Signing Contract - Image: sxc.hu

He talks about finding a balance being startup costs and speed. After all, you don’t need to start your franchise overnight, but you don’t want it to take forever to get off the ground either.

Jeff breaks down five common expense categories where you can find savings:

• Franchise company fees
• Turnkey packages
• Lease terms
• Construction costs
• Equipment, signage and fixtures

He outlines ways you can save money in these areas and stresses the importance of doing your research. Speaking to current franchise owners is a great place to start. They have already been through the process and can discuss mistakes that you may be able to avoid. You can read the complete article on how to save on franchise startup costs at Entrepreneur.com.

For more information on franchises, be sure to read Sean Kelly’s blog–Franchise Pick, right here at Bizzia.

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Save on Startup Costs for a Franchise

Photo credit: sxc.hu

5. Can you make the time?
Not many people can quit their day job and focus strictly on a startup business. With that in mind, the first question you should ask yourself is whether you have the time to see your idea through to the end. Time is an essential yet underrated aspect of any successful business model.

4. Do you have the necessary knowledge?
Depending on the field, a lack of knowledge usually is a death knell for a startup. If you don’t have the knowledge yourself, you should have clear ways to add people to your team who can bring the necessary know-how.

3. Can you come up with the startup costs?
You can have the best business idea in existence but if you don’t have the means to come up with the needed startup money, the idea isn’t worth much to you. In fact, you could damage your personal long-term financial stability by trying to reach an unrealistic startup dollar number.

2. Do you understand your target demographics?
In just about any business, knowing your customer is extremely important. If you don’t know what and who you are targeting the other end of your business plan, you are basically just throwing pebbles in the dark.

1. Do you a passion for the idea?
This question is number one for a reason. Without passion, it’s almost impossible to head a successful startup business. You need the boundless motivation and drive to see the startup from its infancy to its growing stages and finally into adulthood.

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Startup Ideas: Ask Yourself 5 Questions

Many folks recommend mindmapping as the way to get those goals or visions on paper.

Mind mapping is a technique popularized by Tony Buzan in the 1960s. Noticing that the humans respond better to images, keywords and direct associations, he developed many of the mind mapping techniques that we see today. And before Buzan formalized it, thousands had used the techniques including journals  Leonardo da Vinci, and Albert Einstein.

Here’s the basics:

1) Set your topic (what you want to brainstorm/mind map) on the center of the page, such as ‘2009 goals’ ‘Business Idea’ etc

2) Create pitcures or words that are themes that relate to the topic. For example. if your topic is ‘Goals 2009′, you might want “Personal Goals”  and “Professional Goals”

3) Continue breaking down the themes until you’re brain can’t work any more.

Do you use mind mapping?  Frankly, I’m more of a list girl. But am willing to try it if many of you think it has merit. Has it helped you?

For more inspiration, here’s Tony Buzan explaining mind mapping.

Image credit: creativeinspiration, on Flickr

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Can Mindmapping Help Your Business?

Help is on the way – and for free!

Fellow Bizzia blogger, Darlene McDaniel, over at Interview Chatter is offering 25 lucky commenters a free 15 minute career coaching session with amazing Darlene herself!

Check out all the details here.

Post from: EveryJoe

Need some help deciding what to do with your life?

Here are some of my suggestions:

• Coffee. The price of coffee, especially when you drink tons because you’re up all the time working,  is a lot. And going to grab a latte in these economic times is not one of the best ideas.  (Except for me… I drink tea, ok?)
• ITunes gift cards. Many entrepreneurs I know listen to music on their mp3 players or computers while working. (I know I do.) Others, may use the music as a chance to unwind. Either way, this is a sure bet.
• A wireless printer. This is one of the things on my list this year. To paraphrase a famous movie, “No more wired printers! No more wired printers!” Once you have one, it doesn’t matter where you work in your space!
• Memberships. It can be costly to join a lot of groups, like chambers and trade associations. It can make a huge impact if he or she makes even just one connection!
• Bluetooth laser keyboard. (I really want this!)If your entrepreneur is using a smartphone, this laser keyboard will help them not only be more productive, but look very cool doing so.

I know there are many more gift ideas out there. Got one to share? Put it in the comments section!

Image credit: DanielleT, on Flickr

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Gift ideas for the startup entrepreneur

1) Google Analytics. Tracking the performance of your website couldn’t be any easier (and free!) with Google Analytics.  If you want to find out what keeps potential customers on your site, then this is a perfect app.

2) Google Docs. No matter what platforms your staff are working on, Google Docs allows you (and them) presentation, word processing and spreadsheet programs that you can use from any computer no matter where you are. Plus, you can easily share your documents securely.

3) Gmail.  If you need to access you email from any computer, any time, Gmail is the tool of choice. Recently, Google added Gmail Voice and Video Chat functionality to Gmail allowing users to speak to each other directly through voice or video.

4) Google Calendar. It keeps all your appointments and tasks in one place, and you can allow others to add things securely.

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Great Free Applications For Your Small Business or Startup

I believe there’s never a bad or good time to start a business.

But when I started, I didn’t have a lot of resources to help me. I just kind of hung out my shingle and hoped for the best.

But you don’t have to do that. I’ve found a great resource that’s free from Wikibooks. Called “Getting Started as an Entrepreneur,” it takes you step by step on how to set up your business, manage a staff and more.

Take a look and let me know what you think?

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Free Startup Resource

Perhaps you should consider a business coach.  A business coach can help you save time and money – and help your business grow – even in a bad economy.

But are some things you should watch out for. I’ve made these mistakes myself when seeking and using a business coach.  So this comes from a bit of experience.

1. Be clear on what you want to achieve with you business – and your coach. If you are unsure, some business coaches will just ‘plug in’ a formula they know, whether it’s good for your business or not.  A good coach will help clarify your goals and show you how to achieve them.
2. Ask for measurable results from other clients of the coach. It’s one thing to have great testimonials about how compassionate, understanding and helpful a business coach is. It’s more important to see that this coach has helped others be successful in a similar area that you want to be successful in.
3. Be friendly, but not friends. This often became my issue. Once the line has been crossed, it’s really hard to have an objective relationship. Sure, you want your coach to care, but you want them to push you to do your best!

Post from: EveryJoe

Can a coach help you in your startup?

Perhaps you are getting more than a few too?

It makes sense, as jobs dwindle and people become fearful, many preditors are jumping on board saying how easy it is to make money as a small business owner.

I’m here to tell you, it’s not.

I lnow people will say that you can get a loan or even an angel investor.  But most people get their initial nest egg from F & F, that is, friends and family. Then, and only then, do a few angel investors step up.

But unlike most F & Fs, they will want to see the goods: you need to have a strong profile, show that your company is viable – and have an exit strategy all in place. (Read: you need to start your startup before an angel will take a look!)

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Starting a Business isn’t Easy

But what I really love about Guy is that he offers so much information to help entrepreneurs and startups.

Take a look at this new video.  Yes, it does promote his new book, but his tips are so good, I needed you to see this.

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Great video from the ultimate entrepreneur: Guy Kawasaki