I have been asked by several folks how to get UPC barcodes for products they plan to sell to retail or wholesale businesses.  It really isn’t a big deal now that I look back but I did take some digging on the ‘net.

First, I googled “buy barcodes” and found lots of info.  You can buy a UPC company prefix from the official site – GS1 – here:   http://barcodes.gs1us.org/dnn_bcec/Default.aspx 

What is a company prefix?  It is the first 6 digits in the 12 digit code.  When you register with GS1, you buy the exclusive 6 digit company prefix and then you assign the remaining 6 digits to your products.  You essentially get 999,999 potential barcodes!  These will cost you from $150 to $1,500 depending on your company’s revenue.  It takes you about two days to get the company prefix and you get the data generator to generate your barcode image which will be in a TIF format or some other form that you can treat like any other image you can then incorporate into your products’ labels.

Now, unless you are needing dozens of barcodes, what you may be more interested in is buying individual codes from someone who already has a company prefix and is willing to sell you one or more of their own to you.  After all, they originally had 999,999 unique numbers and may have only used, say, a hundred of the them). 

I purchased mine from Mozian and was quite satisfied for the price of $29.95.   http://www.mozian.com/upc.html 

After purchasing, my barcodes came the next day via email and I then imported the files to my Print Shop label.  The barcodes were larger than I needed so I converted them into an image I could cut and paste; shrink or enlarge.  You can do this easily in print shop or Adobe Photoshop.  Just make sure the vertical lines stay intact (mine are no more than 1/4″ high and maybe an inch long).  You can make them fatter, taller, thinner or whatever but make sure all the lines are there. 

Make note of the actual numbers at the bottom of the code so you can put them in, too.  These are for when a barcode doesn’t scan for some reason and the store cashier will enter them in by hand (We have all seen this happen from time to time).  Hint:  Make the numbers big enough for those of us who are nearsighted!

There is no big mystery.  The GS1 or Mozian may ask you what kinds of products you will be coding but that’s no biggie.  Obviously, Mozian, who originally bought their company prefix code from GS1 in order to have codes for their music, has sold hundreds if not thousands of codes to folks like me who sell granola bars.

Hope this helped get you started.

One thing about having your own business is the aspect of keeping on, keeping on.  I am the first to admit how long the days get and the tedium of the mundane tasks associated with business.  I like to create.  I love to invent.  I get all excited when I come up with an idea that has potential to help others and maybe make a little money, too!

But the everydayishness of business is rather like answering an alarm clock.  It’s something you have to do and get on through it.  Sorting out receipts, filing, inventorying, etc.  It is all part of the package.  It is that part that I get weary of.  It is that part that can drive me to distraction and I will be tempted to quit or give up.

But I never do actually quit.  I do two things, though.  First I step back and pray and clear my mind.  Then, I ask myself how important this task is at this time.  Can I let it go?  Can I delegate the job?  Can it wait?

Being in your own busness is a very responsible thing.  You may be tempted to think when you look at others who have some or a lot of success to say how lucky they are. 

Nonsense!  I can tell you, anyone who has their own business and tries to make a living outside of a regular paycheck EARNS every dollar they get!  Whether they sell granola bars or sell ebooks or buy and sell real estate or whatever.

 Sometimes I am envious of the 9 to 5er who just has to show up, give 8 hours and then collect a small paycheck every two weeks or so.  But then I remember the trade offs.  They tell you when to eat lunch, when to vacation, when to go potty(!) or go home, when you can retire, decide to fire you or lay-off, etc.
 
No, it is hard to be your own boss but then this boss tells me I can take vacation whenever I want, eat when I want, vacation when I want, etc.  This boss decides how much I get paid. 
So, it may be a drudge to file, to sort receipts for taxes, to call vendors,…but I remember I like my boss ; ) and want to treat her right.  So, I keep on, keeping on…

Internet Marketing.  Entreprenuership.  Self-employment.

I got it bad!  Hi, this is Cheryl Hines and I love to create.  Internet Marketing combines my creativity with being an entreprenuer and a work at home mom.

I am not the first and I certainly won’t be the last work at home mom to find Internet marketing so perfect.  I intend to make this site a useful resource for others who like me see the charm of earning a living from home using a PC and an Internet connection.