Start Business Blog

Business Idea?

2011-09-08T15:21:00.000+01:00

Collecting and distributing books to disadvantaged areas of society can present logistical problems, but theInstitute of Green Mobility in Brazil have found a simple solution with Bicicloteca, a tricycle adapted to function as a mobile library.

The tricycle was created to bring books to homeless people, those living in areas with no access to a library or education, or those who cannot afford books. It serves as a lightweight mode of transport, able to navigate squares and hard to reach places without the need for a driving license or generating fuel costs. It has the capacity to carry 150kg of books, which are received by donation and stamped to remind the reader to pass them on, creating a continuous cycle of reading and presenting a less “bureaucratic” method of lending books. The Institute of Green Mobility will loan the Bicicloteca to NGOs working with communities without access to libraries, who must send in a formal request and are prioritised by those working with groups most “at risk”. Training is given on how best to approach people with the library and how to perform monthly maintenance.

Bicicloteca is an example of how the goals of one organization (promoting green transport) can successfully collaborate with the needs of another (encouraging social inclusion). The scheme exists in communities around Brazil and has inspired similar programs in other countries. Could this model work in a community near you?

Website: www.bicicloteca.com.br
Contact: contato@bicicloteca.com.br

Why Now It's A Right Time To Start Your Business

2011-08-01T12:20:00.001+01:00

Why Now It's A Right Time To Start Your Business

Surely, you think to yourself, now is not the best time to start your own business? After widespread economic growth in the first decade of the new century, talk now is of austerity and downsizing. Will people really buy your products and services? Perhaps you are worried about leaving a regular job for the uncertainty of working for yourself?

The truth is simple. People will continue to buy what they need or desire, provided it is presented to them in an easy, affordable and attractive way. And working for yourself can give you more control over your own career.

Of course running your own business will be hard work. But it will all be worth it after your first, second, third and every next contract or new order.

How to Start Your Business: Tips

Here are some tips on getting started.

Write a business plan. In the first instance, write it for yourself. Even if you think about your business idea constantly, the simple act of writing it down will help you spot potential errors. The key components should be the business’ objectives, strategy, the market context and financial forecasts.

Once finished, ask for some feedback from experienced business people, friends or family. All feedback, even if critical, should be taken seriously. After all, others are your potential customers. Try to see things from their perspective.

Focus on what you know how to do. If you have always loved toy airplanes and have extensive knowledge about this, it may be best to start selling these rather than products you never buy yourself.

There is no greater way to learn about running your own business than by getting started. But you can still learn skills and techniques by attending courses, seminars or other learning sessions. A good tip is not to prioritise learning over practical experience: do not put off starting your business until you feel you know everything you should.

Check you abide by the necessary rules and regulations. Internet businesses can sell all over the world: do you need a licence to sell in particular countries? What are the rules on keeping products stored in your property? It is best to know before you are informed of fines or illegality.

Managing Your Business

Managing your business can be time intensive. If you expand, you will likely need to recruit, develop and retain staff. You will also need to have a good administration system in place, not least in terms of financial management.

You may find it useful to consider a contractor payroll solution. An Umbrella Company is a company that can take on your financial paperwork, leaving you free to focus on growing the business. A contractor payroll solution means you can rely on a professional approach that means your staff are paid correctly and on time.

Marketing Your Business

Marketing your business can be satisfying and highly creative. The more people know about you, the more are likely to buy your products. Internet marketing especially search engine optimisation (SEO), is one of the best ways of getting your brand in front of people. Think of key phrases people are likely to use in searching for a company like yours. Structure your website accordingly, constantly driving your key messages.

Stroke 5

2010-11-11T10:54:00.000+00:00

It is sometime since I have written and I have been busy with milestones!

They can help with a speedy recovery and make a difference to vitality and motivation ............... I had a clot and a haemorrhage (given up trying to spell it!) so it appears I am slightly different .......... it affected my celebarum so it can take a while to write these things!

Next time I plan to list the milestones!!

Stroke 4

2010-10-19T17:00:00.000+01:00

Stroke 4. I have discovered the advantage to a stroke (there is one honest) her indoors cuts the grass!! You just supervise and shout rdersa or even orders! I will keep on making out I am ill so she (Cathy - and I am sure I wouldn't make for her) will cut the grass.

