How to Start a Mobile Content Business

Start a mobile content business to sell in the cell phone market.

Mobile communication is growing in both the industrialized and developing world. The developing world has taken advantage of inexpensive cell phones and companies have built wireless networks to support growing telecommunications demands. Mobile content is becoming more popular and remains a market for growth. Mobile content can be both static and interactive. Users can (often for a fee) download ringtones, video, maps, games, or other data with a cell phone. Some types of mobile media like ringtones are both popular and profitable, making creating a business for this niche market entrepreneurship more tangible in both the free market as well as in proprietary markets, like the iPhone App Store or Android Apps.

Instructions

Instructions

1. Acquire a DBA (doing-business-as) certificate from your county clerks office. Choose a name that is relevant and unique to the cell phone and mobile industries. A DBA allows you to conduct business as an assumed name or business entity.

2. Obtain a reseller tax ID or tax certificate. This gives your mobile content business a separate tax ID not associated with an individual's social security number. This allows the business to operate independently in regard to financial matters.

3. Open a business checking account. Having separate finances is crucial for keeping neat records for account and financial purposes. Many companies in telecommunications conduct financial transactions in a B2B (business-to-business) style requiring a business bank account, DBA, and tax ID.

4. Decide which (if not all) types of mobile content you want your business to specialize in. Ringtones and mobile songs are popular with mobile phones. Other types of mobile content including interactive games, maps/GPS location tools. Look into content creation companies that develop ideas if lacking technical or programming expertise.

5. Research mobile content platforms like Apple Apps or other third party content managers. Apple offers millions of subscribers access to content but shares split profits of sales with developers. Apple provides different content access points, such as the iPod and iPad, while other platforms only offer services exclusively to smart phones.

6. Create an online and mobile presence and use emerging social media to market your mobile content.

References

• BusinessNameUSA: Seller's Permit
• My Own Business: Business Licenses, Permits and Business Names
• Score: Obtaining a Business License or Permit
• Business: Business Name Registration (Doing Business As)
• ECommerce Journal: Mobile content business is in recession?

Resources

• Android: The Developer's Guide
• Apple: Developing for iOS 4
• Mofuse
• New App Idea