Page 98 - 597 Business Ideas You can Start from Home - doing what you LOVE! (Beginner Internet Marketing Series)

Step 5: Manufacture Your Idea into a Product 89

Here's where the problems often arise: The goal of a manufac­
turer and the goal of the entrepreneur are not always the same. The
manufacturer wants to produce as many pieces of goods as possible
in a short amount of time (most manufacturers get paid per piece).
The entrepreneur, on the other hand, wants each piece to be perfect
and wants to receive the products in a reasonable amount of time
and at a good and fair price.

Come to Terms

Agreeing on price, time frames, and quality control requires a
lot of negotiating and give-and-take. It is a frustrating process, but
it can be a win-win situation for both parties. Compromise where
you can, and stand your ground where you can't. Quality is never
negotiable .

If you really want to work with a specific manufacturer-you
know that they have a great reputation and track record-you won't
have a lot of bargaining power until you have provided them with
a quantity of work and income. At that point, you will have gained
some leverage to renegotiate price or time frames.

Don't Give Up

If you're running into obstacles, quality problems, or schedul­
ing difficulties, commit to fixing the problems. I ran into plenty of
problems as I began making prototypes of my gloves . Manufactur­
ing was by far the most difficult and frustrating phase for me, as it
is for many entrepreneurs. Be patient, yet persistent. This process is
essential to getting your product out there.

Compare Ma nufac turers' Prices

Use the exact material specifications (size, quantity, weights, fin­
ishes) to compare pricing options from several manufacturers. Get
three quotes if possible. If you get the exact same options on each