A Few Benefits of Having Your Own Home Based Independent Arbitration Business

Independent Arbitrators are in great demand and bad economic times create windfall revenues

No nights, weekends, holiday or large capital requirements

A legitimate six-figure potential income

Our proven turnkey, step by step Professional Debt Arbitration course is easily learned and implemented (no need to reinvent the wheel… just execute the step by step information that we will provide you).

Fast start up with very lower overhead business expenses

Rapid cash flow, sometimes in a matter of days, usually in a couple of weeks. Our goal is to get you profitable in 14 days!

No accounts receivable, inventory, equipment or employees required

No government licensing and federal regulations!

One of the many reasons this very unsaturated, untapped, profession has helped individuals reach their dream of financial independence is because you can start slow and grow at your own pace.

There’s no pressure of owning an over priced franchise and the headaches that come along with i

There are many more advantages to this lucrative business opportunity, that if listed, you would be here until the next leap year. If you have additional questions that our Q&A, and video presentation did not answer, please do not hesitate to contact me at 508-595-9567.

Give me a call I answer my own phone!

* QUESTIONS & ANSWERS *

We have included this Q&A to answer several questions you may be pondering. We understand that you do have questions. Hopefully, this Q&A helps you understand how simple Independent Arbitration really is….

Q. Do I need to be licensed for this business?

A. No. There are no federal or state licensing requirements to perform this service at the present time. If and when that occurs, those of us already in the business will be "grandfathered in" which is the normal custom in most industries.

Q. How long does it take before I start generating business revenue?

A. Normally on average, anywhere from four days to two weeks.

Q. Is there a lot of competition ?

A. Very few people are presently doing this. There are so many cases available, 10,000 people couldn’t handle them in ten years. You can never run out of business.

Q. What is the average fee ?

A. The average dispute is around $12,000- - $20,000. The average fee is around $2,500. However, large cases abound and sometimes you can generate $5,000 - $15,000 or more in fees. It is quite common and not out of the ordinary.

Q. Am I smart enough to do this ?

A. If you have the knowledge, keep it simple, stay with my approach and policies, and use basic everyday common sense, you will succeed. It is not complex. It’s just a matter of knowing what procedures to follow. We teach you everything.

Q. Can I do this in my city or state ?

A. Independent Arbitration is a people business, not a geographic one.

Q. When do I get paid ?

A. You receive a retainer check at the beginning of the case and a cashier’s check in the full amount of your fee at the time of settlement. You do not bill accounts nor carry receivables. You are paid in advance, before settlement closing.

Q. Is it hard to negotiate with lawyers ?

A. No. You are doing much of the work for them and they get guaranteed payment without the hassle. They prefer to work on more profitable and complex cases. In many cases you are doing them a favor. We will teach you.

Q. Where do I get my accounts ?

A. In less than one week you will have accounts; we even provide your first client ! We teach and cover this in great detail.

Q. Is this similar to the collection business ?

A. We are not engaged in collections. We work on behalf of the debtor not the collector.

Q. Do I only handle one case per debtor ?

A. No. You may handle several now and several in the future- "where there is smoke, there is fire". Also you will get referrals from creditors, debtors, attorneys, business professionals and business owners.

Q. Why should I pay you to teach me ?

A. Maybe you shouldn't ! I'll let you be the judge after you review my video and the pages of this site. There are many other ways to make money. But this happens to be the easiest, simplest, fastest and most profitable way to make money and not invest a lot of time and money to get started. It pays better than anything I have seen in over 23 years of business experience, except making movies, defense contracting, running third world countries and winning the lottery. The decision is yours.

Q. Why are you so willing to share this knowledge with me when you are already successful and financially independent ?

A. Good question. Simple response. There is enough work to keep the population of Italy busy. Besides my first love is to teach & this is a wonderful opportunity to do some on my own terms.

Additional Questions? If you have any additional questions or would like more information. Please contact us with your questions at :

" 508-595-9567

Negotiating Penalties & Interest With The IRS

by James A. Gage

Prepare for battle. Enter a negotiation without proper preparation and you've already lost. Start with yourself. Make sure you are clear on what you really want out of the arrangement. Research the other side to better understand their needs as well as their strengths and weaknesses. Enlist help from experts, such as an accountant, attorney or tech guru.

Timing is everything. Timing is important in any negotiation. Sure, you must know what to ask for. But be sensitive to when you ask for it. There are times to press ahead, and times to wait. When you are looking your best is the time to press for what you want. But beware of pushing too hard and poisoning any long-term relationship.

Leave behind your ego. The best negotiators either don't care or don't show they care about who gets credit for a successful deal. Their talent is in making the other side feel like the final agreement was all their idea.

