₦airaland Forum

1k001:
Great post @databoy247

I quoted the bit on email marketing as i'm not yet a believer. Many rave about it but in my little experience, the best open rate i've had is only about 6%. Click rates are even worse. Perhaps I've not put in enough effort or time, may come back to it later on when i build a bigger email list.

I was not a believer also but after studying loads of materials and tutorials, i decided to give it a try and it worked. I most times have as much as 47% open rate and as high as 23% click. You dont need a huge list to achieve this.

Traction. So in all this traction bit is the hardest thing of all, crack this and you're in business. I'm still learning and would love your input as to traction channels that have worked for you.

@ OP, nice post you have here. I had to pick the highlighted above, maybe i could shed some light.

Let me start with an excerpt from Steve Blank "Your startup is essentially an organization built to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. In other words your primary role as an entrepreneur is to ensure that there is a good fit between the product and the market and if there is, you can evidence traction from which you can then confidentially scale your business."

From learning and experience, i believe traction can be measured from your early conversions. Your product or service has hit the market, what is the conversion rate? If there is high demand for your product or service and if this demand is translated into sales, then you have irrefutable evidence that your business has traction. The greater the sales the greater the evidence of traction.

Personally, i was able to achieve this (and still trying to achieve more) by doing something really unconventional. Meaning, it is the norm for every start-up to draw up a business plan and ensure their activities correlates with what is on paper. I did not start with a business plan because the market right now is so unstable in that what worked for you 6 months ago, may not work for you now. I knew what i wanted to do and i just started. The trends, the clients, the environment and even the state of the country's economy dictated the pace and direction of my project.

Just like you, i tried so many methods and always pivoting my system until i started getting leads, and after much more metamorphosing i started getting demands and these demands now translated to sales. I have learned not to do things because i see others doing them. I did not just use attractive website designs and aesthetics but i also applied simple psychology. Questions like: "How do i get more leads?", "How do i communicate to my leads"?, etc filled up my thoughts.

I simply used one of the oldest methods out there: Email Marketing. I could have as well converted my project website into a membership website and "be like others", which i actually thought of. But i put into consideration the following;
- My target market.
My target market will signup into the membership site, BUT i will have problems communicating with them. How will they read my research and all i have to offer? One solution; stick with email marketing.
I did this because this is one strategy that builds trust and rapport. And when those two indicators are present, there will be demand which will inevitably transcribe into sales.

Also, i did this because i realized that my target market and client are categorized into the too-much-busy-schedule class. In order words, they depict the Nigerian corporate niche. They are so busy that they wont even have the time to visit the website, login, and read whatever is in there....wasted efforts. They rather read what ever i send to their email via their phones or whatever device they may be carrying at any given time. So i decided to stick to this method (simple psychology) and it worked.

Now i can measure my level of traction, because i have an increasing demand which keeps giving rise to the sales scale. And this is evidenced by my email activities and statistics reports from my email providers. My point is no matter the value you deliver, if it doesn't generate demand and sales, then you have to keep pivoting your methodology and seek new methods to grow your business which you are doing.

So, to answer your question, in a nutshell, i discarded the idea of a business plan. Not using a business plan, is a plan i am experimenting which seems to work. Another thing i observed was that no matter what you are selling, if there is no trust, it will be difficult. And gaining trust from our angle of operation means building rapport with potential clients and then they will see the real value of what you are putting on the table.

I hope i am able to answer your question, if not then forgive me, cos am still learning sir.

1k001:
Thanks for your post, for taking the time out, very useful advise. I've read your thread on your experiences. Well done!

You made several valid points that i've learnt myself. Wanted to address a few of them to demonstrate how i think long and hard about my strategy.

The reason i got staff on the ground in Nigeria was because i knew i wouldn't be around till later in the year. Their job was actually to go pitch for sales and manage relationships I'd built. As a result of some of their efforts we have a pipeline of potential clients i will be closing in the next few months when i'm back.

Also note that my first Nigerian partner i'd known for over a decade and he had some domain knowledge. Part of the reason for setting up the office was to test if he'd be capable of delivering. Now i know he isn't. Luckily i found out early when it is not so costly.

