| |
| |
| Who this book is for | |
| |
| |
| About Rhonda Abrams | |
| |
| |
| How to use this book | |
| |
| |
| Introduction | |
| |
| |
| Lay the Foundation | |
| |
| |
| Clarify your business concept | |
| |
| |
| Identify your personal goals | |
| |
| |
| Spell out your business values | |
| |
| |
| Remind yourself of your source of inspiration | |
| |
| |
| Describe your business concept | |
| |
| |
| Identify your strategic position | |
| |
| |
| Decide whether you want partners | |
| |
| |
| Decide whether you want investors | |
| |
| |
| Consider potential exit strategies | |
| |
| |
| Discuss the impact of starting a business with your family | |
| |
| |
| Make an appointment with an SBDC counselor | |
| |
| |
| Create your company identity | |
| |
| |
| Choose a name | |
| |
| |
| Check out trademarks | |
| |
| |
| Secure a domain name | |
| |
| |
| Consider logos, taglines, and colors | |
| |
| |
| Meet with a graphic designer | |
| |
| |
| Get organized | |
| |
| |
| Set up physical files | |
| |
| |
| Set up computer files | |
| |
| |
| Set up a contact management system | |
| |
| |
| Keep track of your company's vital statistics | |
| |
| |
| Keep track of expenses | |
| |
| |
| Get the Information You Need | |
| |
| |
| Learn more about your industry | |
| |
| |
| Make a list of your research questions | |
| |
| |
| Contact your industry association(s) | |
| |
| |
| Do online research | |
| |
| |
| Research your target market | |
| |
| |
| Define your target market | |
| |
| |
| Determine if there are enough customers | |
| |
| |
| Check out your competition | |
| |
| |
| Identify your competitors | |
| |
| |
| Analyze your competition | |
| |
| |
| Compare competitors' pricing | |
| |
| |
| Find suppliers | |
| |
| |
| Consider strategic partners | |
| |
| |
| Broaden/establish your network | |
| |
| |
| Attend an entrepreneur or industry organization meeting | |
| |
| |
| Cut Through Red Tape | |
| |
| |
| Deal with legal and licensing matters | |
| |
| |
| Choose a legal form and ownership structure | |
| |
| |
| Discuss ownership of your company | |
| |
| |
| Apply for business licenses, permits, and ID numbers | |
| |
| |
| Discuss collecting sales tax | |
| |
| |
| Draw up basic contracts and other legal agreements | |
| |
| |
| Protect your intellectual property | |
| |
| |
| Build your team and personnel structure | |
| |
| |
| Consider your support structure | |
| |
| |
| Decide who you need on your team | |
| |
| |
| Examine the use of independent contractors | |
| |
| |
| Understand employment laws & consider personnel policies | |
| |
| |
| Appraise your management style | |
| |
| |
| Take Care of Operations | |
| |
| |
| Find and secure a location | |
| |
| |
| Rent space | |
| |
| |
| Decide on the necessary attributes of your location | |
| |
| |
| Meet with a real estate agent | |
| |
| |
| Compare properties | |
| |
| |
| Consider whether you need more than one location | |
| |
| |
| Set up a home office | |
| |
| |
| Find the space to work | |
| |
| |
| Figure out your phone, fax, and Internet connections | |
| |
| |
| Plan how to meet with customers | |
| |
| |
| Decide whether you need a separate business address | |
| |
| |
| Understand home-based office tax deductions | |
| |
| |
| Plan ways to separate work life from home life | |
| |
| |
| Deal with kids and pets | |
| |
| |
| Set up an "office" in your vehicle | |
| |
| |
| Design your work space and production process | |
| |
| |
| Design your layout | |
| |
| |
| Design your production process | |
| |
| |
| Order/install utilities and facility improvements | |
| |
| |
| Order furniture and equipment | |
| |
| |
| Order inventory and/or raw materials | |
| |
| |
| Research and purchase computers and other technology | |
