I have a great idea but have no idea  what to do with it. I would love to start a bussiness. help!!1?
89610
Unfortunately you will not find score to be that helpfull. When I started my business, I asked for help with start-up financing through score. Although they are a gov't agency and many of their members have been prominent in the business community, they do not have expertise in fields other than their own. Thus new and innovative business models seem foreign and unworkable to them. I recall at one meeting with a few elderly advisers where I was told to invest in some print advertising (pay & pray) and stay away from the internet (pay for performance)! Terrible advice. The point is score is a legacy support system for retired professionals.\nThey can be very discouraging and detrimental to your cause.\n\nThe other big lie in the USA, is the SBA. The only way they are going to do anything for you is if your business is already 3 years old without a single hardship and plenty of profit. Even then it's a bankers club and they may be of no help. It's funny but it's part of their charter to start-up companies and they do little if any real start-ups. Forget about a mom and pop operation. They are not in that business.\n\nOnce you do get in business get ready for dirty workers comp. audits and extortion. The IRS is a many armed executioner of small business. And once again Banks will be useless and actually hold you to a higher standard than they hold themselves.\n\nNow that i have told you where not to look for help, I'll give you the advice you need.\n\n1. Retain a lawyer and incorporate.\n2. Hire an accountant\n3. Have faith- there will be times you wonder why your doing    \n   this. This is the greatest pitfall of all. Never look back\n4. Treat your associates and clients well. \n5. Think big!\n\nGod bless and good-luck
796144
I own my own business and it sounds to me like you have a great opportunity to sell what you have done.  Advertise it, you would be surprised at how many people would be interested, you have done all the leg work, I'm impressed and sorry that it is not working out for you.  Maybe you could sell it and pay off some debt and begin again.  It would be well worth it. Kudos to you.
427088
I don't see why not.  Just go ahead and start looking into starting your own company.
1010947
That's like asking everyone what their favorite flavor of ice cream is... I recommend that you pick a business in an industry that you are familiar with and will be happy working in. For example, I started a golf retail business once and had a blast doing what I love and getting paid for it. I hope that helps!!\n\n"Do what you love and the money will follow!"
377194
Hi, I have no experience with this but I've found two sites that may help in starting up your business.\n\nGood luck!
1013826
Think of all your interests & ask yourself if any of those could be expanded into a business. Just keep in mind...what's your expertise? What are your interests? What could you imagine yourself doing?\n\nBy researching the prospect of starting your own business -- what it entails, what you need to know, helpful hints, etc -- you'll feel better prepared to take that plunge.\n\nI found some book titles that are relevant to your specific question:\n\n* Small Business Savvy: A Woman's Guide to Building a Business by Norma J. Rist, Katina Z. Jones\n* The Woman's Advantage: 20 Women Entrepreneurs Show You What It Takes to Grow Your Business by Mary Cantando\n* The Women's Business Resource Guide by Barbara Littman\n* Powertools for Women in Business: 10 Ways to Succeed in Life and Work by Aliza Sherman\n\n* 101 Internet Businesses You Can Start from Home by Susan Sweeney\n* The Best Home Businesses for the 21st Century by Paul Edwards\n* Selling Online: How to Become a Successful E-Commerce Merchant by Jim Carroll\n* I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was: How to Discover What You Really Want and How to Get It by Barbara Sher\n* I Don't Know What I Want, But I Know It's Not This: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Gratifying Work by Julie Jansen\n* The Best Internet Businesses You Can Start by Marian Betancourt\n* The Shoestring Entrepreneur's Guide to Internet Start-Ups by Robert Spiegel \n* Making a Living Without a Job : Winning Ways For Creating Work That You Love by Barbara Winter\n\nI also posted some article links in the source box.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
308257
I want to open my own business someday. I had troubles thinking about what is good to open, but then I figure if its gonna be my business, open something I know I would enjoy for the rest of my life.  And since its the business you know you'll love, it shouldn't matter if you can start it in your town or have to move across the state because you need to be in a place where your business is demanded. OH, make sure you know all the finacial stuff or find someone who does :)
1138502
If it's a novel idea, you could just sell the idea.  That could be quick and easy.  But then, you won't benefit from the recurring revenue or growth of the business.  You might consider ridding your mind of the words "quick" and "easy" and being sure you are determined to follow through and make it happen.  \n\nThat said, here are some steps:\n1) Get (virtually) free advice from retired business owners through the Small Business Administration-sponsored program called SCORE.  You may have to pay around $50 for membership but it's well worth it.  SBA helps to arrange loans to new businesses, but you'll have to put in some effort (see below).\n\n2) To get funded, ideally you'll have a business plan.  There are a lot of helpful tools available ranging from Word templates to complete programs.  I'd just google "free business plan template" etc.  Even if you don't turn it into an epic piece of literature, a template will help structure your thoughts so you're speaking the same language as potential sources of loans and investment capitol.  You might also get help on this from MBA students at your local university - if all else fails, try pinning a note up at the business school.  Back to your plan, a couple of sentences for each section will at least give you a starting point.  Bring the items you don't know how to answer to your business advisor.\n\nConsider these goals to prepare yourself, each of which you can get help with:\n- be able to sum up the business/product/service concisely\n- be able to explain it in greater detail and to anticipate questions a potential funder or investor would ask you.  Write down the questions your advisor asks you - these are the same ones you'll be asked by investors.\n- what are the development and production costs?\n- how is the product sold and who/what are the customers?\n- what will customers be charged for the end product or service? \n- comparing start-up costs to income projections, when will the business "break even"?\n- consider your role in the business going forward.  What strengths do you bring to it, and what are your weak points?  This isn't a question to get you to sell your abilities so much as to help you identify the kinds of people you'll need to help you run the business.