You're right that people are skeptical of new businesses. I and my co-founders have domain expertise in my field gained from multiple years in Europe, America and Australasia. I make a good living and have a personal and professional reputation to protect, the people i meet recognize that. In my field, freelancing is a BAD sign. I target the people i sell to so when i speak to them they recognize immediately that this guy is an expert at what he's speaking about.

I said something similar to what you've said in previous posts: no business plan survives on entering the market. Things will always be learnt. I'm glad things have turned out the way they have because i've learnt tremendously. I'm a big follower of Steve Blank who tells founders to 'get out of the building'. When i was in Nigeria i lived on the 'streets', met and spoke to people daily. I Continue to do so currently.

An example - i was flying from lagos to abuja and noticed a guy sitting in business class. My product is targeted at middle to upper class people so i kept a close watch on him. Soon as the plane landed i rushed to the front and started a conversation. I got his details and I'm hoping to get him on board as a customer in the future. Note that this is despite the difficulty this kind of encounters pose for an introvert like me. This is what i encouraged my team to do but they weren't so driven as i was i guess.

Our problem is actually not getting customers, that will be relatively easy once we're up and running. We have a pipeline of offline prospects already and have seen individual user growth of >100% week on week via online sources. The real problem for us is delivering the solution as it's not only dependent on software but a lot of offline collaboration and several other factors. Hence why i needed a team i could trust to deliver.

The story of partnerships not working in Nigeria is true but there's no way that can continue. I plan to build a billion dollar business, i can't do it alone so partnerships must work! by force! I'll just have to think of ways to make offers they can't refuse. Also a lot Nigerian businesses aren't creative, that's what i intend to bring, creativity. I've recently just convinced a good niche blogger to do a series of targeted posts that will culminate in a published booklet and a media tour. This should hopefully be good for both of our businesses.

As far as employment goes, I take your point, thing is i'm not looking for a secretary. I'm looking for superstars who are smart and not afraid to break things. I employed because there was work to be done and an enterprising person would have excelled. I just couldn't find any in my short foray into the labour market. If you find one please send them my way, i'm still looking to employ albeit more selectively.

As of today I've had invitations to come launch my startup in 3 different countries, but Nigeria is home and where i want to return to. Mine is a big industry where someone will make a big killing in the next few years in Africa. I hope that person is me. I choose not to reveal myself as my anonymity allows me more freedom to speak as i choose. Also i'm quite a personal and unassuming person so i don't want to come across as bragging or 'oversabi' when i post certain things. I do the branding related posts and efforts on linked in, facebook, twitter etc. For all you know you may have met me before

Thanks again for your advice, very helpful. It's constructive criticism like that i was hoping to hear. Hope to hear more from you.

I appreciate you taking your time to read through my post and i am happy you picked a thing or two.

But i need to still throw more light.....

From your post, i deduced some factors which if you don't address, might still pose as setback blocks.

What you are putting on ground is a start-up! No matter the funds you have on ground you will not want to waste it on recruiting (the wrong person). From my experience, no matter how good and prospect-looking a graduate is, you still have to spend nothing less than six months teaching. If you can handle the time and expenses, then it's all good. Otherwise, you should go for an experienced hire. I know some guys, but i don't think they will come on board cheap. So, if you are ready to pay good, then there are always options.

This is Nigeria, recruiting is always a problem. You see a very bright candidate and by the time you expect the best from him, he ALWAYS disappoints. You just have to get this part right. And one way you can get it right is outsource the recruiting to an agency or a HR professional. But it's either you employ a secretary like i said before (secretaries can be converted to best selling pitchers if you want ) and the truth is that nobody understands a company more than a secretary. That's the way it works here in Nigeria. If you want to get ALL the details of a company, go and ask the secretary. OR you get an experienced hire (and be ready to pay super well and still expect disappointment).

Also, just like you said in your previous posts, partnership should not come on the basis of friendship. I am glad you got this part right. In fact the best partnership is that of when the only glue at the middle of you guys is business. I have run successful partnership with a startup for close to a year now, we are making money, the business is growing and till date we have not seen physically. Currently am also in the process of signing another partnership agreement with another new start-up of which the owner is based somewhere in Europe but wants his start-up to hit home strongly.

I target the people i sell to so when i speak to them they recognize immediately that this guy is an expert at what he's speaking about.

