Every Friday, I answer your small business questions in a video blog segment called Ask SmallBizLady.
This week, we are taking on the question: What if you don’t have 12 months to start a business?
Here’s the answer:
To get your small business rolling right away follow these steps:
Answer these key questions
- What do you know that you can sell?
- How much cash do you have on hand?
- How much money can you afford to invest in your business?
- Develop a Target 25 list of people who can give you a contract or refer you business.
- Contact 5 people a week until you get a contract then repeat this process often.
If you have a question for Melinda Emerson, Small Biz Lady, leave a comment on this blog using the contact us page or send me a note on Twitter @smallbizlady, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/smallbizlady or you can hit me up on www.linkedin.com/in/melindaemerson
I’m always here as a resource.
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I agree with your first step. Often times we are so busy “working” that we do not notice that are skills are already marketable. I was a technology executive and when I left my job I started consulting on technology related products for other entities.
It is wise to assess your skills and use them to start your business.
Folks often share great business ideas with me – very original ideas. Where things unravel a bit is with their inability to answer:
1. Who would be willing to pay for this product/service
2. What’s the business model or how are you going to make money delivering this product/service?