Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hello all!

I have a question regarding launching a new venture:

If I was a college student (I am), and I was interested in launching a new business/venture/project/etc. (I am), what are some ideas for what I should do?

I`m hoping to get some feedback that has some specific guidelines, i.e. 1) what the business is, 2) some specific steps to starting it up, and 3) how will it cost/how much will it make...

I understand this is a very loaded question, but I`m just "testing the waters" a bit. Have you done something that earned you anywhere from $50/month upwards? I`d love to hear about it and get a dialogue going.

I look forward to your response,
Nick


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Want to start a business? Start with my blog at www.nickthacker.com

Owner of www.highercallingmedia.com, www.highercallingmedia.com, a Texas web design company, and www.AspiringEntrepreneurs.net

Are there any good businesses related to internet marketing that would be simple enough to get into without much money. Something that would be profitable if enough time was spent on it, maybe?


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Want to start a business? Start with my blog at www.nickthacker.com

Owner of www.highercallingmedia.com, www.highercallingmedia.com, a Texas web design company, and www.AspiringEntrepreneurs.net

Since you`re a college student, I`d suggest you enroll in a business class and a course on basic accounting. You can go for credit, or you can just audit the classes. But you`re there, in the right place at the right time to take advantage of the global picture.

Anyone can start a business, and anything can be a business. None of that matters, it`s all details. But where almost all businesses run into trouble is either not understanding business basics, or not understanding finance basics.

Nick,

Start by finding your idea, something that both fuels your passion to start your own business - and something that can be profitable. Look for a niche that has a few people doing it but not too many.

Web marketing can take many forms. It all depends on what you want to do.

Take business classes in the basics: accounting, finance, marketing.  You absolutely need some accounting and finance as well as marketing or else you are starting with some handicaps.

Learn all you can. Absorb information like a sponge. Read everything you can get your hands on. And start small but dream big.

My first company, EquinArt Creations (winner of the 2008 Startup Nation`s 100 Best Businesses, Honorable Mention, Most Innovative) was funded by a prize I won from New York University for the best business plan, so you CAN start a business based on work you do in school - I`m living proof and have gone on to start two other companies.

Good luck. You may want to visit my website as I post lots of free information for entrepreneurs and on Mondays host an online Blog Talk Radio show for entrepreneurs (you can listen to past shows too).

cut grass in summer.  blow snow in winter.

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James Lindon, Ph.D. Patent Attorney
Lindon & Lindon, LLC
Cleveland, Ohio
Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Pharmacy Law, Litigation
[this is not legal advice - provided for discussion only]
Intellectual Property for the Individual and Small Business: Identify, Protect, Enforce, Defend.
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."
http://www.LindonLaw.com

Ok ok, I need to confess: my goal for asking the vague "what should I do with my life" question was to generate a dialogue between a few of you that will eventually lead to a compilation book of business ideas and tips on how to start each. I felt that if I began the discussion from a more "open-ended" standpoint, users may begin to get invested in the project as well.

Either way, I`d like to continue with a short "Chicken Soup" style book, if you will, that contributers can sell to their network.

That`s the basic idea! Hope I didn`t scare anyone off.




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

Want to start a business? Start with my blog at www.nickthacker.com

Owner of www.highercallingmedia.com, www.highercallingmedia.com, a Texas web design company, and www.AspiringEntrepreneurs.net

cut grass in summer.  blow snow in winter.  that sounds like a great plan.

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James Lindon, Ph.D. Patent Attorney
Lindon & Lindon, LLC
Cleveland, Ohio
Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Pharmacy Law, Litigation
[this is not legal advice - provided for discussion only]
Intellectual Property for the Individual and Small Business: Identify, Protect, Enforce, Defend.
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."
http://www.LindonLaw.com

Starting a blog and after some time you can start monetizating it.  Low cost, just buy a domain and get your own hosting.