615782
You can try Venture capitalists! Search for the resolved question on Venture capitalists and you'll find many to invest for your ideas. In fact make a business plan and go ahead!
129314
I don't have a specific business in mind but any service type business is a good bet. Think of things you don't like doing that have to be done as a way of developing ideas.\nTaking note of some of the simplest things might give you an idea.\nGood luck!
873310
Unless your idea is totally just out of this world and nobody has ever thought of anything like it you may experience a very difficult time in selling it.\n\nIf you were an entrepreneur and you were going to start a business would you buy an unproven plan?  The answer is No.\n\nWhat a buyer will ask is:  If the idea is so great, why aren’t you doing it?\n\nYour best bet if your credit sucks is to find a partner.
962833
Hi there,\nCreate your own 'portable' business.\n\nhttp://webmaster-directory.first411.com\n\nis a great resource.\n\nMore Power to You!
631907
Think of all your interests & ask yourself if any of those could be expanded into a business. Just keep in mind...what's your expertise? What are your interests? What could you imagine yourself doing?\n\nHave you thought about tutoring or teaching a night class at an adult school? \n\nBy researching the prospect of starting your own business -- what it entails, what you need to know, helpful hints, etc -- you'll feel better prepared to take that plunge.\n\nI found some book titles that are relevant to your specific question about finances:\n\nFinancing Your Business Dreams With Other People's Money: How and Where to Find Money for Start-Up and Growing Businesses by Harold R. Lacy\nThe Small Business Start-Up Kit by Peri Pakroo, Peg Healy (Editor)\nFinding Money : The Small Business Guide to Financing by Kate Lister\nFree Money for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs by Laurie Blum\n\nI also posted some article links in the source box.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
312393
The first step is to evaluate your business concept and to determine to the best extent you can whether the concept will actually work in the real world. Many people have brilliant concepts, but many of these concepts fail. By doing preliminary research beforehand, you can minimize your risk and increase your chances for success.\n\nFrom the article "Evaluating Business Ideas and Products" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol13/evaluate.htm here are 12 questions to ask to help you identify a winning business idea:\n\n1. Does it satisfy or create a market need?\n2. Will the product maintain market appeal?\n3. How unique is your product?\n4. How useful is your product? \n5. How much competition exists?\n6. Have you priced your product competitively? \n7. What is the level of difficulty in the creation or implementation of the product?\n8. What are the growth possibilities?\n9. Can I get backend sales?\n10. Is the product safe?\n11. Can my product be promoted with strong advertising copy? \n12. Will you be left with an inventory?\n\nThen you can:\n\n1. Prepare your business plan to help you flesh out the concept more. Part of the process includes making estimates of the startup expenses you will need, cashflow you will need, and other resources you need to make your concept come to life.\n\n2. Line up your funding. Once your plan is complete you can start seeking funding for your business (if you do not have the resources to start it). Decide on the best route for you, whether you will get a bank loan, an SBA- guaranteed loan, find partners and investors, equity financing, etc. Here are articles that can help you decide on where to get financing for your business http://www.powerhomebiz.com/Index/financing.htm\n\n3. Create your business structure. Decide on the best legal structure for your business. The article "Choosing Your Legal Structure" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol3/legalstructure.htm gives the advantages and disadvantages of each legal structure.\n\n4. Begin the process of getting permits, licenses, EIN, and other government regulatory approval. Go to your Secretary of State website or visit your county clerk office and ask the requirements you need to start your business. If you are looking to patent your product, be sure to do it before you pitch your business to other investors.\n\n5. Operational process - whether you will create a storefront on Main street or a website, now is the time to do it.\n\nThere's a lot more things to do when starting a business.  I recommend that you read the following books:\n\n- What No One Ever Tells You About Starting Your Own Business : Real Life Start-Up Advice from 101 Successful Entrepreneurs \n- Starting From Scratch: How To Start A Business When You Don't Have Money \n- If You're Clueless About Starting Your Own Business and Want to Know More \n- On the Move : How to Succeed and Survive As an Entrepreneur \n- How to Make 1000 Mistakes in Business and Still Succeed
1064785
Write up a business plan and shop it around. There are lots of people with money and no ideas how to invest, and there are lots of people with ideas and no money to invest. The two groups need each other. \n\nIf you have a sound idea that looks like it will make money, then people will invest in your idea. If they won't...it is YOUR IDEA that needs polishing.
319101
Try doing a search on www.dogpile.com.  Look for free business proposal that fall under the category you're working on.  that should be a start.  It will at least give you a backbone...topics to start write about or include.
327676
I have my own business.  I have started many business' before from a young age.  I started my current business as a finance coach about 2 years ago.  I do have schooling and background in what I do.  But, don't let that stop you if you don't.  \n\nFigure out what you want to do and if it excites you.  Then work toward what you need to make happen to have your business become a reality and go for it.  Don't listen to naysayers also known as dream stealer's.  Stay focused on your goals as long as they make you happy!  \n\nIf you have specific questions on doing this, email me.\n\nBest of luck.