Start-up: July 2004 Archives

There is a new service available for those of you with business ideas at TJ's Weblog.

"The 'Business Plan Surgery' is designed to give expert feedback for your very own business idea - for free.

Here is how it works:

* What does it cost? Nothing.

* Isn't it risky to give my "secret idea" to other people? - Not really as Seth Godin would say "...an idea needs light and oxygen much like a plant" to survive. You should feed it, ideas in the dark basement will most likely die.

* What do I have to do? Please send your executive summary to my mail adress mail@tjacobi.com and we take it from there."

WomensWallStreet.com has some more advice on starting a business out of your home that goes along with a recent post at this site.

"Begin by deciding if a home-based business is really right for you by making an honest assessment of yourself and your needs and availability. It's harder than pointing and clicking, but it's where the real work begins. Talk to your family about how much time you want to devote to work, and research every option thoroughly - you'll learn a lot and avoid a bad match. If you're determined to keep your weekends free, for example, avoid retail and real estate.

Be sure working at home suits your temperament. If being cooped up in the house doesn't sound appealing or if you're easily distracted, think twice...."

Successful home-based workers I have talked with all say the you need to set some clear boundaries of place and time that define your working at home. Set aside a "work place" in your home such as a designated office, but only go there during predetermined working hours. This may even require getting two computers and two phone lines--one for working at home and one for family use--to make sure the boundaries are kept clear and consistent. This can help with distractions.

We have talked about the growing number of aging baby boomers becoming entrepreneurs later in life. This article at Entrepreneur.com reports that many of my comrades are choosing franchising as their entry strategy. This is not a bad approach, as many of these folks have spent their lives in the corporate environment. Franchises can help provide structure and systems to help with this sometimes difficult transition.

There is a nice summary of key start-up issues and concerns at Forbes.com.

Full disclosure: OK, so they quoted me in this article. But, its a good one anyway.....