royster13

Stock forms just do not cut it when you trying to separate your business from others out there.....Your invoices are a marketing and branding opportunity.....You would not put a label like those on your candles so why use a fom like that....Go you your local printer and get a custom design done....Yes there is a higher cost in the short term but the reward is the higher class image you will portray....

I do not think I had more than 60 minutes in it including the trip to the hardware store and Wal-Mart....

http://www.glacierwind.ca/frame.jpg I built one out of 3/4" pvc underground sprinkler pipe....I think I have no more that C$40.00 in it... If you want it a little sturdier you can use schedule 40 pvc (water lines)...I used an elbow and a tee to make most of the connections...The 2 front bottom corners are just elbows.... I would have 3 way connectors but they were not easy to come by in my area... http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/accessory/pvc.shtml Mine is about 18" square and I did not glue it....If you make extra cross members you can make your box wider....So i can take it apart to store it or make it bigger if needed...I guess guess you could glue all the joints except where the cross members attatch and it would still come apart for storage... I just draped it with white broadcloth and bought 2 goose neck table lamps and used 26w compact fluorescent (6500k) bulbs....You can get higher wattage bulbs if you can find them... I am still playing with my camera settings....You need to adjust white balance manually for best results....Do a Google search for Ebay photo tips and you will find lots of hints... Good luck....

http://www.wrdisplay.ca/catalog/product.php?productid=19503&cat=437&page=1

Lawsuits have very little to do with who is liable and everthing to do with who an "over zealous" lawyer can extract the most money from....In my work as an insurance adjuster I have seen pleadings with so many defendants named it was hard to keep track of them....The more names the more chance a settlement can be extracted without ever proving liability....And even if you win, the cost of winning may crush you....Sure you may be awarded costs but if the "low life vermin scum" that sues you and loses has no cash you will still be out of luck....If you are undertaking any kind of pursuit that is not covered by your homeowners liability policy you better get another policy to cover it....

When considering a colour laser printer, the cost of consumables must also be factored in....Cheaper printers often cost more to operate...And if you want to print 2 sided flyers does the printer have duplexing?....Some printers will print the 2nd sheet ok without it, however, some make a mess when you try the 2nd page...

Check out a Xerox 6180 which got a very favourable review in PC Mag....About $500 at CDW....

Studies show that 2 colours are 17% more effective than b&w and full colour is 40% more effective than b&w....

7% to 15% is common for "multi line reps".....If you want them more than they want you the rate will be higher...Also, in order to entice them to add and show your line, it is not uncommon in the short term to pay them a fee based on the work they do for you rather than a commission on sales....They may have 6 to 10 lines and with some buyers time is at a premium....This being the case they will show their well established lines and yours only if they have time.....If you pay them a fee regardless of sales, your line will move up the food chain.....Well established "multi line reps" often have suppliers lined up several deep waiting to get on board....

You better read the Paypal information over again.....You do not have to have a Payapl account to use your credit cards on a site where the merchant processes credit cards throug Paypal.... From FAQ on www.paypal.com: Do my customers need a PayPal account to pay me with Website Payments Standard?No. Customers don’t even need a PayPal account to pay you. A PayPal account is entirely optional.

"Ring of Fire" your advice is insane.....Filing a false declaration on a customs form is a criminal offense..I do not suspect saving your customer a few dollars is worth it to you in the long run...

If it is going UPS ground the reciever in Canada will have to pay brokerage charges plus any taxes and duties.... http://www.ups.com/content/ca/en/shipping/cost/zones/customs_clearance.html The big catch is if the declaration is more than 5 lines...Each item has to be shown separately on the invoice and once you get to 6 they start costing C$4.50 for each extra line....It is typically not acceptable to call the order "candle supplies" for example...Because the customer can not prepay the taxes, etc. there is a COD fee of C$4.25 plus 2.7% (bond fee) on any taxes they have to collect...Even on a small shipment the fees add up pretty quick...If when the package arrives they are shocked by the amount due and refuse the shipment, the shipper is responsible for the charges of the return trip...I think Fedex Ground brokerage charges are the same...For postal shipments the taxes and duties are still still on arrival but Canadas Post only charge C$5.00 for brokerage....

