Bolster Credibility with Investors - Avoid These Phrases in Your Business Plan

Remember Papa John's commercial on TV with the slogan "Better Ingredients, Better Pizza"? Well its nothing more than puffery: general, non-provable, inane claims. The problem is puffery is not only acceptable it's often expected. Phrases like "the biggest," "the best," "the cheapest," and so forth are so over used most people simply ignore them.

If you're guilty of using puffery in your business plan, you risk filling your plan with circumstantial evidence and bold claims that won't do a thing to market your business. These frivolous claims add nothing to help an investor decide whether your business venture is truly any different from the other ventures they are evaluating. To weed out general, non-provable, inane claims, you need a plain and simple puffery sensor. And, here it is: whenever you make a claim in your business plan ask yourself this question, "Will investors really believe this?"

Let's take as an example a business plan for a car dealership that included these claims:


"We've got the largest selection of Ford cars and trucks in the entire city."
"We're the largest volume Ford dealer in the southwest."
"We sell more Fords than anyone else in the state."

Seasoned investors read right over this kind of hollow puffery in business plans. They're to the point that they expect entrepreneurs and business owners seeking investment monies to say anything and everything in an attempt to impress them.

In fact, one of the great pioneers of action-oriented advertising, Claude Hopkins (Tested Advertising Methods: http://testedmethods.bizplansecrets.com/) often drew this analogy to describe the use of general, non-provable, inane claims in advertising and I've found it equally applicable to writing business plans: "Platitudes and generalities roll off the human understanding like water off a duck's back. They make no impression whatsoever."

Aren't puffery, platitudes, and generalities all the same thing? You bet they are. And if you believe Mr. Hopkins, these kinds of statements roll off the human understanding like water off a duck's back. They make no impression whatsoever. I don't know about you but if I'm spending my money and time writing a business plan to raise capital for my business, I want it to make an impression!

Here are some other examples I've seen in business plans. A commercial realty company says, "We Go The Extra Mile For Our Clients." It's puffery. How about this wonderful statement regarding a consulting firm's competitive advantages ..."Knowledge. Expertise. Determination." That's it. That's the first line! That's their big "hook" to get investors to part with their money and back the firm's business plan. They might as well not list any competitive advantages.

Then there's the construction management company that claims, "We fine tune the process to create unique building solutions that function better, cost less, and open sooner." Don't get me wrong. All of these sound like fine benefits. But do you really think investors believe this? If you play the puffery game, it can cost you your credibility, lengthen or even prevent you from getting funded. Avoid these kinds of statements in your business plan - they make no impression whatsoever on potential investors.

Now, suppose this construction management company explained their "unique" process, provided cost comparisons, and gave the actual length of time to complete their last twenty projects against industry standards for similar projects. And, suppose they provided customer testimonials to back their figures. Would this be more believable? More convincing?

See the best remedy for puffery is hard verifiable facts and evidence. The same type of facts and evidence that you would want a defense attorney to present to a judge and jury on your behalf if you were on trail and facing death row.

Okay, I think we beat puffery to death already; it's pretty straightforward. To summarize, let me repeat Claude Hopkins' quote: "Platitudes and generalities roll off the human understanding like water off a duck's back. They make no impression whatsoever." So use the puffery sensor as you write and review the statements in your business plan. Simply ask yourself, "Will my potential investors really believe this?" If the answer is no, dig deeper for the evidence that will convince them.

Article by Michael Elia ? mike@business-plan-secrets-revealed.com. Mike is a CPA/MBA, visit his site http://www.business-plan-secrets-revealed.com for a free business plan guide and more articles on business plans.

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Part 2 of 5 On The Home Business Set-Up Guide

Part 2 of 5 On The Home Business Set-Up Guide

Dear Reader,

These articles will provide a step by step guide on how to start and run a home based business based on my experiences and other home business owners. This is part 2 in a series of 5 articles. They are written in a basic format and where possible main points are summarised in an attempt to be understood by all. I have tried to minimise the technical jargon as much as possible.

So lets jump right in and see what we need to know about starting and running a home based business.

Regards,

Alvin

http://www.parttimeincome.org

I publish Home Business Tips, a fresh and informative newsletter dedicated to supporting people like YOU! If you're looking for the best rated home business opportunities, latest time saving tools and helpful support from a friend in the business, come by and a grab a F-R-E-E subscription today at: http://www.parttimeincome.org

Legal Structures

The legal structure of your business is very important as it is a function of liabilities and tax deduction. The most common structures are:

§ Sole trader

§ Partnership

§ Company

§ Trust

Sole Trader

When you are a sole trader you are personally responsible and liable for the business and its activities. Commonly you may start out as a sole trader, and as you expand, you will need to seek out partners or investors. Your accountant is the best person to advise you if this is the best structure for your business.

