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Simple Steps
for Starting Your Business
Start-up Basics
Simple Steps for Starting Your Business

Session 1:
Start-up Basics
About SCORE
• Successful and experienced
executives acting as volunteers
• Seminars and workshops
• Free Mentoring
– One-on-one
– E-mail
• Resources for small business:
washingtondc.score.org
Mentoring Locations
• SCORE DC has locations in
DC, No. Va. And Montgomery
County, Md.
• I have copies of our exact
locations on my desk.
Myth #6
Myth: If you choose to be selfemployed, you’ll be limited in what
you can achieve, since you’ll be
working alone.

Reality: The limitations are created
mostly by the space between your
ears. Be realistic, but don’t trap
yourself with self-imposed limitations.
You can make a difference.
Reality: Business Success
After 5
Years

Percent of
New
Businesses (2+
employees)

Source: U.S Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of
the Census, Business Dynamics Statistics
Critical Success Factors
• Good choice of time and
location
• Adequate capital
• Ability to manage and multitask
• Education/experience in field
• Strong work ethic
• Effective time management
• Willingness to ask for input
from others
Simple Steps for Starting Your Business

Business
Opportunities
Starting a New Business
ADVANTAGES
• Not hampered by
previous image or
technologies
• Can choose
location, name, logo, relat
ionships
• Can explore new markets
and directions
• See your dreams come
true

DISADVANTAGES
• No base, must build all
new
• Greater risk
• No track record =
difficulty in financing
• See your dream become
a nightmare
Buying a Business
ADVANTAGES
• Established
clientele, suppliers, locati
on
• Known quantity, proven
formula/name
• Help in starting and
running business
• Can review records
• Easier to obtain financing

DISADVANTAGES
• Potential hidden issues:
debts, poor
reputation, loyalty to
owner, out-of-date
inventory or transfer
issues
• No guarantee that
success will continue
Buying a Franchise
ADVANTAGES
• Proven image and
product/service
• Marketing/Sales power
• Limited experience
• Training, professional
guidance
• Continued consulting
relationship
• Access to other
franchisees for help

DISADVANTAGES
• Loss of control - not
always your own boss
• Franchise = royalty and
other fees
• Operational boundaries
and limited choices
• Binding contract
• Franchisor problems are
your problems
Home Based Business
ADVANTAGES
• Convenient work
location
• Less expensive
• Flexible schedule
• Tax Advantages
- Sq. Ft of total home
- Percentage of
utilities

DISADVANTAGES
• Zoning or deed
restrictions
• Isolation from others
• Difficult financing
• Family distractions
• IRS scrutiny
Online Business
ADVANTAGES
• Lower startup costs
• Expanded geographic
reach
• Convenience &
accessibility
• Flexibility

DISADVANTAGES
• Low conversion rates
• Low barriers to entry =
higher competition
• Visitor expectations
• No personal contact/
limited sensory info
Entrepreneur Characteristics
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Self-starter
Resourceful
Responsible
Organized
Hard worker
Persistent
Decisive
Healthy
Supportive family
How Many Hats Will You Wear?
Marketing
• Strategy used to create a desire
to purchase
• Creates your company image
• Anything you do to get and keep
a customer
• Your product or service will not
sell itself
• *Covered in detail in Workshop
3 – Marketing Plan
Sales
•
•
•
•
•
•

Customer contact work
Finding prospects
Making presentations
Preparing bids
Closing deals
Processing orders
Product and/or Service
•
•
•
•

Definition of offering
Functionality and packaging
Quality
Differentiation

• Who needs it?
• Why do they need it?
• How is it different or better
than the competition?
Position
• Location, Location, Locatio
n
• Niche / target market
• Competition
• Distribution
• Merchandising
Branding
• Name recognition
• Qualification of
product/service
• Market identity
• Advertising
Price
•
•
•
•