Fine tune your listening skills. The best negotiators are often quiet listeners who patiently let others have the floor while they make their case. They never interrupt. Encourage the other side to talk first. That helps set up one of negotiation's oldest maxims: Whoever mentions numbers first, loses. While that's not always true, it's generally better to sit tight and let the other side go first. Even if they don't mention numbers, it gives you a chance to ask what they are thinking.

You have not, because you ask not ! Another tenet of negotiating is "Go high, or go home." As part of your preparation, define your highest justifiable price. As long as you can argue convincingly, don't be afraid to aim high. But no ultimatums, please. Take-it-or-leave-it offers are usually out of place.

Anticipate compromise. You should expect to make concessions and plan what they might be. Of course, the other side is thinking the same, so never take their first offer. Even if it's better than you'd hoped for, practice your best look of disappointment and politely decline. You never know what else you can get.

Offer and expect commitment. The glue that keeps deals from unraveling is an unshakable commitment to deliver. You should offer this comfort level to others. Likewise, avoid deals where the other side does not demonstrate commitment.

Don't take on their problems. In most negotiations, you will hear all of the other side's problems and reasons they can't give you what you want. They want their problems to become yours, but don't let them. Instead, deal with each as they come up and try to solve them. If their "budget" is too low, for example, maybe there are other places that money could come from.

Stick to your guns. As an individual and a business owner, you likely have a set of guiding principles — values that you just won't compromise. If you find negotiations crossing those boundaries, it might be a deal you can live without.

Close with confirmation. At the close of any meeting even if no final deal is struck recap the points covered and any areas of agreement. Make sure everyone confirms. Follow-up with appropriate letters or emails; do not leave behind loose ends.

Will The New FHA Short Sale Guidelines Cause The loan Modification Business to Become Extinct ?

by James A. Gage

One of the many exciting avenues of income within the Independent Arbitration Business is negotiating loan modifications/forbearance on individuals facing foreclosure.

The Federal Housing Authority is shouting from the roof tops the following media release:

New FHA Guidelines Make Short Sales Easier than Ever!

“As if increased minimum wage laws and ultra-low interest rates weren't good enough, short sale investors will be downright delirious to learn about changes to FHA laws set to begin in 2009. On December 24th, 2008 the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released "Mortgage Letter 2008-43"....despite the inconspicuous title, this is a powerful boon to every short sale investor in the nation.”

The FHA would like us to believe that they are a more user friendly organization and are committed to helping the short sale real estate investor. I guess that may be exciting if you are an investor looking to take on pre-foreclosed properties, but that does nothing to help the individuals who want to save and stay in their homes.

So if anything this will motivate homeowners to engage our negotiating skills to save and keep them in their homes. They will now be overwhelmed by real estate investors trying to convince them to hand over their homes to them in the short sale process. Now don’t get me wrong I too am a real estate investor, using the profits I make off my successful negotiating practice to invest in pre-foreclosures, lease options and probate real estate; however not every home owner who has become delinquent must sell or lose their homes.

Most individuals have fallen behind due to the lose of a job, illness or divorce; cash flow is usually a short term problem and they are able to get back on track with the help of a trained professional negotiate – that’s where we come in! As you can plainly see these new guidelines will only help us, rather then hurt our practices.

As I pointed out at the beginning of this article negotiating with banks and mortgage companies for individuals is just another revenue stream you can bring into your own Independent Arbitration Practice, for a full overview of the business click here Business Overview .

Other Related Articles

Tips to Avoid Prospect Rejection before Your Appointment

Do you set yourself up for failure before you even set foot in the prospect's home or place of business? Whether you are opening up your own professional arbitration firm, are a real estate agent or salesperson looking to improve your conversion rates, there are pitfalls that can be simply avoided by following these common courtesies.

1. The first phone call. A prospect calls and leaves you a message with their first and last name. Return the call ASAP and begin with Ms. or Mr. (last name). Be formal until they say call me (first name). Be sure you return the call if and when they designate a time frame in the call or not too early in the morning hours or too late.


2. Setting up an appointment. Make sure that all decision makers (husband, wife) will be able to be there for the appointment if possible or set up when they all can be present. If it is not possible for all to be present then make sure you can visit via phone prior to the appointment to introduce yourself. If there are children, see if there is a best time to come where it will not conflict with routines.


3. Place a call the day before the appointment. This is to confirm the prospect's convenience as well as all parties to be present.


4. Be on time. This is a respect extended to your prospect. Get to the meeting place early and park down the street to gather thoughts and to assure you will be ringing the door bell right on the dot. Be sure you have spit out the gum before leaving the car.


