How to start a business in 30 days?

[NickThacker]

Hi there-I've begun work on my book on how to build a successful business in 30 days. Obviously a daunting task, but I believe most businesses, whether online or off, share common factors in becoming successful.

I was curious--what your thoughts were as to the order of the steps? What things are mandatory, what things are optional?

ANY advice, comments, suggestions, etc. would be greatly appreciated!

By the way, the book will be targeted toward college/university-aged students, interested in building something successful before or upon graduation.

Thanks!

[Ergo1]

I really cant think of any way to do this except with a franchise.

If you are starting a brand new venture it will take you MUCH longer than thirty days to even really understand what your plan is, never mind implementing it. Just getting all the federal, state and local business paperwork done took me about a month.

Or maybe I'm just deathly slow...

[Verbose]

What sort of businesses have you started in 30 days?

[AaliyahRoma]

I think 30 days are too short.

[NickThacker]

@ Ergo1 and @AliyahRoma and @Verbose:

Generally, yes, thirty days is a short amount of time to build anything that has lasting value (house, relationship, business, etc.). That is one reason why this idea is so compelling for me!

Here's a response to another similar thread I made in another forum, that I think sums up my thoughts on the "too short" pitfall:

"First, I don't intend to project a "get rich quick" scheme at all--frankly, the book's introduction will touch on the fact that by focusing on the "30 Days" technique, you can successfully build a foundation--like you said--that will host a successful business in the long term.

I lay out in the introduction that the "30 Days" really stands for "30 Tasks," each task, if done properly, can be implemented within a day. Depending on the business idea/owner's talent & knowledge, however, a certain task may take a week, or a month, to "successfully" complete.

Understand that I am NOT meaning provide a system (or more accurate: a scheme) for making money hand over fist in 30 days or less, but offering a framework for pointing a business in the right direction in as few as 30 days with 30 "business building" techniques.

I have used this mindset to build two successful offline businesses--one a music publishing company, and the other a web design/print media company, and numerous online businesses, from the ground up.

Finally, you mentioned society and perhaps the implication of the economic situation. I feel like small business startups, if done right, will be a key factor in jettisoning us out the semi-depression state we're in. Many aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners, however, feel daunted by the huge task of building a successful company that will "solve all their problems." This book will be the answer to that--by splitting tasks into smaller chunks of larger pieces (writing a business plan, marketing plan, financial requirements, etc.), readers will be able to implement these necessary strategies in a much quicker, focused way.

Once again, thanks for your support and feedback! Let me know what other thoughts you may have,

--Nick"

So what are your thoughts? Is this a legitimate idea that I should run with? I really encourage responses, as I truly value the community's insight into things like this. I'm new to IM, but I've been around the block a time or two with entrepreneurship, so I'm pretty confident I can write this book. I would just like to take a litmus test of the community's opinion... any takers?

[myfayt]

The book wouldn't help me. I never went to college, I racked up my credit cards and started my own business without a business plan. Just jumped into it full speed ahead and never looked back.

[NickThacker]

The book wouldn't help me. I never went to college, I racked up my credit cards and started my own business without a business plan. Just jumped into it full speed ahead and never looked back.

Well, I guess some people are smart/lucky enough to not need a guide filled with tips and tricks from someone who's been there before!

Obviously I wouldn't be writing the book for people (like you) who are already successful in their business endeavors--it's for people who haven't begun the journey themselves and might need a bit of motivation/guidance/whatever to get started.

Thanks for the tip though--I won't be focusing on selling a book on how to build a business to people who have already built a business...

[Neustance]

Hi there Nick,

Good start, I would guess what your asking is to brainstorm the things you want to put in the book, correct?

I would say you would be better of making a book that focuses on a specific group of people(again with the niche factor!) for example a retail business. Or maybe a consulting business.

First thing I would say if you dont have any idea what you want to do is to look for problems/opportunities and solutions for that problem. Your services being the solution. See what industry has the opportunity to start a business.

Study the industry, and your competitors, see their weakness and strengths, do a SWOT analysis. What is your business going to do different?

...ok now that I have written that, I would say the only way to start a business is to start a business plan, that pretty much will cover it all. Really no other way around it. A business plan is just that actually. Maybe you can make a business plan walk-through book.