I use them in the bottom of flower pots.....RCS...

A disclaimer may help if you are sued but it is not a sure thing.....If you are relying on a "disclaimer" you have to establish that the person understood it and accepted it....Like it or not liability insurance is a must if you are in any kind of business....RCS...

I for the most part make my living selling fridge magnets.....Today I get a call and in the discussion the fellow said he can buy magnets from so and so for less....When I hear something like that I tell the caller to go buy from them and have nice life....The point here is I spend 99% of my energy and passion worrying about my business because even though some other sucker can duplicate almost everything I do, they can not duplicate my passion....That is why I have been in business 33 years....Other than a fleeting glance (thats the 1%) I do not pay attention or worry about what some one else is doing....Because without my passion they can not succeed for long....RCS... PS....There are far too many on this board that worry too much about what is happening elsewhere rather than putting all their energy into their own businesses....I am not meaning to pick on anyone in particular just explaining my philosophy....

You need insurance no matter what your business model is......Even if you do everything right, you can still be sued.....A liability policy will cover your defense costs (which can be sustantial) even if you "win" and never pay a penny for a claim...RCS...

As was said above, the different labels have different adhesive....But the most important difference is the paper....Inkjet labels are open grain which allows the ink to absorb and dry by evaporation....Laser labels are smooth and the toner is heat set to attach....With a good magnifying glass you can actually see the difference......Inkjet labels will look much courser...RCS...

Using a non CSA approved appliance may be stupid but it does not always invalidate your insurance....A bigger insurance risk is commercial activities when you only have a personal insurance policy....Sometimes you will find "warranties" in an insurance policy that say for example you have to have working smoke detectors or monitored alarm.....If you breach a warranty your policy will not respond....In all my years of insurance adjusting I never saw a claim denied because of using non CSA approved appliances, however, I saw many denied because of undeclared business activities on the premises....RCS...

When searching for names make sure you have your credit card handy.....If you search a name and it is available, take it....Otherwise in mere minutes it will be gone....Registration is cheap these days....When I hear a potential name I like I "grab" it if is available...RCS...

http://www.uline.com/Browse_Listing_208.asp?desc=Uline+2+Mil+Reclosable+Bags ...RCS...

Insurance is an option that should be considered, however, if you are shipping a large quantity of packages you should "self insure"....Package insurance is expensive....Rather than buying insurance you should set aside a small % of each shipment in a fund.....If you have a loss, you would then pay it out of the fund....In my business I ship several hundred packages a year and I can not recall the last time a package went missing and stayed missing.....So for me, any money I would have paid the post office and/or UPS would have been pure profit to them....RCS...

Give out votives to the parents who come to the door....Or if you really believe in your product give away other candles....When I was in the pizza business giving away product was the best way to gain new customers....RCS...

It would be important to check with your liability insurer about USA sales....You need to make sure that your coverage still applies.....Many Canadian insurers are not comfortable with USA sales and put restrictions on the coverage....Give your broker a call and if they say you have coverage get something in writing to CYA...Good luck....RCS...

Wow......In another thread I got admonished for trying to help my spouse (and partner in everything) and you gals would be overjoyed if yours jumped in....Wish i could give those "lumps" a kick in the ass for you....They do not know what they are missing....RCS..

Most often you need a CGL (Commercial General Liability) policy.....Not sure what the market is like in the US, however, in Canada you can get a small package policy that includes the CGL and other coverages....You also need to get an endorsement on your homeowners or renters insurance to cover commerical use of your home....Under the typical homeowners policy if you have a fire (or other claim) and have a business on the premises, the loss is excluded....And do not get the idea you can claim it as a "hobby"....If you are generating revenue (profit or loss) you are in business....RCS...