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peekaboo · 12-23-2006, 03:07 PM

wow. excellent list of things to consider.
i do not know the answer to most of them.
i have a contract which i am going over now.

* any "franchise" fees?

yes, and this is the main thing holding me back. it's not really a franchise because i'll be using my own name and not the providers'.

* who is the provider? - known? new to the market? new the industry? do they have references (agent and customer)?

the provider is a friend of a friend/partner. claims to be in business since the beginning but i don't know if this is true or not. how can i verify how long a company has been in business?
i will also ask my friend/partner.

* if they are "new" what is the source of their funding? how much? multiple waves or just a one shot infusion?

provider claims not to be new. i don't understand the rest of the question.

* Marketing? do they do any or is it all on you? not just advertising but also collateral - ranging from business cards to technical specs to slick glossies. who pays for all of that?

i can choose to be their agent and then i just try to recruit for them (i don't want that). if i am a private label (which is what i'm considering) then i operate as a separate business and they simply provide the services. all my marketing would be up to me.

* who does the install?

me, but i believe the install is simply plugging the adapter into the internet socket and plugging the phone into the adapter. so it's pretty much a do it yourself kind of thing (unless you're really challenged). that's how it worked my vonage setup.

* who does the support?
i do the basics but if it's communications related then i pass it on to the provider.

* who provides/sources the gear?

i purchase adapters at a certain price from the provider and give/sell/rent them to customers. the price of an adapter is approx. half of it's price for consumers.

* who makes the gear(a known company or some mickey mouse outfit)?

good question.

* what is the gear?

as far as i know it's an adapter that connects your phone to the internet.

* when does the reimbursement occur (for both the account/ongoing service as well as any gear that is purchased by the agent)?

good question

* who owns the renewals, you or them?

me

* do they have their own sales force that you may/will compete against?

they provide service to customers and have other resellers so i will be competing with them (they are in florida and i am in vancouver, canada).

* what happens if you sell to someone on "their" list (commission split? you are SOL?)?

i don't know what that means.

* what is the fee schedule (both amount and payment type - all at once or month to month)?

to me or from customers?

* Is install 1 fee and then an ongoing residual payment or is it all lumped together into the residual?

what do you mean?

* what are the source of leads?

no sources. it's up to me.

* does the provider provide YOU any support (both technical and sales)? if so does that affect the fee schedule?

there is an option to have the provider handle support and i'll have to find out what that entails.

* How many other agents are there? are sales territories clearly defined?

i asked how many resellers he has and he did not want to reveal that information. he has no resellers in british columbia. i can theoretically provide lines for customers in india or anywhere else (if i can make them aware of my service) so we are competing for worldwide customers. any provider/reseller can provide service (and local lines) for customers i british columbia even if the are located somewhere else.
i want to be the only reseller in british columbia but there are other providers here which i have to compete with.

* are their any different fee "tiers" (for both customers and agents)?

not sure what you mean.

* will you receive any training on sales, install and support?

training on install. not sure about support and sales.

* Is there a fee to take this training or is it something the provider gives gratis?

no fee (but there is the "franchise" fee)

* are there any technical prerequisites?

don't think so.

* if you have to do the install, can you sub-contract that out or does it have to be your company?

i believe i can do whatever i want since it will be my own company (but i'm pretty sure the customer receives the adapter and just connects it).

* How much liability does your company assume for the service?

good question.

* How reliable is the network?

how can i check this?

* "Pull thru" sales - you sell the service, what about any other gear the customer wants? phones, networking gear, software, PCs, printers, consumables and any non-phone related services. is all that revenue 100% yours or do you have to split this with the service provider?

don't know

* Who "owns" the account, you or them?

me

* Will the provider market other, non-agent eligible, products or services? competing or not and do you get a cut of that revenue?

i believe he does not market any non-agent eligible products/services.
i do not get a cut of what he markets.

12-23-2006, 03:07 PM	#7
peekaboo Member (10 bit) Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 976	wow. excellent list of things to consider. i do not know the answer to most of them. i have a contract which i am going over now. * any "franchise" fees? yes, and this is the main thing holding me back. it's not really a franchise because i'll be using my own name and not the providers'. * who is the provider? - known? new to the market? new the industry? do they have references (agent and customer)? the provider is a friend of a friend/partner. claims to be in business since the beginning but i don't know if this is true or not. how can i verify how long a company has been in business? i will also ask my friend/partner. * if they are "new" what is the source of their funding? how much? multiple waves or just a one shot infusion? provider claims not to be new. i don't understand the rest of the question. * Marketing? do they do any or is it all on you? not just advertising but also collateral - ranging from business cards to technical specs to slick glossies. who pays for all of that? i can choose to be their agent and then i just try to recruit for them (i don't want that). if i am a private label (which is what i'm considering) then i operate as a separate business and they simply provide the services. all my marketing would be up to me. * who does the install? me, but i believe the install is simply plugging the adapter into the internet socket and plugging the phone into the adapter. so it's pretty much a do it yourself kind of thing (unless you're really challenged). that's how it worked my vonage setup. * who does the support? i do the basics but if it's communications related then i pass it on to the provider. * who provides/sources the gear? i purchase adapters at a certain price from the provider and give/sell/rent them to customers. the price of an adapter is approx. half of it's price for consumers. * who makes the gear(a known company or some mickey mouse outfit)? good question. * what is the gear? as far as i know it's an adapter that connects your phone to the internet. * when does the reimbursement occur (for both the account/ongoing service as well as any gear that is purchased by the agent)? good question * who owns the renewals, you or them? me * do they have their own sales force that you may/will compete against? they provide service to customers and have other resellers so i will be competing with them (they are in florida and i am in vancouver, canada). * what happens if you sell to someone on "their" list (commission split? you are SOL?)? i don't know what that means. * what is the fee schedule (both amount and payment type - all at once or month to month)? to me or from customers? * Is install 1 fee and then an ongoing residual payment or is it all lumped together into the residual? what do you mean? * what are the source of leads? no sources. it's up to me. * does the provider provide YOU any support (both technical and sales)? if so does that affect the fee schedule? there is an option to have the provider handle support and i'll have to find out what that entails. * How many other agents are there? are sales territories clearly defined? i asked how many resellers he has and he did not want to reveal that information. he has no resellers in british columbia. i can theoretically provide lines for customers in india or anywhere else (if i can make them aware of my service) so we are competing for worldwide customers. any provider/reseller can provide service (and local lines) for customers i british columbia even if the are located somewhere else. i want to be the only reseller in british columbia but there are other providers here which i have to compete with. * are their any different fee "tiers" (for both customers and agents)? not sure what you mean. * will you receive any training on sales, install and support? training on install. not sure about support and sales. * Is there a fee to take this training or is it something the provider gives gratis? no fee (but there is the "franchise" fee) * are there any technical prerequisites? don't think so. * if you have to do the install, can you sub-contract that out or does it have to be your company? i believe i can do whatever i want since it will be my own company (but i'm pretty sure the customer receives the adapter and just connects it). * How much liability does your company assume for the service? good question. * How reliable is the network? how can i check this? * "Pull thru" sales - you sell the service, what about any other gear the customer wants? phones, networking gear, software, PCs, printers, consumables and any non-phone related services. is all that revenue 100% yours or do you have to split this with the service provider? don't know * Who "owns" the account, you or them? me * Will the provider market other, non-agent eligible, products or services? competing or not and do you get a cut of that revenue? i believe he does not market any non-agent eligible products/services. i do not get a cut of what he markets. __________________ If you remind me of my dog... we'll probably get along. Last edited by peekaboo; 12-23-2006 at 03:11 PM.