Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts with the label Starting A Business

5 Things to Research Before Working With a Startup

You've poured your heart and soul into building your company. Make sure any newcomer you bring into your business has done the same -- and has the processes in place to protect your investments . When you’re running a business, it’s easy to get in over your head. Taking something from concept through execution to successful brand never sounds easy, but there’s always something you overlook at first glance. Even the most seasoned entrepreneurs work with others to cover their bases. Niche startups and outsourcing exist precisely to fill business-needs gaps in specialized expertise. It’s also why software as a service (SaaS) solutions are as popular as they are, and why there always will be new, agile startups hitting the field. Working with a startup is very tempting. Smaller businesses are more likely to cater to your needs rather than offer you a one-size-fits-all option. Smaller shops can focus on customer service, with potentially less on their bottom line. The

How to Write a Business Plan

Now that you understand why you need a business plan and you've spent some time doing your homework gathering the information you need to create one, it's time to roll up your sleeves and get everything down on paper. The following pages will describe in detail the seven essential sections of a business plan: what you should include, what you shouldn't include, how to work the numbers and additional resources you can turn to for help. With that in mind, jump right in. Executive Summary Within the overall outline of the business plan, the executive summary will follow the title page. The summary should tell the reader what you want. This is very important. All too often, what the business owner desires is buried on page eight. Clearly state what you're asking for in the summary. Business Description The business description usually begins with a short description of the industry. When describing the industry, discuss the present outlook as well as future po

DIPP To Rank States On Basis Of The Success Of Their Startup Policies; Invites Feedback From Ecosystem Stakeholders

The Efforts Taken By The States Before March 2018 Will Be Considered And Final Ranking Will be Announced In June 2018   The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, DIPP is now inviting feedback from startup ecosystem stakeholders to rank the states and union territories on the basis of the success achieved in implementing their startup policies. A feedback mechanism has been opened on the  official website of Startup India . As mentioned on the Startup India website, the said stakeholders include startups, mentors, investors, accelerators, incubators and the government bodies. “For this exercise, all actions and initiatives undertaken by states on or before March 2018 will be considered. Some of the parameters, which was essential for states to have a well-defined startup policy running, include having a startup cell or helpline and a mobile or web portal to act as a one-stop-shop for all queries on starting up, the size of the mentor network created by the state g

10 Key Steps To Getting A Small Business Loan

Small business loans are available from a large number of traditional and alternative lenders. Small business loans can help your business grow, fund new research and development, help you expand into new territories, enhance sales and marketing efforts, allow you to hire new people, and much more. This article sets forth 10 key steps to take in getting a small business loan, with some practical advice and insight on the lending process. 1. Understand the Different Types of Small Business Loans Available There are multiple types of small business loans available. The options vary depending on your business needs, the length of the loan, and the specific terms of the loan. Here are a number of small business loan choices: Small business line of credit.  Under a small business line of credit, your business can access funds from the lender as needed. There will be a cap on the amount of funds accessible (e.g., $100,000) but a line of credit is useful for managing a company

9 Low-Budget Marketing Strategies Every Startup Can Afford

Many cash-strapped startups abandon the "superfluous" investment of marketing. Big mistake, because marketing can actually provide that cash. Startups face many challenges, but none as precarious or life-threatening as the struggle to remain cash positive. The  Minority Business Development Agency  (MBDA) estimates the average cost to start a business to be  in the neighborhood of $30,000 ; and there’s significant variance in this figure, with some businesses starting out for just a few hundred dollars and others requiring upwards of millions. But, remember: These numbers are only startup costs. In addition, new companies have to pay thousands a month in team salaries, office-leasing fees, raw materials and other ongoing operational costs -- all while struggling to secure enough revenue to stay afloat. Caught in this dire financial balancing act, most entrepreneurs end up abandoning investments they come to view as superfluous, such as marketing and advertisi

3 Simple Product Development Lessons All Entrepreneurs Should Remember

Here are the things I have always kept in mind in continually working to evolve the companies I've run. There is a long simmering, rather interesting argument around the notion of "nurture vs. nature" as it relates to human beings and their abilities. The Eddie Murphy film  Trading Places  was actually based on it, with a bet revolving around whether he could learn the commodities business without being born a blue blood. I’m often asked whether entrepreneurs are born or made, and I firmly believe that entrepreneurs are born. Why? Because the mark of a good entrepreneur is that you’re never satisfied, you’re not OK with the status quo and you’re out to change the world no matter how large or small. Even looking back to my youth, I was always the kid in school to ask “why?” and I’m sure that rings true for many of us. It’s that energy -- the unwillingness to stand pat and let that “why” vanish from the back of your mind -- that drives  successful  entrepren