Some examples of the Internet businesses that we sell are:
• Auction web sites
• Classifieds web sites
• Domain name registration web sites
• Search engine submission web sites
• e–book web sites
• Travel booking web sites
Because of our variety of businesses for sale, two thirds of our customers return as repeat customers. To help ensure the profitability of our customers we give them free marketing materials to help start them with their promotion.
Some of the free marketing materials that we offer to our customers include:
• Free search engine submission
• Built in meta tags
• Free web site banners
• Web rings
• Valuable marketing tips e–book
• List of sources where they can obtain leads for people who op–in
We provide people with a means to earn an income without all the normal hassle. The niche market of Internet Capabilities is high in demand and has very few competitors.
With our products we turn the at–home computer user into the Internet entrepreneur! We help other people reach their goals, while at the same time reaching our own.
Customers
As a home–based business, we are currently on a shoestring marketing budget; however, we are still able to attract a large amount of customers and traffic to our sites. This speaks volumes in terms of our potential growth opportunity with our product mix.
Studies have shown that women have become the majority of Web users and do the most on–line shopping in the United States. This fact is central to our business opportunity and our product mix.
According to the US Census in 2005, women became a slight majority of Web users in the United States for the first time in history (51 percent female vs. 49 percent male). Women make up almost half of the first–time Web buyers. It is believed that women will continue to flock to the on–line platform because it allows them to save time researching and buying what they want.
Stay–at–home parents are our main target market at present. Our service will allow them to make money from home while caring for their children at the same time.
In fact, this business was started while the founder was a stay–at–home mom. Now that her children are old enough, she is able to expand the business and help even more people. Her customers can benefit from her experiences.
Young entrepreneurial–spirited men between the ages of 19 and 35 are the secondary market. This group is categorized as highly energized with the ability to simultaneously work on multiple tasks.
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These skills will allow them to manage the products they buy from us while at the same time working on other projects.
COMPANY HISTORY
We are a privately–held General C corporation currently operating out of a home office in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Products &Services
Characteristics: completed, fully functional e–commerce web sites designed specifically to generate money on the internet. Most of the web sites sell internet products or products that can otherwise be fulfilled by a drop shipper. The web sites are sold as pre–made e–businesses for those looking to earn an income over the web.
How the service works: We do the time consuming part of finding a product to sell and building the web site. We provide the hosting services and domain name.
The only thing that the customer must do is promote their new business. To help them in this task, we provide free marketing materials to our customers including free search engine submission, web rings, marketing tips e–book, and links to other sites that provide free tools and information. In addition, the web sites come with meta tags already in place for search engine indexing.
The company founder started out by designing web sites for her friends and acquaintances. Word of mouth alone quickly expanded the business to the point where it provided a good income. Next, the web sites were sold on eBay; business was very good here, but competition is high. Finally, the founder built her own web site. Loyal eBay customers frequently visited and purchased from the web site, and this is the basis for the corporation.
We currently are on a limited marketing budget which only permits simple forms of advertising such as small email campaign and link exchanges. With funding we will be able to broaden our marketing and increase sales from $2,000 per month to an estimated $20,000 per month.
Product Description
We sell over 34 different types of e–businesses with over 300 different designs.
The product interface is extremely easy for customers to use. Most web sites are fully automated and only require customers to promote their sites. They can collect payment via paypal.com, which offers free accounts and secure merchant services so that they may accept payment via credit card or e–check.
For example, the auction web site contains scripts that allow users to register with the site for free. In order for them to sell their items, they must pay a nominal fee which can be automatically handled through paypal.
The scripts contained within the site allow users to upload pictures and item descriptions. It also allows member feedback and bidding. The owner of the web site does not have to do anything for the daily process to work and business will carry on without any maintenance.
Paypal integration is very powerful feature. The site’s payment buttons are linked to paypal which processes the payments on a secure server into the customer’s free account.
Product Life Cycle
Our products are entering growth stage. With enough funding, would like to help the products expand and add more services to our company, such as a mass Internet advertising department.
Because the Internet is only 10 years old, products produced for the Internet and sold on the Internet are still in the start up stage. While the internet has had a few bad days, we are confidant that the wave of the future is front of us; our products are well positioned to meet the needs of both our clients and the end users of our clients’ products.
