I’ve been asked several times to spill the beans and tell everyone the secret to making money with a gift/gift basket business.  They  ask if it is really possible to make good money with your own gift basket business or is that just a sales pitch to sell you magazines, books, conventions, and other products?.

The answer to the first question regarding the “secret” is easy and the answer applies to any type of business in any industry.

The answer is work.  Lots of hours of hard work.  The only reason that it is a secret is that a lot of people don’t want to do it.

And the answer to the second question is that you can make money in any niche—both online and in your local community–and gift baskets is a niche.  No website or niche will make money FOR you.

Only you can make it happen.

You’ve read this before but I’m going to say it again simply because so many don’t want to hear it or believe it.  They skip over it whenever they see it in print or clap their hands over their ears when they hear it.  I tell all the new people in my small business classes, the very first day of class, the very same thing that I’m going to tell you.  It applies to any business in any industry.

For some in my classes, it proves fatal to their dreams and they don’t return.  For others, it makes them more determined than ever.  What I tell these dreamers with stars in their eyes is simply what I call reality.

What I tell them is YES, it really is possible to make substantial amounts of money with their own business.   But it’s not probable for MOST people.   The question then becomes is it probable for them?

We’re going to find out if you’re different than most people.

Consider the following…

Is it possible for you to make good money selling insurance?  How about selling cars or houses?  Or could you open a successful restaurant that makes money for you?

The answer to all of these is yes, of course.  We all know people who have done just that.

But we also have known lots of people who sold insurance, cars, houses, dinners and other things and failed.

There are three primary reasons why business owners fail.

1. They think that people will just show up at their door or visit their website ready to plunk down their money and buy what they are selling.
2. Their primary emphasis is making sales and money rather than providing a great sales experience for their customer.
3. They fail to build a relationship with their customers by contacting them over and over.

These three fundamentals are the same for any business.  The process only needs a little tweaking to make it specific for yours.

But let’s go back to the original question…”Is it really possible to make money with your own business?

It really is possible, BUT. . .

There are some IFS to consider in order to do it.

Think about this.  Did that restaurant in your town, that has the parking lot filled from open to close, just decide that it would be fun to open a restaurant?  Did the insurance salesman decide one day to sell insurance, ordered a package of business cards and considered himself in business?

How about you?  Could you open an exercise studio right now or even tomorrow or next week?  Do you know what you need?  Do you know how to do it?  Do you have the money it takes?  Do you know where to find your customers?  Could you sustain your business for two years even if a customer never walks through your door?

I know that you aren’t planning to open an exercise studio.  Or an insurance agency or even a restaurant.  But the basics are the same.

Yes, you can make a lot of money with a gift/gift basket business or any other business.

But only IF. . .

1. You educate yourself. This is something that should never cease as markets change, economies slow, and techniques and technology constantly evolve.
2. You learn the steps. But more than that, you must put them into practice so that you can experience them and determine what works and doesn’t work for you.
3. You have some start-up funds and know how to manage your cash flow so that you get the maximum benefit from every dollar you spend.
4. You know there are trade-offs to be made. If you want a website and don’t know how to develop it, you can either spend the time learning or spend the cash to have someone that is competent build it for you.
5. You are willing to work hard, putting many hours into the business. In the beginning, educating yourself and developing a workable plan will take up much of that time.  As you grow, you may be able to outsource some of the tasks that are just time-consuming but don’t produce sales or build relationships.   You will determine what those tasks are as your business evolves.

Whether you’re new to the industry or just beginning, you really need to create a two year plan and stick to it.  Work it every single day.  Believe in yourself and your dreams so much that you will be willing to make the sacrifices necessary to make them happen.

I tell my classes the same thing that I’m telling you.  And most won’t do it.

They’ll quit and say, “Making money with your own business was all just a pitch.”  Most will give up too soon.  They won’t invest the time it takes to really learn how to create a successful business.  They want it to be easy.  They want it overnight, not two years or more from now.

You can’t achieve much overnight.  You can’t write a successful novel overnight.  You can’t learn French overnight.  You can’t be elected to your legislature overnight.  And all of these are much easier than creating and running a business.

However, if you stick with your business education, continue to develop and work your plan day in and day out, when it’s easy and when it’s tough, you can make good money with your gift/gift basket business.

It is really possible. I’ve done it.  Others have.  And so can you.

But it’s just not very probable for most that go into business.  It’s not probable for those would rather watch television or play Facebook games than work.  It’s not probable for those who don’t believe in making a plan or say they don’t have the time to do it. It’s not probable for those who tell themselves that there is nothing new to be learned.

The good news is that those people are not your competition.  They will keep buying stuff to build their gift baskets which never sell, while you will buy stuff to further your education and grow your business.