You have no idea how long that takes - the right hand keeps doing it's own thing. Still, at least I am not as the Aldwych crew - 7/7 - that is without limbs ect, my heart goes out to them.

How did I find the site? Well, I am still down loading and reading.

Stroke 3

2010-10-11T11:58:00.000+01:00

According to BUPA (which I am not in) 150.000 people get a stroke a year. Most are over 65 (I am 59) and about 10.000 are under 55.

So, I am going to study www.differentstrokes.co.uk as it is aimed at the younger person - which is strictly me but I will suffice.

Report back when I have.

Stroke 2

2010-10-09T10:21:00.000+01:00

Before I write too much can I say that Cathy has been essential to this journey of recovery! She is my wife and without her I couldn't have made it - she has been wonderful - I even spelt it right!!

So, where to begin?

It took ages too write that. Anyway the nurses have been great but they must speak to the patient as an adult - going into child mode is no good, speak as to an adult. They may not be able to speak to you but they can 'grunt' as a adult!

And so to rest - must use the right hand more.

The Stroke

2010-10-08T17:30:00.000+01:00

It has taken a lot to write this .... and I apologise for spelling mistakes and to those that have had a serious stroke! By the time the spell check gets to work I can't be bothered. I reckon the thing is to write and it has taken a month to write this - I reckon some never write because they take ages or don't want to share, and I may take this down.

My stroke is 4 weeks old. And I remember every minute of it - so that doesn't make me the worst - but it does make me the clearest! I can't yet use my right side - but I will!! More soon ...........

Beer Bottling To You

2010-07-09T10:55:00.001+01:00

Funny how often there is a drink related thread on this blog!

For small brewers, bottling a beer is something that is often done manually on a very small scale or—with commercial help—on a very large one. Enter Tom Wood's, a British brewer that recently launched a mobile bottling operation in the form of a well-equipped truck that can drive to virtually any UK location.

Tom Wood's has been brewing beer since 1995 under the Highwood Brewery name. More recently, the company's versatile operation-in-a-truck has begun offering full bottling service for other brewers as well, including everything from pre-production bottle washing through a range of bottle capping options, labelling and finally shrink-wrapping.

Whether for local craft brewers, individual enthusiasts or a sideline brewing business, a mobile bottling alternative that requires no capital investment or travel will be a compelling option indeed. Other large or medium-sized brewers around the world: time to start of your own new mobile service? For more details go to www.tom-wood.com/brewery/bottle.php

The Right Way To Network

2010-06-02T16:02:00.000+01:00

Networking Tips

from Duncan Cheatle of The Supper Club & Andrew Ferguson of www.BreakthroughNetwork.Net

Give: Put your own needs to one side and give your full attention to being useful to others ... unconditionally. You are far more likely to make a good impression too.

Focus: time is your most precious asset, so selecting the right people to mix with, and productive methods and places, is crucial.

Visibility: Don’t hide your light. Don’t deprive people of your extraordinary gifts. It’s OK to be seen, and “known, liked, valued and respected” (arch networker Roy Sheppard’s formula for successful networking). Then even more people will seek you out. The best way to benefit from a network is to be generously and visibly helpful in its forum, because it’s not just who you know, it’s who knows, and remembers, you.

Listen: Show you genuinely care by listening and responding intelligently. This takes you into their world. “Working the room”, importuning others with your agenda creates a referral-free zone around you! Listening is an incredibly rare talent.

Commit: Don’t be flaky – follow up when you say you will, and don’t promise what you won’t or can’t deliver promptly. Don’t let your Yes be submerged by your inability to say No. Commitment is memorable.

Facilitate: Prepare some interesting questions, relevant to the group/venue. Be ready to explain succinctly what you do - few will take you seriously if you waffle vaguely, so be really clear what result your business gives people, and also what you’re looking for right now ... just in case they ask.