5. Dress the Part. Make sure you are dressed professionally and clothes are in good repair. Business professional is best with ladies allowed a little flare but not over the top. Make sure your hair is groomed and shoes shined. This does make a difference. Never let your appearance be the obstacle before you open your mouth. This includes odors (avoid food odors that penetrate your clothes at lunchtime i.e. Mexican food) Don’t wear heavy cologne or perfume as the prospect's may have an allergy or respiratory medical conditions or just not like the scent.


6. Never park your car in the driveway. Unless there is no street parking. By parking in the drive when there is nearby street parking is making a statement that you are controlling.


7. Carry your presentation/materials in a professional binder or case. Again it is a statement of image, organization and professionalism.


8. Hi there. When the door opens know the prospect's name and call them again Mr. or Ms. (last name) unless they have told you otherwise.


9. Time to shine! Have your hand free to extend a handshake. Not too soft of a handshake nor to hard. This is your first impression so make it good!


10. Showtime! As you enter through the door remember you are a guest but be confident and take control of the meeting from the beginning to the end.

These first steps that if followed will keep the prospect from shutting down the opportunity or contract before you have a chance to dazzle them with your presentation and negotiating skills.

More Related Negotiating Articles Click Here

Why Do 90% of Home Based Businesses Fail?

by James A. Gage

Everyone has dreamed about starting a business and being their own boss at one time or another in their life. Most who pursue that dream find only frustration and failure.

Since the mid 80s, as many as 90% of new businesses have closed in their first year. According to a recent survey of failed business owners, "lack of planning" was the number one reason listed for new business failure. Other reasons included were: lack of experience, money, and low sales.

It may be that most people just get tired of feeling used and unappreciated at their jobs. They get their inspiration for entrepreneurship out of frustration. They see a company that they feel could be operated better, and they make the decision to go out and try it themselves. They are sometimes shocked at the overwhelming task of operating and growing a successful business. From lack of planning, and out of total frustration, they close their business and return to their employee status.

It's really a shame; there are numerous talented people out there who could possibly build a better company. But their lack of planning from the start closes the door on their odds of success, sometimes before they even open the doors of their new business.

One of the most important calculations when planning a new business, which most new entrepreneurs grossly underestimate, is their personal cost of living. They list all the expenses their new business will have, but they neglect to recognize the total of their everyday personal expenses. The household bills still show up in the mail box, even though the chance of showing a profit in new business might take up to three years.

The number one reason people listed for wanting to be self-employed was, "I want to work my own hours." The time needed to get a new business up and running is a main planning issue also underestimated. New business owners most often need to invest many more hours than they did while working for someone else. Most new entrepreneurs quickly come to realize they have committed to more than the normal forty-hour work schedule. Business owners work an average of sixty hours a week.

Studies show that businesses who do survive longer had more cash up front to invest. Other survival factors included higher education and ten years or more previous experience in their field. Age is also a factor for success. According to a 2002 United States Census Bureau report, most successful business owners are over the age of thirty-five.

If you are considering starting up a business of your own, do the proper planning. Research the industry you're interested in. Get yourself educated about your new business. Avoid taking large loans to fund your new venture. Instead, keep your business idea in proportion to the amount of money you have to invest. There's always a way to work out your idea without exceeding your means.

With as many as 90% of new businesses closing in their first year, knowing the reasons for those statistics is crucial to starting a successful business. Being self-employed can be gratifying and rewarding. With the right planning and niche business, success is achievable.

4 Types of Arbitration

by James A. Gage

When we think about arbitration, we think of a neutral third party who is empowered by 3 individual parties to decide the outcome of a dispute, but that is just scratching the surface as we will soon see.

There are 4 types of Arbitration: Binding, non-binding, court appointed and what I invented and advocate “Independent Arbitration”.

Binding Arbitration: The parties agree to waive their right to go to court for a judicial decision which is binding by the arbitrators ruling.

Non-Binding Arbitration: The parties have the discretion to abide by the arbitrator's decision or seek other venues. In my 20 plus years of arbitration experience this is the least appealing and successful form of arbitration; only the attorneys and arbitrator make money, and the parties rack up the venue bills.

Court Appointed Arbitration: Is just that ordered by the court. The judge elects an arbitrator of their choice to hear and render a ruling – which by the way is binding.

And finally, we come to what I invented and strongly advocate as a business model...

