Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hello, I`m fairly new to the StartupNation forums, but have been keeping up with the newsletter and podcasts. I am in the process of setting up up a think-tank of sorts to provide consulting and guidance to people that are wanting to set up a business, market a product, or create a specific service. It will probably be an LLC with the members listed as members, any company profit split according to the level of involvement.

Basically, it will be a place where a client can post an idea that they have, and receive feedback from a business/marketing point of view, much like the forums. The biggest difference is, however, that if the idea is deemed viable and profitable by the managers, then the client is walked through the steps necessary to make that idea a reality.

For example, a client wants to start a business to fulfill a local demand not being met by any other businesses. This business `idea` is voted through, and the client recieves an approval. They are then aided with filing the necessary paperwork, receiving licensing, etc, and the business is started. Next, if they need help with the marketing, then the marketing specialist can take over, helping w/ PR, etc. For printing ads, business cards, etc, the print shop owner (also a member of the think tank) gives their quote on everything required.

Basically, it can become a one-stop-shop, of sorts, that will take the client through every step necessary for the endeavor to be profitable. The payment can be worked out; one idea is to allow the company to receive a certain percentage of the profits for the first 6-12 months, with a gradually diminishing return.

Let me know what you think, and anyone that is interested in this possibility.

An example of the core positions required is as follows:
2-3 Experienced Startup consultants
2 Marketing Consultants
1/2 Printing/Design Suppliers
2-4 Website Editing/Digital Design

Beyond that, members can be voted in as needed. Anyway, let me know what you guys think, and PM me if you are interested in participating.
 The framework is quickly coming together, and serious, experienced partners are needed.


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To revitalize your current business, or find the funds for your dream venture, visit www.TopItOffpromotions.com

For consultation and free advice, visit www.RICServices.com

Hi Paul2145r

Sounds like you have a sound idea. I have also been developing a "one-stop-shop" scenario since returning from a 6 year Consultant contract in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with several Team Members. My area of expertise is military/commercial Telecommunications and International Marketing and Business Development. Having worked in 54 countries throughout my career, I have international key contacts and recently have been selected as a VIP Member on two International Registries with access to registered individuals throughout the global marketplace. One has a public page at www.prestigewhoswho.com/profiles/jpcool

I am sending you a PM providing you with additional details. Let`s explore and develop a win-win scenario that will be mutually beneficial for all concerned including the good folks at Startup Nation and the SUN Forum Community.

Have a great weekend.

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Joe the Road Warrior Cool & Associates, Inc. where Quality is NEVER an Accident www.cool-associates.com

Your idea is good but missing a key element. The most important piece to having a successful business is the business plan which is the roadmap to executing your business idea and the tool banks and investors require for any funding. Staring a business just from concept will create a bunch of cool businesses with no real strategy. Remember the Dot Com Burst! As soon as the internet was affordable, in the late 90`s businesses with cool concepts but no real plan was created...fast foward to the year 2000 and most of those cool ideas failed.

When you set up your think tank, you need to have analysts or business plan/corporate strategy experts on board to assist in the development of the business plan. You should not greenlight any business idea until the person with the idea presents their executive summary to your team to vote on. what you should do is have a multi-level approval process.

Level 1 - Ideas are submitted
Level 2 - Ideas are voted on
Level 3 - Request for finalists to submit a formal business plan. - You can hook up finalist with mentors to facilitate the business plan writing process
Level 4 - Greenlight business plans that have a viable business model
Level 5 - Assign the business to the key people in your network as you stated in your post by having experts in different fields work with business owner on forming the company.

Be sure to check out todays show, I gave a killer elevator pitch!

p.s. Vote for me "Rocknroll333" Im a finalist in the southwest airliines vacation contest

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Laurie Champagne
CMO
Groove Rock Gear, Inc.
grooverockgear.com
grooverockmusic.com
grooverockradio.com



email: laurie[at]grooverockgear.com

Joe, sounds like we have many things in common; I have also spent some time in the Middle East, as well as a few other nations around the world. The concept that I am working on is a little bit different from most of the consulting firms that I`ve seen, but I would like to know more about you and your experience in this field.