Partnership

This arrangement is where you and your partner are liable for anything related to your business. It is a very good idea to get a solicitor to write up a partnership agreement to avoid disputes down the track.

Company

This is a legal entity liable for the debts it incurs and paying tax on income. Your accountant can help you set a company up, or you can buy one off the shelf, which may be more cost effective.

Trust

Depending on your personal circumstances, and the country you live in, trusts can be useful in business and estate planning. They can be quite complex, and again, your accountant is the best person to speak too.

Registering Your Business Name

You can operate a business under your own name or register a business name. Registration of a business name allows you to operate under that name.

Select a name for your business that describes to your customer what you do. A descriptive name promotes and advertises your business more effectively.

Licences And Permits

Depending on your municipality, you may need licences and permits. Do the right thing and check with your local council. Doing the right things now will save you a lot of unnecessary leg work later.

Insurance

Often overlooked, insurance is an important part of your risk management plan. There are two types of insurance: general insurance for loss/damage of assets and risk insurance which is your personal insurance cover.

Ensure your business insurance is separate to your personal insurance.

To establish the type and amount of insurance you need for your home based business, check with an insurance broker.

Managing Risk

You must have a risk management strategy for your business. Your SWOT (Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats) analysis from article one, will show what could expose your business to loss and what actions to take to reduce that loss.

Marketing

As a home business entrepreneur, you must understand what your customers want and give it to them. You must strive to have a service or product that meets and excels your customers needs and expectations. This is what makes them come back to buy from you, and this is how you grow your profit. Try and think like your customers and you will find they want:

§ Satisfaction

§ Value for money

§ Performance

§ Reliability

§ Presentation

Don't confuse marketing with selling. In a home based business, marketing is much much more and involves all aspects of the business- pricing, advertising, customer service to sales.

Marketing Mix

Communication with your customers is essential and develops the framework for your marketing strategy. You must tell your customers these important bits of information

§ Product- describe it in full detail, its special features and of course how it will benefit the customer

§ Price - explain your pricing strategy, don't forget to consider your costs, discounts you will offer, payment policies

§ Promotion - choose the most effective for your type of business. If you don't know, think about what you would prefer if you were the customer. Eg: telemarketing, flyers, e-mail campaigns

§ Place - what place will your product be so customers can find it and contact you. How will you deliver the product to your customers? You may need to consider getting a website.

Your Business Image

Even though you are running a home based business, make sure your office is comfortable and professional in appearance. Your website also needs to project the same kind of professionalism

Location

Your home based business needs its own dedicated area. Very often the living and working areas muddle into one, not allowing you to distinguish which is for work and for play. Keeping these separate is essential for running a home business. You must ensure that all family members understand this too.

A telephone is essential in your home office as it will be the first point of contact with your clients. Installing a second phone line separate from the personal line is essential along with a cell phone, answering machine and a pager. Talk to your telecommunications company, very often they have some great packages suited to small businesses.

Furniture And Equipment

Choose furniture that is comfortable and professional. This helps distinguish this area from the rest of the household.

Your office needs equipment and here are a few to get you kick started:

§ Computer

§ Chair(S)

§ Desk

§ Fax machine

§ Filing cabinet

§ Mobile phone

§ Telephone

§ Heating/cooling

§ Lighting

I hope this article has set you on the path to create your own home based business and empower you to reach your financial destiny.

In the next article, I will cover some of the ins and outs of operating a small business from home.

I Am Making As Much Money Part Time From My Home Business As I Was Working Full Time In My 9-5 Job. Want To Hear My Story? http://www.parttimeincome.org

I publish Home Business Tips, a fresh and informative newsletter dedicated to supporting people like YOU! If you?re looking for the best rated home business opportunities, latest time saving tools and helpful support from a friend in the business, come by and a grab a F-R-E-E subscription today at: http://www.parttimeincome.org

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5 Overlooked Ways To Market Your Work at Home Business

Everyone is always looking for more ways to market their work at home business. You often here about PPC advertising, writing articles, link exchanges, and a few other business marketing techniques that everyone uses. However, there are many other ways to market your work at home business that a lot of people just don't think of.