Etiquette: Don’t be dismissive or rude to anyone. Whether they appear valuable to you or not, it’s wrong, and they may be best friends with your next prospect! If you’re being helped, you make the running ... and the phonecalls; and after you’ve been helped, always ask “ ... and what are you looking for that I might be able to help you find?” A Thank-You wouldn’t go amiss either!

Relevance: You will be judged by the introductions you make, so make sure there is real value to both parties. Only refer people you genuinely believe are ready and able to benefit from each other. Are they at an adequate level of skill/development? Do they have the time?

Congregation: Even though the core principle of networking is to give and facilitate things for others, it does make sense to do your networking where your own niche market congregates. Not least because you need to be able to speak the same language at the same level. This is where you’re most likely to find joint venturers for mutual benefit.

Relationship: To network effectively the main requirement is to be a fully functioning human being with a deep understanding of relationship. Personal development is the main training to undertake.

What have we missed?! What’s your key networking tip?

Grow Your Own Wine

2010-05-04T16:03:00.001+01:00

The Urban Wine Company collects grapes from amateur vine-growers presses them and then sells the wines locally - in and around London and the South East.

Contributors get six bottles for free and with their help and guidance they will help you produce vineyard quality wine from the crop.

They help you plant, cultivate and crop your own vine and provide on going advice to help you get the best results and highest yield from the vine. Then they collect the harvest, use professional wine making techniques and deliver you wine that you can be proud of!

The Urban Wine Company acts as a collective for local growers all over London and the South East. It’s great fun, members meet at tastings and events and you will meet kindred spirits in your local area and make friendships within a community of wine.

Check it out at www.urbanwineco.com

Government Schemes Useless?

2010-03-31T11:21:00.000+01:00

‘Ineffective’ support schemes

Spotted in the Scottish Herald

Television entrepreneur Doug Richard said now is a great time to start a new business even though the economy is in the doldrums.

But the American technology specialist said hopefuls should expect to get little help from the government, which he claimed wasted billions of pounds on ineffective support schemes.

Richard told The Herald that people who were prepared to change their view of risk could find that the economic slowdown has created fertile ground in which to start new ventures.

“Starting a business is viewed as a risky activity but risk is relative. Most people see risk in the context of the security of their jobs but working for a big corporation or a bank is not as safe as it used to be,” said Richard, who starrred on Dragons’ Den on BBC.

“The likelihood of getting fired has increased and the conditions outside our own lives have changed. Corporations and governments have retreated, they have cut research and development, they have left more gaps in the market... There are more resources available, more good people in jobs they would rather not be doing or in no jobs at all.”

The record showed that companies that started in a downturn were more likely to succeed.

However, Richard said: “It is striking how extraordinarily ineffective most of it is.”

He said most of the £2.5 billion spent annually by central government seemed to be used for advice schemes that were of little practical value.

He added: “What they (small businesses) need is much more straight forward training in business skills and for the government to be an effective customer.

“Small businesses would much rather have a customer than an adviser.”

We tend to agree with most of what he has to say!

Daft Lawyers

2010-03-05T10:45:00.000+00:00

These are from a book called Disorder in the American Courts and are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now published by court reporters that had the torment of staying calm while these exchanges were actually taking place.

ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
WITNESS: I forget.
ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you
forgot?

ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his
sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?

ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the twenty-year-old, how old is he?
WITNESS: He's twenty, much like your IQ.

ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?
WITNESS: getting laid

ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
WITNESS: None.
ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?
WITNESS: Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a
new attorney?

ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?
WITNESS: By death.
ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?
WITNESS: Take a guess.

ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go
to?
WITNESS: Oral.

And the best for last:

ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for
a pulse?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you
began the autopsy?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been
alive,nevertheless?
WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and
practicing law.

Another Energy Collector

2010-02-05T11:29:00.001+00:00

A group of Harvard University students developed sOccket .... a fun, portable energy-harvesting power source in the form of a soccer ball. sOccket captures the energy from impact that is normally lost to the environment when the soccer ball is kicked, dribbled, etc,and stores this energy for later use.

It stores the charge for lights, cell phones and batteries. It works with inductive coil technology, similar to that found in flashlights that power up when shaken. For each 15 minutes of play, it can store enough energy to power a small LED light for three hours.

