how to get started manufacturing effects?

not sure if this should be in here, or in the effects part. i was just wondering how people start up businesses selling pedals? i was reading the blurb about selling clones etc, but it seems quite difficult to have an original idea or product, then acually sell it. anyone here any experience or know how? many thanks

a few years of DIY is a good start.

Well, money is a good start. After that you need business sense. If you don't know how to manage, don't start. You will need to hire a team of people you know will deliver the goods when it comes to "new" and "innovative". If you do not specialize in anything other than business, then you will need techs, engineers, and you might have to out-source some of your material and fabrication. After that you need marketing, so you can pay a company to market your products, or get your own marketing team. Then you need a receptionist to take phone calls, then you need techs to answer technical questions...

As you can see, starting a business is not that simple, and you need to find a target market. You need to do some research to know if there is demand for something you want to offer.

Also, you need to be very VERY motivated and believe in what you want to sell.

Are you planning on anything, or just asking?

-D

Diaz, you are a man who obviously knows of what he speaks.

umcoo, even if you're an accomplished guitarist and a qualified electronics engineer, be prepared to learn a whole lot of stuff you never knew, and probably never wanted to learn.

For example, what is required to get a business license in the city where you live? How do you go about getting a state seller's permit, and collecting and reporting sales taxes? If you're going to operate your business at your home, what are the laws regulating home businesses in your city, county, and state? Some cities are so restrictive that you can buy a case of solder for personal use, but not even one spool for use by a home business.

Do you know anything about accounting? If not, be prepared to learn. You are required by law to keep accurate books.

Know anything about manufacturing engineering? You need to plan how you're going to build and test your pedals. Even if you're doing all of this yourself, you'll want to document everything just to make sure every pedal is consistent quality.

Inventory management? You have to purchase and stock parts, as well as finished pedals.

Plan to ship pedals to Europe? Be prepared to learn about RoHS compliance.

Any of your pedals going to plug into an AC socket? Better become familiar with Underwriters Laboratories.

Any pedals going to use digital circuits that operate at radio frequencies (like a microprocessor chip)? You'll need to have a government certification that they don't generate unnecessary interference with RF equipment (in the US this is an FCC ID).

The list is long and deep. Be prepared to do your homework.

oh no, i'm just asking! it just seems that new and (sometimes) innovative companies are popping up all over the place and wanted to know how! thanks for the replies