Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Showerman
It has been years since I took a small business law class and about the only thing I remember from the class is that you cannot go into competition against your employer.  They would have a legal right to all the proceeds from your "outside work".  Now things can have changed since then, but at least it will give a spring board for other input for those who know  or have more current knowledge.  How about instead of starting your own business try selling for you employer for a commission?

Greg

If you want absolution, I can`t help you. I`m not a priest.

Can you fish? Or just cut bait? Sure...everyone wants to be liked....but sooner or later every business owner MUST bare his or her teeth. That being said, I`m NOT talking about doing anything illegal or even unethical.

Example: Say you have three employees and they are all good, likable people but one of them really isn`t pulling his or her own weight. Can you fire him or her-- to their face? No whussing out and firing them "over the phone"....that doesn`t count and REALLY annoys people.

Let me turn up the heat a little bit....say you already know that that same person has a spouse/kids to feed. Can you still do it?

Let me make it a little messier...same scenario....and this same person`s inactivity will definitely make the business go broke. In other words...your other employees with families to feed will be out of a job too if you don`t discharge the nice but idle worker.... Can you do it?

Now especially in small(er) communities, word gets around fast. Business without humanity will not survive. Customers won`t stand for it...especially if your company name isn`t Exxon or Microsoft.

Fish or cut bait.... Good Luck :)

By the way another great phone service for those elsewhere employed is http://www.ureach.com.  This is an indispensable web based tool for me because I worked during the day for another company.  With my Ureach account I receive phone calls, faxes, emails, etc. in one area.  I have a toll free phone number and for about $1.00 more per month a second toll free nuimber that I use as my fax number.  During my lunch break I can easily check phone msgs, faxes, and my orders in one easy place.  When I return calls by dialing my own ureach phone # and then entering my pin -- the person receiveing the calls sees only your Ureach number on a caller ID -- not the phone number you are actually calling from.  You can configure the phone number very easily so that it forwards to another phone, i.e, a cell phone.  There is also the option of setting up several `extensions` so that it seems like you have several departments!  It is also easily configurable to forward messages to your cell phone as a text msg.  This feature allows me to receive my website orders on my cell phone.  I love the little beep I receive on my phone every time an order is placed!  They have a free trial that allows you to test out the services.  I can honestly say (I have no incentive to endorse them) that next to my website Ureach is my most valuable tool as a small business owner and incredibly budget friendly.

 

 

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Charlotte Terry
RooKaps -- USB Replacement Caps


http://www.RooKaps.com

Showerman,

 

I`m new to SUN, but I have a kind of recommendation.  Find another job that can take care of your bills “that you don’t compete with”, and then pursue your business.  Even if the job is part time.

 

If the new job isn`t paying enough, then that would probably give you the real motivation to actively pursue your business.

 

Also, use the fact that people know you from your old job as a marketing tactic.  Say you left because you wanted to fully meet the needs/costs of your customer, which you couldn`t do at your old Job.    Become the Apple, against the monopoly Microsoft LOL.

 

A part-time sales/marketing job would even help train you for your business.