Independent Arbitration: Some have connected this form of arbitration with names like dispute resolution, ADR, debt settlement, debt arbitration and debt negotiating to name a few. However, with this type of arbitration you will notice vast differences. With this type of arbitration we represent only one party (usually the defendant if it happens to be a litigation case). We do not stay neutral in the dispute, but rather work as a fiduciary, representing our client to achieve out of court settlement, IRS tax issues and delinquent accounts payable.

We set our own fees based on what we achieve for settlement for our clients, not an hourly rate like attorneys. And since we are not employed by agencies like the above 3 forms of arbitration, we are free to work as much or as little, increase or modify our fee structure, and work as much or as little as we desire.

Why Would A Business Choose To Use An Arbitrator Instead of An Attorney?

Few businesses elect the expense of litigation if arbitration is available. Put simply, arbitration is a business like forum for resolution of business disputes and while the elaborate safeguards of the legal system are often not available, the need for prompt and private resolution of disputes seems to convince most of our business clients to use independent arbitration. For those clients used to non American systems of law, arbitration seems a welcome and familiar way to resolve disputes and protect the rights of all concerned. Besides attorneys work a principle called billable hours, we work on results! If we do not settle the case we don’t get paid, whereas, attorneys get paid whether they settle the case or not; you can see why this would be a motivating factor when a business owner is deciding who to engage to represent them.

Negotiating Penalties & Interest With The IRS

by James A. Gage

Negotiating with the IRS is not as hard as one would imagine when it comes to penalties and interest! Let me qualify that statement before I get a flood of e-mails telling me I don’t know what I’m talking about.

Let's say, you've gotten an IRS tax bill from your client to negotiate and not only does it state that they owe more taxes than they think, but it lists additional fees as well. These are penalty and interest fees, and they're standard IRS procedure. But is there anything that you can do about them?

First, interest is statutory, meaning its federal law- that under no circumstance and or situations can this interest be waived, unless the tax is forgiven or shown to be in error! However, interest can be deferred if you enter your client into an installment agreement or if you obtain a moratorium.

Secondly, penalties can be waived – finally some good news! However, they can only be waived after the initial principle, interest and penalties have been paid in full. Then you may apply for “Abatement”, AKA waiver of all penalties on IRS Form 843; of course this is not a guaranteed approval, but is based on the circumstances behind the delinquency(this is where you negotiating skills on paper will serve you well).

Therefore, you must show "reasonable cause", which simply means a good excuse. IRS agents are specifically instructed to carefully analyze any sound reason that you may have which could have led to your delay in filing or paying the proper tax. As a matter of fact, the Internal Revenue Manual lists seven categories of excuses for abating any tax penalty except fraud:

1. Death or serious illness of the taxpayer or immediate family.


2. Unavoidable absence.


3. Destruction of the business or records by fire or other casualty.


4. Inability to determine the tax because of reasons beyond the taxpayer's control.


5. Civil disturbances.


6. Lack of funds, but only when the taxpayer can demonstrate the exercise of ordinary business care and prudence, and


7. Other reasons establishing that the taxpayer exercised ordinary business care but could not comply within the prescribed time limits.

This is one of the many factors you must keep in mind when negotiating an IRS tax situation for your client as an Independent Arbitrator.

Ten Tips for Successful Negotiating

by James A. Gage

The ability to negotiate successfully is crucial for survival in today's changing business world. Negotiation is fun if you know what you're doing. So for all you busy executives, here are James Gage's Tips for Successful Negotiating:

1. Develop "negotiation awareness" Successful negotiators are assertive and challenge everything. They know that everything is negotiable.

"Challenge" means not taking things at face value. It means thinking for yourself. You must be able to make up your own mind; as opposed to believing everything you are told. On a practical level, this means you have the right to question the asking price of that new car. It also means you have an obligation to question everything you read in the newspaper or hear on television. You cannot negotiate unless you are willing to challenge the validity of the opposing position.




Being assertive means asking for what you want and refusing to take "no" for an answer. Practice expressing your feelings without anxiety or anger. Let people know what you want in a non-threatening way. Practice 'I' statements. For example, instead of saying, "You shouldn't do that," try substituting, "I don't feel comfortable when you do that."




It should be noted that there is a difference between being assertive and being aggressive. You are assertive when you take care of your own interests while maintaining respect for the interests of others. When you see to your own interests with a lack of regard for other people's interests, you are aggressive. Being assertive is part of negotiation awareness.



2. You must become a good listener. Negotiators are detectives. They ask probing questions and then shut up. The other negotiator will tell you everything you need to know - all you have to do is listen.

Many conflicts can be resolved easily if we learn how to listen. The catch is that listening is the forgotten art. We are so busy making sure that people hear what we have to say that we forget to listen.