This is good but what happens when you are not there? It shouldn't be about you, it should be about the product. In fact, the product should be able to speak for itself. I have done a presentation for some peeps, i didn't convince them, the presentation did. In short, they were not even ready to listen to me because they were so glued to the presentation. The product should sell itself and not you selling the product. Like i emphasized on my previous post, invest more on online ads. One thing about online ads, is that it makes brands become a household name, and when it becomes a household name, you don't need to pitch for more than 3 minutes before closing a sale.

A good example is OLX. Now am not saying OLX is the best, but EVERYONE here have heard of it, have seen it through various ads. In fact if you open your opera mini on your phone, you will see it, on nairaland you will see it, on Google you will see it, on facebook you will see it, it's everywhere. Now i can bet my beans and roasted plantain that 96% of it's users knows nothing about the owners or people behind it. That is my point, let your product sell itself and this can be achieved via massive online ads. When that is accomplished, you will observe that everything will start falling into place (with proper planning).

What are the incentives for prospective partners? Make una nor mind me, i am a businessman, and one of our traits is dabbling into opportunities at any given space (that's how i got one small contract with Ministry of Education ). I am open to more discussion... nwakstar2020@gmail.com

1k001:
Thanks man. Yes i've made several errors, all part of the learning process. Won't be repeating any of the errors hopefully. Keen to hear what errors you've observed.

I hope am able to hit the points i observed.

What am going to do is to point out your errors based on my little knowledge and personal experience. I really dont know what product you are selling, but so far you are not making it interesting by not mentioning your product which i believe you are doing on purpose. You have done all necessary legal registration so i believe you should try to announce your stuff on every single avenue you come across (including here).

Your mistakes;
1. I dont seem to remember vividly, so let me assume you reside in the US. Methods of company launch and start-up processes differs between countries. The way it's done in the US and other 1st class countries has a pattern, while the way it's done in Nigeria is another ball game all together. Here, if you take one year or 8 months to plan a start-up and when you think you are all set, by the time you finally launch, everything will not go as planned and you will start wondering "What's going on?". Why am i saying this? Read my story, maybe you will understand why.

After school, i worked with a contracting firm for 3 years+ and started getting the urge to resign and start my own thing. Already, i was developing interests in the tech world. First thing i did, was to learn something. So i learned how to setup websites (with quack html codes....lol), which finally gave me the conviction to resign with the mindset that i wont go hungry. But alas i was wrong. I entered the world of freelancing, though i so badly wanted to start my own company, BUT i started with freelancing. It was tough getting jobs, but i persisted and after two years, i had a client base and was ready to launch my own company or rather go professional (getting incorporated and getting documented). Now my small tech start-up relies on my existing clients base AND referrals.

Let me buttress why i am giving this example: You are starting a company (GOOD), you have a product (GOOD), you have some level of knowledge (GOOD), you have some finance (GOOD), you have done all your legal registration (GOOD), but what you have not done is go into the streets...you don't have a reputation!

When it comes to tech business, Nigerians will be quick to label you "scam". This is because they DON'T know you, and a vast majority, even some of the rich DON'T key into tech. They so believe the traditional methods of doing things and for you to introduce your product to them when they don't know you, if you are not careful they will label you "scam".

If you love the tech business, then do some freelancing first. Test the waters, By so doing, you will understand how Nigerians welcome businesses and patronize businesses. DON'T base your feasibility study on surveys......because it may work well with the civilized world, but it WONT work with Nigerians. Do some freelancing, meet some people, build trust and when you finally decide to launch a product, the trust you have built amongst your existing client base will help you launch the product successfully.

For example, if you come to my office with your product and i have not heard about you before, or no one can vouch for you or recommend you, i will become skeptical...I am a Nigerian and that is how true Nigerians react.

My advice, don't be in a hurry, go into the streets, do some freelancing, gain some trust, understand the system (and the best way to do that is on the streets) and when you have covered some ground, you can launch your product.

Second mistake:
In Nigeria, partnership thing don't work like other countries. The reason is because it is extremely difficult to find someone who will have the kind of passion you possess for your company. If you have an idea and you finally develop it into a product, test drive it yourself. Push it into the market yourself, get stressed out trying to sell your product yourself, and when you have gained some footing, look for helping hands. The idea of getting partner(s) in Nigeria from the onset was a bad idea.

