“SOLD!”
New Updated Version!
A simple and potentially very lucrative business which anyone can run
from home.
providing a worthwhile service to local businesses and newcomers to
the area.
“SOLD!”
Introduction 3
Section One : An Outline of The Business Plan 4
Section Two : How To Operate The Business Plan 5
Section Three : Up and Running 7
Section Four : List Of Suggested Businesses 8
Appendix : Sample Marketing Letters 10
INTRODUCTION
Almost every business needs to continually find new customers in order to survive and prosper. There
are very few types of business which can go on year after year servicing the same customer base.
When new owners or tenants move into a house they immediately need the services of a wide range of
local businesses: tradesmen/women to do building and associated work, local nurseries or childminders
for their children, TV and aerial installers, family doctors, dentists, veterinary surgeons,
newspaper/magazine delivery, dry cleaning and laundry services, hairdressers, window cleaners, taxis,
milk delivery, double glazing suppliers, etc, etc, etc.
It is the purpose of this business plan to show you how to profit from helping these local businesses,
trades workers and professional people generate a lot of new business from newcomers to your locality.
The procedure for introducing new clients and customers to your local goods and service providers is
very straightforward. All you have to do is follow the instructions set out in the following business plan.
NB : The advertising circular for this business plan informs you that you can make £25.00 for every
“Sold” sign that you see. This is intended only to show the average amount you should make from each
household. However, for many households you should be able to make considerably more than just
£25.00.
Of course there will be those households from which you will make less than £25.00 and some from
which you will earn no commission at all. Overall though, you should be able to make around £2,000
per month!
Section One: An Outline of The Business Plan
1) Take a walk or drive around your area and when you see a “For Sale” sign, make a note of the
address. Go around the area regularly, i.e. once or twice a week. When the “For Sale” sign is
changed to “Sold”, make a note of this also. Then, as soon as, or very shortly after, the new
occupants have moved in, deliver a letter addressed to “The New Occupants”.
2) This letter from you will, first of all, welcome the new family to the neighbourhood. Then it will go
on to promote local trades and professional people to them. A sample copy of the kind of letter you
will have printed is enclosed with this business plan.
3) Along with your letter you will enclose a set of business cards. These will be from a variety of local
businesses and service providers that you have recruited into your promotional scheme. These cards
could include the offer of discounts for first time customers/clients to encourage the new residents to
make use of the services offered.
4) Ideally each pack of business cards should contain 36 cards, each advertising one of 36 different
products or services. (36 is an excellent number from the point of view of printing, as will be
explained later.
5) Your financial reward comes directly from the business and professional people to whom you are
providing this promotional service. They agree to provide you with a commission for all new
business resulting from your advertising. The rate of commission is up to you to negotiate, but as a
rule of thumb, 5-10% of the value of the business you generate for them is a reasonable rate.
6) The business operators will know that the new request for goods or services has come to them via
your advertising because the customer or client will have to present the business card in order to
claim the discount offered.
7) To ensure that you receive all commissions you are entitled to via this scheme you can do regular
checks with the new residents by dropping them a short questionnaire, with a reply paid envelope
addressed to you included. You will find that the vast majority of business people will happily pay
you the commissions due in order that they will continue to receive new business, and consequently
more profit, via your service.
Section Two: How to Operate The Business Plan
Here is how to set up and operate this most simple and potentially very lucrative business:
1) Firstly you will have to set up a credible business image. To do this you will have to have some
letterheads and business cards designed and printed. You could also have reply envelopes printed
with your name and address.
2) You can use either a company name or you can trade under your own name, whichever you choose
you should open a separate bank account for your business to enable you to easily keep your
business financial dealings separate from those of a personal nature.
3) Whether you trade under your own name or under a business name of your choosing, you should
incorporate wording such as “Marketing Agent” or “Advertising Services” into your business
stationery.
4) Use either your home address or, if you wish to avoid callers to your home, or are in rented
accommodation where you are prohibited from running a business, you could rent a mailing address
or open a post office box.
5) Once you have had your business letterheads printed you should write to all the local businesses in
your area to introduce yourself and your service. Emphasise the fact that you are offering a service
which will cost them nothing until they have received new business from it. Because your advertising
will cost them nothing if it is not successful, they cannot lose, so you should find a high percentage
of businesses which will take advantage of it.
6) Once you have collected a range of local businesses willing to use your service you will need to put
together your advertising package. This will consist of a letter of introduction, see example enclosed
on page 12, and the cards (incorporating discount offers) of the participating businesses. A few
examples of how cards could look are printed on page 13.
7) Some businesses will be able to supply you with ready printed cards. Although, because you want
the cards to include the discount offer, which will allow the business to know that you will be due
commission, you will have to have most of the cards printed yourself.