Still in the prototyping stages, sOccket has been successfully piloted in Durban, South Africa, and the development team has plans to market a commercial version of the sOccket in Western countries as a high-end tech toy.

sOccket has attracted several development funding grants and is now in the process of developing production and distribution partnerships. To get involved go to

www.soccket.com

Mighty Powerful Paving

2010-01-28T16:45:00.009+00:00

Excuse the pun but ..... a bright spark has an idea to harvest energy from pedestrians footsteps.

Inventor Laurence Kemball-Cook, from London, has come up with the idea of a paving stone placed in a busy street and when stepped on it stores the kinetic energy produced. The patented “Pavegen System” could power lights, computers, automatic doors and ticket machines at tube stations. Five hours of footfall would be enough to power the lights on a bus stop all night.

A green light mounted in the stone, glows brighter the more energy it has stored. Laurence patented his design shortly after graduating Loughborough University in June and spent three months developing a prototype capable of lasting for 10 years. Even the rubber used on the surface of the stone is environmentally sound - it is made from recycled lorry tyres. Laurence is now in discussions with councils, transport authoriites and shops to sell the paving stones. He said: ‘I could see it being rolled out all over London. Imagine how much energy could be stored from a single days shopping on Oxford Street”

Go to www.pavegensystems.com for more information.

Nokia Money

2010-01-26T15:58:00.003+00:00

Nokia is introducing a new service called "Nokia Money." It is new mobile service that allows users to send money to another person just by using the person's mobile phone number. You will also be able to pay merchants for goods and services, pay utility bills, or recharge a prepay SIM cards. Nokia is introducing a network of Nokia Money agents, where customers can deposit or withdraw cash from their accounts. The service is planned to be rolled out gradually this year.

Human Bed Warmers!

2010-01-21T17:27:00.002+00:00

I don't think this is a wind up?

A hotel chain is employing human bed warmers in London to help guests get a good night's sleep.

The walking electric blankets are dressed in special all-in-one sleeper suits and are sent to warm the beds of guests staying at the Holiday Inn before they get under the covers.

Dr Chris Idzikowski, director of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre, (it exists - we checked!) said the idea could help people get off to sleep.

He said: "There's plenty of scientific evidence to show that sleep starts at the beginning of the night when body temperature starts to drop. The decline occurs partly because the blood vessels of the hands, face and feet open up and release heat.

"A warm bed - approximately 20 to 24 degrees Celsius - is a good way to start this process whereas a cold bed would inhibit sleep. Holiday Inn's new bed warmers service should help people achieve a good night's sleep especially as it's taking much longer for them to warm up when they come in from the snow."

The five minute free bed warming sessions are also being tried out in Manchester later this month.

Whatever next?

Good business idea - Virtual farmers market

2010-01-19T13:34:00.002+00:00

The Virtual Farmer's Market is the brainchild of Marcus Carter who came up with the concept whilst working on his market stall at the Partridges Farmer's Market. He wanted to share the farmer's market experience with more people so they too could share his passion for exquisitely produced artisan food & drink. Bringing the experience into peoples homes seemed the ideal way to do this as many people do not have the time, or the means, to visit their local farmer's market. The online Virtual Farmer's Market was born. Seeing the face behind the food has never been more important, and the Virtual Farmer's Market allows shoppers to 'meet' the producer via video streams on the website.

The Virtual Farmer's Market acts as a hub where consumers and independent food manufacturers can trade on-line with national consolidated distribution. Visit the VFM site.

Funny Business Clip

2010-01-12T17:06:00.001+00:00

As you will gather, from our site, Start Business we have a lot of time for Geoff Burch. This video clip illustrates his style.

As a postscript this is what Geoff has to say about this clip ..... “I'm really touched that people have found my video important enough to comment on but there is a misunderstanding. Firstly of course this is a joke but there is a point and it is not a failing of the employee but a failure of the boss (me!) to share the bigger picture with his people. What I was trying to say is that command and control no longer works - every manager or boss needs to sit down with all their people, exchange ideas and clearly explain the goals.”

Top Ten Business Ideas for 2010?

2010-01-05T16:11:00.007+00:00

www.Springwise.com have listed their top ten start up ideas for 2010 - some curious ideas!

