Hire a forwarder to forward your stock. They will "gao tim" everything for you (from paperwork to logistics). The only thing is the fees that they charge.

I will frequently go and buy.

Thanks for the quick reply Masta,
Hire Malaysian forwarder or China there? I buying bulk cloths online with china manufacturer but the shipping is quick expensive. Wondering how is the custom thingy.

Used to hire a local agent to forward my dried seaweeds from sabah to china and forward some building materials from china to sabah.

I just pay them the fees and they settle everything for me. No headache.

me and my wife is starting off a small apparel shop in sg. wang. some of my friends says im dumb as there's too many similar shops already and i either sink or just break even without any profits.

we are planning to get supplies direct from china. actually my wife is now in China herself to get the stock here.

anyone knows how to hire a good forwarder that can export our cloth supplies from guangdong to KL without any hassle?

Yes, I need this information as well, was doing online shop as part time and nowadays stop already. think of start it back and get stock directly from China.
Maybe you can supply your cloths for me in best price? xD

Hi Guys....is nice to see all the new and future entrepreneur over here...

I started buynow.com.my since 1999 with RM5k capital.....me and my wife at the age of 29

today we are doing 4-5 mil a year revenue.....

I made money and i lose money.....thus, i think the following are what i THINK are important...and hope it help!
**again, very personal experince...you extract what good for you and your business.

1. invest into you - reading and keep learning
why some co made money, another loss money? all the same nature of business, same roll in that location.
This is a lot to do which what you know, how you do it and who you know.

2. Capital
Most people start business thinking about the capital....but if you don't have experience, and you took 200k to start something....likely you will lose it. Then you will start blaming into some others factor. (e.g. economic, business environment, your partner, your staff etc) last blame on yourself.

Let start small...said anything below 20k, and you can made 3k a month.....i consider that good return, then you can scale up to 40k or 80k...but the keys are....profit all the way....

**i start my business with 5k and made 3-5k a month....and we growth...then i manage to raise 1 mil from banks.....and i losse money....strange right!!!

3. Business philosophy - if you are not making money.....likely you have a wrong philosophy

focus -
instead of too many different business, too many locaton, too many people and problem, why not 1-2 location, 1 business but double the profit?

Activity level -
Most small business owner think they want to grow big....real big. Then we put in a lot of effort and money and try new things, people, concepts....and losses money.

Let think differently, ask your self this question:
1. Owner - you are responsible to double or triple your current income / profit.....how to you do it?

2. staff - they are to support you, your activities.....not sales and profit.....(or maybe partial, especially less than 10 people company)


more info on future update:
diy@computerrepairdiy.com

CAN I "LIKE" YOUR REPLY??? THAT IS SO AWESOME

Glad that you like the sharing....

here is another one:

We do not need to own the network, but we should able to access the network.....

banks - average banks own 300-800k credit card members
bonus link - 2 mil or more
buysell.com.my - mil
mudah - mil
lowyat.net - mil

they are too big you think...okok, not so huge business....

kopitiam next door - daily 30-80 people
car wash opposite - wash 30 cars a day
car workshop serving yuo - easily got 100-200 regular customer....


So what you need to do......
1. design a value proposition that "trill" - mean you your self see the offer also will said..."wah"
2. Tell your network - Hi bro, i have this wonderful products / services that off market 40%/50%/90% what ever you think are good, ask them to help offer to their customer (with or without referral fees - upto you again**)

** if your products are hair cut for example, normal salon with wash maybe RM30....you offer them RM15 (50% off) but you also give the RM15 to your network partner (he collect the money and give them a cash coupon)....so the network partner can decide to made RM15 or even give the whole coupon for free.....so you loss money RIGHT???


The key ....back end profit. Let said you got 100 customer try your 'wonderful" skill.....and 50 people love it....and come back next month....walah, you just got RM30 x 50 = RM1500 new profit....without spending advertising cost..


with love

Joshua

wahlau, last time use to go and buy refurbish laptop from ur shop...buynow..

This post has been edited by tuo850: Apr 18 2011, 07:38 PM

I found that there are still have a lot nice guy in this world!!
you all are awasome! I read this thread from the 1st post till here. My brain keep on turning only..
Well, I am still a employee..Try to do more saving and start a small small business
* I like youy 2nd post anyway! haha..