I have offered five good business marketing techniques below that are often overlooked. Of course, many people do use them but there's not nearly as much competition in these techniques as there is with some of the others. Plus, these marketing techniques are all either free or very near it. Getting traffic to your site for free or very little cost is always a good thing in my opinion.

Here are five ways to market your work at home business that you may not have thought of before:

1) Enhanced Business Card - Get a business card with color, an eye catching background, and add your picture to it. Maybe you could also have a cool quote or a free offer on it, plus anything else you can think of to get peoples attention.

The point is you need to make it stand out among all the other business cards someone might see in a month. Make sure your website URL is on it in a highly noticable place. Then, leave it everywhere you can, and hand it out to everyone you meet.

2) Give away freebies - Underpromise and overdeliver! That is the best business marketing strategy ever thought up. Pretty much all the "big-dogs" use it in their marketing campaigns. You can too by giving away free stuff at your website, or in your newsletter, without telling anyone they will be receiving it.

Say someone visits your website from an ad you placed that didn't mentioned anything about getting a free ebook. They will be absolutely delighted to find the extra free gift.This is a great way to get people to not only return to your site, but tell their friends about it too.

3) Sponsor Events - A great way to spread the word about your business is to sponsor events in your area. There are many games, events, charity drives, intramurals, little leagues, etc... That are just waiting for people like you to give a little bit of your money to help out.

You will usually get your business name on a T-shirt, a sign, a flyer, or something else related to the event. A lot of people will be seeing these events and YOUR business name. It's a great way to drive local traffic to your online business website or offline business if you have one.

4) Blogs - Having your own business blog can be a great marketing tool. With a blog you can quickly and easily offer free business advice, information, fun stuff, resources, tips, or anything else you want.

If you have a very interesting and/or informative business blog people will keep returning for the great stuff that your blog offers. Update it every day or two with fresh info and you can build a strong following fairly quickly.

I have used this marketing technique successfully for the past few months. You can see one for yourself by visiting my "home biz tips" blog at

http://www.work-at-home-jobs-iowa.com/home-business-blog.html [out]

5) Guestbooks - There are many people that have guest books on their websites that you can sign. Most of them allow you to put a link to your website when signing. This can be a good way to bring some traffic to your site and get a one-way inbound link that those search engines really love.

Make sure you don't just post a random comment or spam the guestbook. You should actually check out the website and leave a useful message. This will keep your reputation intact and provide the webmaster with usable information. A win-win situation!

Alright, now you are armed with five more work at home business marketing techniques to bring traffic to your website and customers to your business. Get going on them now so you can increase your profits this week!

Copyright© Trent Brownrigg
www.work-at-home-jobs-iowa.com

I grant permission to publish this article, electronically or in print, as long as the bylines are included, with a live link, and the article is not changed in any way (grammatical corrections accepted).

Trent Brownrigg is a successful internet marketer, business mentor, and author of business articles. He will personally help you build a secure financial future. Visit http://www.work-at-home-jobs-iowa.com for more details.

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Green Overdrive Video: The Fisker Karma

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10 Extremely Important Tips for a Successful Business Launch

What's Your Passion? If you are thinking about starting a business, it should be something you enjoy. Since a lot of time and energy goes into running a business, it is smart to look at your hobby or professional experience as a potential business idea. For example, if you are good at sewing, consider a tailoring shop; or an accountant could look at bookkeeping or tax service. Now, imagine what your life would be like if you spent the majority of your day actually doing what you love. Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? To improve your chances, here are 10 Extremely Important Tips for a Successful Business Launch.

Tip 1: The Name Game

Now that you've narrowed it down to ONE 'business idea,' you've got to figure out a name. A major challenge in starting a business is the process of searching and choosing the right business name. Choosing the right business name can mean success while a poorly thought out name could doom your business from the start. Three smart business name tips:

A smart business name must be unforgettable. It is imperative that potential clients be able to remember your business name. I'm sure most people have heard of Nike, Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot and McDonalds. Like these household names, your name should be easy to pronounce and memorable.
A smart business name must describe what your business does. When you create your business name, potential clients should be able to understand what products or services your company offers. For example in ' Browder Consulting Group,' the word "Consulting' is a clue that I provide specialized advice; or as in Lynn's Styles & Cuts,' the words 'Styles & Cuts is a clue that this is a beauty salon.
A smart business name should be as short and sweet as possible. As you advertise your business, it is important that your name display well on your marketing material, such as business cards, ad campaigns, domain name and email. As potential clients search for you on the internet, you want it to be an easy spelled and searchable name.

