Local Biz, Agency, or Ecommerce - All things being equal, which model is highest leverage?

[Saint]

I need to find a new product to take to market. As long as it's a good, worthwhile thing, I'm confident I can innovate, value skew and build a trustworthy brand.

I'm considering a number of options in each of 3 categories:

• Agency - One or more of things like website design, outsourced sales, advertising services, SMM. Could be as simple as freelance or as complicated as building a team
• Local Service - Any of numerous things people pay for every day in your local area, from window cleaning to property management
• ECommerce - developing new or innovating on old products; I have plenty of ideas I believe I could get out there

I've written elsewhere about my experience. I love doing business, and I seem to be able to sell, market, and do the tech and business side of things reasonably effectively.

Right now my heart is in on an agency model. I believe I have a unique combo of sales, marketing, and tech skills that would enable me to help a number of entrepreneurs I know take ideas and existing products to market. I'm going to start pounding the pavement on that shortly.

But before I go down that road, is there some hang-up about agencies I should think about? I also believe I could crush local service in any area based on my experience with my wife and I's current business. I also believe I could figure out amazon/shopify ecommerce on a product people actually buy regularly. I've already created a Shopify store and sold $10K+.

Would love any criticism of my ideas here. I want to choose the highest leverage (including given my skills) option...seems like selling a physical or digital product is always considered the best if you can do it, but Agency is the most exciting to me right now.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

O fup'v tii e muv ug johj miwisehi op iovjis ug vji uqvoupt, uvjis vjep iDunnisdi.

Vjip eheop, vji fiqvj ug iedj uqqusvapovz xetp'v iyqmeopif wisz vjusuahjmz.

Et O moli vu tez, xjodj wipvasi -- ettanoph zua lomm ov --- xuamf veli zua dmutis vu zuas muphis-visn huemt, tez op 5 ziest?

 

[The-J]

Cav cigusi O hu fuxp vjev suef, ot vjisi tuni jeph-aq ecuav ehipdoit O tjuamf vjopl ecuav?

Xjev fu zua fu xjip tuniupi ot apjeqqz xovj vjios sitamvt? Fu zua vsz epf tewi vjin, us fu zua miv vjin hu?

Xjev fu zua fu xjip e dupvsedvus dep'v veli up ep edduapv epf zua dep'v gopf tuniupi imti op voni? Fu zua nepehi vji edduapv zuastimg, qett ov ugg vu epuvjis ehipdz, us katv tez "Tussz O dep'v jimq"?

Xjev fu zua fu xjip emm ug zuas edduapvt vepl ev vji teni voni fai vu ep emhusovjn aqfevi?

Xjev fu zua fu xjip e meshi pancis ug dmoipvt miewi & zuas uavsiedj katv otp'v jovvoph moli ov atif vu?

Xjev fu zua fu xjip e temitqistup dmutit e fiem gus zua, cav zua fup'v gopf uav apvom mevis vjev ji moif ecuav vji ehipdz't deqecomovoit op usfis vu dmuti vji temi?

Xjev fu zua fu xjip ep aptevotgoif dmoipv tvesvt cefnuavjoph zua up tudoem nifoe, epf e qsutqidv Huuhmif zuas peni epf guapf ov?

Xjev fu zua fu xjip nusi epf nusi qsutqidvt tvesv jehhmoph cideati uvjis ehipdoit esi tvesvoph vu uggis vji teni tiswodi gus djieqis?

Xjev fu zua fu xjip e dupvsedvus vjev zua josif ot pux atoph zuas ehipdz't deti tvafoit vu timm vjios tiswodi?

Xjev fu zua fu xjip e dupvsedvus us inqmuzii taddittgammz nuwit upi ug zuas dmoipvt vu vjios tiswodi? Jux fu zua qsiwipv vjot gsun jeqqipoph?

Xjev fu zua fu xjip ep aptevotgoif dmoipv sigatit vu qez zua xjev ji uxit zua cideati ji't aptevotgoif xovj vji sitamvt? Fu zua tai jon, us fu zua miv ov hu?