8) Once you have received a response from a business, you will need to meet the owner/manager in
person to discuss the discount they are prepared to offer, and to discuss the design of the cards you
will distribute to promote their offer(s).
9) You can have a total of as many as 18 cards printed onto one A4 sheet. You could then have these
cut into individual cards, or simply have them printed with a dotted line around each one to allow
recipients to cut the cards out with scissors. Two full cards will cover a total of 36 businesses, each
with their own special offer. Each advertising package which you place through the doors of recently
sold houses should cost you no more than 30-40 pence, including the envelope.
Section Three: Up and Running
Once you have established contact with local businesses and arranged for them to employ your services
you have the cards printed and deliver them to newly sold houses throughout your chosen area.
If you are advertising as many as 36 services many new householders will want to make use of at least
three or four of them. Your commissions will vary considerably from as little as a couple of pounds for
the likes of a pizza order, to as much as several hundred for building work.
In occasional cases, like introducing a builder to add an extension to a house, could even net you over a
thousand pounds at one time!
Because the patients of most family doctors are national health patients, you may not want to include
doctors’ addresses with your cards. However, you might find some of them willing to offer you a small
commission for introducing new patients, because although the national health patient doesn’t pay the
doctor, the doctor is still paid by the NHS for each patient he or she sees.
If you have the use of a small van you might consider a service to clear gardens and garages, or even
disposing of the numerous empty boxes used by the new owner whilst moving into the new house.
Section Four: A List of Suggested Businesses
The following list is intended as a guide only. There are many other types of business you could add.
1) Building and construction business: builders, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, gasfitters, plasterers,
painter/decorators, roofing contractors, glaziers, double glazing contractors.
2) Landscape gardeners, gardeners and general odd-job people.
3) Child minders and nurseries. Youth clubs and kids activity centres.
4) Dentists. Veterinary surgeons. Doctors. Chiropodists. Chiropracters/Osteopaths. Therapists.
Herbalists. Homeopaths. Masseurs/Masseuses. Aromatherapy practitioners.
5) Lawyers. Accountants. Bookkeepers.
6) All shops.
7) Restaurants/carry out food outlets.
8) Television/Video/Audio/Radio repairs. Aerial erectors.
9) Hairdressers and barber shops.
10) Window cleaners. Carpet/upholstery cleaners.
11) Laundry/dry cleaning services.
12) Taxis and minicabs. Private car hire.
13) Milk delivery services.
14) Upholsterers. Carpet fitters. Curtain makers. Dressmakers.
15) Caterers. Party/event organisers.
The foregoing list should give you some ideas and hopefully some inspiration. However, the different
type of local businesses which you could usefully offer your promotional services to is almost limitless.
The Yellow Pages or Thomson Local Directory are good for ideas and addresses.
The following appendix shows examples of letters to send to prospective businesses and to deliver to
new residents.
Also shown are some suggested designs of the type of cards you would use.
APPENDIX - Letters and Cards
Page 11: Example of letter you would send to businesses:
Page 12: Example of letter you would distribute to new residents
Page 13: Examples of cards you would include in your promotional pack
Your Name/Company Name Advertising Services
Your Address and Telephone number/Fax number
PUBLICITY FOR YOUR BUSINESS
You Pay Only A Small Percentage
WHEN You Get New Business From Our Promotional Drive
No New Business = No Cost To You WHATSOEVER
Business Name and Address
(optional - but looks more professional)
Handy to have a computer
mailmerge facility here
Date As Postmarked
Dear Sir/Madam
Our local promotional services can attract new customers to your business.
Initially our service to you is completely FREE of charge. You pay only a small percentage of the value
of any new business we bring you.
We deliver promotional packs to all recently sold properties in the ***** area. These packs contain
advertising cards from a variety of local businesses.
We would like to include your card in our packs - FREE of charge.
As you can appreciate, your business stands to gain increased income from our promotions.
It will cost you absolutely nothing until you have received payment from your customer for any new
business we introduce to your company.
Please feel free to contact me at your convenience. If I have not heard from you within the next week or
so I’ll give you a call.
Yours faithfully
Your Name
Your Name/Company Name Advertising Services
Your Address and Telephone number/Fax number
Date (optional)
Dear Sir/Madam
Welcome to your new home and to the neighbourhood.
Moving into a new home and a new area will mean that you are unfamiliar with local services and
businesses.
Enclosed herewith is a selection of cards from local tradespeople, businesses, retailers, professionals,
etc.
All of these local providers of goods and services are prepared to offer you an introductory discount by
way of welcoming you into our community.
Details of the discounts offered are shown on each card.
We wish you every happiness in your new home.
Yours faithfully
Your Name

You may wish to type up a directory of local useful phone numbers and
addresses. These would include the local police station, hospital, taxis,
emergency plumber, glazier, etc. This would be an additional free service for
the new residents, and could add a little kudos to the whole operation.