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GlamourTags

posts: 4

Jun 03, 2008 12:15 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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I have started about 7 new businesses, that either were sold, sold partnerships out, etc. and am currently in four businesses that are up and running as we speak.

Passion is key as mentioned before - otherwise obstacles get under your skin and you will be working with that second choice thing in front of you all the time.

The other thing, one business up and running can greatly help fund the next, but only when you are going strong. . I would know and it`s REALLY tough to divide yourself if your first business isn`t in tact and run by someone that values it as you do.

Then maybe some other investment opportunity that has some ROI that won`t demand your time so much could be next - . Loral Langemeier calls it the Wealth Cycle.

The other thing - get a business partner or an amitious marketing/sales partner to help you. When you get up and running, then you have the thing called TIME that gets to be trickly. Always plan for it to cost more than you ever imagined to get going, so watch expenses as you go, don`t reinvent the wheel, and be sure to ask a boat load of people who are doing what you want to do but are already fabulously successful that will give you advice as to how to start and avoid their mistakes they made.

I follow a good bit of Loral Langemeier`s info at www.liveoutloud.com and her info rocks the house with great advice, counsel, and her books and cds are great to reference when you need.

Anyway, I hope you do really well. When ever you need help with marketing, I have invaluable resources to reference to help boost sales and then some.

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

ReAnn Ring

CraigM

posts: 1

Jun 03, 2008 12:29 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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sblue,

I agree with the first post. Passion is what should drive your decision most. That will keep you going through any roadblocks and make you more focused on success. I`m a serial entrepreneur, and I would suggest starting one thing now and realize up front that you may want to start multiple companies. Start one that you`re most passionate about first, then if you ever decide to sell it, you can start another, and so on.

I was stuck for a long time like yourself. Once I identified my interests, it made it even harder to get started because I then thought I had to choose one to the exclusion of all others. Not true. There are a few obvious multiple streams. You can license your product and then start work on another idea. Think of your life in five year increments. Or whatever time frame makes sense to you. Be fully engaged in one business for the entire period. Then move on if you want to pursue multiple interests. Or better yet, hire people to run the companies, and stay connected as CEO or Chairman, where you`ll still be able to give input, watch the company grow, and be doing multiple fun things. You have options.

Good books for you: Robert Allen`s "Multiple Streams of Income" and Barbara Sher`s "Refuse to Choose"

-Craig

Imagine

posts: 4

Jun 03, 2008 12:32 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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I would be interested in finding more info about this "rapid prototyping" as I always ideas about new products and within a few months someone else has also had the same vision and puts it on the market. i.e. the digital picture frame.

Franb

posts: 2

Jun 03, 2008 12:47 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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If you do decide to do the hot sauce biz, check out the local farmers` markets and F2F opportunities your community may have. Where I live we have several. You might also be able to sponsor/co-sponsor some food events for various schools and organizations. For example, we have a huge chili cook off / fundraiser in my town every late winter. All the local oil related companies (about 100) participate, along with radio stations, etc.

One thing schools are trying to do more of is help students learn about healthy eating. I understand that high school boys are up for cooking classes whenever they`re offered. So, you might be able to promote to high schools offering those classes to feature your products. You should offer recipes that you know the boys will love. There are endless possibilities. You just need to be well know and involved and have a great unique selling point.

You could also publish a recipe book at lulu.com to coincide with your product release. It could include order forms and Web site info. Go for WOW with great graphics and compelling stories or anecdotes to accompany the recipes. GOOD LUCK, with whichever you decide to pursue.

ontheverge

posts: 2

Jun 03, 2008 1:14 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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If you have spent your adult life primarily as a student, then I would encourage you to bite the bullet and take a job in the industry you ultimately think you want to start an entrepreneurial venture in. You can learn so much about the inner workings of the industry that will be invaluable for your entrepreneurial endeavors. It is possible, and maybe advisable, to start with something small that you can do after hours or on weekends, like selling the hot sauce locally (at Farmer`s markets, etc) or online. Your day job can provide your working capital. During this time, you can learn and research and plan. After a year or two, you can develop an exit strategy from your day job and go full-on with your own business.

