[littlelovemuffin]

I have owned/operated my own business for 7 years now. I started with very little money and have turned it into a very sucessful business. However, I am wanting to venture into a new business as I see an opportunity to make a small fortune.

My husband and I have been attending a club in the Tampa area for several years. We attend 4 nights per week and are what you would call a "comp" couple for our services we render to the club. (Giving tours, printing flyers, advertising, bartending at times, setting up, catering food, and even help with remodeling.)

We are aware of the cost of operation as well as the net & gross profit of the club. (Roughly $18,000 per week net)

The club was taken over by the club owners daughter 8 months ago. We have seen a tremendous decline in business since this happened. The very young daughter does not know how to run a club of this sort and zero management skills.

We have spoken with several "regular" members of the club & all agree we need something else. With the right investors, we could open a new club in the same general area & take 90% of the members when we go as well as get back the old members who were run off during the transition.

This is the only club in the Tampa area like it. There is a great need for another one as it is a "adult orientated" business that would have to be in an Industrial area.

Thank you for any help or insight you can give.

[The Stealthy One]

Why not offer to buy the daughter out? This would remove much of the risk you would incur by going out on your own. It's going to be harder than you think to attract people to a brand-new establishment; even with a tarnished image, the existing club would seem to represent a better opportunity, in my opinion. There is an established brand name, an existing base of customers (who you still talk to; even if they quit hanging out over the past year, they are likely to come back when they hear of new owners, and know who the new owners are), and a well-known physical location. Even if you re-named and re-positioned, I think you would be wise to at least consider taking over the business that now exists.

[littlelovemuffin]

Thank you for the reply. We among several others have already tried that route. She won't hear of selling it or even sub-leasing it to us. The owners do not care about the business as to them it is just a mere tax write off and they need it for that I suppose.

Plus, the warehouse they are in now, would cost literally thousands of dollars to renovate as it is getting old & run down. Leaks in the roof, crumbling walls, plumbing problems, etc..

Starting fresh in the same area would be less costly in the long run.

[The Stealthy One]

Ah, that does make sense.

Are there any high-profile community leaders you could approach, who might have an interest in seeing a project like yours go in? (Perhaps it's a long shot...)

[gregdavidson]

I live in Clearwater so I'm right near you guys. Check out this link if you're looking for serious investors:

GoBigNetwork.com

[littlelovemuffin]

Thank you Greg & Stealthy.

We are just starting and looking into making this work. I will check into local investors as well as the website listed. Greg, since you are in the area, I would love to send you some info on this club and get some insight from you as we are still researching Hillsborough County law on this issue.
Stealthy, I don't think "high profile" community leaders would support this type of club unless they could do so anonymously.

I am very serious about starting this up. I am a "go getter" and when I decide something is not only the "right" thing to do, but the best thing to do for other people as well as myself, there is no stopping me. There is a great need for this type of club. Bars come & go, but these type of clubs seem to stay around forever if they are run correctly.

The potential for this club is unreal. There are no other clubs like it within a 25 mile radius and the ones that are, are not clean or decent. (None at all in the same area as the one we visit) We watch 1000 people come through the door on a Saturday night, paying anywhere from $60 - $100 to come in and that is if they already have a membership.

There use to be as many on Thurs. & Fri., but the new girl has ruined that.

Thank you both!

[gofrugal]

You can also try thefunded.com

[littlelovemuffin]

Ok, I tried the Gobignetwork.com.
All I got is junk for refinancing your mortgage, people wanting to lease me bulldozers, etc..
I even paid the $60 they asked me to. Nothing other than spam.

Are there any real investors anywhere? I hear of them every day, but they just don't seem to be out there.

Any other options?

BTW: This poorly runned club we attend pulled in $20,000 tonight alone! There is a need, just need the funding to make it happen!

Thanks!

[Gaulkin]

You need to find investors that are registered with the SEC.

[ADVERTISE HERE!]

Originally Posted by Gaulkin

You need to find investors that are registered with the SEC.

This confuses me. Why?

[Cole Taylor]

I dont know where you can get funding, however, I'd start with your swinger associates.

I've said it before, all online sites that put themsleves out there as having an investor network are full of it. Investors dont look for deals online so what you get is a bunch of people that want to sell you something, or worse you get one of the many pseudo facilitators.

Nothing but horror stories come from those types of sites. Show me someone that knows anyone who knows anyone that received funding from such a source and I'll change my opinion.

Gaulkin: investors dont actually register with the SEC, what you want is investors that are qualified per the SEC, i.e. accredited.

[littlelovemuffin]

Thank you!!
What is the SEC?
I was told to go and register with the other site, so I did. I am following advise here. If I knew where to find an investor, or had my own money to invest, I would not be on a site such as this, so any and all advise is followed.

Can someone help me?
Thank you!