Starting a gift basket business as a home based business OVER RIDES all barriers to entries that many busineses have. Your BIGGEST EXPENSE is ZERO (RENT) because it's home based. Then possibly a carrito, supplies and UPS account for shipping.

Que Mas? A Creative mind, and if your not strong in that area. If you feel you lack creativeness, then you need training. Easy training program.....

Training #1 Go To The Mall
Training #2 Go To The Mall
Training #3 Go To The Mall

Get supplies "high quality" but at relatively low prices. This alone can make or break your business. The cheaper that you can get your inventory for the gift baskets, the higher the profit margins can be. AHA!

You have to be able to effectively market your home based business at a minimal expense. If you can effectively and inexpensively market your business and product, this will also allow you to keep a larger percentage of the money that is made.

You have to develop an efficient system of delivering the gift baskets and to also allow for retail pick-up of the gift baskets.

Most people that start a gift basket business have some experience making gift baskets. Typically creating gift baskets becomes a hobby and then a home based business. Although you do have to creative at least to a point, if you are not, you can still partner with someone, hire or contract out to someone who is.

Most gift basket orders can be taken over the telephone or your web site ( www.regalo.us ) You need to have in place an answering system in situations when you are not available. If you do not make your self available, you will most likely loose a sell.

Delivering Gift Baskets - Most gift basket sales will have to be delivered in person or through a delivery service such as UPS. Some of your customers may ask to have them picked up by someone such as an errand service. Be careful to always include the correct information (name, address, etc.)

Your Supplies - All successful gift basket businesses are able to keep an inventory of items that they are able fill the gift baskets with. You will need a steady source of the items that you will fill the gift baskets with.

Once you have a clear idea of the product that you will be putting in your gift baskets, you will most likely buy these items wholesale. This will allow you to achieve a higher profit margin per sale. Some the more popular products that are used to fill gift baskets are items such as lotions, shampoo, bath oil, soap, etc., children's products, and food arrangements such as herbal teas, cheeses, crackers and fruits.

You are will want to buy gift baskets wholesale. Before doing this you must decide what gift basket size and type you will be using. Most of the gift baskets that you are going to need will be relatively inexpensive. When you begin buying gift baskets, you can ask your supplier for ideas. The best ideas however will come from your customers.

You will also want to stock up on decorations. The decorations needed will include ribbon, artificial grass, trimmings, tissue paper, tape, envelopes and card, basically anything to spruce up the gift basket.

Pricing Gift Baskets - Before you start selling your gift baskets, you will need to determine a price. Many new gift basket businesses charge twice the costs of materials to begin with. You can then adjust the prices as you get a feel for the economics of the business.

Market for Gift Baskets - No matter the time of year, there is always an occasion for giving gift baskets: birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, babies, almost any occasion.

The two major customers in the gift basket business are woman and corporatations. Women will probably make up the largest percentage of your customer count. Corporations provide you with one contact, but large orders regularly.