Starting a Business?

If you are considering starting a business of any kind, you should be aware of the very useful [planning tool knows as a business plan.   Useful in and of themselves, they are indispensable when it comes to approaching financiers to back your business and provide you with capital.

Writing one can, however prove to be quite overwhelming to the average person.  I actually took a course in putting together a business paln, and whilst I can out of it knowing how to write a rudimentary plan and get the most important points out, it would in no way have been particularly useful when wanting to raise capital.

My advice, if you are planning to launch a business, is to get the experts in from the very start.  A business plan is not something you can mess around with.. it needs to be correct and compelling right from the start!   You should check out Wisteria.. Wisteria is a group of of chartered accountants and business plan experts, who can provide you with a range of business plan services to help you get your dream business on the road.  Their services include professional business advice, business plan writing and accountancy services.

You will be surprised at how cost effective these services can be, given the time and effort that you would have to put in on your own to learn how to put together your own custom business plan.

83 Responses to “Starting a Business?”

  • Robert Craig:
    Totally agree with this. Training for a new business person is in itself overwhelming. I would definately advise anyone looking to involve the banks for finance to make use of professional in order to maximise the potential for a successfull result.

    thanks,

    Robert

  • Amit:
    Nice article. I will try one of the services listed.
  • Coupon Artist:
    One other important thing to consider when starting a business is to understand the tax implications. You’ll have to pay self employment tax on income, but there are a lot of deductions small businesses you can take. One of my first considerations would be to talk to a tax professional so you make sure you don’t get into any trouble and don’t miss out on any tax breaks.
  • mohamed:
    starting a business.it is a journey.
    you and only you will make it a bad short one,or along good one.
  • web hosting:
    Business plan, enthusiasm, dreams and alot of hard work are just the minimal requirements for starting a new online business. Many will try, some will succeed. If you are passionated with what you do, there is a great chance of success. The most important thing is not to disappoint at the beginning, because this is the most difficult part.
  • Classified Ads:
    I completely agree with your article. Business Plan is an absolute requirement whether you’re asking for a financial back up or not.
  • marriagehelp:
    It’s also important when starting off to plan conservatively. There’s lots of trial and error when you first start out so don’t go by your feeling but by your head. Try to forcast based on half of what you think you’ll do.
  • Inchirieri Auto:
    A business plan is indeed critical when it comes to starting up a business. It’s like a road map
  • Isaac Yassar:
    For personal business, I believe creating a business plan yourself is more useful, because you will learn something from the process, regardless the business successfully runs or not.
  • Automan:
    Organized planning is equivalent to completing half of the work. Plan, organize, execute with perfection for success in your life. It not only saves money but also time.
  • Finance:Banking & Credits:
    bice articles..
  • Insurancequotesfree:
    I feel that going into business without a business plan will not only hold you back from real success, it can also create an issue where you are wearing to many hats. It’s important to determine what your scope is and stay within the boundaries you set.
  • VItaly:
    Business plans are a prerequisite, but be ready to change it frequently. It’s important to have a plan but it’s also important to be flexible.
  • Faeyza Store:
    How about Amazone Associate Store?
  • Business Money Today:
    Business plans are good - but they are only as good as the time you put into them. As your business grows and changes - so should your plan. B-plans are good road maps - but many people get caught up in trying to put everything they can into them or when coping a template - try to answer all the sections - this do not have to be. You plan is a specific as your business - if one section does not apply to your business leave it out. There are free services in the US that help people write business plans - SCORE and SBDC. They can help with the structure as well as the research.

    Further, just remember in today’s world - no one reads them - they are essentially for you. You go to a bank - they ask for one - but will not read it. You go to an investor - they will ask for it but never read it. If you only writing a plan for these sources - don’t spend a lot of time on it - work more on you - bankers and investors are more interested in what you do then that you have writen on paper.

