10 Business Owners Who Turned Services into Products

This article is a reprint of Wise Bread's contribution to OPEN Forum from American Express -- where small business owners can get advice from experts and share tips with each other.

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Offering a service can be the easiest way to start a new business, but many business owners who focus first on services find their businesses evolving. One path that evolution can take is offering a product.

While a product usually takes more work at the beginning of the process, it can be a logical choice for many companies. Products can help increase the prices of services that a given company offers, create an easier entry point for prospective customers, or even generate an entirely independent income stream. The following ten business owners developed products from their services for a whole host of different reasons.

Live Comedy Act into CDs/DVDs

Dan Nainan has taken numerous turns in his career, starting as an engineer with Intel. He took a comedy class, got into stand up and since then has sold thousands of CDs and DVDs.

RFID Installation to a Social Media Product

ODIN provides services and, now, products centered around RFIDs. Patrick Sweeny explains their transition: "ODIN handled health care and asset tracking projects, until a special client wanted some social media in the mix. The result is a software and hardware solution available off the shelf."

Marketing Services to a How-To Manual

Suzanne Meyer is the founder of the Welcome Committee, and has taken her expertise as a word-of-mouth marketer from service to product. She specializes in local clients and got many requests for franchises. Meyer chose to create a product (a "how to" instructional guide and blueprint) for marketers interested in offering similar services, rather than franchising.

Consulting into Downloads

Meredith Keller has transformed her expertise as a coach and consultant for small businesses at Smaller Box into a product that she can sell. Her consulting rates were not always in reach for all potential clients, but Keller produced a series of downloadable files on the subject areas she regularly gets asked about.

Professional Organizing to a Self-Guided Organization Program

Jessica Chapman’s organizing abilities aren’t just available as a service. She developed a self-guided training program that can help her target market get organized on their own.

Social Media Consulting to Facebook Apps

As the co-owner of a social media marketing firm, Movement Strategy, Jason Mitchell has helped create products that make it easier for his clients to manage campaigns and for his company to implement ideas. Where the company previously focused on custom social media solutions, they’ve put together specific Facebook applications they can sell, including the popular Facebook Picture Upload Contest Application.

Web Design into Software

Matt Certo’s company, WebSolvers, started out as a web design firm. Since then, the company has developed to self-service software applications that help his clients, without requiring the company to work more hours.

Business Consultant into a Membership Site

Kerri Salls is known as a consultant, but that isn’t all she does. She has transformed the program she offers to clients into a membership site, Goal Achiever's Club, available for a monthly fee.

Travel Marketing to DIY Guides

Andy Hayes has built a reputation and a business by being "that travel guy" — and he’s built products to match up with his services, too. He offers DIY guides for travel marketing that offer his knowledge to companies that want to do the work themselves.

Ebook Consulting to Ebook Templates

Kelly Kingman’s ebook expertise helped her work with clients, but also gave her the opportunity to build Ebook Evolution, a product that includes templates, guides, and all the other tools someone needs to create an ebook. She partnered with another service provider, Pamela Wilson, to get the job done.

If your business is service oriented, take a close look at your offerings. Is there something you do that can be turned into a thing people might buy? You may not end up with game-changing products such as those noted here. At the least, the exercise will give you a new perspective on your business. And it might help you create an intriguing value-ad or maketing giveaway that results in more demand for the services you provide.