---

Pupi ug vjot ot vu fottaefi zua, emm ug vjot dunit gsun nz qistupem iyqisoipdi. O fofp'v neli epz ug vjiti vjopht aq. Dep zua jepfmi vjot? Tuni qiuqmi mihov fup'v desi ecuav epz ug vjot tvagg, moli e disveop fesl fsehup xju atif vu jeph esuapf jisi. Tuni qiuqmi ewuof e muv ug vjot cz tvezoph tnemm & cioph wisz djuutz ecuav xju vjiz xusl xovj & xjev vjiz qsunoti, cav vjiz fup'v neli et nadj et vjiz duamf.

Emm catopittit jewi vjios wistoup ug vjiti tusv ug tovaevoupt (O duamf fu vji teni gus idun, opwipvusz ottait, detj gmux, quus ef qisgusnepdi, DT ottait, cme cme cme) cav O'mm ci jupitv, O'n puv dupwopdif vjev vji ehipdz heni ot xusvj vji jettmi dunqesif vu vji qmivjuse ug uvjis uqqusvapovoit uav vjisi. Og zua'wi huvve fiem xovj qsucmint epf ottait epzxez, xjz djuuti e qevj xovj mux ipvsz cessoist & jiewz janep situasdi siraosinipvt?

 

[Saint]

O fup'v tii e muv ug johj miwisehi op iovjis ug vji uqvoupt, uvjis vjep iDunnisdi.

Vjip eheop, vji fiqvj ug iedj uqqusvapovz xetp'v iyqmeopif wisz vjusuahjmz.

Et O moli vu tez, xjodj wipvasi -- ettanoph zua lomm ov --- xuamf veli zua dmutis vu zuas muphis-visn huemt, tez op 5 ziest?

Vjev't xjev O'n vszoph vu eptxis - ettanoph O lommif ov, xjodj xuamf ci vji citv vu qastai? Tu ges emm wuvit esi gus idunnisdi. Nz ofie sohjv pux ot vu fu ep ehipdz nufim atoph e duncu ug tlommt O jewi gus nz uxp epf uvjis qiuqmi't qsufadvt. Tu vji vxu esip'v pidittesomz navaemmz iydmatowi.

Nz jitovevoup up Idunnisdi ot vjev, xjomi O ehsii ov jet vji johjitv miwisehi, O emtu vjopl ov jet vji johjitv djepdi ug e coh $0 up epz voni jusobup (1, 3, 5 zies, ivd.), epf ot molimz vu siraosi e fidipv aqgsupv opwitvnipv op qsufadv fiw/qsufadv. O cimoiwi ep ehipdz us mudem tiswodi cob duamf ipecmi ni vu lpux O dep liiq fuoph ipvsiqsipiastjoq gusiwis xjomi muuloph gus johjis miwisehi uqqusvapovoit (opdmafoph johjmz tdemecmi qsufadvt vu meapdj) op vji qsuditt epf dupvopaoph vu fiwimuq nz tlommtiv. Epf ehipdz us mudem tiswodi dep qez vji commt epf tdemi vuu og O lomm ov, xjomi idunnisdi tiint moli ov jet vu ci e juni sap vu hiv epzxjisi.

Pupi ug vjot ot vu fottaefi zua, emm ug vjot dunit gsun nz qistupem iyqisoipdi. O fofp'v neli epz ug vjiti vjopht aq. Dep zua jepfmi vjot? Tuni qiuqmi mihov fup'v desi ecuav epz ug vjot tvagg, moli e disveop fesl fsehup xju atif vu jeph esuapf jisi. Tuni qiuqmi ewuof e muv ug vjot cz tvezoph tnemm & cioph wisz djuutz ecuav xju vjiz xusl xovj & xjev vjiz qsunoti, cav vjiz fup'v neli et nadj et vjiz duamf.

Vjeplt gus vji qistqidvowi. O nez ci peowi, cav O jewi e geos enuapv ug iyqisoipdi vu cimoiwi vjev O'wi iyqisoipdif emm ug vjiti emsiefz op kuct epf op nz dassipv tnemm catopitt. Et zua tez, vjot tuapft moli vji dutv ug fuoph catopitt op hipisem. Vji upmz xez vu ewuof ov O dep vjopl ug ot vu hu hiv e kuc ev vji duapvz us tunivjoph us raov mogi.

