Business owners?

[HoneySuckle]

Are there any small business owners on this board?  I have an idea for a business but have not a clue where or how to start going about this.

What tips or advice can you give?

[AngieB]

I'm a graphic designer -- I'd love to help you when you get to the point that you need your logo, identity and any printed materials designed.

I'm pretty good at names too if you don't know what to call your business. Good luck! []

[RecycleMichael]

I'm good at name-calling too. I wanna help!

[cannon_fodder]

I've helped get a few small business off the ground and ran another for a couple years.  I have a background in computers, accounting, and law... all of which come in handy in that scenario.  What, specifically, where you looking for?

Just to bounce an idea off of us?  Start up procedures?

Starting a new business can be as easy as putting an ad in the paper and selling craft goods, or as complex as forming a corporation, getting venture capital, purchasing assets, getting, insurance and hiring employees.  A broad spectrum.

Depending on what you want to do, the steps will be drastically different.

[Hawkins]

quote:Originally posted by HoneySuckle

Are there any small business owners on this board?  I have an idea for a business but have not a clue where or how to start going about this.

What tips or advice can you give?

You need to draw up a business plan.

There are several websites that can help you with this if you google search for them.

Is this a new idea, or an established type of business?

If there are similar businesses already in operation, you'll want to learn more about them, and this can help you fill in the projected sales numbers for your plan.

Once you've decided on a location to run your business from (home, office, or store-front), you will add these expenses to your plan.

Once your plan is complete, you take it to the bank and obtain the business loan (if needed) that will give you the working capital to get up and running.

If the bank won't bite, then you'll have to finance the start up costs with private investors or your credit cards if you do not have the funds yourself.

Lastly, you will need to incorporate to protect your personal assets before signing any lease or selling your product or service.

Again several websites and local attorneys who can help you with that.

Good luck!

[HoneySuckle]

We will need to rent space.  I don't want to run anything from my house.  This will be a specialty shop on something we don't have in Tulsa...sshhhh.

It's a good idea, and I won't be a millionaire or anything, but I know we have a lot to learn before we take the plunge.  

Thanks for the grahpics design plug.  You might come in quite handy!

Hawkins, I did a google search and did not find this specialty shop in Oklahoma, but did find one in Milwaukee and Chicago.

[Hawkins]

quote:Originally posted by HoneySuckle

We will need to rent space.  I don't want to run anything from my house.  This will be a specialty shop on something we don't have in Tulsa...sshhhh.

It's a good idea, and I won't be a millionaire or anything, but I know we have a lot to learn before we take the plunge.  

Thanks for the grahpics design plug.  You might come in quite handy!

Hawkins, I did a google search and did not find this specialty shop in Oklahoma, but did find one in Milwaukee and Chicago.

Good luck to you.

But consider: Milwaukee and Chicago are much larger markets. Perhaps the reason no such shop exists in Tulsa is becuase Tulsa can't support it.