A Little Business Know-How from the Chick in the Skirt…
Posted in Business Basics on Dec 13th, 2007
Do you have a great business or marketing idea that has proven to be very effective? Would you be willing to share it with other entrepreneurs? If so, please post it here in the comments section. Your time and efforts are very appreciated…
Posted in Business Basics on Dec 11th, 2007
Bah, humbug! That’s right. In the spirit of the season, down with free business plan templates! Listen, no two business plans are alike. So you can’t fill in the blanks or simply cut and paste from an existing plan. If you even think you can pull this off, be ready to fail…miserably.
While I don’t recommend using [...]
Posted in Business Basics on Dec 8th, 2007
The benefits of having a business plan include:
Helping you to clarify your vision and deciding whether or not to forge ahead with the idea;
Determining if your product and/or service has a sufficient market to support it and whether or not it will be profitable;
Providing an estimate of your start-up costs and how much you’ll need [...]
Posted in Business Basics on Dec 8th, 2007
I’ve worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs and can’t begin to count the number of times I’ve been asked, “So, Why do I need a business plan?” Well, let’s put it this way. Do you want a successful business? Because, developing a well-thought-out and organized business plan dramatically increases your odds of succeeding as an entrepreneur. [...]
Posted in Business Basics, Word of the Week on Dec 8th, 2007
There is a mountain of evidence to suggest that people who plan are more successful. Plans aren’t always followed, but people armed with a plan are usually better off. The same is true in the world of business. You need to have a plan to understand where you are today to get where you would [...]
Posted in Business Basics, Business Extras on Dec 8th, 2007
New businesses share a lot in common. They are new, they are businesses and they are usually operating on a shoestring. But the last area that you want to nix from your budget is marketing. This is an absolutely critical activity, which doesn’t need to break the bank to be effective. Below are some proven, [...]
Posted in Business Basics on Dec 7th, 2007
At one point or another, we have all dreamed the big dream…the dream of starting a business! But before taking the plunge, there are some points and issues to take under consideration. Ask yourself the following questions:
Are you in a position to give up your current full or part-time job? Will you be able to [...]
Posted in Business Basics on Dec 5th, 2007
I have spent an inordinate amount of time answering questions related to Business Plans on WikiAnswers (www.wiki.answers.com) to help budding entrepreneurs learn the ins and outs of properly constructing these important documents. If you have questions about writing a business plan, you might want to check these out:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_should_gaps_in_management_be_addressed_in_a_business_plan
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_find_information_on_your_competitors_for_your_business_plan
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_a_SWOT_analysis_and_do_you_need_one_in_your_business_plan
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Should_you_use_business_planning_software_to_create_your_business_plan
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_most_common_mistakes_made_when_developing_a_business_plan
Posted in Business Basics on Dec 3rd, 2007
A number of years ago, I had the privilege of working for a brilliant man. He was an educated business professional, a skilled engineer and a gifted inventor. The problem? He had no clue what cash flow was and eventually ran his business into the ground. At the closing of each month, the first [...]
Posted in Business Basics on Dec 1st, 2007
I’ve been scouring the Web trying to come up with a list of sites that are tops for entrepreneurs. Of course, The Babe of Business ranks numero uno. But here are a few others worth checking out:
TannedFeet (www.tannedfeet.com) - Okay, not your prettiest site, but packed with helpful information on writing a business plan, marketing [...]
