Surprising Ways to Find Great Start-up Ideas

by Penelope Trunk

"In order for your ideas to seem fresh, they have to be a little bit off-center, a little bit off-kilter. You have to see your ideas a little more clearly than everyone else in order to believe they will work."

Read article here
http://www.inc.com/penelope-trunk/surprising-ways-to-find-great-startup-ideas.html?cid=em01012week29

15 Dumb Mistakes to Avoid When Pitching Investors

The Young Entrepreneur Council asked 15 successful young entrepreneurs about the dumb mistakes entrepreneurs make when initially pitching to investors. Here are their best answers.

Read their comments here
http://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/12-dumb-mistakes-to-avoid-when-pitching-investors.html?cid=em01012week29

The Anatomy of a Killer Business Plan

by Peter Cohan Founder of Peter S. Cohan & Associates

"Unless you have a spectacular track record as an entrepreneur or an exceptionally great new business idea, you cannot raise capital without a business plan. I have invested in six start-ups and three of those were sold for a total of $2 billion. The other three went out of business."

Read article here
http://www.inc.com/peter-cohan/the-anatomy-of-a-killer-business-plan.html?cid=em01012week33

How to Find Willing Investors

by Darren Dahl

Most entrepreneurs who dream big simply don't have access to the kind of money it takes to realize their aspirations. Enter the professional investor community. But, in order to get investors to open up their checkbooks, you'll need to convince them that your idea is worthy and also be willing to subject yourself to increased scrutiny and give up a percentage of your company.

Read article here
http://www.inc.com/guides/2010/08/how-to-find-willing-investors.html?partner=newsletter_Startup

Where Not to Look for Money -- And Where You're More Likely to Find It

by Bob Reiss

One of the major obstacles entrepreneurs face in starting a business is raising the money they need. It can be the most time-consuming, frustrating and disheartening factor in launching a new venture. Save yourself some energy and angst by not looking to sources that conventional wisdom would suggest as logical places to find startup capital. Instead, focus on more realistic prospects.

Read article here
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/219382

5 Lifelines for Your Startup - Funding Your Business

By Amy Reinink

These organizations can help you find direction and funding.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/startupbasics/article202326.html

The Debtress 100 Best Financial Blogs

Posted by The Debtress

I scoured the Web looking for blogs that offered solid, helpful financial advice and tools. I received submissions from readers and bloggers across the country. Below is my careful selection of the “Debtress’ Best,” 100 financial blogs to help you live debt free.

The blogs are broken down into five categories:
- Advice and Insight
- News & Analysis
- Share the Journey
- Start Investing
- Ways to Save

Continue reading article here
http://www.totalbankruptcy.com/debtress/the-debtress-100-best-financial-blogs

Want To Start A Home Based Business! First Get Your Funding Strategy Right

by Kanaga Siva

Proper Funding is a pre-requisite for the successful operation of a Home Based Business. The fact is that without sufficient funds even the best planned Home Based Business whether it is big or small is bound to fail. Cash is an important ingredient absolutely necessary to sustain your Home Based Business and run it. The capital you require will ofcource depend on how big your operation is going to be. Many businesses fail within a year or two for want of sufficient working capital.

Read article here
http://articles.directorym.com/Funding_Strategies_for_Home_Based_Businesses-a964806.html

Paying Yourself: From Startup and Beyond

Determining your salary is one of the most important decisions you'll make as a business owner. Here's how to do it. So how do you know what is enough to get by and what you are worth? You have to do some planning and simple mathematics, and then budget that amount into your income and cash-flow projections so that you know how much operating capital you will require during the formative stages of your company's development.

Read article here
http://www.entrepreneur.com/money/moneymanagement/article80024.html

What It Takes to Succeed As an Entrepreneur

by Michelle Juergen

Venture Capital Investor Brad Feld on What It Takes to Succeed As an Entrepreneur
and dives into the trenches of entrepreneurship to learn what makes some businesses successful.

Read article here
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/219337

The 4 Key Places to Ask for Money in a Grant Proposal

"Foundation representatives want to know exactly how much you need and exactly how the funds will be used. According to the Canadian Million Dollar Round Table Foundation’s grant application, “It is easier to award funds when the committee can see specifically where the funding will be used. Knowing exactly how a grant will be used by an organization can be a major factor in the approval or denial of a grant request.”

Read article here
http://www.freshfundraising.ca/Ask.html

Great Business Plans Tips

provided thru Business KnowHow.com

Make sure that your plan is clear, focused and realistic. Then show them that you have the tools, talent and team to make it happen. Your business plan is like your calling card, it will get you in the door where you'll have to convince investors and loan officers that you can put your plan into action."

