Pappy

download it again. It should work now. thanks.... Pappy

Hey muddy: I've got an ein for the irs. Covers about 6 different business's. Basically its a ssn for your biz. If you are just doing it under a DBA you Can use your ssn for them. BUT IF YOU WANT the IRS will isue you an id and it covers every business you would ever own if you are doing DBA. If I remember correctly they will issue you that for free. NOW in sc. If you are in the city limits a biz lisc. is required. (around $80) If you are selling PRODUCTS. A sales tax lisc. from the state is required. PLUS your sales tax lisc. will help you when you want to buy wholesale from a supplier. Can't remember if there was a cost or not. Whether different kinds of services are taxable, it depends on who you ask. AND I've got 100 different answers from the sc dept of revenue. Especially with my programming business (consulting, etc...) AND I know some cities require you to have a business lisc. if you are doing business within the city limits. So if I drive to myrtle beach and do business there they expect me to have a lisc. Give me a break.... Thats it here.

ok.... I've put the invoicing out on my server. Its KISS. Keep it simple stupid but its effective. I'm going to work on the a/p and estimating. THen come back and fine tune. Sound like a plan? Anyway anyone is welcome to download it. JUST DO THIS FOR ME.... ACTUALLY read the readme.txt. I know no one reads those things. At least I don't. But it gives you a quick start. NOW I do not want to open a can of worms with this program(s). I can't really support it because I don't have the time. If you've got a quick question, my email is in the readme.txt. AND make sure it works when you install it. I think I got all of the dlls in the setup, but you never know..... got a problem.... my tester is working on it. I will put out a new link once he is finished. later... Pappy

Had a lot of request for this program.... and had some "ive gotta a better way" emails. HEY guys (and gals) if you've got something that works fine! I just posted that I was working on a program to use for MY BUSINESS. OK.. Quickbooks is ok, and I'm sure every suggestion that everyone has emailed me is good. BUT I WRITE MY OWN SOFTWARE. THANKS. I've been a programmer since the late 70's, So if I want another way to sort a database, another screen, 10 million other reports, or to see what customer has spent the most bucks with me.... I write it myself. See my point? Hey that's just for the people who have emailed me "why not use such and such?" or I have a better product. With that said, I have finished the order part (my wife went into the hospital the end of last week and that threw me off. Women, its always their fault ). Another story, another time. But I will be finished with the order part tomorrow ie.... printing invoices. I've got a good part of the estimating finished. But wanted to complete the order entry so I could actually print an invoice. I'll post a link for the download hopefully sometime tomorrow for the order entry. Then once I finish the others (the rest of order entry ie payments, a/p, and estimating) I will give you a link. later... Pappy

Florence....

Hey John: I'll give you this much. AT LEAST YOU ARE THINKING! Most people just sit around waiting for someone to think up a really creative way to market their goods. So cudo's to ya Give this a whirl in your noggin... Since I've been doing this vinyl thing (a couple of months now), I've noticed that a LOT of restaurants do not have a decent looking store hours on their store fronts. Some have that crummy plastic sign, while others do not have anything at all. I saw a really nice store hours design on here a month or so ago. You could modify it to include something like this "Compliments of Johns Graphics (888) 888.8888" And tell the biz owner you would give it to them for free if you could include your verbiage. OR if you really want to spend $50, and get noticed, you could make a specials board for the restaurant. A black dry erase with neon markers will run you about $30 then you could vinyl up the bottom with some of your verbiage. Then they could write their specials on the board and EVERYONE would read the sign. This is one of the 1st daily special menu boards I built. I sold advertising on the bottom and placed it in restaurants as a service for them. I basically gave them the sign to them but retained the right to sell the ads.

32" x 48" with grommets. Thanks... Pappy

Hey bannerjohn thanks! Called them and they are putting a new printer into production, said it wouldn't be operational until a few more days. So I WILL use them in the future. My client is one of those that "has to have it today!" thanks... Pappy

dishwashers work well for keyboards too. Use the top shelf and use the normal cycle. Once finished turn keyboard upside down and let dry for 24-48 hours. Cleans all of the gunk out. later... Pappy

working on it now... I will keep ya'll posted.... Pappy

I'm writing one now... It will contain 3 modules..... a/r, a/p and estimating. I've written similar programs for large corps. But I wanted something just for this business. The main thing I'm interested in getting is a P&L statement. After that being able to enter my expenses, create an estimate, and enter my income. I'll be done with it early next week. I've got family in for my sister in law's wedding so I won't have a chance to work on it this weekend. Let me know if you want a copy when I'm done. later... Pappy

and taking bits and pieces of scripture to make your point without taking the whole scripture into context. That's cherry picking too. Sell some to the church to put on the back of their pews. pappy

craigslist, facebook, twitter, to get new business. I'm finding I'm getting more calls from craigslist than I get from flyers or word of mouth. I always put a special on there and pull people in. Seems even if they are not interested in this months special, they want something else done. Just a thought. Pappy