You can become an effective listener by allowing the other person to do most of the talking. Follow the 75/25 Rule -- listen 75 percent of the time, and talk only 25 percent of the time. Encourage the other negotiator to talk by asking lots of open-ended questions -- questions that can't be answered with a simple "yes" or "no."



3. Be prepared. Gather as much pertinent information prior to the negotiation. What are their needs? What pressures do they feel? What options do they have? Doing your homework is vital to successful negotiation.


4. Have high expectations. People who aim higher do better. If you expect more, you'll get more. Successful negotiators are optimists. A proven strategy for achieving higher results is opening with an extreme position. Sellers should ask for more than they expect to receive, and buyers should offer less than they are prepared to pay.


5. Be patient. This is very difficult for Americans. We want to get it over with. Whoever is more flexible about time has the advantage. Your patience can be devastating to the other negotiator if they are in a hurry.


6. Focus on satisfaction. Help the other negotiator feel satisfied. Satisfaction means that their basic interests have been fulfilled. Don't confuse basic interests with positions: Their position is what they say they want; their basic interest is what they really need to get. Always make your opponent think they have won!


7. Don't make the first move. The best way to find out if the other negotiator's aspirations are low is to induce them to open first. They may ask for less than you think. If you open first, you may give away more than is necessary. A good example of this is something I learned in real estate investing a long time ago; ‘the first to mention price first always loses!


8. Don't accept the first offer. If you do, the other negotiator will think they could have done better. (It was too easy.) They will be more satisfied if you reject the first offer -- because when you eventually say "yes," they will conclude that they have pushed you to your limit. Therefore, always leave yourself a number of concession points or a financial spread when dealing with numbers.


9. Don't make unilateral concessions. Whenever you give something away, get something in return. Always tie a string: "I'll do this if you do that", in the legal arena this is known as “Quid pro Quo”. Otherwise you are inviting the other negotiator to ask you for more.


10. Gage's Law of Success: Always be willing to walk away! Never negotiate without options.

If you depend too much on the positive outcome of a negotiation, you lose your ability to say "no." Clients often ask me, "James, if you could give me one piece of advice about negotiating, what would it be?" My answer, without hesitation, is: "Always be willing to walk away."

Is Mentoring Necessary To Be Successful in Independent Arbitration ?

by James A. Gage

Behind every successful person, you'll find at least one or more mentors who helped them achieve that success. I know it's been true in my case. There are about ten people who have mentored me in one way or another over the last 25 years in business. Each has brought me something unique that only they could share, and I am immensely grateful for the impact they have made on my life and in the success of my business ventures.

In fact, my passion for creating viable home based businesses is a concept I learned from one of my mentors who is a multi-millionaire many times over – why re-invent the wheel !

Ask any successful person how they got to where they are. Most will answer, "I had a great mentor." What exactly does mentoring accomplish?

Mentoring accelerates learning and growth the way a good coach keeps a team's energy and focus on their goals.

Mentors share their knowledge and expertise without hesitation.

Mentors want you to succeed. They raise the bar, challenging you to set your goals higher.

Mentorship is Wisdom without the pain of mistakes.

The Time for Change is Now!

You came to this web site www.NegotiatingForALiving.com because you are looking for a change. You are looking to take control of your future and accomplish great things. Well, you came to the right place. All the tools you need to build a successful independent arbitration business are here.

Did you know that 75% of millionaires do not have college degrees? Want an example? Bill Gates ! He never finished his college education, but had great mentors!

Now before you send me nasty e-mails, let me state right here, I’m an advocate of college degrees – I have many my self. However, just because you have a college degree does not guarantee success in life. If that were the case everyone would go to college or at least make the attempt too.

So James what are you actually saying? What I am saying is this; what makes people successful is specialized knowledge, a niche market and a mentor(s) to get you where you need to be - fast !

I am not here to insult your intelligence, anything can be figured out in over a period of time. But how many times do you want to fail or come up on the short end of the stick? There are people who can read a book and or listen to a CD and apply what they have absorbed, but that only accounts for about 8% of the population!

My Pledge to You

It’s plain and simple…"I will mentor (no $8.00 an hour employee reading off a script) a maximum of 15 people, that way I am available for you when you need me!"

And since no two people have the exact same financial situation or goals. Instead of offering cookie-cutter programs and one-size-fits-all methods, we designs solutions and a unique business plan that meet your specific needs.

You will receive a world class education in the Independent Arbitration opportunity with my negotiating skills and expertise of over 20 plus years at your beck and call. And much, much more …

For more detailed information click on the link below:

Click Here

to learn more about our unique One-on-One Mentoring Programs in Debt Arbitration.