The virtual business, big business does it, its time small business consider this strategy

Sub contacting, strategic alliances, Internet sales, web sites, blogs, podcasts, video, email, voice mail, technology and partnerships make the virtual business model a serious consideration for any entrepreneur establishing a new business or reconsidering the operational equation for an existing business.

Maybe a new format is the answer…the virtual business.

What does this mean?

Its simple, whatever you are making or whatever service you are providing, chances are very good some other business organization is already performing this service and would love some additional business… a strategic alliance that makes sense for all involved

Consider no more employees in production, no expensive warehouses and other overhead burdens, in essence you become a sales organization supported by Internet, web site sales and marketing efforts, also low cost and working 24/7.

Your territory becomes the world.

In fact you can even off load sales to other organizations , call centers, brokers, reps, telemarketers, etc all willing to work on sales success and share the proceeds. Its possible that you are the only person involved in your own organization with everyone else a strategic partner. Sounds a little utopical, but possible, and to various degrees.

Just ridding yourself of manufacturing would be result in an immense savings in overhead and time burden.

Why not manufacture off shore in India or China, there are brokers and reps willing to assist you in making these connections. A fulfillment arrangement will allow drop shipping directly to your end user.

One requirement, since you will know all your costs, you simply mark up your product adequately to absorb the various costs and then add your profit.

You either have to buy low and sell high, or buy high and sell higher.

Both are possible, not for every product or service but for many…It used to be a strategy reserved for large  manufacturers purchasing containers or more and experiencing huge economies, based on the extremely low costs of labor and materials in other countries.

Now the small business owner can piggyback this opportunity as now there are brokers handling the transactions and providing enormous savings for small business requirements. The small business can now compete effectively.

In fact since few small businesses are taking advantage of this opportunity, those that do experience huge competitive advantages.

Telemarketing can be off loaded to companies in India willing to charge as a direct proportion of revenue earned…how can you lose.

Consider it, a virtual company, creating a business plan that relies on outside sources handling the entire chain of business, or significant parts of it.

Printing can be handled this way, many aspects of your business can be off loaded and handled by others. Think about the possibilities.

Your immediate response will be, this is an interesting idea but it will not work for me or my product…… think again, there is little that cannot be accomplished through strategic alliances off shore or onshore creating a true virtual business without any bricks or mortar.

Banks do it, computer companies do it, auto makers do it, you can do it too. Call if you need some help.413-549-2966.