Consumer reaction
Cost
Competition
Credit terms and
discount
Competition
• Size of operation and number
of employees
• Price and quality
• Services provided
• Reputation: strengths and
weaknesses
• Personal visits and
observations
• Suppliers & contractors
• Other businesses in area
Business Organization Forms
• Sole Proprietorship
• Partnership
• Limited Liability Company
(LLC)
• “C” Corporation
(Conventional)
• “S” Corporation (Subchapter)
Recommendations for Start-ups
Keep It Simple
• Sole proprietorship or
partnership
• If liability and/or
taxation is a
concern, an LLC or Scorporation
Insurance Considerations
•
•
•
•
•

Property
Liability
Motor Vehicles
Umbrella Liability
Worker’s
Compensation
• Health
• Life
• Business Interruption
Government Regulations
• Business Licenses and
Approvals
• Labor Laws
• Immigration Laws
• IRS and Social
Security Withholding &
Payments
Every Business Owner Needs:
•
•
•
•

Banker
Lawyer
Accountant
Insurance
Agent
• Business
Mentor
Simple Steps for Starting Your Business

Funding and
Cash Management
Personal Budget Considerations
• Total monthly cost of living
• Areas where you can cut
back
• Outstanding debt
• Amount in savings
• Total amount needed to
cover 6 to 12 months of
expenses
Start-up Cash Needs
Essential Considerations:
• Tools and equipment
• Leasehold improvements
• Licenses and permits
• Professional fees
• Initial inventory
• Working capital reserve fund
Operating Cash Needs
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Salaries
Rent
Insurance
Taxes and fees
Advertising
Loan interest/ principal
Utilities
Maintenance
Sources of Capital
Equity

Debt

Signifies Ownership
• Personal savings
• Family and friends
• Partners’ contributions
• Profits retained in the
business

Does NOT Signify
Ownership
• Banks and credit unions*
• Community Express
Micro Loans*
• Credit cards (not
recommended)

* Usually guaranteed by
SBA
Lender’s View of Borrower
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Character, Commitment
Credit rating
Cash flow
Collateral, Capital
Industry knowledge
Personal investment
Financial history
Financial projections
Management skills
Competition
Cash: Most Important Asset
• Open a separate bank account for
your business
• Deposit all receipts “intact”
• Use a petty cash fund
• Separate sales tax receipts on your
books
• Hang on to cash as long as possible
• Reconcile bank account monthly
• Have adequate cash and a reserve
fund at the start of the business
• Prepare and maintain a cash forecast
for at least six months into the future

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Simple Steps for Starting Your Business | Entrepreneur Road Map | SCORE