Rocknroll333, I definately understand the necessity of a business plan for creating a financially and legally sound business. One of the core categories I mentioned needing is experienced startup consultants. These would be individuals that have dealt with all aspects of the business side, including all of the paperwork, business plans, and locating and making use of all avenues of funding. I am in the process of contacting a number of business-heads with regard to them being `guest` consultants. I.E, if it is a technology-based business, having an entrepreneur or business owner that has seen much success in the Tech side of the business world. They would be able to aide in determining the success probablity of a business, and help narrow the finalists down to a managable number.

There are a few other things in play that I have not mentioned, but would be able to discuss with those that might be interested in becoming a part of this endeavour.






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To revitalize your current business, or find the funds for your dream venture, visit www.TopItOffpromotions.com

For consultation and free advice, visit www.RICServices.com

Hello,

I think the one stop shop is a great idea to do business.  One key point of starting a business is "knowing how the business will run" to give people an insight of what they are getting involved with before launching a career in a particular area. 

Starting a small business means researching as well, not the basic of starting a small business.

Kittykat

Hi All,

I am a firm believer in the "one-shop-stop" concept and have used it many times globally during the course of my career. As an example. My area of expertise is Telecommunications and when the specification required a power plant and/or relay circuitry, my company did not have the product line - but I certainly could find a power plant manufacturer in the global marketplace and tied it to the Telecom contract. One stop shop at its finest.

Once developed and coupled with the use of "word of mouth" advertising, world-wide cultural involvement and subliminal marketing/education, I believe you have an unstoppable business machine in very specific niche markets in the global marketplace. Since returning from a 6 year Consultant contract in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Saudi ARAMCO and MOI), I have been developing the above concepts with success in several local companies. I am looking forward to "tackling" the global marketplace.

Isn`t life grand. Have a great weekend.

Joe the Road Warrior

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Joe the Road Warrior Cool & Associates, Inc. where Quality is NEVER an Accident www.cool-associates.com

Thanks for your reply Joe! I am hoping to be able to talk to you about this company/concept further. Anyone else have any feedback?

P.Redko
RIC Services


-------------------------

To revitalize your current business, or find the funds for your dream venture, visit www.TopItOffpromotions.com

For consultation and free advice, visit www.RICServices.com

Thanks for your reply, Kittykat!

We do all of the required research, social networking, and implementation necessary for the business to meet its full potential.



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To revitalize your current business, or find the funds for your dream venture, visit www.TopItOffpromotions.com

For consultation and free advice, visit www.RICServices.com

Hello paul2145r.  I actually started a partnership with this very same concept.  I will share a few of the challenges we discovered.

1) Your target market is entrepreneurs or better yet, those individuals seeking to start a business for the very first time.  Finding these people are a challenge.  We spent a great deal of money seeking out this specific market.

2) Commitment level.  This market is extremely unreliable.  The most important thing you can do well is set up a system that qualifies each prospect.  Spending quality time with somebody, just to have them bail out will drain your business.

3) Will there be enough revenue to go around.  Every one of your partners will want to earn significant revenue.  I will assume the client will have to pay as they move through the process.  To make this concept attractive to the entrepreneur you will have to offer a great deal of promise but at an affordable price.

Our company was called The 9 Consultants.  Our mission was to increase the effectiveness of Entrepreneurs, Micro & Small Businesses by providing Big Business Resources at an affordable cost.

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Thomas Burns, President
Small Business SalesForce
Professional Sales & Marketing for the Small Business
www.theSBSF.com
916-912-3880

Hello,

I saw your posting, and would be interested but don`t meet the requirements you are asking.  However, I am interested in starting my own business so your company would be of interest to me in giving me the guidance and direction that I need to do my small business.  Where can I reach you my phone or email?

Kittykat.