Table of Contents
- Market Directly to the Consumer
- Party Plan
- Direct Mail
- Telemarketing
- Multilevel Marketing
- Television Infomercials
- Pay-Per-Call
- Internet
- Market Through the Government
- Market Through Distribution Channels
- Market Through Foreign Trade
- Market Through Specialty Channels
- Market Through Email
- Retail Stores
- Sales Promotion
- Media Outlets
- Entrepreneur Profile
- Start-Up Costs
- Operating Costs
- 20 Financing Approaches
- Choosing a Bank
- 4 Cs of Credit
- Underwriting
- Loans
- Equity Financing
- Extending Credit
- Equipment Leasing
- Venture Capital
- Angel Investors
- Personal Guarantees
- Bookkeeping and Financial Statements
- Entrepreneur Profile
- Tax Basics
- Income Taxes
- When To Pay
- Minimizing Taxes
- Home Business
- Travel and Entertainment Expenses
- Automobile Expense and Mileage
- Retirement Plans
- Medical Expenses
- Sales and Use Taxes
- Property Taxes
- W-4 and I-9
- W-2, W-3 and Form 1096
- FICA, Social Security and Medicare
- Unemployment Taxes
- Form 1099
- Payroll
- Business Tax
- Excise Tax
- Tax Tips
- Audits
- Business Insurance Agents
- Workers’ Compensation
- Property Insurance
- General Liability
- General Medical
- COBRA
- Directors and Officers
- Employment Practices Liability
- Errors and Omissions
- Product Liability
- Operations
- Business Interruption
- Disability
- Life
- Claims
- IRS Section 125
- Home-Based Business
- Entrepreneur Profile
- Nondisclosure Agreement
- Sale of Goods Agreement
- Sale of Specialty Goods Agreement
- Terms and Conditions
- Promissory Note
- Guarantee
- Corporation Articles of Incorporation
- Corporation Bylaws
- Bank Resolution
- IRC Section 83 Election
- Independent Contractor Agreement
- Employment Agreement
- Sexual Harassment Policy
Contributing Authors
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Stephanie Chandler
Author of The Business Startup Checklist & Planning Guide |
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ORDER NOW: The Business Startup Checklist & Planning Guide |
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Steven D. Strauss
Author of The Small Business Bible |
|
ORDER NOW: The Small Business Bible |
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Tom Severance
Author of Business Start-Up Guide |
|
ORDER NOW: Business Start-Up Guide |
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Joe Kennedy
Author of The Small Business Owner's Manual |
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ORDER NOW: The Small Business Owner's Manual |
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Brainstorming
“Brainstorming” is a very effective way to generate ideas. Evaluation comes later. The basic rules to effective brainstorming for you and your group are:
- Forbid judgment and criticism.
- Welcome wild, crazy, off-the-wall, freewheeling ideas.
- Strive for quantity of ideas rather than quality of ideas.
- Combine, improve, and build on others’ ideas.
- Make sure all participants understand the rules.
- Have a non-participant record every idea.
Keep your eyes, ears, and mind alert and open as you proceed through your daily routine. There are business possibilities everywhere. Instead of seeing problems and becoming upset when something doesn’t work or when you can’t find something, think of it as a business opportunity. There are likely many others who have the same need.
Here’s a great list of ways to stimulate idea creation:
- Read your local and metropolitan newspapers.
- Read USA Today.
- Read the Wall Street Journal and New York Times.
- Read the popular consumer and news magazines.
- Join associations that serve the industry you’re considering.
- Review the fiction and nonfiction best-seller lists.
- Visit the public library and browse.
- Review government and consumer publications.
- Subscribe to relevant trade periodicals and magazines.
- Attend industry conventions and trade shows.
- Get on-line and keep up with the latest information.
- Browse through phone book yellow pages.
- Watch and review the top ten prime-time TV shows.
- Pay attention to commercials.
- Visit a good business library and browse.
- Review Standard Rate and Data Service (SRDS).
- Review the Thomas Register of American Manufacturers.
- Review the Encyclopedia of Associations.
- Browse through the magazine section of a bookstore.
- Walk through your local mall with analytical eyes.
- Visit your local Small Business Association (SBA) office.
- Visit your local Chamber of Commerce.
- Analyze whether your hobbies are a potential business.
- Look for obvious needs and wants that aren’t being satisfied.
- Read the latest Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the US Department of Labor.
- Check out the business opportunity ads in the classifieds.
- Visit a business broker.
- Visit a career counselor and take the interest and aptitude tests.
- Obtain a part-time job in an industry that interests you.
- Visit and talk with those in the industry you’re considering.
- Attend interesting business seminars and workshops.
- Review your past experiences, interests, and successes.
Excerpted from Business Start-Up Guide © 2002, Tycoon Publishing