  • 1. Simple Steps for Starting Your Business Start-up Basics
  • 2. Simple Steps for Starting Your Business Session 1: Start-up Basics
  • 3. About SCORE • Successful and experienced executives acting as volunteers • Seminars and workshops • Free Mentoring – One-on-one – E-mail • Resources for small business: washingtondc.score.org
  • 4. Mentoring Locations • SCORE DC has locations in DC, No. Va. And Montgomery County, Md. • I have copies of our exact locations on my desk.
  • 5. Myth #6 Myth: If you choose to be selfemployed, you’ll be limited in what you can achieve, since you’ll be working alone. Reality: The limitations are created mostly by the space between your ears. Be realistic, but don’t trap yourself with self-imposed limitations. You can make a difference.
  • 6. Reality: Business Success After 5 Years Percent of New Businesses (2+ employees) Source: U.S Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Business Dynamics Statistics
  • 7. Critical Success Factors • Good choice of time and location • Adequate capital • Ability to manage and multitask • Education/experience in field • Strong work ethic • Effective time management • Willingness to ask for input from others
  • 8. Simple Steps for Starting Your Business Business Opportunities
  • 9. Starting a New Business ADVANTAGES • Not hampered by previous image or technologies • Can choose location, name, logo, relat ionships • Can explore new markets and directions • See your dreams come true DISADVANTAGES • No base, must build all new • Greater risk • No track record = difficulty in financing • See your dream become a nightmare
  • 10. Buying a Business ADVANTAGES • Established clientele, suppliers, locati on • Known quantity, proven formula/name • Help in starting and running business • Can review records • Easier to obtain financing DISADVANTAGES • Potential hidden issues: debts, poor reputation, loyalty to owner, out-of-date inventory or transfer issues • No guarantee that success will continue
  • 11. Buying a Franchise ADVANTAGES • Proven image and product/service • Marketing/Sales power • Limited experience • Training, professional guidance • Continued consulting relationship • Access to other franchisees for help DISADVANTAGES • Loss of control - not always your own boss • Franchise = royalty and other fees • Operational boundaries and limited choices • Binding contract • Franchisor problems are your problems
  • 12. Home Based Business ADVANTAGES • Convenient work location • Less expensive • Flexible schedule • Tax Advantages - Sq. Ft of total home - Percentage of utilities DISADVANTAGES • Zoning or deed restrictions • Isolation from others • Difficult financing • Family distractions • IRS scrutiny
  • 13. Online Business ADVANTAGES • Lower startup costs • Expanded geographic reach • Convenience & accessibility • Flexibility DISADVANTAGES • Low conversion rates • Low barriers to entry = higher competition • Visitor expectations • No personal contact/ limited sensory info
  • 15. How Many Hats Will You Wear?
  • 16. Marketing • Strategy used to create a desire to purchase • Creates your company image • Anything you do to get and keep a customer • Your product or service will not sell itself • *Covered in detail in Workshop 3 – Marketing Plan
  • 17. Sales • • • • • • Customer contact work Finding prospects Making presentations Preparing bids Closing deals Processing orders
  • 18. Product and/or Service • • • • Definition of offering Functionality and packaging Quality Differentiation • Who needs it? • Why do they need it? • How is it different or better than the competition?
  • 19. Position • Location, Location, Locatio n • Niche / target market • Competition • Distribution • Merchandising
  • 20. Branding • Name recognition • Qualification of product/service • Market identity • Advertising
  • 22. Competition • Size of operation and number of employees • Price and quality • Services provided • Reputation: strengths and weaknesses • Personal visits and observations • Suppliers & contractors • Other businesses in area
  • 23. Business Organization Forms • Sole Proprietorship • Partnership • Limited Liability Company (LLC) • “C” Corporation (Conventional) • “S” Corporation (Subchapter)
  • 24. Recommendations for Start-ups Keep It Simple • Sole proprietorship or partnership • If liability and/or taxation is a concern, an LLC or Scorporation
  • 25. Insurance Considerations • • • • • Property Liability Motor Vehicles Umbrella Liability Worker’s Compensation • Health • Life • Business Interruption
  • 26. Government Regulations • Business Licenses and Approvals • Labor Laws • Immigration Laws • IRS and Social Security Withholding & Payments
  • 27. Every Business Owner Needs: • • • • Banker Lawyer Accountant Insurance Agent • Business Mentor
  • 28. Simple Steps for Starting Your Business Funding and Cash Management
  • 29. Personal Budget Considerations • Total monthly cost of living • Areas where you can cut back • Outstanding debt • Amount in savings • Total amount needed to cover 6 to 12 months of expenses
  • 30. Start-up Cash Needs Essential Considerations: • Tools and equipment • Leasehold improvements • Licenses and permits • Professional fees • Initial inventory • Working capital reserve fund
  • 31. Operating Cash Needs • • • • • • • • Salaries Rent Insurance Taxes and fees Advertising Loan interest/ principal Utilities Maintenance
  • 32. Sources of Capital Equity Debt Signifies Ownership • Personal savings • Family and friends • Partners’ contributions • Profits retained in the business Does NOT Signify Ownership • Banks and credit unions* • Community Express Micro Loans* • Credit cards (not recommended) * Usually guaranteed by SBA
  • 33. Lender’s View of Borrower • • • • • • • • • • Character, Commitment Credit rating Cash flow Collateral, Capital Industry knowledge Personal investment Financial history Financial projections Management skills Competition
  • 34. Cash: Most Important Asset • Open a separate bank account for your business • Deposit all receipts “intact” • Use a petty cash fund • Separate sales tax receipts on your books • Hang on to cash as long as possible • Reconcile bank account monthly • Have adequate cash and a reserve fund at the start of the business • Prepare and maintain a cash forecast for at least six months into the future

Editor's Notes

  1. Last Revised: June 21, 2011Changes Made: updated logo, changed order of some slides for consistency