I've had several people email me about a post I made a while back. Its in this thread.... http://forum.uscutter.com/index.php/topic,15797.0.html I seem to forget I'm on a vinyl cutting forum and not a business/marketing forum. I've been in the marketing business for around 10 years. Did a bunch before that but it was UN-educated marketing. Some worked, some didn't. Still experimenting to this day. I decided to put together some quick picks. So here they are.... Value.... Its not about value all of the time. Some people will buy because of price, most will buy because of the BENEFIT. ie. sell the sizzle not the steak. Humor... don't over do it, but it does have a place in marketing. Complaining customers.... I alway ask them "would you like a little bit of cheese with that whine?" Always gets a laugh. Lighten up the mood and you will make more sales. Testimonials: Get your really satisfied customers to give you a GLOWING testimony. Use it on your website, advertising, flyers, etc. If you don't have any, do something for free for a non profit org. Pets, religious, homeless, orgs always need stuff. L OO K for opps. Driving down the street always have your eyes open to new opps, and what others are doing. The best way to be successful is to emulate them. Common sense... look for worn out signs, new biz, sorry looking storefronts, etc... GET excited about what you do. Enthusiam plays a big part in your marketing, sales, and NUMBER of sales. Study up on your industry. Subscribe to print/trade magazines. Study your competition. LEARN and grow rich. The old saying goes, If you make a sale, you can earn some money. If you make a friend, you can earn a fortune. Become friends with your customers. Drop in just because. Be the one they can call for anything. Get to know electricians, plumbers, computer people, etc. They will call you when they have a problem no matter what it is. If you're cold calling, get to the decision maker. Fooling around with the secretary doesn't cut it. Carry something with your company name on it to give to them....mugs, pens, candy, etc... this will get you to the decision maker faster. Be honest.... If its too big of a job tell them that. OR have someone on your professional list that the work can be sub contracted out to. Be creative.. Have more than one product ready to present to them. They don't need lettering, have something else in mind. Send gifts.... Not much. A thank you note with a discount coupon. Or a fruit basket for larger clients. THIS WILL BE REMEMBERED. JOIN a club. I don't care if its rosies bar beer drinking club. NETWORKING is key. Have fun! who likes a JOB? If you are relaxed and enjoy what you do it will reflect in your attitude. Thus reflecting in your pocket book. Treat this business as a BUSINESS. A lot of people tend to treat their business's as a hobby. If that's what you want fine, BUT you will get out of it, what you put into it. Get every book you can find on sales and marketing. Zig Ziglar is really excellent. Well I'm tired of typing.... I'm sure you guys have plenty of tips and tricks. These are just the ones that came off of the top of my head. For what that's worth! later... Pappy

Thanks for the kind replies... Why do people forget about customer service? do they just take the money and run??? You know its a LOT easier (AND CHEAPER) to KEEP a customer than it is to get a new one. Continuity... That's what I use to PREACH to my team of programmers. Keep our clients happy! But some people just don't get it. Another thing that gets me is these companies who don't care about the little guy. I had a guy that called me today about a penny annie job... Maybe $20 at best. He was poor, just starting out, trying to make a living after getting laid off. One company had quoted him $75 for 2 18 x24 yard signs. I told him I would do it for $20 and he could pay me whenever.... OH btw he turned me on to a $2000 account. You never know... Did I say something about referrals? Pappy

Hey Firemalt: what is a "seal it pen"? Pappy

you probably need to post something thats not cutting right. A lot of these guys and gals have seen it all. So I'm sure someone can help. Pappy

Good luck to your and yours... you've got yourself another habit now. SORRY.. Pappy

suppliers, how to manuals, etc... thanks.. pappy

Thanks for the responses! I'll check into them. I just couldn't find any equipment or suppliers. Pappy

Thanks! He needs something bad. I saw his graphics today and they were pretty bad. Pappy

That fish looks like my mother in law!

Midwaste..... LOCAL CL? Heck I post under every city in the state. You don't have to be local to do sign work. I've cut graphics and sent them to the buyer with instructions on how to apply. I've shipped coragated signs and banners. I include all of the shipping in my price. SO I don't get their panty's in a wad about shipping charges. And really its been no hassle because my price beats the local guy by $$$. Example... Tonight a guy called me about my coragated special ad out on craigslist. He's about 150 miles away from me. He said the "cheapest" he could find a local guy to do a 18" x 24" sign both sides was $35. He ordered 10 at $15. He's going to email me the graphics tonight and pay by paypal. Think OUTSIDE of your city limits. and twitter may only last a year. BUT WHY NOT USE IT? Then something bigger, better will come along and I will use that. Bottom line is this: use all of the free resources you can. You NEVER know what the tide will bring in tomorrow. (tom hanks) later... Pappy

I've got a friend who owns a shop at the flea market. MOST (80%) of his business comes from outside work. He sells a few decals on the weekends, basically pays his rent. BUT his bread and butter is from business's. See if the flea market will allow your daughter to put out a sign on the flea markets sign. He's been there for 5 years and does very well (70k year) for only being open 3 days a week. Another thing I suggested to him was giving away a cool window sticker along with his sign business name and number on it. Free advertising if the person puts it on their car. Also, get her to create some flyers/business cards. Give them to everyone that comes by. I would post a craiglist ad EVERY week, telling people where she's at and what she does. GOOD LUCK. later... Pappy

Hey Aries.... I was thinking the same thing about the HD logo. Anyway the boxes look awesome! Pappy