Archive for November, 2008
The Right Way to Start Your Coffee Business
So you want to start a coffee shop business? To build what could beat the Starbucks monopoly may be a far-fetched idea if you’re just about to start a coffee business but it does not hurt to dream big. Dream big, start small and value the importance of working hard for it. The presence of [...]
How Not to Raise Traditional Capital… How to Raise “Guerilla” Capital
We have compiled a list of some practices which seem sure to kill your chances to attract investors. Ignore these lessons at your peril.
* Poor market research, weak business plan
* An unfocused, “shotgun,” approach to which venture capital sources to approach
* Does not have enough seed capital dedicated to the capital raising effort
* Does not [...]
Women’s Business Grants
Women’s Business Grants are numerous, but many women are not aware of all of the
offerings available to them. Some of the business grants that are available are just for women.
There are so many options not only for just to own or maintain a business, but, also to help with schooling to help you with your [...]
Financial Issues in Business Startup
A primary inhibitor of business start-up is that few people have the financial cushion to give up a job for the uncertain income of a start-up venture. In a recent survey, about 30% of new business founders identified inadequate funding as their biggest hurdle, and a similar amount said lenders were too conservative. About 15% [...]
Government Grants For Women In Business
The numbers do not lie, more women then men start-up new businesses and successfully run existing small businesses every year. In fact they have a nearly 75% better chance of succeeding in their business ventures then men do. One of the best ways to ensure this success is to seek out and receive one of [...]
From Small Business to Big Business – Starbucks Corporation
When we think of Starbucks today we think of one thing coffee. Or more specifically some form of Mocha Latte or Frappuccino. Although many coffee companies have done fairly well in their own right during the last decade and a half Starbucks is by far the leader of the pack. And what started as a [...]
The True Concept of a Coffee Specialty Shop
Gourmet coffee comes in all shapes, sizes, tastes, smells, and price ranges. It may seem obvious that the higher the price, the better the quality. However, this is not always the case when considering gourmet coffee. Who decides the best gourmet or specialty coffee is the coffee drinker: you. Tastes and styles differ form one [...]
Entrepreneurial Transitions
Once you undertake the development of a business you utilize a variety of entrepreneurial skills. You find yourself working hard to keep things going, but there’s a real sense of satisfaction in the work.
Recently I was told of a woman who had started her twenty-first business. In each case the business was related to cooking. [...]
Evaluating an Opportunity
Business opportunities are often based on broad trends, such as:
• demographic, such as the “graying” of America (creating opportunities in health services, for example);
• sociological developments, like the “green” movement, with its emphasis on recycling and environmental sensitivity, and;
• cultural changes caused by changing economic conditions and technological developments.
Opportunities can also frequently be found in [...]
Let the Market Speak!
The first and most logical step in whether or where to start a business is to conduct a market analysis. For a retail business, a few general locations should be chosen for detailed analysis to identify where the opportunity is greatest.
A market analysis is a study of the market area and of probable future patterns. [...]