Tip 2: On a Mission

A mission statement is an important tool that tells others who you are, what you do, how you do it and why you are superior than your competition.

It identifies and clarifies the business' vision, purpose and direction.
It provides the path and focus needed for making and implementing decisions.
It helps define to your future employees what they are doing, why they are doing it and where they are going.

Tip 3: Make it Legal

Be diligent in choosing the best Legal Form for your business. This is one of the first important decisions that you will have to make. This decision can have long-term implications, so here are a few things to consider when deciding which business structure is best for your business:

Scope of business you plan to attain
Size of your business
Business's vulnerability to lawsuits
Tax implications based on the different ownership structures
Level of control do you wish to have
Expected profit/loss of the business

Tip 4: Surround yourself with a Progressive Team

Who do you need to know or collaborate with as a part of your external team? Having the right people on your team will allow you to focus on your business and help you to avoid costly mistakes. For example, you might need the following:

Certified Public Accountant: best form of ownership, establish bookkeeping, record keeping procedures and tax planning, etc.
Business Attorney: reviewing lease contracts, determining the right business structure, etc.
Computer Information Technician: set up systems, repair issues, etc.
Human Resource Management Consultant: assess your current HR processes for compliance, navigate through delicate labor issues, set up hiring processes, compensation and benefits and create employee manuals, job description and Standard Operation Procedural manuals.

Tip 5: Research Licenses & Permits Needed for Your Industry

As you can see, there are many steps involved in starting a business. With the daunting task of figuring it all out, it's easy to overlook the important legal requirements associated with permits, licenses and registrations. Here's a list that your business might need:

State Requirements: Business licensing requirements may vary from state to state.
Business Licenses: Depending on your state, county and city, a business license may be required for tax purposes and to conduct other basic business functions.
Occupations and Professions: Depending on your profession, state licenses may be required for occupations such as, appraisers, accountants, barbers, building contractors, cosmetologists, funeral directors, physicians, private investigators, private security guards and real estate agents.
Tax Registration: Some states carry a state income tax. If you establish your business in a state that does, you'll have to register and obtain an employer identification number. If your business engages in retail sales, you will need to obtain a sales tax license.
Trade Name Registration: If you plan to run your business in your local community only, registering with the state may be adequate.
Employer Registrations: Are you planning to hire employees? If so, you'll probably be required to make unemployment insurance contributions. '

Tip 6: Know Your Clients

A common mistake that I encounter with new business owners is that they don't know who their customer is... possessing a poorly defined target market. Most want to sell their products or services to 'everybody' instead of narrowing their targeted customer base to a manageable size. You must do your homework... i.e., market research. I've created a business resource guide to assist you, Resource Guide for Women.

Tip 7: Got Marketing?

In business, marketing plays a key role in getting the word out to your prospective clients. You must create an image and be consistent! It's important to mold and hone your business image to successfully appeal to your prospects and customers. By choosing a relevant company name, answering your phone professionally, creating a professional and clear elevator pitch, investing in professional business cards, logos and brochures, etc... all are key in marketing your business.

Tip 8: Don't forget Uncle Sam

Understanding tax obligations is one of the most important issues facing small businesses. The local, county, state and federal agencies does not care that you didn't know or you forgot to pay your taxes. You will be subject to penalties for not paying on time. Here are some resources to assist you:

For a list of state agencies, business.gov/states/
For a SBA resource guide by state, smallbusiness3.com/magazine
For IRS business information, irs.gov/businesses/index.html

Tip 9: Don't forget the 'B' Word... Budget!

Create a start up budget. Because businesses are different, each will have its own specific cash needs at various stages of development, so estimating your start-up costs may vary. Some businesses can be started on a shoestring budget, while others may require considerable investment in inventory or equipment. It is imperative to know that you will have enough money to launch your business venture.

A few ways to prepare:

Create a list of anticipated expenses for your first three years
Projections are fine, be realistic

Have a tracking system

QuickBooks, Quicken, Ledger, Excel spreadsheets, I don't care which you use.... It's important to put a system in place that works for you. Personally, I use QuickBooks. I can send files to my CPA, easy to work with. In addition, as the treasurer on the board of a non-profit organization, I also use Quick books to reconcile the organization's bank statements and to bill our member's annual dues.

