How to Become a Cell Phone Retailer

A cell phone is a necessity to some people. This is a great business to start.

It is always a good idea to start your own business if you can. Becoming a cell phone retailer is a way to make money. Many people discard cell phones frequently due to upgrades. Sometimes a sell phone may have been stolen or simply lost. Of course, sometimes they break or do not work properly. As a cell phone retailer, you will earn commissions and make sales from the cellular phones and services that you sell to customers. You will be rewarded based on your ability to sell these products and services.

Things You'll Need

• Office furniture, equipment, and supplies
• Cell phones and accessories
• Cell phone company training
• Business bank account
• Business licenses
• Store front location
• Business plan

Instructions

1. 

   Call cell phone companies and ask about business opportunties.

   To start out, call several cell phone companies. For example, call AT&T at [phone] and ask if dealer opportunities exist in your area. If they say yes, ask for an application. Get ready to become a cell phone retailer.

2. 

   Select a store front location to help you become a cell phone retailer.

   Schedule an appointment with a commercial property agent to review sites that will be suitable for your cell phone retail store. Try to get space in a mall or shopping center where driving and foot traffic is heavy. Select the store front space and ask the agent to hold the space for 60 days. The agent may want to charge you a fee.

3. 

   Visit your city hall and apply for a license to pay taxes.

   Develop a plan after the agent has approved your application and will hold the space for 60 days. Visit your local city or county office and apply for a permit or license to open a cell phone retail store. Log on to GovSpot.com and apply for your state's Department of Revenue tax ID number online. Call [phone] to apply for your federal tax ID number.

4. 

   Reseach and analyze this cell phone retail opportunity by developing a business plan.

   Research and analyze the commission scales to find out what type of money you may be able to bring in at your location. Submit all the cell phone retail store applications to the cell phone companies. Formulate a business plan by going to the Small Business Administration (SBA) website for help at Sba.gov and (see Resources section).

5. 

   Visit the bank and open an accout to manage money transactions at your cell phone retail store.

   Decide if you want to volunteer to work at a cell phone retail store to learn what the business entails for a few days. After the cell phone retail applications have been approved, go back and lease the store front from the agent.Visit your local bank and set up a business bank account. Arrange to accept credit cards and debit cards.

6. 

   Purchase all equipment and furniture you may need.

   Purchase all the store office furniture, equipment and supplies you may need. Expect the cell phone companies to assist you to some degree by providing advertising, phones, and other services. Attend training programs the companies offer. Emerge as a cell phone retailer.

Tips & Warnings

• Copy your competitors that work in the cell phone industry.

• Study the cell phone retail industry to learn new trends.

• Resell many types, styles, and brands of phones.

• Do not invest more money into a business than you can afford to lose.

• Recognize seasonal trends to avoid overstocking phones.

• Invest profits back into your cell phone business.

References

• GovSpot: State Departments of Revenue
• T-Mobile: Get Started
• Sprint: Authorized Representative Program: Application

Resources

• Small Business Association: Checklist for Going into Business
• AT&T: Alliance Dealers
• Small Business Administration: Are You Ready to Start a Business?