Third Mistake:
You decided to employ too fast. This is Nigeria, 97% of graduates did not graduate as a result of what the know, but how much money they have. So to get a staff to really do what you want after seeing his/her certificates is really a no no. What to do? get a secretary instead (male or female) and with time, the person will learn the trade and perform excellently more than so called graduates.

Fourth Mistake:
Since, it is a software (from what i understand), you should have focused on launching it on the web (ONLY). Let the website be very creative and attractive so it will become both the office and do the magic. Invest more on ads, let it be seen everywhere. Even if you are not making profits, at least your brand is spreading everywhere. So by the time you decide to get physical (get an office and start doing some offline pitching), it will no longer be "who are you?". It will be "i have seen this online somewhere, are you really the owner WOW...please tell me more".

Another example, when Seun started this nairaland, it was strictly web based. He built a reputation, he spread the brand and now he has a physical office with staff and landing deals with big companies like GTBank, First Bank, etc.

I dont know what your product is and i believe no one here knows... i wonder why keeping it a secret. Reps from big companies do come here and might just key into your stuff and you might just land yourself a huge deal (Maybe this is another mistake on your path). But your vision is great and i love it, just go back to the drawing board and you will buy me a bottle of beer.

Research my username here and you will kinda know me more...

1k001:
More Setbacks, some positives, looking for staff

The last few weeks has brought with it more twists. In January we started with a team of 3 and an office in Nigeria. As of today we have a team of zero and no office. Basically the team has been shut down thanks to all the disappointment by people. We've also lost quite a bit of cash in the process. I don't understand people. They say things are difficult in Nigeria but yet when they get a golden opportunity they sabotage it. How is it that i'm hungrier for success despite the comfort and success I've already attained while people who haven't gained any success really can't dedicate themselves to providing results.

We have unfortunately incentivized the wrong kind of behaviors in our country. As such people don't know how and don't want to work. This is a disaster trip we're on if we continue like this.

Anyway, the strange thing in all of this is i'm even more excited and determined to become a success. My skin is fully in the game, i've lost personal cash so i'm going all in. Perhaps my determination comes from my strong belief in the need for and potential of what i'm doing. Over the last few weeks, we've seen users grow by an average of over 100% week on week. Also have a few things in the works to improve user acquisition, retention and engagement.

We will likely be recruiting over the next few months so if you know anyone in Lagos or Abuja who is enterprising, self starting and loves learning, send them my way.

Op, i have been a quiet follower of your thread and am quite impressed. However you have made some errors in your journey so far which i must point out maybe when i return from church. Till then keep faith.

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2.Duns and Bradstreet (D&B) Certificate
3.Completed Prospective Business Questionnaire
4.Completed SHE and Safety Data Questionnaire
5.VAT and tax Clearance Certificates

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It enhances the credibility of your business in the marketplace
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Get more tips here http://officemanager.com.ng/how-to-register-as-a-contractor-with-exxonmobil/

scantee:
Hello yes you can go ahead and reactivate it, though your likely to pay back-dated tax from the last time you used it in executing contract till date. weather you have done any job all the while or not is not considered.

Thanks

To add to what @scantee said, if re-activating it is cumbersome, then you can as well register a new company (LLC or Enterprise) and in less than 5 weeks, you are good to go. Otherwise you will spend close to 300k or more for re-activation, depending on when you stopped using it.

ehinome4hushM:
pls I ur advice o.. am planning on setting up an online market place like Konga,Tradestable and co.. pls can any1 give me guidelines on ow to set it up? Tnx

Send me an email. Nwakstar2020@gmail.com

mexxy1:
@databoy, I like the concept of this thread... dissemination of information and sharing of ideas. This is what makes this thread attractive as there's a wealth of knowledge in it and more to come.
If people have to introduce businesses here the aim of this thread will be defeated and some other persons who have ideas to contribute and haven't seen this thread yet, when they eventually do may be reluctant to do so. Introducing businesses here will make this thread lose it's appeal.
There is a thread for introduction of businesses
https://www.nairaland.com/77701/introduce-business#1476183

Noted.

Bertevan:
Is the 50% discount still on?

