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Ask Jane Applegate
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December 27, 1999: 2:47 p.m. ET
Hiring part-timers on commission and opening your own restaurant
By Jane Applegate
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Here are answers to your questions for CNNfn small-business columnist Jane Applegate:
Dear Jane: I am starting a part-time business that requires me to hire two or three sales people. I would like them to work on 100 percent commission on a part-time basis. How can I find good salespeople?
You don’t say what you are selling, but your challenge is to find people who are interested in or use the product you sell. The best sales people really believe in the value of the product and their enthusiasm boosts your sales.
Place classified ads in local newspapers and on employment-oriented Web sites. Design a flyer to put up on bulletin boards around town. Find places where lots of people congregate -- including supermarkets, churches, community centers and schools. Word-of-mouth also will attract people who are looking for a way to earn extra money.
Be sure you provide adequate training so everyone really understands how the product works and can answer questions in a clear and detailed manner. Once you get a few people working for you, you’ll be able to determine what type of people can best represent your product. Remember to be fair with them and pay them promptly for their sales.
Dear Jane: I would like to find out what I need to start a small restaurant in New Jersey. I have the plans but I don't have any money. I don't know if a bank will lend me the money or not.
Since restaurants have the highest failure rate of almost any small business, it’s unlikely a bank will lend you money to open one right away.
I would suggest going to work in a restaurant for a year or so to learn everything there about the business. Work in every capacity you can, from the hostess who seats people in the front of the house to helping the chef buy supplies for the kitchen.
With some experience, you might attract a private investor who is willing to lend you the money to get started. You should get to know as many people in the restaurant business as you can. This will help you establish a network of valuable contacts.
Finally, the National Restaurant Association has a variety of resources for people interested in opening a restaurant. Check out its Web site: www.restaurant.org; write to: National Restaurant Assn., 1200 17th St., Washington, D.C. 20036; or call (202) 331-5900.
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