  • Phone Franchise:
    Great advice. Business plans are absolutely important for any new business to suceed.
  • ronnie:
    I completely agree with your article , planning and taking advice are very important when starting business.
  • Yasinta:
    Business plan is critically needed. If you don’t have it, you might not know the true direction/mission of your business. Then you don’t have a path to ride once you run the business. To me, it’s needed for feasibility study, mission (and it’s real application), and planning.
  • Cigarette Prices By State:
    Some great ideas here, nice blog.
  • Grow Conner:
    Agreed, it’s a hurdle, but a necessary one.
  • iinexpensive:
    i’ll check out the business plan links you provide, I’ve already got a business,llc,but I’ve never done a business plan before

    thanks

  • Credit Card Guru:
    A solid business plan can save you a lot of headaches down the road. For my first business I did not have a solid plan in place, it cost me hours time fixing problems that should not have occurred
  • Graphic Arena:
    so nice and helpful blog … thank you
  • credit locuinta:
    I’m a bit disorganized so I start a project or a business without one of these plans. It’s not good, I know, but it’s part of my hectic self. Still, you make a good point; I have to try it next time.
  • Business Search:
    Oh how this is so true. Before you ever start a business, home based or not you need to do an in-depth study into your market, your client base, the amount of money it will take to stay afloat, where your financing is going to come from, suppliers and a long, long list of other thing not mentioned. You should know tax info, employee tax in if you are going to have employees so it is best to line up an accountant. But I have to agree that before you do anything to start you business you need to have a business plan to include a marketing plan…
  • Bill Beavers:
    You are so right when you say it is overwhelming. Makes my brain hurt just thinking about it. If I ever venture in that direction again I will engage a specialist. My first time here so let me say you have a great looking blog. I plan to stay a while and have a look around. All the best and thanks for some great content.
  • living homeless:
    I wish I had made a business plan when I started my first business, hahaha!
  • buy penny stock:
    I agree. But from my experience, the real business often miss the business plan. So you need to change your plan often.
  • Orchid Box PPC and SEO:
    As with anything you need a plan! But with business it’s even more essential - you need targets to aim and goals to hit for your business plan. Inavoidable and essential!
  • Credit Card Nerd:
    There are also a slew of free business plan samples available online that are quite helpful as a backbone to writing your own business plan.
  • Ellen:
    You have pointed out the important of a business plan. Someone said good getting off plays 50% of your success.
  • nadav:
    Saving money is a very important issue when funding a business. Insurance too.
  • Banner Stands:
    I strongly recommend all businesses to start with a business plan and stick to it! Failure to prepare is preparing for failure.
  • Stock Coupons Questrade:
    One overrated aspect of starting a business is thinking that one needs a business degree (e.g. MBA) to start one. That cant be any further from the truth.
  • Retro Sweets & Gifts:
    I totally agree with everything in this thread, marriagehelp’s comment is bang on, plan conservatively and you wont lose heart… its tough starting out!
  • AdHoc:
    A business plan is very useful. I started a business with my collegue few times ago and we made a business plan that helped us a lot.
  • Mike:
    Very nice tips, but today it should not be the better time to start it! :)
  • Keith - Free Forex Training:
    If I am allowed to get a bit Zen here for a moment, I believe that a business plan is a way of asking the universe for exactly what you want. If you have a very clear and precise intent created by your business plan, then you can easily accomplish your goals. You will be amazed to find doors opening for you as the universe helps you with these goals.
  • feromonas:
    I live in a country where the crisis is ending with the new investors … is complicated with this crisis.
  • Dave Brown:
    I can see where a business plan could be usefull for someone trying to find capital for their startup. But do you think it would be just as usefull for someone who is not looking for startup capital?
  • Veronica:
    This is a very useful article.
    It provides a lot of information
    for my new business to survive,
    especially in these rough times.
    I now understand even more how
    important my business plan is
    going to be.
    Thank you
  • Fifi:
    Hi - I watched the video on the eight parts of a business plan, on Wisteria as you suggested. My approach with my online shoe store business has been “gunshot” - I just am kind of winging it based on the right way/wrong way of conducting business which I learn about based on my own internet searches. I can see I really need to do better and draft a business plan or I’m going to get burned out.

