[chem]

It seems like I haven't done enough planning!

Here are a lot of the things I have done so far.

First I sat down and went through each mothly, yearly, and start up costs. I went and figured out prices on things.

Estimated Monthly bills
Estimated Yearly bills
Estimated Start cost

I have built the website and working on finishing the member's only section.

Finished the interview/sales pitch.

Talked with the lady at the Chambers of Commerce who has directed me to a man who will help me. I'm guessing this man will help me register my business and teach me a few things. Hopefully he'll guide me in the path of a sucessful business.

Working on a template flyer.

I have worked on promotion and advertising.

Researched other business that are similar to mine.

Plus a few other small things.

This just doesn't even seem like enough work to be done to set up a business. I wish it was. Right now I'm working and saving up the money I'm making and working on my business. I want to make sure I have enough money for a nice start up and not a ghetto business.

If anyone has any suggestions on other things I should be working on, please tell me! I'm sure there are others stuck in my shoes.

Thanks!

[Peter JC Ikin]

Hi Chem

If you are looking to produce a more formal business plan there are a number of business planning books available that help guide you through the process. Even if you arent looking at producing a formal document ( which can help you secure funding if you are looking) such books can give a few ideas on areas you havent considered.

One piece of advice I would give would be to make sure that you have a comprehensive long term marketing plan / stratagy. Marketing should be something that you are doing continuously, prefereably on a day to day basis. Many start up / small business do little to no marketing or only do marketing occasionally and wonder why they don't have regular business. Speaking from personal experience you should always make marketing a priority and not leave it at the bottom of the to do list.

Hope this helps.

Peter

[chem]

Awesome, thanks for the information.

Where could I find these books at?

[Peter JC Ikin]

There are loads of business planning books in most business sections of any bookshop and there are also a lot on amazon.

A couple I have personally are
The definitive business plan
The business plan workbook

The links are to amazon .co.uk but Im sure they are available at your local neighbourhood site.

Peter