| |
| |
| Develop an approach to buying technology | |
| |
| |
| Choose a phone system | |
| |
| |
| Choose software | |
| |
| |
| Choose hardware | |
| |
| |
| Get online | |
| |
| |
| Find ways to get technical help | |
| |
| |
| Consider how you will distribute your products | |
| |
| |
| Design procedures for handling administrative tasks | |
| |
| |
| Deal with insurance | |
| |
| |
| Deal with Money Issues | |
| |
| |
| Deal with money matters | |
| |
| |
| Meet with an accountant | |
| |
| |
| Learn the lingo | |
| |
| |
| Take stock of your personal financial situation | |
| |
| |
| Clean up your credit | |
| |
| |
| Set up your books | |
| |
| |
| Establish your prices | |
| |
| |
| Open a bank account | |
| |
| |
| Consider accepting credit cards | |
| |
| |
| Prepare simple financial forecasts | |
| |
| |
| Learn about taxes | |
| |
| |
| Consider financing | |
| |
| |
| Determine whose money you want | |
| |
| |
| Develop a business plan | |
| |
| |
| Open your Doors | |
| |
| |
| Develop a marketing plan | |
| |
| |
| Clarify your company's message | |
| |
| |
| Come up with your Elevator Pitch | |
| |
| |
| Decide on marketing vehicles | |
| |
| |
| Set up a simple website | |
| |
| |
| Start making sales! | |
| |
| |
| Hold your grand opening | |
| |
| |
| Look towards the future | |
| |
| |
| Index | |
| |
| |
| Worksheets | |
| |
| |
| Goals for Starting My Business | |
| |
| |
| My Personal Goals: The Four C's | |
| |
| |
| My Business Values | |
| |
| |
| My Role Models | |
| |
| |
| My "Bright Idea" | |
| |
| |
| My Business Concept | |
| |
| |
| Basic Business Description | |
| |
| |
| Discussing Partnership Terms | |
| |
| |
| Business Name Comparison Chart | |
| |
| |
| Creating My Identity | |
| |
| |
| My Research Questions | |
| |
| |
| Research Sources | |
| |
| |
| Who are My Customers? | |
| |
| |
| My Customer Profile | |
| |
| |
| Size of My Market | |
| |
| |
| My Competitors | |
| |
| |
| Competitors' Price Comparison Chart | |
| |
| |
| Potential Strategic Partners | |
| |
| |
| Organizations to Join | |
| |
| |
| Forms of Business Organization Compared | |
| |
| |
| People You've Given or Promised Stock | |
| |
| |
| Stock Distribution Plan | |
| |
| |
| Business Licenses & Permits | |
| |
| |
| Vital Statistics | |
| |
| |
| My Support System | |
| |
| |
| Who Do I Need on My Team? | |
| |
| |
| My Personnel Policies | |
| |
| |
| Recruiting Employees | |
| |
| |
| My Leadership Skills | |
| |
| |
| Things to Consider when Renting Space | |
| |
| |
| Location/Space Comparison Chart | |
| |
| |
| Mobile Office Plan | |
| |
| |
| Floor Plan Layout | |
| |
| |
| Designing My Production Process | |
| |
| |
| Office Move-in Checklist | |
| |
| |
| Furniture Shopping List | |
| |
| |
| Equipment Shopping List | |
| |
| |
| Warranties and Service Contracts | |
| |
| |
| Supplier Comparison Chart | |
| |
| |
| My Phone Needs | |
| |
| |
| My Hardware Needs | |
| |
| |
| My Software Needs | |
| |
| |
| Comparison Chart: Internet Hosting Companies | |
| |
| |
| Distribution Agreement | |
| |
| |
| Retailer Comparison Chart | |
| |
| |
| Comparison Chart: Insurance Coverage | |
| |
| |
| Taking Stock: What are My Existing Assets? | |
| |
| |
| My Credit Cards | |
| |
| |
| Comparison Chart: Banks | |
| |
| |
| Sales Projections | |
| |
| |
| Marketing Budget | |
| |
| |
| Profit & Loss Projection | |
| |
| |
| Cash Flow Projection | |
| |
| |
| My Tax Deadlines | |
| |
| |
| Comparison Chart: Investors | |
| |
| |
| My Elevator Pitch | |
| |
| |
| Marketing Vehicles Comparison Chart | |
| |
| |
| My Printing Needs | |
| |
| |
| Trade Shows and Industry Events | |
| |
| |
| Getting Publicity | |
| |
| |
| Media Contacts | |
| |
| |
| My Website Checklist | |
| |
| |
| My Sales Pitch | |