This article first appeared on one of OUR favorite sites – Small Biz Trends – the actual check list is THEIRS, not ours – however we’ve posted it here because for some reason the original is not available on their site – and we thought it was most valuable information. We’ve also decided to add our additional thoughts and impressions in the hopes it can help women entrepreneurs, business owners, potential investors and decision makers make better decisions. This will be a series – and today we target the first 7 items on the check list to get you moving in the right direction (we thought “lucky” 7 was a good place to start.)
Essentially we are attempting to re-blog. We in no way wish to position the original check list’s content as ours…we are hopefully adding to it and improving upon the content, and telling you the “need to know – you don’t know” to help you be more successful. See the complete list below at the end of the first 7 items on the check list with our additional comments.
“What You Need to Do Now”
1. Determine viability
Be brutally honest. Your startup needs to be something you can make a profit doing or delivering. Ask yourself: would you buy it? Run the numbers: will customers pay enough so that you can cover costs and make a profit? Here is a list of 29 more questions to ask, attributed to noted investor Paul Graham.
To this MyCity4Her would add to put it simply – DOES WHAT YOU WANT TO DO SOLVE A NEED THAT IS VIABLE? A great idea is just that, it’s not a company.
2. Create a business plan
It’s easy to convince yourself that you don’t need a business plan, but creating a business plan with financial projections forces you to think through details. Keep your plan a living breathing thing that you revisit and adapt regularly.
To this MyCity4Her would add – no business plan is akin to building a house with no building plans and definitely the quick path to a losing proposition, project and outcome of what you’re trying to achieve. Business plans don’t have to be HUGE – here’s two approaches we like:
How to write a one page business plan (not the ideal – but a good place to start to organize your ideas)
How to write a comprehensive business plan courtesy of the SBA (this is awesome because it’s FREE and pretty well thought out)
3. Figure out the money
Most startups take a lot more time to get off the ground than you expect. Know where your living expenses for the first year will come from (savings, a job, spouse’s income, etc.). If you need financing for the business start investigating as soon as possible.
To this MyCity4Her would add – SAVE UP. Have at least 6 mos living expenses in the bank before you decide to do this. Anyone who tells you otherwise, is potentially setting you up for failure. The reality is that MOST Start ups fail, few make money in the first year, and most will not get FUNDED. There is no free, easy access pile of money hanging around to just “fund” your great idea. Yes, there’s investors, yes, there’s programs – but news flash, getting funds that way is quasi-impossible. You have to approach the concept of starting a start-up with the reality you will most probably (unless you’re a trust funder, or independently wealthy) be “Bootstrapping”.
Bootstrapping explained on Wikipedia
4. Get family behind you
Spend time to make sure your spouse and other close family ‘buy into’ your startup. You’ll have enough challenges without resistance from family.
To this MyCity4Her would add – literally and figuratively.
Women particularly need more support, because often they are in care-giving situations which directly conflict with a budding entrepreneurs need to be 100% focused on building the business, finding money, cultivating customers, etc. So – you’re going to be calling on your family A LOT – to help with the kids (if you have some), to walk the dog or feed the cat (should you be late related to business), to drive Mom to her Dr’s appointment (because you have an important meeting and can’t make it.) This pie in the sky that you can casually start a business “part-time” is somewhat akin to the Cinderella story and equally fairy-tale like.
Your family, if you’re fortunate to have a good one – will be your anchor, your encouragement, your source of comfort when the chips are down and will also feed you (and your kids) when you didn’t have time to make dinner. Believe me, FAMILY is not meant to be taken lightly in all this. If you’re married, your spouse’s understanding, support, understanding, encouragement, understanding is going to be priceless and necessary – did we mention understanding?
Also, when it comes to funding – you’ll often hear the term “friends and family” – Family who likes and is willing to invest in your idea, can make the difference between a larger investor taking a chance. First rounds are often more successful when a start-up has indicated it has raised some capital from “friends and family”. Banks also like to see this…After all, everyone likes to feel comfortable when it comes to money. Having raised some seed capital from friends and “family” – ups your chances of funding significantly. Doesn’t guarantee it – but does help.
