Personal Finance

When building wealth, it is very important to research and evaluate income opportunities that become
available to you. It is advisable that you check out the company with the Better Business Bureau
(BBB), The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the state's General Attorney's Website in which the
company is headquartered. There are many companies offering ways to make money for the individual
and your success will depend on how well you evaluate those opportunities.

The Opportunity Scorecard was created for just that purpose. It is a tool that allows you to rate
each aspect of the income opportunity in order to determine how much money can actually be
generated. Below is the criteria used in the Opportunity Scorecard.

Product or Service Demand. Is the demand Extremely High, High, Moderate, Low, or Extremely Low?
When the demand for the product or service is Extremely High, it will be relatively easy to sell it. When
the demand is Extremely Low, a great deal of time and effort will need to be in order to sell it. Have
changes in the economy, laws, or population demographics contributed to the demand or lack of
demand?

Product or Service Price. Is the price Very Reasonable, Reasonable, Unreasonable, or Very
Unreasonable? Be cautious of prices that are inflated beyond what your market will bear.

Company Support. Is the company support program Excellent, Great, Good, Fair, or Poor? Company
Support requirements will vary depending on the type of product or service it provides. Choose the
support level that matches your skills and the level of experience you have with the product or
service.

Company Training. Is the Training Excellent, Great, Good, Fair, or Poor? As with Company Support,
company Training requirements will vary depending on the type of product or service it provides. How
much training will you need in order to be successful?

Product or Service Trend. Has the Trend for the product or service been Excellent, Great, Good,
Fair, or Poor? Excellent Trends illustrate that there has been an upward demand for the product or
service. This is a great indication that the company is truly onto something hot. Conversely, a Poor
Trend indicates that there is much work to be done in order to create current demand for the product
or service.

Future Demand for Product or Service. Is the Future Demand for the product or service Excellent,
Great, Good, Fair, or Poor? Excellent Future Demand is an indicator that the future looks very bright. A
Poor Future Demand rating indicates that the product or service is in the maturity phase and will need
significant modifications in order to meet future demands. What changes in the economy, laws, or
population demographics will contribute to the future demand or lack of future demand?

Testimonials. Are there Testimonials from customers or other company agents? Look for experiences
that reflect what you know about the company, the products or services.

Financial State of Company. Is the Financial State of the Company rating Excellent, Great, Good,
Fair, or Poor? An Excellent rating ensures that the company can endure financial turmoil brought on by
slumps in sales. A rating of Poor may mean disaster for the company should it experience financial
difficulties.

Length of Time Company has Been in Business. How long has the company been in business. The
longer the company has been around, the more financially stable it should be. A new company may be
financially stable or it may need time to establish itself.

Complaints with the State Attorney General. The Attorney General for the state in which the
company is headquartered should be the first place to check out a company. There should be a
Website which lists companies that have numerous complaints lodged against it. This site will list
scams or fraudulent companies for the perspective state.

Complaints with the BBB. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) Website should be the next place to
check out a company. Even if the company is not a member of the BBB, complaints can still be
recorded against it. Obviously, the fewer the complaints the better. Take note that many companies
are not members of the BBB for various reasons. Do not make a decision about the company merely on
whether it is a member or not.

Complaints with the Federal Trade Commission. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is another
great source for researching a company. Visit their Website and look for anything that has been
reported against the company you are researching.

Successful Business Model. Does the company have a good track record for making sales and being
profitable? A Successful Business Model demonstrates that the company understands its market, has a
product or service that is needed by the market, and knows how to make it available for a profit.
Compensation Plan. Does the pay plan rate as Excellent, Great, Good, Fair, or Poor? An Excellent
rating, indicates that the plan provides compensation above and beyond that of comparable
companies.

Start Up Costs. Are the Start Up Costs rate as Very Reasonable, Reasonable, Unreasonable, or Very
Unreasonable? Be cautious of start up costs that are intended to reap the major share of the
company‘s profits. The company‘s focus should be on making profits by selling its products or services
not by making profits on signing up agents. Start up costs should reasonably cover the supplies
required to begin working with the company.

Click here to see an Opportunity Scorecard for AmeriPlan, a healthcare company: