Entrepreneur Ideas
Starting a Steps Business
We've collected some good advice that is perfect for those of you who want to open a steps business. This is a must-read before you begin your venture.
Thinking about opening a steps business? We tell you what you need to know to get started.
Best Practices: Business Plans for Steps Businesses
In a startup steps business, there is no substitute for a high quality business plan. The effort you invest in the creation of your plan now will pay off later in lender responsiveness, investor attention and strategic confidence.
Business plans address a wide range of issues, including startup financials. Since investors and lenders rely heavily on your business plan's financial forecasts, fudged numbers and vague forecasting are a sure way to sabotage your funding efforts.
Subsequently, a thorough understanding of business plan financial basics is a prerequisite to effective business plan writing for steps businesses.
Consider Competitors
Prior to opening a steps business in your town, it's worthwhile to determine how many competitors you have. Try our link below to get a list of local competitors nearby. Complete the form by entering your city, state and zip code to get a list of steps 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
After you've evaluated your local competitors, the next step is to talk to somebody who is already in the business. If you think owners of nearby steps businesses will give you advice, think again. It'd be crazy for them to teach you the business.
On the other hand, an individual who has a steps business in a location that is not competitive to you may be more than happy to give you a few tips, once they realize that you are not going to directly compete with them in their community. Indeed, many experienced entrepreneurs enjoy offering advice to startup entrepreneurs. In my experience, you may have to call ten business owners in order to find one who is willing to share his wisdom with you.
How would you find a steps business founder in another city who you can speak with?
Simply, try our helpful link below, type in a random city/state or zipcode, and start calling.
Steps Business Acquisitions: Financial Considerations
You've invested a lot of time and effort in planning your startup. But here's something you probably don't know: Startup steps businesses consistently fail to achieve the financial performance of acquired steps businesses.
Although there are many benefits to buying an existing steps business, the financial advantages rank near the top of the list. At a minimum, it's worth exploring the financial benefits of buying a business to get an established customer base.
But most importantly, existing steps businesses have documented financial histories. Although you can create pro forma earnings and financial statements for a startup, a business-for-sale should have a well-documented, multi-year history of financial performance.
Franchising May Be a Better Way to Go
Your odds of being a successful business owner go up significantly if you purchase a franchise instead of doing it all on your own.
Prior to starting a steps business, you would be wise to investigate whether there are good franchise opportunities available that might be the right move for you.
The link below gives you access to our franchise directory so you can see if there's a franchise opportunity for you. You might even find something that points you in a completely different direction.
Related Articles on Starting a Company
These additional resources regarding starting a business may be of interest to you.
Questions to Ask Before Starting a Business
Buying vs. Starting a Business
Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs
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