Advice required - getting started

**albertgates** · 09-29-2008 12:08 AM

Hi All,

I have a good internet startup idea that I would like to develop further. However, I'm not a techie and I do no have any startup experience. My background is in management consulting - have been in the industry for almost two years. I'm currently working on a business plan, and I don't have plans to seek vc (I don't want to give up equity).

I was hoping I could gather some advice from people who have been there and who have done it. How would you suggest I get started? Should I try and put a team together? Should I build a beta using an Indian outsourcing firm?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

**cybergift** · 09-29-2008 12:22 AM

The strong point here is that you have an idea on what to do and you can build a management consulting business online.

I invite you to visit my profitable address below to find a qualified partner in building your business. In line with the process, you can also build your own team to support your business.

I hope this information helps you find the solution.

**ChrisBenjamin** · 09-29-2008 01:19 AM

You get what you pay for with the overseas built sites... I've yet to see one be a big success. Usually the story is "I had a team overseas build my site and I spent more rebuilding it than it cost them to build it".... things along those lines.

Find good people who will work with you to develop your idea and get it online. It'll cost some money even to prove the concept, so if the idea is truly worth it, you have to invest some in order to get it going.

Let me know if I can be any help, I'm more in the CFO realm, but I do business plans, financials, investor presentations, etc. as well.

**Scott Bradley** · 09-29-2008 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by albertgates

Hi All,

I have a good internet startup idea that I would like to develop further. However, I'm not a techie and I do no have any startup experience. My background is in management consulting - have been in the industry for almost two years. I'm currently working on a business plan, and I don't have plans to seek vc (I don't want to give up equity).

I was hoping I could gather some advice from people who have been there and who have done it. How would you suggest I get started? Should I try and put a team together? Should I build a beta using an Indian outsourcing firm?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

I have been in the same position before...Over the past 2 years I have had 2 ideas for websites I wanted to build. I laid out the entire website on paper...and then after I said "I am going to find a coder" that is going to help me build it...because I have no clue how to code a website.

What I found was...unless you had a huge chunk of change to pay someone to build a website for you, or unless you had friends who knew how to code that could become biz partners...you really are SOL.

I have had friends who have tried to use oversea coders, and one of their biggest frustrations was the communication barrier that they had to deal with on a daily basis...on top of the time change...

I even got a bid for one of my websites that I wanted to build and it was upwards of 30K...which is no chump change.

I would suggest that if you really want to do this....find coders who want to join your team that will work for free in exchange for equity in the company...even though there is no real guarantee.

Its a tough place to be in. Hope this helps.

**jasaunders** · 09-29-2008 09:26 AM

Management consulting is a good background to start with in developing a new business. Start by completing your business plan, even if its in a very rough form. Do as much research as possible to fill in the holes where they exist. After you have gone through a few iterations you will clearly see where large gaps exist and need to fill those. Have a second or third pair of critical eyes look at the plan. For example, it is likely that the management team of your new business will be lacking, or you are struggling to come up with a comprehensive marketing strategy, or need help with IT infrastructure and scalability. This is where building a solid team comes in and where those gaps will be filled; by finding qualified individuals who complement your skills and the requirements for the business.

**rogercbryan** · 09-29-2008 10:04 AM

I run a fairly successful consulting firm so feel free to send over any questions you have. You seem to have an idea of what you want your end result to be, but you also seem a little disorganized or overwhelmed.

A business plan can seem like a daunting task. You can check out my blog Everything you need to know about auto auctions, vehicle donations, non-profits, and the life of an entrepreneur for posts on the different types of business plans and also some advice on how to get started.

The best advice anyone can give you (as others above have) is to get your plan in place. Write a rough draft whereby you get all the ideas in your head out and onto paper. Once you have that then you can break your plan into the needed major sections. This will give you a chance to break up the plan into smaller sections that are easier to work on.

Highlight and concentrate on your best skills and/or your current clients. Find out what they need from a service like the one you want to offer. Use that market research to build a business model. Starting a consulting firm can be a lot of fun. You never know where it will take you.

I started working with Auto Auctions which led to non-profit fund raising.. which led to starting a book store... shipping cloths to Africa... you just never know.

**DeonKrey** · 04-13-2010 02:01 AM

Originally Posted by jasaunders

Management consulting is a good background to start with in developing a new business. Start by completing your business plan, even if its in a very rough form. Do as much research as possible to fill in the holes where they exist. After you have gone through a few iterations you will clearly see where large gaps exist and need to fill those. Have a second or third pair of critical eyes look at the plan. For example, it is likely that the management team of your new business will be lacking, or you are struggling to come up with a comprehensive marketing strategy, or need help with IT infrastructure and scalability. This is where building a solid team comes in and where those gaps will be filled; by finding qualified individuals who complement your skills and the requirements for the business.

I Highly agree with this.

In the starting stages, you really have to have a plan to be able to break down those concepts and then to set up tasks in performing your goals so it's a MUST to know where you're going to. You should study your niche first (it can either be part of your interest or the product that you want to be earning with) so that you'll also be aware of how the audience will be highly targeted in it. In simpler sense, make sure that your market is "in demand" so searchers will definitely find you the more you contribute relevance and value online.