    For example, I don’t know anything about my competitors except there seem to be a billion on them online, all with beautiful, slick websites and hot prices. I don’t know anything about how I can set myself apart in such a way as to attract customers to my niche, and I know nothing about my potential market either. Hmmmm……..

    Thanks for the helpful article. It was an eye opener.

  • Jack Nurdin:
    A complete and depth plan surely needed when starting a business. Calculating every aspects around the business, get ready with unexpected events that may happen in the future, and predict the business growth in certain timeline. That’s what I do when starting my small restaurant. At first, I almost make no money from it. But I keep going with my plan and slow but sure the income goes higher.
  • Military weapons:
    Any tips you can give on starting business research no matter what the product is??
  • John Tallow:
    Community colleges are another great place to get business plan help for cheap. Many of the teachers have gone through the training and will help you at no cost.

    Great article!

  • Yasser (SEO):
    After read this post! I noticed that I really miss my chance to do a great bussines! It was about material Imports, I was fear about lose my money and everything but to start a new bussines you have to have the courage, work hardly and be patient! thank you
  • berita ekonomi:
    That is absolutely right..business plan is the root of our business.make it perfect as we can. then in the middle we can use it as source of our business
    regards,
    portal media
  • Olympic diving:
    Nice topic about business !!! i think.. Business is about trust and loyalty.
    Honesty is the best policy.
  • Business Money Today:
    Business plans are great tools. Even if you are not seekign capital, you should write an informal one for yourself. You would not plan a road trip without a map or GPS - well a business plan is your map or GPS for your business.

    Free sources to help with these are: Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) or SCORE (score.org).

  • Reza:
    I agree with your article, but the weakness is consulting with the expert i think it’s a expansive way.
    I think, when we was starting a business, try to study any materials related to your business, at lease a little basic.
    Example a little bit accounting, a little bit business plan, a little bit budget managing etc. So it can decrease risk of “falling” after you starting the business.
  • Efusjon:
    Have you seen your local banks offering that same type of service? Not the big national banks but the local ones. This seems to be a growing trend.
  • Simon Wilby:
    Business plan and marketing is essential to any businesses. Also, this will be your guide for anything you want to do for your business.
  • Mark Walusimbi:
    I totally agree. Planning may be time consuming but it is key to the success of any business.
  • SEO Perth:
    Not only is it important to have a business plan, but it’s also important to remember to include marketing in that plan. Many people leave marketing and SEO until the last minute and then end up scrambling to put something together.
  • sera:
    business plan is the foundation of the business. if the base is not strong, then your business will have many problems
  • Petrut Luigi:
    Great post, i am agree with your articole.
    A business plan is indeed critical when it comes to starting up a business.A good business plan i think is the key to success!
  • Camisetas:
    I completely agree with your article. A business plan is important to help the owner validate the business concept and set clear goals. It also gives investors, banks, suppliers, partners and potential hires information to make decisions about working with the company.According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), roughly 50 percent of small businesses will close within the first five years reflecting a gap between small business owner intentions and results.
  • Chaty na Slovensku:
    Interesting article. I am doing business plan right now and you have absolutely right - most important think is financial.
  • Tattoos:
    A good business starts with a plan but remember hardwork and focusing on a niche, orignal area will get you there.
  • Strategic Consulting:
    A business plan is a formal statement of a set of business goals which incorporates a detailed study of the current and anticipated future activities of an enterprise.
  • Accountants Darlington:
    I would say a business plan is not always needed if you don’t require investment or need it for aquiring partners. But yes a “road map” is always needed so the business plan works perfectly for this!
  • Business & Finance:
    Great Post ompletely agree with your article, without a Business Plan , it’s very difficult to be success.