Open a business checking account. The worst thing you can do is run your business from your personal account... it is an accountants nightmare. Open up a business account so that you can separate the two... plus it tells others that you are serious and professional.

Tip 10: Put it all together... in a plan!

Last but not least, you must write your business plan. By failing to plan, you are planning to fail. If you can't take the time needed to plan for the success of your business, then don't waste your time starting one. Statistics show that 8 out of 10 businesses fail within the first three years. This is staggering but true! Invest your time in researching and writing a business plan. Many prospective entrepreneurs think that a business plan is very hard and tedious. The truth is it's a powerful tool that can help you plan and achieve business success.

So, what is this thing called a business plan? Well, a business plan is your blue print or what I tell many of my clients, it's your bible! A business plan defines your business, identifies your goals, and serves as your company's resume. It will help you arrange strategic alliances, obtain financing and attract key personnel. By planning for success, you will be able to overcome many hurdles that may arise.

A closer look at why a business plan is important:

To secure funding, your lender will request your business plan with completed financials. DO NOT approach a lender without having a completed business plan. In his/her eyes, you will look unprepared and too risky. By being prepared, you will have a better chance at securing funding for operations or expansion of your business.
It is a great way to test the feasibility of your business idea. By the time you complete your market or competitive analysis, you will have a clear picture of the viability of your idea.

As you can see, there is a lot of work involved before starting a business. To ensure success, it is important to research thoroughly, take advantage of the resources available to you and learn as much as you can. Preparation is key to a successful start!

Sylvia Browder is CEO of Browder Consulting Group, a virtual small business consulting firm. In her role, she helps Women in Business grow and succeed. She is Founder of National Association Women on the Rise, a virtual community for aspiring and established women entrepreneurs. The association's mission is to provide professional and personal resources while uplifting and empowering women entrepreneurs through collaboration, education, mentoring, spiritual and peer support, leadership and networking. She is 'employed as Project Director and business consultant for the Women's Business Center, Inc, a non-profit economic development organization with a mission of empowering women to start and grow successful businesses. She has served as an online volunteer SCORE counselor since 2004. She also serves as a Technical Assistant Provider for SBA's Community Express Loan Program. For FREE weekly articles go to Sylvia Browder's Blog for Women Entrepreneurs, http://www.sylviabrowder.com. She can be contacted at info@browderconsultinggroup.com.

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Sell-Side Services Provided by a Business Broker

Business owners seeking to sell their privately owned company will often retain a business intermediary based upon their expertise in the following areas:

Confidentiality:

Listing a business for sale in a quiet and discreet manner is critical as the consequences could be very negative if competitors, employees, and customers find out the owner is selling the company. In many cases a business intermediary can pre-screen a number of buyers without revealing the name and location of the business, something that would be nearly impossible for the owner to accomplish. Approaching the sale in a confidential manner will: prevent competitors from utilizing the data to influence customers or spread damaging rumors, avoid issues with key employees who might be nervous about the uncertainty a change in ownership might bring, and eliminate unwanted concerns by customers who feel their relationship might be in jeopardy. There is a delicate balance in providing the necessary information to the buyer to allow them to make a proper evaluation and protecting the sellers' need for confidentiality. Experienced business brokers recognize the significance of the confidential nature of the business sale and generally will provide proprietary financial and business data in stages. Less information is provided upfront but will increase over time as the relationship with the buyer matures and it is confirmed that they are a serious and qualified candidate. It is important for the buyer to recognize that some highly confidential information, such as customer databases and contracts, will not be made available until after a binding DPA has been executed and the contingencies have been removed.

Valuing Your Business:

Credentialed business brokers are trained to establish a current fair market value of a business using the income, asset, and market approaches. Business brokers are skilled at evaluating and re-casting financial statements in addition to having a solid understanding of what key values buyers are seeking. These professionals have access to large business transaction databases that are used as guidelines or reference points to establish an estimated price range based upon industry, financial, and geographical data. Understanding the worth of one's business and how that value is derived is extremely important. In some cases, there are minor changes that an owner can make that would dramatically increase the value of the business. Owners who are equipped with a business value report will be well positioned to identify those areas that will drive company value in the coming years, enabling them to fully maximize the business value and capture a higher sales price when it comes time to sell the enterprise. There are a variety of other situations where a business valuation will be important, including: obtaining additional financing, recapitalizing the business, creating buy/sell agreements, ensuring adequate insurance is in place, dissolving a marriage/partnership, and establishing an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), to name a few. There are several different types of valuations available so it will be important to identify the purpose to ensure that the proper report is obtained.

