How to Become a Verizon Wireless Dealer

Becoming a Verizon Wireless dealer.

Verizon Wireless holds the distinction of being one of the premier wireless services providers in the United States. Verizon Wireless currently has over 4 million subscribers, according to research conducted by Merrill Lynch, with a minimal turnover of customers at about 1.5 percent. As a Verizon Wireless dealer, your responsibilities will include increasing cellular communications subscriptions and opening new prepaid accounts as per the guidelines disclosed in your dealer agreement. As a Verizon dealer, you must adhere to those guidelines, in addition to other marketing and corporate guidelines provided by Verizon.

Things You'll Need

• Investment capital

Instructions

1. Contact a Verizon Wireless account manager and explore the opportunity to qualify as a Verizon Wireless dealer. Your account manager will provide you with details on various contracts and compensation agreements you may enter into. The preference for a new dealer is to have experience in the wireless industry; however, such experience is not a requirement.

2. Pass a background check and credit check. Verizon Wireless will want to make sure you are responsible and do not exhibit the potential to defraud the company or its customers. You will need to submit a resume, along with background and credit information for both yourself and your business. Your resume should detail
   your experience in sales, with historical metrics provided outlining your sales accomplishments.

3. Write and submit a detailed marketing plan to Verizon, outlining how you will market the services of Verizon to the public. The marketing plan must adhere to Verizon's terms and conditions for marketing, demonstrate your ability to effective market the products and services, and show how you will translate that marketing into sales.

4. Write and submit a solid business plan to Verizon. Without a sound business plan, Verizon will not waste time considering you for a dealership. Your business plan must detail how you will finance the business, plan for operations, implement you marketing strategy, generate sales and revenue, and must forecast future
   earnings and profitability. The business plan must be backed by solid research.

5. Secure the required start-up capital for your Verizon dealership. You will need a minimum of $25,000 to invest up front for inventory. Depending on the size of your store, or the space allocated to Verizon, you may be required to investment more. You creditworthiness will also affect how much inventory you are allowed to carry in the beginning.

6. Enlist the assistance of an attorney to review all agreements and documentation drawn up between you and Verizon before signing, to ensure legal compliance. An attorney will assist you with the interpretation of any portions of the agreement you might not understand.

7. Ensure that you and your staff commit to learning about Verizon's products and services, as well as using all related computer systems and software required to activate and service customers.

Tips & Warnings

• You can specialize as a Verizon Wireless dealer in servicing the business-to-business market, rather than the residential market. Depending on your overall business plan, a business-to-business dealership may make more sense. You may also opt to service both markets.

• Credit problems, personal or professional, can hurt your application for a dealership and lead to being turned down. If you have credit issues, you should fix them first before applying for a dealership.

References

• Verizon Wireless: Become an Authorized Agent
• Verizon Wireless Resell Program
• Cellular New: Verizon Wireless Gaining Market Share
• Verizon Wireless: Open Development Wholesale Solution

Resources

• Microsoft Small Business: How to Write a Business Plan
• Entreprenuer: How to Create a Marketing Plan