Information, Essential Links & Books

hi all iv been reading down through this thread and taken notes of web sites that can help us. we are setting upa business at the moment retail we have done our research and have alot of contacts and people on board who have helped us push this forward it is looking very promising. we are at that point now where we need investment and have a person interested . it looks like they are very interested however they are looking for 0ne third of the business which would leave us with one third and our other business partner, it just seems like alot to give away when the idea and work has been mostly ours.but without it we won't go anywhere.anyone any advice on how to approach this and look for a little less as a share for them?

thanks.

hi thanx for that info good for u for being able to do it alone no one grants/banks or otherwise seems to have money so an investor is our only option but we will do our homework and see what we can do.

We've recently added an article on some tips for record keeping. Its more aimed at freelancers with few transactions. Keeping proper records is one of the best ways to reduce your accounting and bookkeeping costs.

Available here:
http://www.soi.ie/Articles/keeping-proper-records.htm

There’s a share button to at the top, if you know anyone else who might benefit from it feel free to pass it on. Any feedback welcome

Hi. Not related in any way to them but I know that Keaney Insurance Brokers specialise in insurance for technology related start-ups so might be worth contacting them.

I would agree that the business plan is likely to be completely incorrect but that somehow you need to have steps in writing.

byrne0f56789 wrote: »

Regarding the first post. I believe that entrepreneurs should review the marketplace before they decide to enter. They should check out their competitors.

However, I don't think that formal/scientific market research such as focus groups and questionnaires are important particularly for software start ups.
Instead, they should bootstrap a beta or prototype and release it. Get users to tell them how awful the product is then keep improving it.

I also believe that start ups should not waste time writing a business plan. Very few actually read a business plan so valuable time is wasted compiling a document that will only gather dust. Instead a deck of 10-20 PowerPoint slides should be used. This is becoming more and more common in the start up community.

The key is to get traction quickly. Key reference sites and paying users are what really matters in the early stages.

Hi Guys,

As somebody who has recently set up her own business and the business been Financial consultancy.

I would also agree with what people have said above but you also need to ask yourself what are my aims for this company going into the future.
" Do I want to develop a company with the purpose of selling it on in the next couple of years or do I see it as the career move for life, a business that hopefully I can pass onto my family in the future. because how you develop those 2 type of companies differ.
ie if you plan to sell in the short term it is not always the right move to tie yourself up with long leases on property, big committments to machinery leases when maybe renting makes more sense. Leaves your company easier to sell on, most investors in this market will be looking at the value of your product not what asset you work out of . This is what in business is termed " the 3 year strategic plan".

On a personal note the one thing that I am discovering regarding marketing yourself is that people are back to "cold calling" and that it is working for them, personally I find this the hardest way to market myself but you cannot ignore what works.

Hope this helps
Brenda

Happy New Year everybody!

We are delighted to let you know that the 19th Hothouse Venture Programme will be launched on Thursday 25th March 2010.

We are now accepting applications and the closing date for receipt of completed forms is Friday 5th February.
I have attached a copy of the application form, which is also available for download on our website.
Applicants should remember to attach a copy of their own CV when returning the form to me.
All applications must be submitted by e-mail only.
There are as usual 16 places available on the next Programme.

If anyone knows any entrepreneurs that would be a good match for the programme please pass along this e-mail and my details and tell them to contact me.


Kind regards

Sara



Sara Hogan
Programme Manager

DIT Hothouse
Dublin Docklands Innovation Park
128-130 East Wall Road
Dublin 3
Ireland

Tel: +353 1 240 1307
Fax: +353 1 240 1310
Email: sara.hogan@hothouse.ie
Web: www.hothouse.ie
http://www.dit.ie/researchandenterprise

E-myth - Revisited by Michael Gerber


Good book, a little slow to get in to it but worth a read. Sort of geared towards franchising but would also benefit business owners with hopes of expanding in numbers and putting systems in place to make it easier down the line. For the price it is at the moment (€7) I'd pick it up without hesitation.

Some interesting interviews with successful business people.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/founder-stories/id423462670

http://www.startupsfortherestofus.com/

Self explanatory name, geared towards software/web developers who are starting out.


http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/


Productivity and people management tips.

The Go-Giver

Duct Tape Marketing

http://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/duct-tape-marketing/id78797836


Worth a listen

Book - Tribes by Seth Godin. Well worth a read.