Financing 'Pre-Approval':

For the majority of small business transactions, it is rare for a buyer to acquire a business without the assistance of 3rd party financing. Experienced business brokers have relationships with a variety of funding sources including SBA lenders, commercial banks, and private capital companies. While the credit market has tightened considerably over the last several years, business brokers understand which lenders are active and the type of deals, cash flow or asset based, they will finance. Business brokers are experienced in preparing and submitting the required documents to these small business lenders whereby they are reviewed and a financing "pre-approval" can be generated. Lender involvement at an early stage will enable the business owner to be well educated on the type of financing and terms that are available, the buyer down payment required for the loan, and any seller financing commitments that may be requested. Additionally, performing this work up front, before a buyer is located, will often decrease the time period in closing a transaction. Securing financial capital is one of the most critical issues for buyers pursuing a business acquisition and it is those businesses that are distinguished as being pre-qualified for financing that will be in greater demand.

Business Continuity:

Selling a privately held business is a major undertaking as it can be a long, complex, tedious, and stressful process. Business owners who have attempted to approach a sale without a transaction team are quick to realize that the process is a full-time job and can be extremely distracting for those are who are active in managing the daily business operations. A business broker will take ownership of the entire sales process allowing the business owner, who is already wearing many hats, to focus on their core competency in providing 100% of their attention to running the business to maintain or increase its value, mitigating the risk of business erosion during the sale process.

Qualify Buyers:

Established business brokerage firms have large databases of qualified buyers in addition to networks of business intermediaries and other professionals that have access to people who are in the market to purchase a company. Most business brokers have the tools, resources, and processes to attract and screen buyers through a structured and confidential marketing program designed to solicit interest from a wide range of buyers where they are systematically pre-qualified based upon experience, time table, and financial capacity. The broker will create a comprehensive marketing circular containing a historical summary of the business operations, personnel, products and services, adjusted financial statements, and valuation data. A marketing strategy will be developed, based upon the type and size of business, targeting either financial or strategic buyers, or in some cases, both. Financial buyers are characterized as either entrepreneurs or executives leaving corporate America, interested in pursuing their dream of owning a business. Their focus is on the earnings and cash flow that the business generates and whether it will generate sufficient funds to service debt and provide the required 'owner financial benefit' to support their lifestyle. Strategic buyers are typically companies who are either in a similar industry looking to acquire market share/economies of scale or a complimentary business seeking to broaden their product or service offering. Strategic buyers will often pay a premium for the business based upon anticipated synergies that the acquisition offers.

Intermediary:

A skilled negotiator acts as a buffer between the buyer and seller and is able to diplomatically address any sensitive, confrontational, or polarizing issues without jeopardizing the chemistry that was developed between the buyer and seller. Closing a transaction is a complicated process with unique factors involved and a variety of conflicting issues and personalities from each side. The paperwork involved can be astounding and the intermediary will bring enormous value in coordinating, disseminating, and reviewing the plethora of documents involved with the buyer's/seller's professional advisors. There are often situations that require the delivery of unpleasant information, a retraction or modification of an offer, the untangling of red tape, or addressing sensitive financial issues. Having a third party intermediary involved in the transaction mitigates direct conflicts between the buyer and seller, preventing potential emotionally charged questions and concerns from damaging the negotiation process. The broker's key function is to close the transaction and their involvement as a middleman will enable the owner to take a step back and approach the sale in a methodical approach that maximizes the value, minimizes the stress, and one that should address both parties' objectives and be more likely to result in a successful transaction.

Exit Planning:

An Exit Plan is a written roadmap that is developed in conjunction with legal, accounting, and financial professionals and is designed to maximize the value an owner receives when exiting the business. Whether the goal is to exit the business in six months or ten years, it is critical that a business owner recognize that succession planning is the single most important way to take control of the terms and conditions of exiting their business. Proper exit planning will reduce the variability of the business control transfer, and can secure a sound financial future for their family. By establishing the current market value of the business in conjunction with a determination of the owner's exit timetable and the income needed for retirement, the Business Intermediary will have the essential elements for the foundation of the exit plan. The longer that a business owner has to implement the exit plan, the greater the opportunities will be to maximize the business value, minimize tax liabilities, avoid key employee turnover, and eliminate emotionally charged family issues. By developing a formal business exit plan and setting out a specific timetable of actions to be taken, a business owner will have a clear plan of action and know exactly when and how they will be leaving the business.

