is a raffle a good way to market a new business?

[Luckymitten503]

My wife and I have started a cleaning service business in Naperville. We are thinking of low cost ways to market. We have already done the facebook angle, radio ad, flyers around the service area, we also have other businesses in the area that are helping get our name out. The raffle idea came as a way to promote our business and to help people in need. I would like to give the money to local families in need, march of dimes, and so on. I figure the marketing itself would be the gain. We would give away free cleaning.

[Steve D]

In most states, only a not-for-profit organization can operate a raffle. You could, however, look for charities that are having fund raisers with things like a raffle or silent auction and give away a cleaning that way (silent auctions are good, since people actually read the description of the thing being given away before bidding on it)

[Branch of Success]

Give aways are a great idea for promoting your business. As the other responder mentioned, donating your services to a fund-raising event is an easier way to do the "raffle". This way, you don't have to worry about promoting the raffle itself and all the logistics with that. Make sure you create a nice gift certificate for the service.

Think about doing a press release stating that your service will be raffled or auctioned off at the event. Make sure your website is in the press release. This will help with your rankings on search engines and build up the reputation of your company!

[InspectorBudget]

In many states, a raffle is considered a game of chance just like lottery tickets, and you will need a gaming license.

You can imagine what this would cost, and the complex hoops you have to jump through to get it even if you qualify, which as a for-profit company, you do not.

You could put adverts into fliers and coupons, and mention that a portion of the charge will be donated
to local charities. This would avoid the licensing problem, and you would still achieve your objective of showing that your company is supporting local charitable organizations.