How to Start a Small Business
How to Start a Financial Services Business
This advice is perfect for entrepreneurial folks who hope to start a financial services business. Read these tips before you begin your venture.
Thinking about opening a financial services business? We tell you what you need to know to get started.
How to Create a Winning Financial Services Company Business Plan
You've heard that a quality business plan is the first step toward a successful financial services business.
Although it might seem like an unnecessary formality, your financial services company's business plan is a document that will shape your goals and strategies on a go-forward basis.
Furthermore, a good business plan will help you avoid key startup mistakes. Lacking a solid business plan, many startups find themselves rudderless and incapable of executing consistent decision making processes, while committed business planners rely on their plans to guide all of their decision making and short-term planning efforts.
Review the Competition
Long before you open a financial services business in your area, it's a smart move to find out what the competition looks like. We've provided the link below to help you generate a list of competitors nearby. Complete the form by entering your city, state and zip code to get a list of financial services businesses that are close by.
It's important to be aware of what the competition is doing. Take the time to visit the competition to properly assess their strengths and weaknesses.
A Good Source of Advice
If you want to open a financial services business be sure to speak with somebody who is already in the business. If you think owners of nearby financial services businesses will give you advice, think again. What's in it for them?
Thankfully, an owner of a a financial services business outside of your community can be a great learning resource for you, once they realize that you are not going to directly compete with them in their community. In that case, the business owner may be more than happy to discuss the industry with you. It can take a while to find an entrepreneur who is willing to talk, but it's well worth the effort.
The key question new becomes: how to find an owner of a financial services business on the other side of the country to talk to?
Here's how we would do it. Try the useful link below and key in a random city/state or zipcode.
Should I Buy or Launch a Financial Services Business?
Unfortunately, many inexperienced financial services business entrepreneurs approach ownership with the mistaken idea that a startup is their only option when they could also pursue a business acquisition.
Except for scenarios that require extreme innovation or highly unique value propositions, it's usually less risky to buy an existing financial services business.
The good news is that a financial services business acquisition is a recognized name and usually comes with a loyal customer base. If you're diligent about finding the right acquisition prospect, you may be able to leverage a business buying strategy to rapidly propel yourself into a position of industry leadership.
Is Franchising the Right Option?
A new business startup presents a number of challenges, not the least of which is the creation of policies, procedures and workplace routines. Solid franchise opportunities equip startup owners with training and other resources designed to streamline workflows and operations.
Aspiring entrepreneurs have more franchise options than ever before. For a comprehensive list of financial services business and other business franchises, click the link to visit Gaebler's franchise directory. This directory contains the information about today's leading franchises and how you can leverage a franchised business model to achieve success as a small business owner.
Entrepreneur Interviews
These interviews should be of interest to you.
- Interview with Brian Andrews, Founder of Wallet Zen
- Interview with Edward Doughty, founder of Epic Capital Wealth Management
- Interview with Alpha Theory Founder Cameron Hight
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