Can you make money GIVING free take out menus to restaurants in your area?
Yes… if you know what you’re doing.
Don Alm shares his expertise in the matter…
Yup…”Take-Out Menu Advertising” is a GOOD, FAST, Money-Maker….contrary to other’s opinions.
Many, many times…I’ve started on a Monday and by the end of the day I have $750 in my pocket and by the end of the week I have $4,000 to $5,000.
This is an “Obligation” sales program; which means you offer something FREE to a restaurant owner and he “rewards” you by giving you the names of people who are “obligated” to him.
His insurance agent, heating & air cond guy, carpenter, plumber, electrician, lawn maintenance guy…etc…PLUS…his REGULAR CUSTOMERS who own businesses are ALL GREAT prospects for this program.
I get a restaurant owner to agree to let me provide him with FREE “TakeOut Menus”…then get him to GIVE ME A LIST (I provide him with a suggested List) of his suppliers and customers.
Then…when I go see or call this “List of Leads” I merely tell them “Karen over at Karen’s Koffee Kup told me to call you!” and I get right in.
The RESTAURANT is KEY to this program!
The success of this program is based on the POPULARITY of the restaurant. I choose FAMILY Style restaurants where LOCALS eat. If I’m new to a town I ask motel desk clerks where the POPULAR “Family” restaurants are.I then walk in and ask if the owner is in. As I’m waiting I notice if they already have Take Out Menus next to the cash register.
If they do…fine…I simply ask the owner if I could supply them to him for freebies.
If I don’t see any…I show him my sample and ask if I can provide similar Menus to him free of charge
To both questions they’ll either say “Yes!” or “No!” They usually say, “Sounds OK to me! What do I need to do?”
To which I then get him to sign my “Location Agreement” and fill in the “Preferred Advertisers List”.
Sometimes I even have him call some of his suppliers and introduce me.
Most of the time I just pop in cold or call and tell the prospect over the phone that “Karen asked me to call.”…then explain what I’m doing.
As for Pricing;
I usually supply 5,000 Menus for 6 mos…for which I charge $260 and I have 15 to 20 spaces to fill…depending on the Menu. Chinese Takeouts are the largest.If you or anyone else are interested in this… getting some Sample Menus, Lists and Location and Advertising Agreements…so you can look somewhat “professional” when you give this a try….send me an email.
Don Alm
dalm@wizzards.net











tom allen on February 26th, 2007 at 11:59 am
read your info on menu advertising biz,would be interested in any info.thanks
Gina Angelo on September 20th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
How do the menus get printed in a cost effective manner if you are not working with a company?
Much appreciated
Steve on October 1st, 2007 at 7:32 am
Sounds workable, how about the priniting costs
Paul on November 18th, 2007 at 2:00 am
Menus can be printed at very resonable costs, so its not just workable, I’m doing it!
David Lambeth on December 15th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Don, very well written article and to the point. I am interested in starting this. Please email more info.
Moe Najjar on January 17th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
I am interested in having someone doing my take out menus in exchange for some references like Don does. If anyone is interested, email me: cruisinchicken@gmail.com.
Brian Pringle on April 28th, 2008 at 7:29 am
I am very interested in this Don, would appreciate the info