About the Author:
Michael Fekkes is a Senior Broker at ENLIGN Business Brokers. Michael is a Certified Business Intermediary (CBI), a member of the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA), as well as a former business owner. ENLIGN Business Brokers http://www.enlign.com/ is a Professional Services Firm that is headquartered in Raleigh, NC with offices in Nashville, TN & Atlanta, GA that provides confidential business intermediary services ranging from valuation and sale to exit & succession planning strategies to buyers and sellers throughout the Southeast region.

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Starting a Business: It Takes More Than Just an Idea

I have got a brilliant idea that going to make me a lot of money! That's the pitch I usually get from budding enthusiastic entrepreneurs. My questions now are these:

Is a brilliant idea all it takes to start a business? Does a smart business idea guarantee success when starting a business from scratch? Is a business idea the minimum, most important requisite for starting a business? Will a million dollar idea see me through the entrepreneurial process of starting a business from scratch? Well, you will find out further down this article.

Sometime ago, I went into a fast food outlet to honor an appointment and I met some youths in the lobby. From my observation, they were waiting to be interviewed for a job at the fast food. Just immediately, an idea cropped in my mind and I joined these young lads waiting to be employed. While in the waiting line, I started a conversation with a young man who should be in his mid 20s.

The young man, who turned out to be a graduate told me he had a passion for cooking. He told me he had a plan to set up a restaurant and based on the detailed plan he gave me; I knew this guy has something innovative up his sleeves and I loved it. He even had a name for his dream restaurant. I asked him what's holding back the dream of starting a business from being made real and he said he has been trying to raise capital from his wealthy relations.

"There are fast ideas and slow ideas, just as there are fast trains and slow trains. When it comes to money, most people are on the slow train looking out the window watching the fast train pass them by. If you want to become rich quickly, your plan must include fast ideas." - Robert Kiyosaki

In as much as I loved the young man's idea; I nodded my head, shook his hand and bid him good luck. On my way to honor the appointment, I kept thinking about this young man. He was cool, smart, enthusiastic; and had a brilliant idea backed by a university degree. I really loved the guy and his idea but it's a pity; the world is filled with brilliant business ideas and I just wish I had told him that. But how would he take it?

I am not writing this to discourage budding entrepreneurs from coming up with creative ideas. In fact, I am writing this to encourage you to think and come up with good business ideas. But most importantly, I want you to think beyond the idea because a business idea is just the starting point to starting a business.

"Dream more than others. Think practical." - Howard Schultz

The world is filled with budding entrepreneurs carrying business plans and seeking investment capital. The sad news is that 85% of these entrepreneurs are never going to go beyond the initial planning stage and that's the hard truth.

Now what does it takes to start a business?

That may be the question on your mind. While I believe there is no conventional answer to this question; I will try to provide street smart answer but before I do, I suggest you ponder on the following questions:

Did the successful entrepreneurs and richest school drop out billionaires become ultimately rich because of their ideas? Did Rachael Ray start a restaurant business before harnessing her cooking potential? Did Debbi Field's wait to raise millions of dollars in capital before starting her cookie business? Of the entire social networking platforms available; how did Facebook emerge the most popular thus, making its founder Mark Zuckerberg, the youngest billionaire in the world?

"A business idea is just another idea. But an idea backed by a strong feasibility, a thorough business plan and a smart team is no longer an idea. It's now a solid business opportunity worth pursuing." - Ajaero Tony Martins

In answer to the illustrations and questions asked above, I want you to know that Rachael Ray didn't start a restaurant business before she began making millions from her cooking recipe. She simply took her business idea, struck a deal with a local television network and became a self made millionaire. No restaurant, no external funding and no million dollar infrastructure. All she had was just her cooking recipe and a television network joint venture; that was all.

Debbi Field's did not wait for some investors or Venture Capitalists to invest in her passion for baking cookies. She simply looked for a good business location, baked some cookies with her own money and walked around her vicinity giving away free cookies.

Facebook was not the only social networking platform available online; in fact, Myspace has already been in business long before Facebook came on board. Was it Mark Zuckerberg's idea that led to Facebook's success? I don't think so.

These three selected entrepreneurs all possessed average business ideas but they had something which other entrepreneurs lack. In this article, I am going to reveal to you five things you need to start a business and become successful other just than an idea.