No sir

Gigalayer is one of the few hosting companies doing it right. Somthing must be wrong. Try to reach Rufai on phone.

awumen:
at mrprofit, exactly how i mine derailing these thread?i have been following this thread all along and am sure several individuals has advertised different kind of services they render, so how is my own in any way different?i beg u ehn face ursef and let me run my show in peace ok.

more of our vehicles.

What's your company website? There are contracts available for provision of operational vehicles (lease or purchase).

IHate9ja1:
.... i shouldnt be saying this,but honestly it has come to a point that i cry when i walk/sit alone,dont know what to do,where to go,whom to turn to help,i ve prayed and fasted and did all i can within my capacity yet it seems God is far from me,i asked myself;when wld it be my turn to testify in the house of God.i ve approached companies yet i wont get past the gatekeepers,all na no vacancy.
....but there is one thing i know,i wont go into any act of crime/evil to survive.i would keep trying my best.

When you are searching for job and its not forth coming, then stop searching and start acting on other things. 5k can start a biz. A friend of mine sold his phone and gold necklace to start a very small biz. He did it like his life dependended on it and today he drives 2014 kia cerato. This was less than 4years ago. I dont like people whining. Do the kind of biz that people will see you and even mock you, those kind of biz pay better.

So sell that phone or gold or whatever and do something with the proceeds.

s part of our Human Resource Development initiatives, NDDC is embarking on a Post-Graduate Foreign Scholarship Programme to equip Niger Deltans with relevant training and skills for effective participation in the Local Content programme of the current Administration as well as compete globally in various professional fields. The Scheme is for suitably qualified applicants with relevant Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree from recognized Universities in the following professional disciplines:

Engineering
Medical Sciences (M.Sc. Public Health excluded)
Computer Science/Technology
Geology
Geosciences
Environmental Sciences
Agriculture
Environmental or Gas/Oil Law
Project Management

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

First Degree with minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division for those wishing to undertake a Master’s Degree programme and a good Master’s Degree for PhD candidates from a recognized University.
Applicants must have gained admission for a Post Graduate Programme in any of the listed disciplines above, in a foreign University.
Applicants who have already enrolled in overseas’ universities are NOT eligible to apply.
Guarantor’s written consent of good conduct of the applicant from any of the following persons from the applicant’s community/clan.
a. Member of National Assembly
b. Chairman of the LGA.
First class traditional ruler.
High Court Judge
Persons with evidence of cult membership or criminal record shall not be considered for the award.
Applicants must have completed the mandatory National Youth Service (NYSC).
Applicants must have a valid Admission Letter from a Foreign University.

MODE OF APPLICATION

Application must be made on-line at the Commission’s website:
( www.nddc.gov.ng) with the following attachments:

Recent passport photograph
Local Government identification letter.
Post Graduate (PG) admission letter from Overseas University.
Relevant Degrees from recognized University.
N.Y.S.C Discharge Certificate
Successfully completed application form will be assigned a registration number automatically.
Print the hard copy of the on-line generated acknowledgement for ease of reference.
All shortlisted applicants will be posted on NDDC website.


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All completed applications must be submitted on or before Friday 13th March, 2015

Otes26:
Databoy could you pls drop your number in my mailbox. Christerbel26@gmail.com. Pls

Sorry for not getting this on time. I have been busy. I have sent you an email, if you dont get it, check your junk folder.

Sometimes when seeking for jobs, most companies would require you to write a letter of introduction to be submitted in their office. How can you write a compelling letter of introduction, which at the same time serves as a mini proposal? A well written and professional letter of introduction is usually divided into 3 sections.

Section 1:
Introduce your company and ensure you state it’s legal status and if possible number of years it has been in operation.

Section 2:
Talk about what kind of services you offer. Her you can list the specific services and projects you can do or have done. Don't tell much stories here, just highlight your points.

Section 3:
Talk about your availability and try to emphasize how your company can deliver if given an opportunity. In this section you are required to build trust in a few lines.

A live sample can be found here;
http://officemanager.com.ng/how-to-write-a-letter-of-introduction/

If you have not signed up for our weekly newsletter which will give you updates, tips, documentation procedures, and contracts opportunities, do so now here http://eepurl.com/51ycX

scantee:
Thank you sir.