Good luck,
FG

[NickThacker]

FG, great post and awesome advice!

Thanks for your kind words and thoughtful remarks--I've already begun the first section, "Finding and Developing Ideas." Read about my "idea process" on my blog at nickthacker.com/2009/04/on-ideas-how-far-should-we-go which serves an abridged version of the chapter itself.

I have chosen the niche of college-aged students interested in starting a business during or shortly after college to focus the book's demographic, for a number of reasons: I will explain what types of businesses would be best to start using the "30 Days" principles (obviously an oil company or large corporation wouldn't fit in here), so that takes care of the "size issue," and second (maybe a bit self-serving...) I have some speaking engagements lined up with collegiate-level entrepreneurship seminars, and I will focus my speaking/promotion of the book in these areas in the future as well.

Further, thanks for your mention of a SWOT analysis--a true business would be much weaker without completing tasks such as this, and aside from being a valuable asset to the book's "teachings," will further legitimize that this book is NOT intended to be a "get-rich quick" scheme!

As for the business plan, I've mentioned before that I'm hoping the book will serve as a guide and workbook for creating and outlining a business plan, along with the teaching principles of the "30 Days" method. My ultimate goal is that by the end of the book, my readers will have two things: a business that has a solid grounding and is beginning to earn SOME money, and a business plan that, while not bulletproof enough to hand to a VC firm, solid enough to not scare the business owner away (going off my own experience: "Aw, man, I really think I could succeed with this, but I don't have ANYTHING written down as a plan... it's all in my head, and I don't want to start from scratch...).

FG, once again, much thanks for your advice and encouragement--if you or anyone else is interested in a "preview" read of the book or some of its chapters, please don't hesitate to ask!

You can email me at nick (at) nickthacker.com.

'Til next time,
Nick

[Neustance]

Hi Nick,
Glad I could help!

I forgot to mention I visited your blog, and read a couple posts. Couldnt help but familiarizing myself with your position, it was rereshing to see the perspective about business as a college student.(have to write 3 term papers for this monday and still working on my financial plan for my new start-up!) Im sure you can use that topic as your prologue, it can turn out to be something pretty useful and successful(even if not profitable) Maybe you can even try to combine some tips as to how combine college life with business.

For sure keep me updated and let me know how the book is going, Ill be glad to review it and criticize away all you want.

Anyways, Ill be glad to support this project all the way as long as you dont end up selling it as a "earn money in 30 days ebook!" Glad your not taking that route. I would target the book for the real business man/college student looking for a new venture to put some passion and work into.

Please feel free to send me over the preview here or at francisco.jgo (at) neustance (dot) com

Regards,
Francisco

[NickThacker]

Francisco;

It certainly FEELS refreshing to write about business as a college student (and sometimes college as a business student... but that's a different blog altogether!).

I'm sure I'll go deeper into the topic with between the blog/book/speaking engagements because, after all, I don't know any better! I do share your enthusiasm about it because I strongly believe that college is an outstanding time to start a business even if it does have some pros and cons.

Second, I also feel that yet another "Make Money in 30 Days" ebook won't fly well with my mentors, business partner, and the general online community! 1-I don't have any experience with successful "get rich quick schemes" and 3-I don't want any experience with them. I don't mind making money, and I don't mind making something happen in 30 days, but I'm in it for the long haul and not an overnight anomaly.

I'll be sure to keep you posted--why don't you send me an email at nick (at) nickthacker.com so we can keep in touch.

What exactly do you mean "could use that topic as your prologue..." were you referring to the idea of collegiate entrepreneurship or your financial papers? I was a little confused!

Anyway, thanks again for the support, and if you get an email out to me I'll be sure to include you on any "book preview" emails...

[myfayt]

Well, I guess some people are smart/lucky enough to not need a guide filled with tips and tricks from someone who's been there before!

Obviously I wouldn't be writing the book for people (like you) who are already successful in their business endeavors--it's for people who haven't begun the journey themselves and might need a bit of motivation/guidance/whatever to get started.

Thanks for the tip though--I won't be focusing on selling a book on how to build a business to people who have already built a business...

I understand that and respect that, just commenting on it.

[Jerzy]

I just finished The Talent Code -- a new book by Daniel Coyle. It's really great -- all about how skill grows in the brain, how to motivate kids -- super-interesting and useful.