Would this work?

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Keep in mind, these are tailored to the average homeowner with maybe one computer in the house that doesn't even know anything beyond Windows exists or that people can build computers.

I want to sell e-mail accounts in a sense. They will get their own domain and 5 e-mail accounts in the base package. I haven't decided which to use, but they would either get to use Hivemail or socketmail.

Here is a demo for hivemail: http://www.hivedemo.com/ username: demo password: demo
Socketmail doesn't have a demo or any great screen shots, but here are some pictures: link

Space and pricing hasn't been set, but I need for them to have a reason to use this versus their yahoo or hotmail accounts so I can convince them to sign up.

Would $5 a month sound good? I'm thinking to turn any worthwhile profit, it should be more like $10 a month, but I don't know how many people would actually want that. I don't want to run into the case where I get maybe one or two customers and that's it, then I'd have to handle their accounts even if there aren't any other accounts.

 

How are you going to bill them?

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

I could collect bills yearly if they'd like or I could setup something to draw the funds from wherever they choose on a monthly basis

 

[RossMAN]

How would you handle billing and support?

Either $5/mo or give a discount for $50/yr but what if you go out of business in 7 months?

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: AgaBooga
I could collect bills yearly if they'd like or I could setup something to draw the funds from wherever they choose on a monthly basis

It would probably be a good idea to do quarterly as well. Some people may scoff at the idea of paying yearly ("we've heard on CNN how everyone gets scammed out of their money on the Internet!").

 

Why couldn't you work at your local Kroger/Albertsons/Meijer/KMart/Target/OfficeMax/Staples/Office Depot/Best Buy/Kohls/T.J. Maxx/Marshalls instead? Seems like it'd be a lot easier than dealing with delinquent payees and idiot computer users who don't understand why they can't get any email even though they have the last two years of emails (including 5 MB attachments) still in their inbox and they only have a 200 MB account limit.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
How would you handle billing and support?

Either $5/mo or give a discount for $50/yr but what if you go out of business in 7 months?

I'd setup a ticket system on a website for support, billing was detailed in my previous post. If I go out of business, I would still have my hosting account through that time. I guess I could finish off that one year, but I don't know if they'd like losing the e-mail service once they're started using it. I'd obviously be refunding the money if that's what you mean

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: jumpr
Why couldn't you work at your local Kroger/Albertsons/Meijer/KMart/Target/OfficeMax/Staples/Office Depot/Best Buy/Kohls/T.J. Maxx/Marshalls instead? Seems like it'd be a lot easier than dealing with delinquent payees and idiot computer users who don't understand why they can't get any email even though they have the last two years of emails (including 5 MB attachments) still in their inbox and they only have a 200 MB account limit.

If any decent place will pay me to work on Saturday's ONLY during the school year, I'll do it. I have time during the week, but not enough to go someplace and work for a few hours each time. As for the summer, I have other plans and ideas to do (Thanks to RossMAN )

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: AgaBooga

Originally posted by: jumpr
Why couldn't you work at your local Kroger/Albertsons/Meijer/KMart/Target/OfficeMax/Staples/Office Depot/Best Buy/Kohls/T.J. Maxx/Marshalls instead? Seems like it'd be a lot easier than dealing with delinquent payees and idiot computer users who don't understand why they can't get any email even though they have the last two years of emails (including 5 MB attachments) still in their inbox and they only have a 200 MB account limit.

If any decent place will pay me to work on Saturday's ONLY during the school year, I'll do it. I have time during the week, but not enough to go someplace and work for a few hours each time. As for the summer, I have other plans and ideas to do (Thanks to RossMAN )

I agree with jumpr. I'll add to that, that you're not looking hard enough. Also try video rental stores, local grocery stores, etc. It's not easy selling your email accounts idea. Initially you will make MORE MONEY earning minimum wage, a guaranteed income rather than floating your $5/mo idea. Maybe when it's summer time you'll have more time to devote to it but for now (as a temporary fix). GET A REAL JOB! Save $500 or so to invest in some advertising, printing business cards, etc. then when summer arrives go at it full force.

Good luck.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Thanks for the advice, I think you're right. I'll follow what you said till the summer and then try out something when I have more time.

Thanks! :beer:

 

[DrPizza]

Why don't you figure out some business that you could do during the school year to make some money. Try giving some sort of computer lessons to people who don't know as much. It seems there might be a decent market. Or, have some sort of computer class at a retirement center or something... Maybe not great money, but even $10 an hour would probably be easier than the email idea. (and a lot easier to stop doing without a hassle)