Making Your Store More Appealing

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Having a pleasing appearance to your store is very important to attract new customers and to keep existing ones. I have stated in the past that even a coat of paint on a regular basis will help make your store more appealing.

Here is a article from a New York newspaper that has even more ideas on making your store look more appealing to increase your customer base:

For retail stores, decor can seal the sale

Who Needs Venture Capital?

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The New York Times Small Business Edition has a great article about Elizabeth Charnock who is running a start up company in the Silicon Valley area but is doing it without venture capital.

Bootstrapping a Start-Up in Silicon Valley

There is some great lessons to be learned from this article.

Here is another video on how to start a small business which comes from Australia. The video is just under 7 minutes but gives some good information in that time.

Being a smart shopper for your business

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Too many small business owners fall into the trap that they have to have the biggest and the best equipment to operate their business.

Whether it is buying the latest and greatest computer, having the new, trendiest office furniture, or going out and leasing the copier that will do everything for you including make coffee; many small business owners fall into the got to have it trap.

I am not saying that you should go out and buy cheap crap that will not last you however; you need to become a smart shopper.

Let’s take a look at office furniture. If your customers will not see your office, then there is no reason for you to spend thousands of dollars on new office furniture. The desk I am currently using was purchase for just over a hundred dollars and has served me for more than 6 years now.

If your business is in an industry where clients or customers will see your office then you will want to find something a little nicer. However that does not mean you need to go out and buy new furniture.

There are plenty of stores around that sell used office furniture that will look nice but not cost you an arm and a leg. Another great source for furniture is on line ads. One of our local television stations provide classified ads and has become a major source of good used items at really good prices.

It comes down to figuring out your true needs for the next couple of years then being a smart shopper and finding the best product for your money. Don’t spend more money than you need to in order to get the furniture and equipment you need.

Starting a small business video

Are you thinking about starting that small business? Here is a short video I found that may have some helpful information for you.

Develop your business plan Part 6

Here is part 6 on the Developing your business plan series. Once again their is some good information contained in here.

Starting A Small Business Series: The Executive Summary

Although the Executive Summary is the first section of the business, it is usually the last part you will write because as the name implies, it is a basic summary of all the parts of the business plan and it needs to spark an interest in the reader to move on to the heart of the plan.

The Business Plan Blog had a great explanation of the executive summary so I recommend you read that to get a good idea on what you should have in it.

Develop your business plan Part 5

Here is Part 5 of the Developing a Business Plan Videos. This one talks about doing the numbers of the plan. I have gone over the financial statements before but the video might make it a little easier to understand and help you make a better plan.

Starting A Small Business Series: The Appendix

The final section of the business plan (although not the last part you finish), is the appendix. This is the reference section of your business plan and what it contains depends on your needs.

The SBA website has a complete list of items that you may or may not need in your appendix.

Make Money on your off time...

The Bootstrapper Blog has a listing of 50 ways to make money during your off time. The first one is a good one for all business people and that is Blogging. I have said before that all businesses should be blogging which can be used as a marketing opportunity.

Develop your business plan Part 4

Here is Part 4 of the Developing you business plan video.

Starting A Small Business Series: Financial Statements

So what is the next section of your business plan?

It is your financial statements. We have already discussed the different business financial statements but to recap you have the Profit and Loss Statement, Balance Sheet and the all important Cash Flow.

If your business has been in operation you will want to include previous financial statements going back 3 to 5 years.

Now if you are just starting your business you will want to have estimates for the first five years. You will want to insure that the financial statements match what you are requesting from your investors because they will be going over these numbers with a fine tooth comb.

Next we have the appendix then we go back to the first section of the business plan but the last done and that is the executive summary.

Pay Pal Shops

Interesting post from Entrepreneurs-Journey blog about how you can find hot products over at Pay Pal Shops. Take a look and see if they will help you.

Are you a state at home mom?

NBC's Today Show had a feature on work for stay at home moms (SAHM's).

While focusing on SHAM's, they have some good information for men or woman including selling on Ebay and becoming a professional shopper. Thank you to BIZ Chicks Rule for referring to this video.

Develop your business plan Part 3

Here is part 3 of the video series on doing your business plan. It follows nicely with my weekly post on how to do your business plan. Once I am done wrapping up the series on how to write a business plan, I will start going through an actually business plan step to give more practical experience for you.

Starting A Small Business Series-Financial Request

Now some of you may not need this section of the business plan as this section is the funding request section.

So how much are you requesting to fund your business? Not only will you want to show how much you will require today, but if you are going to need more money in the next five years to expand your business you will want to make sure that is included in this section of the business plan.

While your financial statements will show about where your money is going in this section you want to specifically mention how and where you will use the money from your investors. You will want to be specific on where the money will be going whether it will be capital, operations, or other things.

Finally you will want to discuss your future financial situation. If you plan to go public with your business in the next five to ten years you will want to include that information in this section. Another piece of information is that if you plan to sell your business at anytime in the future.

Next week we will go over the financial information.

Are you a freelance?

One of the things we stress is how important networking is to small businesses. We need to be networking gain customers and get valuable business contacts.

The Bootstrapper Blog has a listing of 50 Professional Networks for Freelancers. While tailored to freelancers there is valuable information here for any small business owner. Take a look and see what contacts you can use to improve your small business.

Develop your business plan Part 2

Here is part two of the video "Developing your business plan". Great information for those getting ready to start writing their business plan.

Starting A Small Business Series: The Service or Product Line

The next section of the Business Plan is the product information.

You will want to detail what your product is from a customer perspective. How will the product meet the needs of the customer and why they are going to want it? Also how is your product or service going to be superior to that offered by your competitors?

Next you will want to talk about the life cycle of the product or service. Is your product or service on a growth curve or is it a mature market. If your product or service is going to be in a mature market, how will you turn that into an opportunity for you? How long is the life cycle of the business?

Next discuss any copyright or trademarks your product or service will have. Also are there any trade secrets included with your product or service and any current legal agreements.

Finally you will want to explain any research and development that will involve your product or service. Is your product still under development? How much research and development will have to be done to keep your product ahead of your competitors and how much will it cost the business?

Next week we will discuss the funding request.

Building a Business Plan Video

Since I have been going over a business plan, I found this series of videos that talk about the developing a business plan.

This is part 1 of 8.