@Databoy good kudos for keeping the thread going, i am back to contribute a bit.....

Thanks how is work?

This thread is meant for inspiration, motivation and learning purpose. If i share things that made my earliest business(es) failed, someone who intends to go into that same business might learn a thing or two and avoid pitfalls. Same goes the other way around.

If you are a businessman (or woman), surely this is not your first trial, you must have ventured into something before that actually didn't survive, no matter how big or small. So why not share with us all? What are the things you think you did or did not do that made your earlier business fail?

I will talk about some of my failures in my next post. Meanwhile you are welcome to share yours.

If you have not subscribed to our mailing list, then do so now cos you are missing out. My recent and last mail was practical steps on how to register as a contractor with NNPC either as a limited liability company or as an enterprise. Remember, through us, you get the information first and help you stay ahead in the game. To register, follow this http://eepurl.com/51ycX

There is currently an invitation for contractors to Bid at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Also, there is an Invitation For Bids (IFB) For Procurement Of Goods for Bayelsa State Government. There are even supply jobs (AGOs) for some offshore locations, Facility Rehabilitation, consultancy services for Environmental Impact Assessment in Benue, Ogun and Zamfara states, etc.

I am a small time contractor, and i definitely cant do it all. The little i get is ok for me...for now. Hence, my sharing of information to you. Apart from hustling for contracts, i am a businessman...a consultant to be precise. Dont be suprised why i dont charge you millions for all the information i dish out frequently. Somebody has to help for life to maintain its balance.

Sometime ago i promised to work with existing and up coming contractors on giving out lates tenders, bids, and contract opportunities. But the condition is that you must position yourself to start working. To enjoy this, you must have registered with CAC and all the relevant authorities, and gotten all your complete documentation.

You have to view these new offers and contract opportunities;
http://officemanager.com.ng/new-contract-opportunities-available/

Parigi01:
Thanks for the input.Am yet to get your quote and details?

My quote?

In fact lets talk. nwakstar2020@gmail.com

Parigi01:
I have just done that.
Cheers

No winner yet? OP be advised that you should not solely rely on the lowest bid. Because i know that the lowest bids are usually from peeps who are really good at WP installation. Many do not really know how to tweak themes to suite the original purpose. Installing WP and themes then adding pages and logo is just a tip of the iceberg. You have to really play with some php and html codes, and sometimes this is daunting.

To get the best hands, since you are requesting to see a portfolio (which obviously is wordpress inclined), request also for the link to the original theme used so you see how it looks originally and then compare to what they have done, if its a carbon-copy, then that dude is just an installer but if you see some amount of difference from the original theme, then it was tweaked and that should be your guy.

For example;
Original theme: http://demo.mythemeshop.com/s/?theme=Playbook
Tweaked version: http://boldexquisite.com/

Goodluck.

@op, i guess you have a list now. But i profer that you provide an email addrese to receive detailed quotations. As for these "super developers" applying, i dont see a price quote or portfolio.

Interesting thread. Op, make sure you anounce the bid winner here.

alpharbody:
pls databoy247 , I gave the contract of registering my company to a lawyer since last year November with CAC , but til now he say CAC are updating their system/management so getting availability of name or registration of enterprise is difficult to get . he say that some ppl that have send their own before me have not getting it , pls I want to know if their are persons facing the same problem here ,
any staff of CAC in the house should pls give us update of the problem of registering company with CAC since last year October....

I think he is not being truthful. Why dont you pay a visit to the CAC office?

favourume:
Pls do you have an idea of writing or developing a set of policies and procedures that regulate integrated facility management functions for contracts

Yes i do, but it depends on if you are giving out or sourcing for the contracts. I believe the set of policies for a regulated Integrated Facilities Management will be more of abiding instructions to properties and facilities utility either by direct end users or sub facilities managers under your direct supervision.

So it is a two way thing.

lrguru:
Pls how do I get the tax clearance certificate and the VAT registration certificate?

Thanks

The answer to your question is here:

databoy247:
Tax clearance certificate and VAT can be obtained from any Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office closet to you. Employee compensation and NISTF registration can be done in Abuja in the PENCOM/NISTF offices.

lrguru:
OP, please, how do I get the following documents?