E–COMMERCE WEBSITE PRODUCER
Entertainment Production, Distribution, and Performance Company
M e n t o n i c H e r o I n c . 2298 Rogers Ave.
Los Angeles, California 90023 Gerald Rekve
This probably needs a bit of an introduction—it is not your run–of–the–mill business plan. It is somewhat unconventional, a bit more ‘flashy’ than most, you say . . . but, you know what? I bet you will read it. It’s slightly different, a bit innovative and certainly creative. You see, we had a difficult time conforming to the formal approach, and every so often, we slightly break the rules of business plan etiquette.
We wanted our business plan to convey that, and we wanted you to know our intentions . . . Someone or something comes along that makes us sit up and pay attention. Something that touches us at a level much deeper than routine . . . something that whispers to the soul because it holds value, honesty and integrity. Pay attention. This may be that something.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Mentonic Hero Inc. is formed as an entertainment production, distribution and performance company specializing in the utilization and maximization of current entertainment business opportunities available—the worldwide reach of the 500 TV channels that has spurned a vacuum of need for TV Series. This demand is unrelenting for quality animation programming.
We currently have distribution agreements in place for the Asia market with a company called International Television in ASIA. We have an industry expert in place to write the show bible and the pilot script. The funding required for the first episode is $300,000; for production of 14 episodes, the cost will be in the range of $200,000 to $350,000. Producing all 26 episodes will require an investment of $6.5 million dollars.
With this level of investment needed, we will look at all venture proposals and offer competitive rates of return based on industry standards.
That being said, let’s explain that the balance of this business plan may not follow all those revered rules of professional etiquette proffered by the ‘experts.’ We are a rather innovative and creative bunch, not given easily to the molding of the masses into narrow visions of ‘should’ and ‘have to.’ On the other hand, we have been around a while and thus gained insight and wisdom lending value to learned lessons and ‘right’ paths. There is immeasurable worth and undeniable clarity that comes from a good business plan. The proof, however, is whether it accurately describes, foretells and transmits the focus and
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objectives of the company itself. Time will tell, we assume, but perhaps you can judge for yourself if the following ‘rings true’ and holds significance for you.
Mentonic Hero offers consumers of a new variety of TV series; it also offers potential investors a planned return–on–investment opportunity with the potential for toys, video games, and other types of merchandising.
Such projects will enjoy the umbrella security, strategic relationships, beneficial knowledge and profi- cient talent provided by the holding company, Mentonic Hero.
Television Series Synopses
Mentonic Hero is a young boy in his early 20’s and an unassuming, near–anonymous super hero. He appears to be a completely normal boy, aside from the fact that one of his arms is made of steel; at first glance, the arm appears to be a prosthetic. He walks with a jerky motion and each step is punctuated by a compressed air, assembly–line–apparatus–like sound.
The arm is actually equipped with an abundance of features and gadgetry that aid him in his heroic acts.
Mentonic Hero’s dream state is subject to real–time psychic visions, and many of his acts of heroism occur by him being awoken in the middle of the night. He then flies to the scene of the crime with the rocket launcher on his steel arm. His mother is also fitted with a steel arm, and the family dog, Hydro, has four steel legs. Aside from a wholesome family environment and attending school, Mentonic Hero shares a mutual infatuation with Gertrude, the young girl who lives next door, and has a passionate interest in roller derby. He also spends quality time with his unofficial surrogate father Hatch—a conspiracy theory spewing amputee and Vietnam veteran who lives in an apartment down the hall.
The accumulative effect of lost sleep due to late night rescue missions starts to interfere with Mentonic Hero’s schooling, and he consults a sleep disorder specialist. The physician, a Dr. Eve L. Rains, is actually behind a recent epidemic making headlines throughout the story—a growing number of human beings who were inexplicably turned into human/animal hybrids (oxen, cats, rabbits, etc.).