Continue reading tips here
http://www.businessknowhow.com/Startup/businessplanning.htm

5 Tips Building, Funding, Starting, Running a Business

I have combined the following 5 Tips into one blog post to make it easier to follow. Success to you, Patricia


Tip #1: Find a Recession Proof Business Opportunity
....In this article, we will discuss some recession proof products and service ideas. These are great ideas to consider if you are thinking about starting a business during nationally tough financial times.

Continue reading article here
http://www.morebusiness.com/recession-proof-business


Tip #2: Create a Strong Foundation for Your Small Business
We took a look at some of the specific dangers that potential entrepreneurs need to look out for when they are thinking of starting a business during bust times. In this article, we will take a look at building a firm foundation for your business during the current recession.

Continue reading article here
http://www.morebusiness.com/business-foundation


Tip #3: Business Planning Pitfalls to Avoid in a Recession
Recessions mean less money floating around and that means less employment opportunities, less money to enjoy life, and so on. However, did you know that recessions can be an ideal time to start your own business? Through desperation or opportunity, many of today’s most successful businesses were start during a recession.

Continue reading article here
http://www.morebusiness.com/planning-pitfalls


Tip #4: Get Aggressive About Raising Money
...Even if you pass the stringent credit and background checks, have a sound business plan, and can make a convincing presentation odds are you still won’t get those business startup funds for a couple of months - when it will then be approved at a high interest rate.

Continue reading article here
http://www.morebusiness.com/raising-money


Tip #5: Make Your Business Reliable and Flexible
There’s no better time to start looking at different ways to do business and shed a lot of the business waste that can happen in “fat” times...In this fifth and final article, we will take a look at two important ingredients that will help your business startup grow, even in a recession.

Continue reading article here
http://www.morebusiness.com/reliable-flexible-business

6 Ways to Start a Business with Bad Credit

by Joseph Lizio

Times are tough - especially for those budding entrepreneurs looking to get their business off the ground. While the state of the economy should never be a deterrent in starting a small business (regardless if the economy is up or down - people and businesses still need to consume goods and services)....

Continue reading article here
http://www.businessknowhow.com/money/startbadcredit.htm

10 Things to Be Clear About Before You Start a Company

Written by Bernard Lunn

This post is part of our ReadWriteStart channel, which is dedicated to profiling startups and entrepreneurs. This is one post/chapter in a serialized book called Startup 101. For the introduction and table of contents...

1. Is this your first venture?
2. Are you really an entrepreneur?
3. Does your venture involve something you understand really well?
4. Can your mother understand the value proposition?
5. Can you see the right wave?
6. What does your startup want to be when it grows up?
7. Starting a company is hard and uncertain.
8. Get a partner or fly solo?
9. Would you refuse a well-paying job to do this?
10. Can you raise appropriate financing?

Continue reading article here
http://www.readwriteweb.com/readwritestart/2009/05/10-things-be-clear-about-before-start-company.php

Financial Aid, Grant Resources, Gov't Benefits

Starting a business comes with a pricetag, that some feel maybe unattainable... There are plenty of organizations and agencies out there willing to help you become successful in your quest for entreprenuership - first step is to know where to look!

Before entering into any sort of agreement or contract, giving out your information, be prepared - have a business plan ready (even if a rough draft outline of potential ideas, etc) to present when formally meeting.

To help get you started, here are some sites that I have found. BE SURE to check them out thoroughly (use the links I have posted under my Scams blog) before diving into any sort of business agreement's. To your success, Patricia

RESOURCES:

First Gov -
Site index, has a listing of all sorts of benefits, grants, proposals on a variety of topics.
http://firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/Benefits.shtml#b


Free Government Grants -
A blog listing several places to find assistance
http://free-government-grants.blogspot.com


Free Grants For Women (March 09) -
Wemomz site, is offering a $500 grant for women in business. You can find furthe details thru link.
http://www.webmomz.com/resources-free-business-grants.shtml


Grants Gov -
Allows organizations to electronically find and apply for competitive grant opportunities from all Federal grant-making agencies. Grants.gov is THE single access point for over 900 grant programs offered by the 26 Federal grant-making agencies.
http://www.grants.gov


SBA (Small Bus Ass) -
United States Small Business Administration covers everything re to running, owning or wanting to run or own a business. This site also offers training, resources, news and much more!
http://www.sba.gov


S.C.O.R.E. (Counselors/Retired Entrepreneurs)
"Counselors to America's Small Business" is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
http://www.score.org/cgi/search.cgi?keys=Grants

The Seven Roller Coaster Stages of a Start Up

By Rob Spiegel

Launching and building a business is a nerve-wracking journey that will change your personality and alter your very essence. You may succeed and you may fail, but the wild turns and gut-wrenching drops along the way are as predictable as they are frightening....

Continue reading article
http://www.businessknowhow.com/startup/rollercoaster.htm