1. Small-scale food production using membership models

The past year or two saw a huge increase in innovative, upscale mobile food purveyors working from trucks and selling everything from premium ice-cream to Korean BBQ tacos. Requiring an even lower investment, the next wave could be small-scale culinary subscription services, which allow fledgling entrepreneurs to get a foothold in the food business, and create a steady income and a loyal client base for future business activities

2. Low impact advertising

Realising that green concerns are here to stay, British media agency Curb offers nothing but low-impact advertising. Its first service used rainwater to clean logos into grubby pavements, and was quickly followed by other techniques that use sand, sea water, grass, glow-in-the-dark funghi and more to broadcast their clients' messages in an earth-friendly manner.

3. Health tracking devices

From wireless headbands that track sleep patterns to wearable gadgets that track every move, an increasing number of options is available for people who want to track their own health-related behaviour. Recording and relaying detailed information that was previously only available through medical monitoring, most of these devices aren't yet available worldwide, which creates a host of opportunities for distributors and localized versions.

4. Sample stores, cafes & vending machines

Sophisticated sampling—dubbed tryvertising by trendwatching.com—isn't new. On the rise, however, are dedicated spaces that facilitate sampling by a variety of brands, attracting consumers through the irresistible offer of free goods. Following sampling stores in Spain, sampling cafes in Tokyo and sample vending machines in Belgium, we suspect this concept will spread even further in 2010.

5. Discreet rooftop solar panels and wind turbines

While most homeowners would in theory like to generate their own wind or solar power, many are put off not just by cost, but by the aesthetic impact of wind turbines and solar panels. Aiming to resolve that problem are smart engineers who are creating new options that blend in with their environment. Two promising examples: rooftop wind turbines that almost disappear along the apex of a sloping roof, and solar panels shaped like traditional clay roof tiles. Plenty of opportunities here over the next decade, both in distribution and in the development of similar products.

6. Rotating retail at airports and in malls

Pop-up, temporary retail is still going strong, but a new alternative has entered the game: rotating retail. Two spottings: opening soon in Glasgow Airport is Planeshop, a permanent store that brands will take over for a limited time, including changing the shop's exterior graphics to match their identity. And in the Netherlands, BrandNew Stores aims to turn those fleeting pop-up shops into a chain concept, creating fixed spaces where brands can temporarily present themselves in a regular retail environment.

7. Remote farming for consumers

According to Wikipedia, farm simulation game FarmVille has become the most popular game application on Facebook with 73.8 million active users in January 2010. Offering consumers a way to remotely control a patch of land that will actually provide them with an edible harvest is a new Italian start-up: Le Verdure Del Mio Orto, which lets anyone build an organic garden right from their web browser. As the produce grows, it's picked and delivered to the customer's door within 24 hours. Weekly deliveries are part of the package.

8. Connecting creative consumers with local fabricators

A partnership between New Zealand-based Ponoko and North Carolina-based ShopBot Tools, 100kGarages is a community of workshops distributed around the world that are equipped with the digital fabrication tools needed to precisely cut, machine, drill or sculpt the components of virtually any creative project. The network allows designers or consumers turn their ideas into physical products, and creates new business for small workshops.

9. Paying consumers to promote products they use and love

As our sister-site trendwatching.com pointed out in its sellsumers briefing, selling is the new saving: a recession-induced need for cash plus an ever-growing infrastructure are fueling concepts that help ordinary consumers make money instead of spending it. One of the easiest ways to do so is by taking on the role of marketeer for products they already use and love: from promoting concerts by their favourite bands, to helping small companies launch new products.

10. Single-use toilet bag turns human waste into fertilizer

While this is a numbered list, we love all of these ideas equally. So, last but not least, a potential solution to a problem that 2.6 billion people have to deal with: no access to a toilet. Designed for use sitting, squatting or standing, the single-use, biodegradable plastic Peepoo bag is lined with a urea-coated gauze layer that disinfects all waste. Used bags are odour-free for at least 24 hours and are safe for burial underground. Within two to four weeks after use, their contents are converted to high-quality fertiliser—something that's also rare in many areas and could become a source of income and further enrichment for individuals or villages.

