Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

One of the big obstacles in my way is that I am not sure if I will need to re-locate next year.  As a result, it’s hard for me to decide what to sell and where.  Do I need to know the answers to these questions before I can really move forward or is there stuff I can do NOW without this information?  I would love to hear some opinions on what I can do that will carry over to any type of business I might have.  I’m talking nuts and bolts.

Months back, I thought I should start by doing some informational interviewing and was hoping to find a mentor.  Unfortunately, it was hard to find people who were willing to share.  A business plan seems like the next logical step but I think I still have too many unknowns.  So,  I’m wondering if there are things I can do to prepare for a business that don’t require answers to those two questions (i.e., what are you going to sell?  Where?).  I’ve gotten the suggestion to read over the “10 Steps to Open Business” which I plan to do very soon but I am wondering if anyone has more suggestions.  Again, I’m interested in the nuts and bolts because I am a blank slate.  I know there’s no “right” way to start a business but would love to hear people’s thoughts.    Thanks, everyone!

 

The one thing you need to do is SAVE MONEY.  I wish I had started putting money away when I first started thinking about my business.  Now I`m trying to play catch-up and it is very difficult.  No matter what you do, you`ll need plenty of your own cash to get it going.  Don`t count on anybody else for early funds. 

Also, since you don`t know what you are going to do you really need to start focusing on things you enjoy.  Make a list of your favorite activities, foods, interests etc.  Then pick a niche that you think you can bring some value to.  Then the research begins....... 

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

Travis Tschepen
Hibachi Bros. LLC

--My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am.--

well, the saving money thing is hard because i am not working right now.  i am wondering if there are some other things that can get me moving that are business-related eventhough some important questions remain unanswered?  like, i would imagine, talking to a bank about loans, i would need to know the "what to sell" and "where" answers so it doesn`t seem like the right time for that task.  i`m trying to think up some things i can go out there and do that will get me steps closer to my own business.  thanks to everyone who can help!

There is very little you can do except educate yourself on business in general.  This site is a great asset, probably the best on the web.  Read all you can.  Get yourself familiar with Profit/Loss statements.  Once you determine a business you`d like to pursue, fill out a mock P/L and see if you can make money at it.  This will require much reseach to get accurate numbers.  But must be done.       

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

Travis Tschepen
Hibachi Bros. LLC

--My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am.--

Thanks for that tip!

I concur with Grillguy.

Saving money is absolutely critical for your business. From the time I started my freelance writing business, I started saving every penny while I could, inspite of enjoying the comfort of a day job.

If starting businesses needed a lot of money, half the businesses you see today would not have been deemed possible.

Consider boot strapping, consider starting with nothing. Unless you are onto  a steel plant or an automobile factory, there are ways of ploughing in money once your business gets rolling.

All that matters is YOU. Your Attitude and whether you have started or not.

To get somewhere, you got to haul Ass.

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

Hire Me To Write For You Join for Free &Throw Open Your Life to Change
Bid and Win Insane Deals

Looking for a mentor try SCORE "Counselors to America`s Small Business".  7.5 million entrepreneurs have been counseled by SCORE Retired Fortune 500 executivessince 1964. I have an appointment on Thusday.

http://www.score.org/explore_score.html




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

<A HREF="http://www.AuditAuctions.com">Get ISO Certified</A>

Education....just finding out about business in general would be a good thing. There is Entrepreneur.Com, SBA.gov, About.Com, Yahoo Small Business, and plenty of used books on Amazon.Com. Get topics such as 101 Biz Ideas, How To Start A Service Business (which you can operate from home and practically anywhere and you will have plenty of businesses to choose from to do so), Goal Setting, Marketing For Dummies (or Retards...dunno!!), Powerful Salesletters...ya know, everything that you will need to know once you finally decide.

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

www.EllayWestConcepts.net Ellay West Concepts (Freelance Commercial Writer)

What great advice.  Thank you all!  I was just about to post a new topic asking how I can find a mentor.  I will definitely try SCORE.   But, maybe i`ll see if there are other suggestions as well.  Thanks again!