Frank630

posts: 14

Jun 03, 2008 1:26 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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I would recommend taking a look at a "back of the envelope" analysis of both revenues, expenses and capital for startup before you do a full-blown business plan of any one of these. For instance the hot sauce option,
Revenue = price per bottle x estimate of forecast of bottles per month.

Minus Cost of Goods Sold= cost of bottle, cost of ingredients, cost of labeling, cost of labor

Equals Gross Margin

Minus Operating Expenses (general expenses not tied directly to product of product - should be pretty small if you are making them in your kitchen and promoting them through local stores)

Equal Operating Income

In addition, look at each of the options for obstacles to entry (big money to enter, FDA approval, liquor licenses, franchise fees). Just list them if you do not know them.

As mentioned before look at the one you are passionate about and decide based on operating income and obstacles to entry.

I hope that helps

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

Frank Dobner
Director - Sales & Marketing
The Startup Source
The Startup Source
Send me e-mail
Twitter: @dobner

Aceica63

posts: 8

Jun 03, 2008 1:30 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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sblue - PhD student and starting a business - WOW! you`re taking on a lot!

The biggest question you should be asking yourself is "Do you have the time?"

Both of these are full-time commitments. Have you considered consulting? If you`re degree correlates closely with your pharmeceutical experience there is a need for consultants. Once you`ve got that experience under your belt (and the degree firmly gripped in you sweaty palm) you could start a consulting agency (tying into employment prep biz). Then - with that extra capital you`ve earned from the consulting you could start a more "fun" biz on the side.

Now that sounds fun!!

familyguy81868521

posts: 10

Jun 03, 2008 2:00 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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In my opinion, you should go wherever your heart may lead you. Some people spread themselves really thin, trying to do too many things at once. Focus on one thing, and be the best at it. Maybe then you could pursue your other dreams.

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

Thanks and have a great day!

Sincerely,

Tony Stemick
Founder, CEO, & Lead Project Manager
Divine Inspiration Development LLC
www.didllc.com

JamesD

posts: 7

Jun 03, 2008 2:03 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

I`ve spent a fair amount of time in the food business and I can tell you succeeding with a "new" hot sauce is a tough road. Every person in the US with "Grandma`s" recipe for sauces, salsa, dressings, etc. has already tried to market to this niche.

Every January there is a food show in California where entrepreneurs go to show their "new" sauces called "The Fancy Food Show". I suggest you go to that show (or it`s companion show on the East coast at the Javit`s Center in NY in the fall) and see just how many competitors are out there in this category. The number is mind boggling.

You also can`t imagine the costs of "slotting" charges to get into the mainstream grocery companies. If you have a few million dollars to do this then it may be worthwhile. But I can`t imagine you being to actually make money at a small time business like Farmer`s Markets (not to mention it`s EVERY weeekend in the summer).

Just trying to inform, not scare. Wish you luck.

SlingshotPDG

posts: 1

Jun 03, 2008 2:15 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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@ Imagine:

Rapid Prototyping is a method used to make quick representations of products without the time and cost of cutting steel for plastic molds (the process used in full scale manufacturing). There are multiple levels of quality for RP models, from very rough (for use in determining correct size and scale of parts, "proof-of-concept" models) to very high quality (looks, feels, and works like a store-bought product) and everything in between.

If your idea is really unique and there is a market for the product, the first step should be to get a patent. Hopefully sblue218 has already done that. You HAVE TO protect your idea, otherwise you run the risk of someone else(individual or corporation) beating you to it. If you just run out and make a prototype and start showing it to people to try and sell your idea, anyone can steal the idea, and you have no legal recourse. After that`s taken care of, you can design and develop your idea, do market research to make informed decisions about what features and benefits will create the best product, and decide whether you`ll start your own company around this product or license it to an existing company.

@sblue:

I`d definately start with one or two of the top options to get a feel for what it`s like to run multiple businesses, and raise some capital for one of the riskier options at the bottom.

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

H. Shaw Strothers IV, IDSA
Industrial Designer
Slingshot Product Development Group, Inc.
www.slingshotpdg.com

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