MAKE IT HAPPEN – IN RECESSION!

2009-02-07T11:42:00.005+00:00

Roy Robinson, a highly respected champion of the Self-Employed has allowed us to add this to our blog.

MAKE IT HAPPEN – EVEN IN RECESSION!

Over the years it has been asked at various times whether or not it can be a good idea to start a new business during difficult economic times. Apart from the inevitable “it all depends upon the type of business” reply, one definite advantage appears constant: if you start-up during a recession there is much less chance of self-delusion! There is always the danger that anyone who benefits from buoyant times and markets may begin to believe the success is according to their brilliance, rather than recognising that in those circumstances almost anyone could achieve some short-term success. As in the corporate world, it is hard-times and recessions which can test (and prove) the quality and qualities of their management.

General gloom and despondency can encourage a “wait and see” mentality – hang on in there and it may work out. This is the equivalent of the business that is sinking into trouble but ignoring the signs, taking no action, and hoping that it will all work out eventually. If things are quietening down – you have the time to do things!

So you’ve checked all the figures – you’ve addressed any fixed costs – you have reduced your expenses to a minimum. Forecasts have been re-worked, cash is being conserved. All essential – but what you really need are Sales – your only source of actual Income.

The trouble is that when times are good Marketing activity alone might be enough to bring in the customers – and many small businesses fail to recognise that that is very different from a pro-active (note active!) approach to Selling.

Do not abandon all Marketing (costs) without thought – but do appraise it carefully, and especially explore Promotion ideas which are cheaper or even free. A “good news” Press Release? (In the early 90’s we organised a very successful celebration of successful start-ups because all the media was reporting at that time were the failures!)

SO THE WEATHER’S BAD, THE CUSTOMERS ARE IN THEIR BUNKERS, AND THE TELEPHONE IS QUIET….IT DEPENDS UPON YOUR BUSINESS, BUT….

Call previous customers and suggest pre-booking work ahead – you’ll be busy later!

Better still, call in and see them - eyes open! - suggest things that may need doing…..

Targeted, “seasonal”, specific, one-off leaflet drops. (You’ve nothing else to do!)

Are there new ways of “packaging” what you do? New wrappers sell old chocolate!

Could your self-employed status be attractive to any businesses reducing staff?

Are there any markets you have not addressed which now are worth some effort?

Could you team up with other related/complementary enterprises and each promote the other? Enhances value of “slack time” used for these activities – and if you’re busy!

Go looking for potential new customers who may benefit from what you offer!

Carry business cards/ comp.slips everywhere. Turn “network” into a verb!

Is there anyone in your territory that does not know of you? Why?

Have a look at “Always Think Ahead” in this section. Have you been actively selling?

What exactly are you doing with your days when business is quiet?

In the same way that some people can charge higher prices than others in the same business – in the same way that some individuals can get very different results from otherwise identical businesses…..some people will trade successfully throughout any difficult times. But they will do different things and look at things a different way. What they will not do is refuse to change or question anything and decide to wait and see what happens!

SO WHAT ARE YOU PERSONALLY GOING TO DO ABOUT RECESSION?

How A Bank Manager Thinks!

2008-12-31T10:33:00.003+00:00

When talking to your local business bank manager
(how a bank manager thinks)

Never say:
‘I have the greatest idea since sliced bread – and nobody else is doing it.’

Bank managers are by nature not risk takers. You are not talking to a venture capitalist. They went into banking as a secure career option ( i.e. they are not risk takers but cautious types! ) and in you trot asking for money against an idea that they will perceive as a risk - particularly nowadays!

Phrases like ‘no one else is doing this in this town’ or ‘it is completely unique’ will get them reaching for oxygen.

Stress that your idea is as old as time – but you have a new twist on it. And, your money is safe in my hands!

Not so cheerful - but, Why do Businesses Fail?

2008-12-31T10:25:00.004+00:00

Why do Businesses Fail?

Many reasons… a mix of these:

Credit problems.
Poor location.
No, or too few, customers.
Red tape.
Under-capitalised.
Over-trading.
Health problems.
Family commitments.
Poor management skills.