Dr. Rains runs a very sophisticated underground operation, and in this element goes by her villain alter ego name ‘‘Evila’’. Evila possesses the characteristics of a praying mantis, and conceals her bizarre appearance when conducting her practice as Dr. Rains. She is assisted in her cause to redefine mankind by a large staff of ‘‘Poodle Men’’—full grown men who were transformed into poodles by Evila. They walk upright with chests slightly protruded, and are attired in black military–like uniforms that include insignias identifying their rank within the organization. When the Poodle Men are dispatched to abduct human specimens they don ski masks, gloves and sunglasses in order to blend in with civilization. Most of the Poodle Men’s activities are underscored by a generous dose of humor, as they aspire to navy seal–
type precision, but are more often bumbling.
Mentonic Hero begins to see Dr. Rains for treatment in the hopes she can help him sleep through his many demanding dream states. Through a chain of events, Mentonic Hero deduces that Dr. Rains is the mastermind behind the growing ‘‘animal people’’ epidemic, and he confronts her. She refutes the accusation, and the two have a dramatic exchange that results in Mentonic Hero vowing to bring her to justice, and Evila shutting down her ‘‘arms itimate’’ practice and going into hiding. Mentonic Hero continues to monitor the animal people developments and builds a liaison with a police detective, while Evila’s Poodle Men keep a round–the–clock spy watch on Mentonic Hero so as to determine any threat level. After the Poodle Men conclude Mentonic Hero poses no serious threat, Evila instructs the Poodle Men to abduct Gertrude; she wishes to incite Mentonic Hero to become a true archrival so as to offset her relative boredom in the midst of her ascension to world domination. Gertrude is abducted and subsequently transformed into a virtual penguin. Mentonic Hero’s dream state reveals this to him, and he flies into the night to rescue his beloved friend. Landing in the vicinity of Evila’s compound, confused Mentonic Hero is helped to the exact location via a telepathic dialogue with a pigeon he crossed paths with earlier in the story. The two penetrate the highly secured headquarters and proceed ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, AND PERFORMANCE COMPANY
to dismantle Evila’s operation, climaxing in a giant fight scene with the Poodle Men that is reminiscent of Bruce Lee kung fu movies. In the final showdown, Evila spars with Mentonic Hero until he shatters her kneecap with his steel arm and she reduces herself to insect size and flees. Evila’s chief confidant is more brains than brawn and impotently caves in to Mentonic Hero’s demands for the ‘‘animal people’’
cure serum. Mentonic Hero rescues the penguin–faced Gertrude and the two share a touching moment and comical bit of kissing.
The final episode ends with Mentonic Hero watching the newly restored animal people being inter- viewed on TV with his mother, Hydro, Gertrude, Hatch, and the pigeon. The interviews include Evila’s chief commander in human form via satellite from a federal prison cell. ‘‘Harry Queen’’, a Larry King caricature that monitors the animal people epidemic throughout the entire story, lambastes him for abandoning his post as France’s diplomat to Guam to serve with Evila. (Before and after photos showing transition from dignitary to menacing ‘‘Poodle Man’’ are shown, etc.)
GROWTH STRATEGY
Objectives
Setting up our production company, we realized that along the way we will have more than one project and Mentonic Hero is just one of them. The investor will have access to other projects we produce; this will be based on a pre–negotiated agreement. The greater the return, the greater the investment.
Goals
1. Attract $200,000–$350,000 from outside investors
2. Secure an additional $6,500,000 to produce the complete package of films The keys to our success include:
1. The strategic organization of creative endeavors into project format, allowing each project to be individually financed, developed, maintained and tracked according to its unique requirements and objectives. This provides the ‘umbrella security and licensing’ from Mentonic Hero Inc. but allows each project to live out its own singular existence. In addition, each project becomes a viable revenue source for Mentonic Hero Inc., dependent upon its own success and market worthiness.
The multiple–project format also allows a broad diversity of effort and application to maximize the potential inherent in each market through individual projects. Finally, this format also dilutes the risk involved with each individual project for Mentonic Hero Inc. as a result of the separate funding secured for each project.
2. Development of multiple avenues of visibility for Mentonic Hero Inc. through strategic contacts, traditional advertising, digital TV satellite access and product development.
3. Strategic utilization of the unique pool of production and performance talent integral in the personnel makeup of Mentonic Hero Inc.
4. Excellence and commitment woven into every finished product and performance, thus creating the integrity Mentonic Hero Inc. shall possess.
