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Rating:
(we have just 2 reviews which are rated a "5")
Level of
Review: Researched as far as able, including contact with
seller - cannot be
completely researched without purchasing the
product, and this was not practical for our
reviewer due to the high cost and impossibility of
working such a business in rural areas.
Overview:
Business packages which instruct you on how to
start a home business which works as a marketing
resource for reliable home service
contractors.
Product:
Their product is books and business resources,
website service, etc. Your product is referral
service.
Cost: $1795
- $5495
Compensation:
You earn a commission on work which is referred to
the contractor through you. The contractor pays the
commission, and you end up working on a similar
basis to an affiliate, you get paid when they make
a sale. Compensation varies with the success of
your business.
Conclusion:
I think this really can work in some areas. The
price is significant, though I cannot put a value
on the referrals she is willing to give you from
her website because I don't know how many it
would actually yield. Still, a business package that includes
referrals is generally worth more than one that does
not.
The most expensive business
package, which costs nearly $5500
contains:
- A copy of The
Complete Guide To Owning And Operating A Successful
Homeowner Referral Network©
- Eight hours of
one-on-one consultation time
- A starter set (100)
of each of the five HRN Business forms
- The HRN
Graphics CD©
- The HRN Web Package (with 1
year free hosting and free domain name) - Subsequent
hosting fee is $150/annually.
- A starter
set (500) of the HRN promotional item
- Unlimited
leads from the HRN website
- Pre-negotiated prices
on the HRN promotional item
- HRNMS (Homeowner
Referral Network Management Software) which is
customized, web-based software designed
specifically for this type of business.
Whether or not it
worked would depend largely on what type of area
you lived in. It would be out of the question here,
which is one reason I did not research it by
actually trying it, besides which I don't
currently have the financial resources to start
this since I don't have the time to make it
work (too much time required by this site).
This business would take 100% dedication to it
alone, I could not add it to my existing lines as
I can so many other things that just require
web work, or order processing.
Requires that you live
in a large enough community to support significant levels
of two specific needs:
- The need of home
owners to find reliable contractors to do home repairs
and improvements. This is a genuine need, as in larger
communities the power of "word of mouth"
advertising starts to break down.
- The need of contractors
to establish a means of validating their reputation.
When word of mouth advertising breaks down in a larger
community, a validating agency has more value, and
your service makes the connection between ethical
contractors, and concerned homeowners.
I think that if you
have a realistic idea of what a business is, and if
you have the resources, that this is a viable
option. I do not like that she does not list prices
right on the website, but that information is
available by request. I like that she does say up
front that it works better in certain demographic
areas, and that she does not seem to be selling
pure hype - she never promises that the money is
going to roll in without work, and she does imply
in her marketing that you get out what you put in.
My emails to get more details were promptly and
courteously answered, and I do consider that to be
a positive indication that she is committed to
giving good service. Despite the high cost, if
someone is committed to working, I think this
package is centered around solid business sense -
In fact, the high price may be specifically to weed
out the get rich quick types.
UPDATE:
I have reviewed many kinds of businesses since reviewing
this one, and my respect for the manner in which this
business owner conducts business has grown immensely.
Some of my reasons are:
- Her communication
with prospective clients and customers is exceptionally
good.
- Her manner is always
polite, informative, and beyond the minimum that
she could get by with.
- Her business concept
is relevant to many communities, replicatable, and
unique enough to establish a valid niche in many
areas.
- The best businesses
have always been those that you build from scratch,
around a need in your community, and through your
own strengths. This business package is not an "instant
business system". It is a REAL business, which
will get the respect of local Chambers of Commerce
and Business professionals if you are ethical about
it.
You could possibly figure
out how to do this yourself. But there are TONS of questions
that I'd have, which I'd fumble around a lot trying
to figure out - rate of commission, payment policies,
contract wording, marketing tactics, tracking and bookkeeping,
etc. If this is what I really wanted to do, I'd at least
invest one of the packages and save myself
the time and headache of figuring it all out.
I've built several sets of that kind of policy and documentation for several business lines, and I know how much time it takes to lay the groundwork for a solid business, and then to test it and see if it actually works - it represents several hundred hours of time that you'll save.
I know from experience that while you CAN
do it solo, having good mentorship and instructions
can not only save you time and get you earning faster,
it can also save you lost sales, help you avoid costly
mistakes, and keep you out of legal trouble.
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