Assess the Competition

Well in advance of opening an African goods business in your town, it's a good idea to determine what the competition looks like. Use the link below to get a list of local competitors in your city. Simply enter your city, state and zip code to get a list of African goods businesses in your town.

• Find Competing African Goods Businesses

Gain a knowledge of how existing firms have positioned themselves in the marketplace, and then design your business in a way that sets you apart from the others.

Getting Advice from Experienced Entrepreneurs

If you are seriously contemplating launching an African goods business, it's essential that you learn from folks who are already in business. Local competitors are not going to give you the time of day, mind you. Why would they want to educate a future competitor?

But, a person who owns an African goods business in a location that is not competitive to you may be more than happy to give you a few tips, given that you don't compete with them in their area. In fact, they are often very willing to share startup advice with you. In my experience, you may have to call ten business owners in order to find one who is willing to share his wisdom with you.

Want the scoop on finding an African goods business entrepreneur that lives outside of your area?

No problem! Just use the link below and try a random city/state or zipcode. Then start dialing for advice until you are successful.

• Research African Goods Business Owners In Other Cities

Don't Rule Out Franchising

The chances of surviving in business are much better if you opt for franchising instead of doing it all on your own.

As part of your process in starting an African goods business, a smart move is to investigate whether buying a franchise could make your life much easier.

The link below gives you access to our franchise directory so you can see if there's a franchise opportunity for you. You might even find something that points you in a completely different direction.

• How to Buy a Franchise