COMPANY HISTORY
Mentonic Hero Inc. is a newly formed Limited Liability Company providing high–level expertise in the performance production industry. Mentonic Hero Inc. is not interested in competing with the major studios; we just want to find our own niche market. It has been created to fulfill the dreams and
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expectations of those people who desire their children to view quality TV and to satisfy the demand for such entertainment in the 500 Channel Universe.
Company Ownership
As a Limited Liability Company, ownership of Mentonic Hero Inc. is identified as belonging to its managers.
Summary of Start–up Costs
OPERATIONS
Mentonic Hero Inc. will seek appropriate office space offering many benefits to the company:
• A close association with the entertainment industry
• Competent and professional production companies and studios
• Competent, experienced and professional studio and staff
• Marketing and distribution avenues through particularly strong ties to West Coast companies as well as to East Coast companies
• A burgeoning group of Internet–related companies providing services in the fields of graphics, Web–hosting, Web–marketing, CD reproduction and software distribution that will allow our TV series to be easily distributed
• Piggyback opportunities with both performers and their associated production companies
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
A savvy production group such as ours will weigh the performance, charisma, audience acceptance, production grasp and overall marketability of each animation project and incorporate only those peripheral ‘products’ that develop into viable components of the project.
Start-up summary
Start-up Requirements 1,000,000 Start-up expenses
Arms al $ 200,000
Publications/membership $ 20,000
Office equipment $ 20,000
Consultants $ 50,000
Insurance $ 2,000
Website development/hosting $ 100,000
Website management $ 50,000
Expensed equipment $ 10,000
Other $ 20,000
Total start-up expenses $ 472,000 Start-up assets needed
Cash balance on starting date $1,000,000 Other current assets $ 0
Total current assets $1,000,000
Long-term assets $ 00
Total assets $ 00
Total requirements $ 1,000,000
ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, AND PERFORMANCE COMPANY
This requires good judgment, extensive experience, and strong management ability, not to mention perhaps the most important and elusive capability . . . that of ‘reading’ the market. Mentonic Hero Inc.
encompasses individuals with separate and unique abilities lending themselves to this process. The overall excellence in this endeavor, however, rests in the comprehensive combined expertise of the principals of this company. Combined, we have backgrounds in the entertainment industry, business management, marketing, accounting, production, public relations and solid business application. These strengths point to an overall understanding of the marketability and viability of each ‘product’
considered.
Mentonic Hero Inc. offers services of varied structure and expandability:
• The complete packaging of a TV series project—comprehensive production work, extensive review, in–studio production work, arrangement and editing of film products, coordination of the man- ufacture and distribution of product, marketing of finished product, ongoing analysis of strategic placement and acceptance of product and performance, influential public relations efforts, follow–
up and maximization of audience acceptability with additional strategies to further amplify recognition and revenue, and the coordination and management of live performances in correla- tion with the recorded product and market demand.
• Ultimately, the ‘rainbow’s end’ outcome of such a project would be the negotiation with and resultant contractual sale or lease of the TV series to a major TV Studio or distribution company with international reach.
• A limited packaging of a TV series to result in a specific outcome or product; e.g., a pre–determined number of runs on TV (including, of course, all the above activities required to produce said TV series). Such packaging may or may not include distribution, marketing and coordination of live performances in conjunction with the produced TV series.
• The complete production and rendition of a desired performance or show including the appro- priate above–mentioned activities.
• Contractual negotiation services on behalf of a TV series production staff.
• Coordination of strategic gratis appearances of actors/artists for public relations and marketing purposes.
• The development, maintenance, funding coordination and undertaking of any worthwhile and promising project as identified.
Services
Service fulfillment will be provided by principals of Mentonic Hero Inc. in coordination with the contributing contractors required to complete the products. Companies such as animation studios, animation software manufacturers, distribution houses, licensing firms, performance venues, traditional and online advertising groups, just to name a few, are regularly contracted to contribute to the finished product.
MARKET ANALYSIS
In today’s technological world, we find a challenging and ever–expanding marketplace for almost any product or service. Such is the case for the services and products we plan to create. Through the worldwide reach of the Internet, innovative and resourceful companies can market their wares literally around the world. It is likely that someone in, say, South America would contact us to package and market them a TV series for their market.
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