This write up will help reduce your over concentration on the business idea and shift it to developing the most necessary requirements to starting a business. Building a business around an idea requires everything you've got. You are the ultimate key to the realization and utilization of that business idea. To start a business and build the business of your dreams, you need a little of the following:

Starting a Business: Five Keys to Starting a Business Successfully from Scratch

1. You need guts to start a business

"The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It's as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week, but today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer." - Nolan Bushnell

Starting a business out of the planning board require guts; quitting your job to start your own business require guts, believing in your business idea even when everyone says you are nuts requires guts and facing business challenges also require guts. That's why I listed guts as number one.

Without entrepreneurial guts, just forget about starting a business. If you want to really know the importance of entrepreneurial guts to the entrepreneurial process, I will recommend you read the following articles.

"You are nuts and you should be proud of it. Stick with what you believe in." - Trip Hawkins

2. You need business skills to start a business

The next thing you need to make your business idea a reality is skills. What are you bringing to the table? This is the question you must answer when seeking joint ventures and business partnerships. Your possessed entrepreneurial skills are very important to the realization of your ideas because your skills can be a strength or competitive advantage for your business. Skills are a necessity when searching for a business team.

"The ability to sell is the number one skill in business. If you cannot sell, don't bother thinking about becoming a business owner." - Rich Dad

Have you heard the phrase that "entrepreneurs are generalists? I think there is an atom of truth in that statement. Entrepreneurs are generalist, they need to know a little of everything that pertains to business. That's where your business skills come in. As an entrepreneur, you need to know a little of accounting, investing, sales, marketing, operations and business management in general.

Before ever starting a business; be sure to hone your sales skills, marketing skills, communication skills, negotiation skills, accounting skills, leadership skills, people skills and every other entrepreneurial skill that's required to succeed in business. For further insights, I will suggest you read the article below.

"Skills make you rich, not theories." - Rich Dad

3. You need the right mindset to start a business

You probably must have heard this over and over again but I think it's worth repeating. You can't build a business if you lack the right mindset. Entrepreneurship is not really about starting or building a business.

"Starting a business is like building a ship and embarking on a voyage, armed with a plan, a map and a team. You will have to sail against storms, unpredictable weather and uncertainty. If your ship sinks, it's either you quit or you swim back to shore, build a new ship and sail again." - Ajaero Tony Martins

Entrepreneurship is simply a change in perception or core value. It's the process of developing your mindset from being job dependent to being financially independent. It's a shift from being handicapped to challenges to being a problem solver. In all, entrepreneurship is simply a change of mindset.

4. You need capital to start a business

I believe you know that no business idea is worth a pinch of salt without capital. I don't want to stress much on this because I believe you know the significance of capital to any business. But in retrospect, I always advice my protégés not to be deterred by lack of capital. I encourage them to get creative when it comes to financing their small business startups; where there is a will, there will surely be a way. To help you get started, I will advice you read the article.

"There are three components to starting a business. One is the right plan; two is the right team and three is the money. Rarely do these three components come together when starting a business. It's the duty of an entrepreneur to grab one piece and start the business, the remaining two pieces will be found along the way. Finding the remaining two components may take a year or more than 10 years; the point is, start with what you have." - Robert Kiyosaki

5. You need the right business management team

"Individuals don't win in business, teams do." - Sam Walton

Finally, you need the right business management team in place to build a business around your idea. For your business idea to leave the planning phase, it's going to require the right business team. If you can assemble the right team to deliver on your plans, I bet you will find the venture capital because a strong business team is an essential ingredient to the process of raising capital from Venture capitalists.

Now how do you find the right team? I don't know. How do you know you've found the right business team? Once again, I don't know but what I do know is that the right team is a team that complements your weakness and adds value to your business. A good way to know you have the right team in place is that your business will take off like wild fire and gain grounds seamlessly with little or no effort on your part.

As a final note, these are the five things I believe are fundamental to either starting a business from scratch or building a successful business. So don't get too excited because you feel you have a creative idea up your sleeves; instead, start strategizing on ways to assemble the five elements listed above for your business.

In conclusion, I hope you've grabbed the lesson that starting a business takes more than an idea. The world is filled with brilliant million dollar ideas waiting to be funded but the world lacks seasoned entrepreneurs. Take this lesson to heart and I will see you at the top.

And just before i drop my pen, if you really want to learn How to Start a Business from scratch; please feel free to visit our blog. In addition, you can also get quality information on How to Become a Millionaire in less than a year

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