1. Online Cellphone Business
Capital : None
- PC with internet access
- Transport
Partner : None
Location : At home
Income : Each unit can earn from RM10 to RM2xx. Income depend on how many units you can sell.
Workers : Myself
Duration : Around one year and stop selling cause no time to take care
Opinion : Sell at dealer price at the beginning to make my name well known and to gain trust because I don't put a single cent into this business. My rule is to have buyer bank in full amount in order to get the phone. I guess this is the main reason why this business is slow but at least no single cent needed. Good for people who always face the PC. Extra income. Nothing to lose. You will have to deal with people who always ask for price but never buy.

2. Pet Business
Capital : RM 1k+
- Cage RM 1xx
- Dog food & accessories RM 1xx
Partner : 1
Location : At home
Income : Each puppy earn RM 200 ~ RM 500
Workers : Myself & with family's help
Duration : Around a year. No time to manage.
Opinion : Easy money. Fast selling cause selling cheap. Always lack of puppies cause only know few suppliers. Puppy make noise in the middle of the night.

3. Pasar Malam Accessories & Clothing Stall
Capital : Around RM 3k
- RM 1k for all the needed stands, umbrella, battery, lights, etc
- Remaining for stocks. Re-stock every week
Partner : 1
Location : Any pasar malam that has spot for you to rent
Income : From RM 50 (lowest) to RM 1k+ (highest when near CNY)
Workers : Me and the partner
Duration : Around half year. Sold off everything and quit cause no time to take care
Opinion : Pasar Malam business is a great start for people with less capital. The rent is just ranging from RM20~RM50 per day. There's always profit if you manage to sell above RM 50 and there's always customers walking in front of you. The downside is you have to go early (3pm freaking hot) if the spot you rent is in the middle of pasar otherwise car can't go in after other stalls already set-up. No business when raining.

4. Stationery & Printing Shop
Capital : Not sure. Rough figure listed :-
- Renovation, Racks, Aircon - RM 60k+
- Photocopy, Lamination & Binding Machines - RM 20k+
- Shop utilities & deposit - RM 7k+
- Stocks - More than RM 100k
Partner : 1
Location : Nearby schools, kindergarten & office
Workers : Family Business
Income : RM 20k ~ RM 40k per month
Duration : Eight years and still running
Opinion : Easy to manage. November and December less profit due to school holiday. Long working hour (12hours a day. 360days a year). Need full range of stationery (cost a lot).

This post has been edited by Amedion: Apr 19 2011, 02:59 PM

Can I roughly know how much I need to spend for machinery if I want to open a dobi?
2 washer?
1 dryer?
1 dry cleaner?

Can i know how i can get supplier for IT gadget or photography things? I wish to do online selling but don know where to find the contact number of supplier.

Just talk to any retailer / whole seller and tell them your intention...after 2-3 supplier, you know who can support you on pricing and supply.....

I start small and these are my dobi equipment:

1 washer
1 dryer
1 ironing system
0 dry cleaner

However, I reserved some space for future ecxpansion, which will consist these equipments:

2 washers
2 dryer
2 ironing system
1 dry cleaner.

currently, I spend about 20 000 RM for equipments.

Im going to open small business, and looking easy & cheap accounting system. Any recommendation?

Try Mind Your Own Business (MYOB).

Hi All sifu here..

I was silently followed this thread a few months back..
Now only i have a guts to post here..

Currently helping my father on a family business..
Suppplying keropok lekor..

I in a process to bring it up into next level.
What i want to do, i want to apply for Halal certificate..
From my reading, i found that to apply for it, it need 3rd party (or maybe a consultant firm) to do that for you?

Is it correct?

Btw guys, any idea on how i want to 'upgrade' the business?
Is it need for me to set-up a website for it?

I'm still trying to figure out how can keropok lekor be non-halal......unless you use pork oil on it

What are you trying to achieve by setting up a website? Create awareness? Online selling? Educating the public? Whatever it is, a website alone means nothing if you cannot attract people to visit/use your website. Even if you managed to pull traffic to your website, will those people help to attain what you're trying to achieve with your website?

Instead of a website, have you thought of creating a seller/supplier account in websites such as mudah.com or alibaba.com? Or even a thread in the Service Noticeboard or Food Mart section? At least those are platforms whereby there are people looking for suppliers.

^^ That's why I say most Malays are ignorant. Also reason they vote for certain political party (won't say which one )

p/s: I'm half malay.