But one of the biggest in my humble opinion:
Lack of experience.

Don’t assume that being your own boss makes you automatically a good boss.

My background is in sales and marketing management. When I went self-employed I thought I knew how to run a business. Well, I knew those aspects. But not finance, administration and all those other skills. When you were employed, others took care of their sections.

Remember – employment is nothing like self-employment. But also remember - when you get it right, it beats employment hands down!

Self-Employed Pitfalls to Avoid No:2

2008-10-04T14:01:00.003+01:00

• Over-caution: learn to take risks and when to stick your neck out. The faint-hearted won’t progress. Can you accept that by starting your own business you are a risk-taker? Are you comfortable with risk-taking?

• Easy target-setting: while you need to be sensible, fear of failure may make you set your sights too low.

• Financial motivations: sounds bizarre, but if you think self-employment is a quick road to riches, you could be in for a rude awakening. Try the lottery or Pop Idol instead. Keep cash in sight, but let other reasons for self-employment be your prime motivators, at least to start with!

• Procrastination: or, put simply, over-indulging in thinking and planning and never getting on with it. Oh yes – time management for the self-employed is an important skill to master.

• Butterfly mind: in other words, one that flits from task to task. Self-employment can offer variety, just avoid all 57 of them!

• Cul-de-sacs: a polite way of saying keeping on course and not chasing too many other opportunities. Yes, keep an open mind to new ideas, but without losing focus.

• Poor delegation: seeing your business too much as ‘yours’ and precious to you. Others – and it could be your employees – can help you achieve your goals, so work with them.

• Not watching the opposition: it exists and it wants to take your customers away. Keep an eye out; remember that your customers always have a choice. Never, ever fall into the trap of believing that you have no competition. You are too sensible for that surely? Your competition may not be direct. Just remember that customers always have a choice how and where to spend their cash.

What A Good Idea 1

2008-09-11T13:31:00.003+01:00

Founded by publisher, HarperCollins, www.Authonomy.com is a new site that invites unpublished or self-published authors to post at least 10,000 words for visitors to read online.

Visitors review and recommend books. Authonomy keeps track of the number of recommendations a book receives and ranks writers accordingly. To help authors make it from computer screen to printed book, once a month the top five books are delivered to the desks of HarperCollins commissioning editors.

The website is free to use both for readers and writers, and HarperCollins hopes the wisdom of the crowds will help them unsource potential hits that individual editors or agents might otherwise miss, or just don't have the time to read. Needless to say, the site could also prove to be a good marketing tool once manuscripts are actually published, since authors won't have to build a fan base from scratch.

Self-Employed Pitfalls to Avoid

2008-09-04T16:59:00.004+01:00

• Your business takes over: learn to balance your ‘precious’ business with your family, friends and social life. Your friends will stop asking ‘How is the business?’ They’re fed up with you boring them rigid about it!

• Health: watch it, and keep fit. You will need the constitution of an elephant. Take out some health insurance.

• Survival income: check this and if the business idea does not provide it, then ask why are you bothering? You want to make money, don’t you?

• Income variations: the income graph for the self-employed can be, to put it mildly, volatile! That regular pay day vanishes and some customers will take as long as they like to pay. Will you be able to cope with this degree of uncertainty?

• Unemployable: the self-employed lifestyle can become addictive. But the more you do it, the less you may become employable by orthodox employers. In short, you will no longer fit the mould, be unable to do as others tell you, or confirm to the rules of the company ‘game’.

• Ostrich approach: burying your head in the sand and avoiding that nasty phone call, invoice or red tape. They don’t go away. Remember one of your motives for choosing self-employment was to be ‘in control of your own destiny’ – so deal with them!

• Ego: status sometimes plays a great role in choosing self-employment. You may seek a certain standing in the local business community and be tempted to buy ‘baubles’ like a fast car, posh office equipment, perhaps just to impress former work colleagues. Don’t – not until you can afford to!

• Playing at it: self-employment isn’t a game, though if you are going to be miserable doing it consider staying in the world of the employed, as the chances are that you will earn more by that route. So, have fun and get a buzz from it – but take it seriously.