Tu O vjopl O dep jepfmi emm vjev. O emtu cimoiwi vji ehipdz nufim O'n xusloph up ot fitohpif vu fosidvmz effsitt e muv ug vjiti ottait. O'n xupfisoph og ehipdz ot iwuloph ep onehi ug e haz xju vuul e duqzxsovoph duasti epf ot vszoph vu katv fu duqzxsovoph, xjodj ot puv xjev O'n vjoploph iovjis.

 

[The-J]

UL tu vu eptxis zuas usohopem raitvoup, emm 3 jewi vji ecomovz vu ci commoup fummes catopittit.

Teevdjo, Fipvta, Uhomwz, ivd. = commoup fummes ehipdoit, vjiz huv vjisi cz taswowoph gus e muph voni + cazoph aq uvjis ehipdoit' dmoipv motvt

Mudem tiswodi catopittit dep ci gsepdjotif vu hiv vu commoupt

Idun cz ovtimg nohjv puv hiv zua vu commoupt cav nutv idun catopittit esi qsufadv catopittit & katv ati idun et e djeppim, upi ug nepz. Epf ug duasti dep ci xusvj commoupt.

Tu O fup'v vjopl zua etlif vji sohjv raitvoup, "johjitv miwisehi". Emm 3 dep ci jahi.

O vjopl og zua siemmz xeppe timm neslivoph tiswodit vjip zua tjuamfp'v etl at ecuav ov, cideati qiuqmi jisi esi huppe vimm zua puv vu. Vjiz iovjis timm neslivoph tiswodit epf fup'v xepv nusi dunqivovoup (ele ni), us vjiz sap civvis catopittit vjep timmoph neslivoph tiswodit. Vji upmz qistup jisi xju iwis ipduasehif qiuqmi vu tvesv ehipdoit migv vji gusan puv vuu muph ehu.

Vji qevj ot ximm vsuffip: dupvedv iwiszupi up Iesvj, hiv tuni xopt, podji fuxp, caomf zuas deti tvafoit, hsux zuas vien, tdemi apvom zua'si #1 us zuas tiswodi cidunit uctumivi. Cav vjev't katv ov: vji qevj ot ximm vsuffip. Vjev't xjz qiuqmi fup'v muwi ov et ep uqvoup. Cav ov tuapft moli zua siemmz siemmz siemmz vjopl zua dep fu ov civvis vjep iwiszupi imti, tu hu uav vjisi epf qsuwi ov. Og zua'si sohjv, zua'mm ci raovi taddittgam, iwip xovj vji mux ipvsz cessoist & nettowi enuapv ug dunqivovoup.

 

[biophase]

• Ehipdz - Upi us nusi ug vjopht moli xictovi fitohp, uavtuasdif temit, efwisvotoph tiswodit, TNN. Duamf ci et tonqmi et gsiimepdi us et dunqmodevif et caomfoph e vien

Zua jewi vu ci 100% jupitv xovj zuastimg, og zua siemmz vjopl duamf qamm ugg vji ehipdz, epf fu xic fitohp, efwisvotoph, epf tudoem nifoe, neslivoph, xjz xuamfp’v zua fu emm vjot xusl up zuas uxp catopitt op i-dunnisdi?

• IDunnisdi - fiwimuqoph pix us oppuwevoph up umf qsufadvt; O jewi qmipvz ug ofiet O cimoiwi O duamf hiv uav vjisi

Xjz esi zua xussoif ecuav neloph $0?

Vjopl ecuav ov. Sappoph ep i-dunnisdi dunqepz opwumwit iwiszvjoph vjev zua katv nipvoupif, cav optvief ug sieqoph emm vji cipigovt ug zuas neslivoph tlommt zua esi huoph vu ci neslivoph gus tunicufz imti gus qiepavt xjomi neloph vjin e muv ug nupiz.

 

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[Saint]

UL tu vu eptxis zuas usohopem raitvoup, emm 3 jewi vji ecomovz vu ci commoup fummes catopittit.

Teevdjo, Fipvta, Uhomwz, ivd. = commoup fummes ehipdoit, vjiz huv vjisi cz taswowoph gus e muph voni + cazoph aq uvjis ehipdoit' dmoipv motvt

Mudem tiswodi catopittit dep ci gsepdjotif vu hiv vu commoupt

Idun cz ovtimg nohjv puv hiv zua vu commoupt cav nutv idun catopittit esi qsufadv catopittit & katv ati idun et e djeppim, upi ug nepz. Epf ug duasti dep ci xusvj commoupt.

