on paper and mailed by the U.S. Postal Service.

The U.S. Postal Service and the IRS are staffed by hard- working people who are only human. People make mistakes. To greatly reduce the chance of a mistake being made with your return, don’t you make the mistake of just putting your tax return in the mailbox.

Instead, e-file it, or take it to the post office and send it Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested. It could be the best $4.05 you ever spent!

Copyright 2003 Wayne M. Davies Inc.

Wayne M. Davies is author of the new eBook, “The Tax Reduction Toolkit: 29 Little-Known Legal Loopholes That Will Reduce Your Taxes By Thousands (For Small Business Owners and Self-Employed People Only!)” Don’t file another tax return until you visit The Tax Reduction Toolkit, part of the Ultimate Tax Reduction Guide.

by Wayne M. Davies

I did it. I finally did it.

Last weekend, while the rest of Fort Wayne celebrated the long-awaited onset of springtime temperatures, I stayed inside and did something I’ve never done before.

I burned my first CD.

Yep, I joined the Pepsi generation and got me a real CD-RW drive. And I actually copied a music CD onto a blank CD (my wife’s favorite Eric Clapton CD — so now she’s got one for home and one for the van; guess I better burn another one so she can listen to it at work, too.)

But it wasn’t easy, let me tell ya!

If fact, I didn’t think it would ever happen.

Why? Because when it comes to computers, I ain’t the most proficient guy in the world. I know how to use my accounting and tax software, and I can peck away at a word processor with the best of them, but hardware? I’m clueless, man, absolutely clueless.

To me, RAM is an animal, the mascot for a pro football team that used to play in L.A. and then moved to St. Louis.

But my wife and kids have been pestering me for months to get a CD-RW so we can make our own music CD’s. So last week I finally gave in and ventured out to my local discount electronics store.

And there they were, lined up on the shelf, all 28 different models.

I picked up one of the boxes and looked at the “specs”. The first label that caught my eye was called “Disc Formats”: CD-R, CD-RW, CD-ROM (mode 1 and mode 2), CD-ROM XA (mode2, form 1 and form2), CD-DA, Bootable CD, Photo CD (single and multi-sessions), Video CD, CD-Extra, Mixed mode CD, CD-text.

I suddenly felt the beginnings of a headache.

I know enough about hardware to know that you’ve got to make sure a new piece of hardware is compatible with your existing hardware.

Ah, yes, the “interface”, gotta make sure that’s right!

So I looked at the box where is said “E-IDE/ATAPI”.

Now my stomach didn’t feel so good either.

Finally, I turned the box over and found what I was looking for, “System Requirements”: IBM PC Pentium 200MHz or higher; 64MB DRAM, 1 GB for image recording, 150MB free HD space for installing writing software.

I no longer had a headache. I had a migraine.

Enough was enough. I left the store and came home empty- handed. I was in over my head, and it was time to admit it.

While driving home I suddenly realized something.

What I just experienced is exactly what most people experience as they sit down to prepare their tax return each year. All those forms, schedules and worksheets, each with their own set of unique codes and convoluted calculations.

Forms, forms and more forms. They might as well be written in Greek.

For some people, mostly folks with “regular” day jobs and simple W2’s, doing your own tax return can be a relatively painless process (particularly if you don’t itemize deductions and have no investment income).

And with the proliferation of user-friendly tax preparation software programs, I’m sure millions of returns are filed by do-it-yourself-er’s without a hitch.

But if you’re self-employed or own your own business, and you’re new to the world of taxes, well, I’ve got news for you — be prepared to go through exactly what I went through at Best Buy — lots of pain, agony and frustration.

And be ready to “give up” and do what I eventually did — call a professional.

For me, that meant giving my friend George a call. George is a client who also happens to be a “computer guy” with all the latest gizmos and gadgets known to mankind.

George was very happy to help me out. He told me exactly what kind of CD drive to get, and then he came over to the house and installed the thing in 15 minutes! I couldn’t believe it! Then he installed some software, spent 10 minutes showing me how to use it, and the next thing I know, I’m burning a CD like I’ve been doing it all my life.

If you are a small business owner or self-employed person and you’re trying to prepare you own return this year, how’s it going?

Do you think you did OK? Or are you getting by on trial and error with a dose of prayer mixed in (“Please, God, please don’t let me get audited!”)

Maybe it’s time you did what I did.

By George, call a professional.

If you’re in over your head, admit it, and get some help. Visit your local tax professional today!

Copyright 2003 Wayne M. Davies Inc.

Wayne M. Davies is author of the eBook, “The Tax Reduction Toolkit: 29 Little-Known Legal Loopholes That Will Reduce Your Taxes By Thousands (For Small Business Owners and Self-Employed People Only!)”. Don’t file another tax return until you visit The Tax Reduction Toolkit, part of the Ultimate Tax Reduction Guide.

Yes, this might actually be the perfect opportunity for you to be a mystery shopper, since it gets you out of the house and interacting with people on a regular basis.

When job seeking, realize that job hunting is now your job and you must be as diligent about job seeking as you would be as an employee.

If you are unemployed and actively seeking employment, this might be an excellent source of meeting your new employer.

Mystery shopping gets you in the habit of getting out of the house and interacting with people on a daily basis, which is key in your job search.

You can organize and schedule your day to perform your regular job seeking tasks and interviews, and work your mystery shopping assignments in with your schedule.

It’s a fact that the more people you interact with, the better your chances of landing a job, and mystery gives you an opportunity to interact with as many or as few people as you like.

When you perform your mystery shopping assignments, be personable; engage those you come in contact with in conversation and let them know that you are a job seeker, and would welcome any help they can offer.

This is no time to be shy; tell people how great you are and show them how personable and qualified you are. Without the pressure of a structured job interview scenario, since you are more relaxed, the real you shines through.

It’s also a way to keep up with you people skills and stay sharp in your observation and reporting skills.

Use the people you come in contact with as a pretend interview and when the real interviews come, you will have had lots of practice, and will be more skilled, at ease and be able to promote yourself and you skills more effectively, showing them why you are the best person for the job.

People love to help other people and it’s amazing by just letting others know that you are in the job-seeking market how they may be able to help you.

Believe it or not, but most jobs are filled, not by classified ads or the internet, but by word of mouth, recommendations, and referrals, by a friend of a friend of a friend.

So get out there, get shopping and get noticed. In addition to having fun, shopping and dining for free, you just might land your new dream job.