Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hello to All! This is my first post here (I just joined about fifteen minutes ago and am glad I stumbled across this site). I am a twenty-one year old economics major and am also in the process of launching my first company which is an internet based content site. I just finished reading `Copy This!` by Paul Orfalea who was the founder of Kinko`s up until 2000 or so. First off, a fantastic read. He gets his points across in a easy to understand way (especially his business ideas), is an excellent story teller, and inspires anyone who wants to build a successful company. His ideas are unique which is why Kinko`s had such an interesting business model and I assure you, if you read it, you will not regret it. 

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

Please feel free to contact me via PM about anything and I will repsond as soon as I can. Thanks!

Welcome chiltr4!  I agree, that is a great article!

Tell us a little more about your business.  What stage is your business at?

My partner and I have created our LLC and actually sent out for our Tax ID number today. We`re meeting with a fantastic group of web designers and programmers who work for a student run organization on my campus. We are also in the process of getting our trademark for our logo and name, and as as a copyright. This summer, we`ll be working with our team of designers/programmers and will begin our marketing efforts beginning with the new school year (so mid August or so) but we would like to have the site up and running by mid June to begin getting feedback from others (and our friends although honestly i prefer feedback from those I do not know because it will be more unbiased). So far, it has been an awesome time learning and navigating through so many different arenas from intellectual property laws to web site design. Feel free to contact me with any other questions and I`m excited to learn from everyone here as well as giving feedback to others.

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

Please feel free to contact me via PM about anything and I will repsond as soon as I can. Thanks!

Welcome to the board!!  Talking about IP, are you building your business around a new product you have developed?

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

Leslie
Founder and President
Charmed Life Products LLC
Grill Charms™… The MUST HAVE grilling accessory that is revolutionizing the American Cook-out AND The perfect gift for any occasion!
Grill Charms
                                                                                                    

We are not building our company around a product line...yet. It will be all content based, but we are looking down the road and if logostics allow, we will start a line of products which bear our logo including: t-shirts, sweatshirts, posters, kozies, frisbees, hats, etc. This idea is not one that would be implemented for at least nine to twelve months, if ever. To be honest, while it is an idea we have at the moment, we are more focused on alternative means to break even and become profitable (aka advertising and affiliate programs).



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

Please feel free to contact me via PM about anything and I will repsond as soon as I can. Thanks!

Y`know, this indirectly brings up a really interesting concept for Web design, development, and graphic arts. "Student-run organization" gets me thinking both about unusual business models, and some creative ingenuity.

Why not have a co-op formed out of the several disciplines used in getting an e-commerce site up and running? Instead of a Web Marketing Firm, as I`ve thought about it in the past, what about some sort of profit-driven "partnering" co-op?

It would be only for people who do design, coding, development, layout, logos, copywriting, and marketing (with whatever one or two I`m missing). Because each company is separate, legal aspects would be manageable.

But the customer could do a sort of 1-stop shopping. I`ll bet theres a business in putting together a Web site that would offer this kind of constrained set of talents. Maybe? :-)

I read your comments earlier today and decided to take some time and think about that idea. I have never thought of something quite like that but I can see how it could be successful and profitable if you structure it correctly. This type of firm (if you will) can take on all these disciplines and provide a place to get over the steep learning curve of starting a(n) (online) business. This type of firm acts almost as a consultant/partner/angel who can aid an individual or group with launching and/or operating it. If this kind of firm can take on some equity (even a small share), it could be very successful (almost operating as a VC) especially for budding entrepreneurs. And if you look at how this country is evolving into the information age, we see many more kids and young adults taking on interest in starting their own businesses. To be honest, this is a pretty legitimate idea. The firm could be an LLC and simply take on more partners as demand grows or simply hire employees (which I would be more apt to do if I had a stake in the original firm). You could compartmentalize the firm within the different areas of expertise as you mentioned above to provide a full range of services which would ultimately contribute to a better chance of some business becoming profitable, especially if the founder of that business is young without much experience in forming a company, knowing tax/IP laws, etc. etc. Anyway, great post and now you`ve really got me thinking. 

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

Please feel free to contact me via PM about anything and I will repsond as soon as I can. Thanks!

Craig, how would your idea be any diffeent from freelance sites like e-lance or an employment firm like The Creative Ground? Just curious...

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

Make it count! My Passion: www.jdawgdesign.com - My Rush: www.wyliephotos.com

Freelancing is many individuals posting on a group board, offering their individual services. They each take their individual profits, and are responsible for their own personal taxes. There`s no intent to collaborate, and it only happens by accident of momentary partnerships, ending at the end of the project.

A co-op type Web "All Marketing & Technology" is an intentional organization under the general direction (not necessarily management) of a specific mission. Just like any co-op, and organized along those lines.

"Members" continue as individuals, but there`s a shared interest in a more unified structure. It would function somewhat like a condominium association, where each person legally owns their own home, but they come together in a group for the purpose of wider activities.

Because of it being a co-op, members would be much more aware of the available member skill-sets, and could more comfortably add only their own area of interest.

This isn`t much different from an idea for a business way back when Jeff wondered if we on SuN could start a business together. That can`t happen, due to the diversity of interests. However, a co-op like this would absolutely fit a growing need in the open market for people who can`t find a unified access point for e-commerce technology and sales help.

Ah, gotcha... thanks for taking time to explain! :)

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

Make it count! My Passion: www.jdawgdesign.com - My Rush: www.wyliephotos.com