What is “Seed Capital” according to Investopidia
5. Choose a business name
You want a name that will stick in your target audience’s heads. And it shouldn’t already be taken by another company. Do Google searches and use a corporate name search tool to see if the name you have in mind is unique. Check at the state and Federal level.
To this MyCity4Her would add – choosing a name for your business is as if not more important than choosing a name for your child, or your pet. REALLY. Names have to make sense in relation to what you’re doing, they have to be easy to understand and should ideally memorable. Getting creative is OK – and encouraged, however – being so out there that people will never get what you do, doesn’t help anything.
Choose wisely…and make sure no one else is using a variation, or similar wording as that can bring about expensive legal issues and just create drag on your start-up, which is the last thing you need.
6. Register a domain name
Get a matching domain to your business name. An AOL email address or a website with free hosting and a name like mysite.wordpress.com makes it seem like either (a) you are not running a real business or (b) you don’t plan to be around long.
To this MyCity4Her would add use the domain name registrar you feel most comfortable with, that’s a viable company. Be prepared to pay more for add on’s like “private registry”, but don’t assume you HAVE to purchase hosting from where you buy your domain. You may, or may not want to host with a separate company…but we digress – when it comes to registering a URL keep the following in mind:
Search engine friendly is good and helps with ranking
Your proprietary name is important and the .com is preferred but not absolutely necessary. Depending on the vision and long term plan for your business, owning the .com can be important – or not. Think through your vision, refer to your business plan and choose wisely. Domains are inexpensive, but represent an investment and a cost…we usually recommend purchasing the:
.com
.net
.biz.
.info
To secure your name as best as possible without the help and costly legal paperwork of an intellectual property attorney.
Here’s an article that suggests and lists a variety of respectable and reliable domain registrars. Think of your domain as online real estate, and manage it with that in mind.
7. Incorporate / figure out legal structure
Incorporating your startup can protect your personal assets. Talk over structure (corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship) with your attorney and accountant.
To this MyCity4Her would add – this is one of the most important decisions you’re going to make, and get some good advice from a trusted accountant, and a lawyer – even if it seems like an expensive thing to do. Here’s why. Not picking the right legal structure can be as complicated, costly and frustrating as getting married to the wrong person. It’s expensive to fix, and change after the fact…and in the case of a C-Corp, can mean superfluous “double taxation’, something most start-up founders need to avoid.
We are of the thought process that the seriousness and intentional approach you bring to your start-up will influence how seriously people take you. Hiring a good corporate attorney, a good accountant, and finding a good banker – are all pretty much essential ingredients in the “successful business” recipe.
True, the costs can be daunting…but most professionals and trusted advisors will be willing to share an hour of their time to share their thoughts, and recommendations as a way to potentially gain your business, or will do an initial consultation for a modest fee. Getting your company formed online, not having formalized accounting from the get-go are both things that can create a challenge down the line and slow you down – if they aren’t set up properly. The goal is to increase your chances for success, and be a winning proposition from the begining.
Small Business Development Centers
Your local Chamber of Commerce
Business Incubators (to learn what is a business incubator click here)
University clinics
NAWBO – The National Association of Women Business Owners
Are all places you can get some GREAT, free advice…take advantage of all the opportunities.
We continued this series in May 2013. Click here to view. If you have any additions, questions or comments – please leave them below and meanwhile we wish you every success! Again, the idea for this reblog of sorts came as a courtesy of the original article that first appeared on SmallBizTrends.com – we highly encourage you to check out that site.
Want to cut to the chase and see the whole list?
What You Can Do A Bit Later
18. Upgrade your smartphone and choose apps
19. Find free advice
20. Consult your insurance agent and secure coverage
21. Hire your first employee
22. Line up suppliers and service providers
23. File for trademarks and patents
24. Work your network
25. Don’t waste time on “partnerships”
26. Refine your pitch
27. Refine your product, and marketing and sales approach
28. Secure your IT
29. Get a salesperson or sales team in place
30. Get a mentor