By Liz McMahan
Assistant City Editor
July 05, 2008 11:15 pm
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A Wagoner man is looking for an alternative to driving to Tulsa to work everyday.
He has set up a Web site he said he hopes shoppers will use to save gasoline for themselves too.
Rick Rose, 51, isn’t planning on giving up his day job anytime real soon, however.
PRWeb reports more people are turning to the Internet to improve their education and start home-based businesses. There is one new home-based business started every 11 seconds, according to the Web site.
Even though starting an Internet business may not require a large investment, it’s a good idea to start one by developing a business plan, said John Blue, director of the Northeastern State University Oklahoma Small Business Development Center.
Rose agreed. He said he started his Web site, and two weeks later wrote his business plan.
“Sometimes people start something like I have and don’t realize they’re putting out a lot of money and not making any,” he said.
“It (writing a business plan) was pretty helpful,” he said. “You set your goals, even though I haven’t attained those yet.”
The NSU center, located at the college’s Broken Arrow campus, has sample business plans for starting a business.
Having a business plan is a lot like having a roadmap for a trip, Blue said. The center also can direct those wanting to start a business to learn about other resources, such as seminars and workshops, he said.
In starting any business, the entrepreneur needs to find a niche and a way to market it.
Those dreaming of getting rich quick also need to keep in mind statistics show 44 percent of all new businesses fail within the first five years, Blue said.
“Those that have succeeded and gone on have developed a business plan and then followed it,” he said.
Businesses plans have to be reviewed and updated along the way, he said.
Rose said while he has not yet reached his goals, his business is young. His Web site, www.WagonerOnline.net, went online in January. He had more than 10,000 hits in March and now gets 50 to 100 per day. Those hits come from throughout the world.
Rose said he believes he has found a two-fold market niche: Serving those who want more information about Wagoner and northeastern Oklahoma and making it easier for shoppers to access merchants online. His site includes links to major retailers and some that are relatively obscure, such as a scrapbooking materials supplier, he said. He said he also hopes to include local businesses.
“I think people will find this site a little easier (than surfing the Web),” he said.
He is marketing his site with advertising on free Web sites, local newspaper advertisements and targeted mailing, he said.
“I think this will catch on,” he said.
Business help
For help starting a business, call the Northeastern State University Small Business Development Center for counseling at 449-6280.
Reach Liz McMahan at 918-684-2926 orClick Here to Send Email
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