    Regards

  • affordable seo services:
    in every business we should have always a business plan, so it will easy for the business owner to materialized his goals, its like life, you must have a plan and a goa
  • shercy ramos:
    I haven’t heard of Wisteria before, but I want to know more about them. I agree that you cannot just start a business without prudently planning every detail of it. One has to be seriously taking consideration every single part. Starting with a good business plan is good, but I think having the resources, the attitude, and the support team are also of equal importance.
  • Weightlossvalue:
    Create a Business Plan from the beginning and determine a rational target would be very helpful. Generally, any long term action need a plan to achieve goals. Involving expert may be a good idea.
  • Nikolaevi4:
    The business plan is a matter for professionals
  • forex:
    business plan is critical to the business indeed. I believe the financial chapter is the most important thing, and there you have to put most of your efforts: you can easily make mistakes in your financial assumptions thus making crucial mistakes when you establish the business.
  • beauty wakefield:
    I have just setup in business and can honestly say, although time consuming and at times a little frustrating, the rewards are worth the effort.
  • Camel Lights:
    Yes, business plan it the most important thing in building a good business. If you have a correct business plan from the beginning, there is more chance that your business will be going smoothly.
  • Living On Dividends:
    One thing that I’d add to this, is that a business plan isn’t a document that is created, finished, & stored in a draw. It’s a living document that should change as your business grows. I use it as more of a notebook of sorts where I keep new product ideas and marketing strategies and it changes and grows over time. That’s why I never save changes over previous versions of my bplan, I ’save as’ so I can see how my business and my strategy evolves over time.
    -LOD
  • Chris/VegeABC:
    you know., I was never much into writing a business plan but I was listening recently to some business podcast and one sentence stuck with me (guy was talking about business plan software)
    he stated sth like:
    when writing business plan you have to answer questions that otherwise you could not even think of”

    … I got some business plan right away :)
    (there is a lot on downlaod.ocm)

    thx for post …
    with proper business plan “getting your dream business on the road. ” will be definitelly much easier.

    chris

  • acheter or paris:
    Unfortunatly not everybody knows what a business plan is and it may sound complex to most of the people.

    I don’t know how expensive can be business plan experts but this may be a good idea to hire such people as a business plan is really crucial if you want to build your business on good fundations

  • Andrei:
    When i start my business (Advertising company). I didn’t have buisness plan, and for me was very dificult. But my experience, helped me. i was study about advertising together with development process of my business.
    In the first place is your motivation.

    Sorry for bad english. I’m beginer in study English.

  • Vanni Freundschaft:
    you cant win a game without a plan. so obviously you need a good business plan to become succesfull.
  • CLUB:
    absolute requirement whether you’re asking for a financial
  • cluber:
    I completely agree with your article.
  • Sue:
    Yes, a business plan is very important for any new business as are regular reviews and updates of the plan which are also very necessary as the business grows and evolves!
  • marka tescili:
    You are passionated with what you do, there is a great chance of success.
  • Tattoo Ideas Hub:
    I am all for business plans, but I believe one must also be careful to not waste too much time with one. Being flexible and adapting to the market is more important the a 200 page detailed plan that might be obsolete in 6 months.
  • Free article directory:
    I see everyone here already agree that business plan in vital to start a business. But before we have business play we should have mission and vision first. What we want to achieve in next 10 years. Then We should create plan based on our mission and vision.
  • Netbook Downloads:
    Maybe if you work somewhere else in similar niche you can gain more knowledge.

    Then you work your way!! That’s the best thing to do!!

  • Web 2.0:
    The business plan is probably the most important part of the job and I always recommend my friends to spend more time on the plan because people don’t give much importance to it and then they fail…
  • mortgage man:
    what about starting a LLC?

    I know you can’t get investors when you are a LLC but are there any other ways to get funding?

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