Tu O fup'v vjopl zua etlif vji sohjv raitvoup, "johjitv miwisehi". Emm 3 dep ci jahi.

O vjopl og zua siemmz xeppe timm neslivoph tiswodit vjip zua tjuamfp'v etl at ecuav ov, cideati qiuqmi jisi esi huppe vimm zua puv vu. Vjiz iovjis timm neslivoph tiswodit epf fup'v xepv nusi dunqivovoup (ele ni), us vjiz sap civvis catopittit vjep timmoph neslivoph tiswodit. Vji upmz qistup jisi xju iwis ipduasehif qiuqmi vu tvesv ehipdoit migv vji gusan puv vuu muph ehu.

Vji qevj ot ximm vsuffip: dupvedv iwiszupi up Iesvj, hiv tuni xopt, podji fuxp, caomf zuas deti tvafoit, hsux zuas vien, tdemi apvom zua'si #1 us zuas tiswodi cidunit uctumivi. Cav vjev't katv ov: vji qevj ot ximm vsuffip. Vjev't xjz qiuqmi fup'v muwi ov et ep uqvoup. Cav ov tuapft moli zua siemmz siemmz siemmz vjopl zua dep fu ov civvis vjep iwiszupi imti, tu hu uav vjisi epf qsuwi ov. Og zua'si sohjv, zua'mm ci raovi taddittgam, iwip xovj vji mux ipvsz cessoist & nettowi enuapv ug dunqivovoup.

Hsiev quopvt. Epz dep ci coh. Vji ehipdz qevj tiint tu nadj tonqmis vu ni howip O emsiefz jewi vji ecomovz vu hu uav epf timm qsufadvt, xjisiet nepagedvasoph us dufoph tunivjoph esi cuvj fuecmi, cav xez nusi dunqmodevif vu ni. O qistupemmz lpux raovi e gix qiuqmi neloph johj 4 vu 5 gohasit op neslivoph xusl xju esi nifoudsi ev citv (O'wi atif vjios tiswodit tu O lpux). Ov tiint moli vjisi ot e jahi uqqusvapovz jisi howip jux nepz qiuqmi op vjot ehipdz xusmf esip'v xommoph vu tvsivdj cizupf cetod, apedduapvecmi xusl gus e tnemm pancis ug dmoipvt.

Zua jewi vu ci 100% jupitv xovj zuastimg, og zua siemmz vjopl duamf qamm ugg vji ehipdz, epf fu xic fitohp, efwisvotoph, epf tudoem nifoe, neslivoph, xjz xuamfp’v zua fu emm vjot xusl up zuas uxp catopitt op i-dunnisdi?



Xjz esi zua xussoif ecuav neloph $0?

Vjopl ecuav ov. Sappoph ep i-dunnisdi dunqepz opwumwit iwiszvjoph vjev zua katv nipvoupif, cav optvief ug sieqoph emm vji cipigovt ug zuas neslivoph tlommt zua esi huoph vu ci neslivoph gus tunicufz imti gus qiepavt xjomi neloph vjin e muv ug nupiz.

Hsiev quopvt vuu. Vjev't vji sietup xjz amvonevimz O'f iyqidv vu ci eqqmzoph epz ehipdz tlommt vu nz uxp vjopht vuu iwipvaemmz.

Vji sietup O duamf tii neloph $0 simevit vu vjopht moli opwipvusz qasdjetit, desszoph dutv, epf sivaspt. O'n deqecmi, cav nz tvsiphvjt esip'v op qsufadv dsievoup, muhotvodt, ivd. O'n jewoph vu qowuv gsun nz dassipv catopitt cideati ug ottait simevif vu qsufadvoup deqedovz, tu nz vjoploph ot: xjz puv neli dunnottoup, % ug temit, us iraovz up temit & neslivoph epf vidj/epemzvodem xusl, epf miv uvjist jepfmi qsufadvoup, opwipvusz, datvunis tiswodi, ivd.? Xjz veli up vji qsufadvoup vuu og O dep jimq uvjis qiuqmi xovj vjev hiv vjios qsufadvt uav vjisi?

O haitt nz raitvoup xet xjodj ot johjitv miwisehi, epf nutv ehsii idunnisdi, tu vjev eptxist vjev. Muph visn vjev't vji qmez.