Even though you pass by outdoor billboards every day, if you’re like most people, you probably never think much about them. However, did you know that those same billboards could change your life? If you own even a few billboards, you could be collecting rent checks in the mail every month instead of worrying about how to pay next month’s bills. And, contrary to popular belief, building an outdoor billboard business is not that difficult.
The outdoor billboard business is a very easy business model. The primary goal is secure the rights to build and operate the sign from the land owner. You pay the land owner rent to use his space. Then, you build the sign and rent the billboard to an advertiser. After paying a few bills, you keep the difference. The “difference” is where your fortune lies. It can range from a few thousand dollars per year to over $100,000 per sign.
Although most of the prime locations in the major metropolitan cities have been acquired, there is still significant opportunity in the outdoor advertising industry. Every time a property is rezoned, or a highway built, there may be a new opportunity to introduce a billboard. I also search for opportunity outside the city or underpeforming signs within the big cities.
Here’s another trade secret insiders do not want you to know. One of the best opportunities right now is small wooden billboards in smaller to mid-size cities. You can generally build these billboards for $4,000 to $8,000.They should generate an annual cash flow of $3,000 per sign. If you had just four of these signs, you would have an extra income of $1,000 per month. Ten would give you $30,000 in additional cash flow. There are some individuals who have 100 or more signs and receive over $300,000 in cash flow per year!
Is it difficult to break into this industry? Not really!The outdoor billboard business is not determined by the person who has the biggest checking account; it is a game of strategy. It’s also a business in which the big, public companies have no advantage over the individual. There are no scale issues or barrier to entry. In fact, the small guy has a distinct advantage over the big company because the small guy can move faster in neogtiations and build a relationship with the land owner.
The outdoor billboard business is something that can easily be done in the evenings or even just on the weekends. This isn’t meant to be a full-time job as it is not really time intensive. When you build a sign, you do it once. When you rent the advertising space on a sign, you only do that one time per year. It is a business that revolves around thought and strategy — not a whole lot of time in the field. Many people manage their billboard empire by putting in only a couple hours a week.
The outdoor billboard business is very enjoyable and rewarding. It is a true win/win business because you help advertisers sell their goods and services, and at the same time, help land owners maximize their income from their property. If you don’t enjoy sitting at a desk for hours on end, this is the perfect business for you.It requires that you leave the office and go out into the field.
Your spare time, properly focused, can yield great financial and satisfaction rewards through outdoor billboards. Just a hand full of these things can dramatically change your life for the better. So don’t ignore those billboards you see along the highways every day. Instead, think about how this business can change your life. You’ll be glad you did.
About Frank Rolfe
Frank Rolfe became the one of the largest private billboard operators in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. He eventually sold his billboard empire to a public company 14 years later and is now sharing his expertise to anyone interested in getting involved with outdoor billboards.
Rolfe is the author of the Billboard Home Study Course, which teaches you the secrets of building a successful outdoor billboard business. For more information, go to OutdoorBillboardSecrets.com.