* Current Tax Clearance Certificate
* VAT Registration Certificate
* Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Policies and
Procedures
* Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC) Policies
and Procedures
* Employees' Compensation Certificate or evidence of payment of Employees'
* Liability with Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund
(NSITF)
* Copy of agreement with original equipment
manufacturers/technical partners.

Cos I learnt they are documents required to get contract from NLNG.

And can TIN cover up for tax clearance certificate?


Thanks.

Tax clearance certificate and VAT can be obtained from any Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office closet to you. Employee compensation and NISTF registration can be done in Abuja in the PENCOM/NISTF offices.

TIN is just your Identification number, it can't cover up for tax clearance certificate. Just like in school, having a matric number does not mean you have a degree yet. So go get one.

The other documents can be obtained at www.officemanager.com.ng

Are you one of those who dream of owning your own business? You'll be your own boss, and the captain of your destiny—–maybe even a captain of industry. Is it hard? Without a doubt. Is it challenging? Absolutely. Do you have to be wealthy and well-educated with a lengthy resumé? Not at all! Can you do it? yes!. So how do you do it, and make it work? Plan, plan, plan! There are some tried and true ways head down the path of creating your own business, and there is no time like the present to get started! Here are some great tips that might help you;

Have an idea.
It might be a product you've always wanted to make, or a service you feel people need. It might even be something people don't know they need yet, because it hasn't been invented! It can be helpful—–and fun—–to have people who are bright and creative join you for a casual brainstorming session. Start with a simple question like: "what shall we build?". The idea is not to create a business plan, just to generate some ideas. Many of the ideas will be duds, and there will be quite a few ordinary ones, but a few will emerge that have real potential.

Define your goals.
Do you want financial independence, eventually selling your business to the highest bidder (though not a popular idea here in Nigeria)? Do you want something small and sustainable, that you love doing and want to derive a steady income from? Or do you want to build a corporation with plenty of staff? These are the things that are good to know very early on.

Create a working name.
You could even do this before you have an idea for the business, and if the name is good, you may find it helps you define your business idea. As your plan grows, and things begin to take shape, the perfect name may come to you, but don't let that hinder you in the early phases—–create a name that you can use while you plan, and don't mind changing later. And yes you can make use of this name for a while before going ahead to register it with the CAC. This might be dangerous because you name might be stolen....so do it right!

Define your team.
Will you do this alone, or will you bring in one or two trusted friends to join you? This brings a lot of synergy to the table, as people bounce ideas off each other. Two people together can often create something that is greater than the sum of the two separate parts. Also, don't forget that when choosing the person or people you're going to build the business with, be careful. Even if someone is your best friend, it doesn't mean that you will partner well in a business operation. Start it with a reliable person.

Create a business plan.
A business plan helps to define what you think you need to launch your business, large or small. It summarizes the sense of your business in a single document. It also creates a map for investors, bankers, and other interested parties to use when determining how they can best help you and to help them decide whether or not your business is viable. Click here to get an extensive step by step guide here and even a full blown template.

Check out your competitors.
Know how much are they selling a similar product for. Can you add something to it (add value) to make yours different and hence make it a more enticing price?

Get a website.
If you're selling online, get your e-commerce in gear and either build a website, or have one built for you. It's your storefront, so anything and everything you can do to make people want to visit, and want to stay, do it.

Have interesting, eye-catching business cards printed.

Spend time developing an excellent social media presence.
This can be done well before the business is ready, increasing anticipation. Use Facebook, Google+ and Twitter, and any other social media you participate in to build excitement and spread the word. You want to build a buzz so that people will begin following your progress. (Be sure to choose business accounts for your business and keep your personal accounts separate.

This brief lecture is not for you if you already have an incorporated company. But if you are yet to get one, then consider these points carefully

opeolukoya:
God blesss you databoy been following this. Topic since,i have a Registered Limited company for 3years now I was about goin into computer supplies before some sad incident happened in my life now am back on my feet tho am into importation now but willl want to spread into contract pray we all learn and execute good contract through this thread

Nice one, God will help all of us.

Davidolives:
am in

You'll welcome.

@All, i will soon be shedding some light on how to do a CAC registration online. Yes, it's possible now. Stay tuned.

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