Up and Running

MAY 3, 2021

In this piece, we look at how you can start growing your SEO business, from business plans to lead generation. What is an SEO business? As the name suggests, an SEO business is a company or agency that performs SEO services for and on behalf of a brand. How to write an SEO business plan that outlines your goals.

SEO 147

SEO Vertical Metadata Forecast 147

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2021

Most aspiring entrepreneurs understand that you can’t build a business if you won’t commit to delivering a product or service, but many are hesitant or refuse to commit to any financial forecasts. Yet every business requires revenue and volumes, as certainly as it requires a product to sell. Forecast sales-volume expectations.

Forecast 369

Forecast Burn Rate Startup Widget 369

Up and Running

AUGUST 6, 2021

Older people cling to the notion of listening to their elders and getting advice through traditional channels. They’re accessible via more channels. Small businesses that choose to target younger people can choose from a range of viable digital channels for their promotional efforts.

Small Business 149

Small Business Customer Social Media Channel 149

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 4, 2015

Most aspiring entrepreneurs understand that you can’t build a business if you won’t commit to delivering a product or service, but many are hesitant or refuse to commit to any financial forecasts. Yet every business requires revenue and volumes, as certainly as it requires a product to sell. Forecast sales-volume expectations.

Forecast 120

Forecast Entrepreneur Burn Rate Widget 120

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

To create this first year in business checklist, I turned to our in-house experts here at Palo Alto Software: Sabrina Parsons, CEO; Noah Parsons, COO; Josh Cochrane, Vice President of Product Development; and Josh Fegles, Academic and Government Channel Sales Director, and founder of gluten-free cookie company Jude’s Foods.

Forecast 60

Forecast Software Review Lean Finance 60

Up and Running

MAY 12, 2020

Develop a Business Plan. It’s been proven that planning makes you more successful. Beyond writing a business plan to acquire funding (if that’s what you need), a business plan can help keep you on track to meet your milestones and goals. Determine what type of business plan is right for you .

Software Review 153

Software Review Exit Strategy Technical Review Business Plan 153

Gust

JUNE 19, 2012

One of my earliest excursions into market research was working for a research firm doing a 1979 forecast on ATMs. 10 Things I Look for When Reading a Business Plan. This seems like a good point to summarize here what I look for in a business plan. . Often this is part of a good forecast. Power Pitches.

Startup 180

Startup Forecast Angel Investor Software 180

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

People ask me if they really need ANY business plan, unless they are looking for an outside investor. In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Financial forecast and metrics. Industry & market sizing.

Business Plan 283

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 283

Up and Running

JUNE 25, 2020

If your sales have recently hit a plateau, check out these 10 proven methods to continue growing your business. You went through the process of identifying a target market when developing your business plan. But now you have an active customer base that you need to engage with and in the process improve your business.

Small Business 180

Small Business Hosting Social Media Community 180

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 21, 2022

A while back in a blog article , I pointed out that none of these justify a startup business plan with little or no budget for marketing. All require planning, deliberate actions, and quality content and event creation which will likely absorb all the savings from reduced paid media campaigns.

Marketing 319

Marketing Framework Social Media Metrics 319

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

Startups wrote business plans, generated expansive 5-year forecasts and executed (hired, spent and built) to the plan. And enterprise customers in a race to reconfigure strategies, channels, and offerings to deal with disruption provide a willing market for startup tools and services.

Lean 335

Lean Burn Rate Startup IPO 335

Up and Running

MAY 1, 2014

You’ve reviewed what a business plan is , and why you need one to start and grow your business. It’s time to dig into the process of actually writing a business plan. In this step-by-step guide, I’ll take you through every stage of writing a business plan that will actually help you achieve your goals.

Business Plan 163

Business Plan Forecast Balance Sheet Distribution 163

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

People ask me if they really need ANY business plan, unless they are looking for an outside investor. In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Financial forecast and metrics. Industry & market sizing.

Business Plan 290

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 290

Gust

MAY 29, 2012

It’s the end of May as I write this so I’ve just finished my annual April-May business plan marathon reading more than 100 business plans for my angel investment group and four different business plan contests. This seems like a good point to summarize here what I look for in a business plan. .

Business Plan 174

Business Plan Forecast Channel Cost 174

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

Before you jump into starting your own vacation rental business, you’ll need a business plan. This article will cover the steps to create your Airbnb business plan, along with some tips to run it successfully. How to write an Airbnb business plan. Why are you starting your Airbnb business?

Business Plan 110

Business Plan Software Review Technical Review Forecast 110

Up and Running

MAY 30, 2012

It’s the end of May as I write this so I’ve just finished my annual April-May business plan marathon reading more than 100 business plans for my angel investment group and four different business plan contests. This seems like a good point to summarize here what I look for in a business plan.

Business Plan 145

Business Plan Forecast Channel Cost 145

Up and Running

JANUARY 15, 2018

Once you’ve decided that you’re ready to start a small web design firm, you’ll need to develop a host of skills to help you run a successful business, including time management, sales and promotional strategies, and client acquisition. Create a Lean Business Plan. Be part of your local community.

Web 86

Web Design Software Review Elevator Pitch 86

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

JULY 12, 2010

Listening to first-time entrepreneurs talk about their competitive advantages is as predictably invalid as the local weatherman's 10-day forecast. It should be part of your business plan that other people will copy you. This is part 1 of the series: 5 Lessons from 150 startup pitches. Almost anything can be copied.

Intellectual Property 319

Intellectual Property Bootstrapping Software Review Open Source 319

Gust

AUGUST 5, 2012

People ask me if they really need ANY business plan, unless they are looking for an outside investor. In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Financial forecast and metrics. Industry & market sizing.

Business Plan 182

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 182

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 15, 2013

Projecting the financials should be the last step of your business plan preparation, since it assumes you already know the opportunity size, customer buying habits, pricing, costs, and competition. Next comes sales volume by channel. This forecast is really their commitment. Plan to re-forecast every quarter.

Forecast 238

Forecast Business Plan Burn Rate .Net 238

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 18, 2013

Next comes sales volume by channel. This forecast is really their commitment. That should be true even if your customer is really a distributor. Otherwise, sales, marketing, and operational costs will kill you. Here is where you need a “bottoms-up” estimate from the people in your organization who have to deliver.

Business Plan 215

Business Plan Venture Capital Demand Forecast 215

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 26, 2020

Business Plan. With a game plan in mind, you will need to figure out how you intend to set your company apart from the rest of the players in the market. If you have done the research, you might’ve seen that the moving industry is packed with amateurs who offer low prices and have weak long term plans.

Advertising 264

Advertising Forecast Social Media Business Plan 264

Up and Running

MAY 31, 2016

“But how can I write a business plan? ” He was one of my favorite students in the class I used to teach on starting a business. You don’t plan to pay your rent and other expenses? How you make money is at the heart of an artist’s business plan. I’m an artist.” I responded.

Business Plan 60

Business Plan Forecast Metrics Oregon 60

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2010

People ask me if they really need ANY business plan, unless they are looking for an outside investor. In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Financial forecast and metrics. Industry & market sizing.

Business Plan 186

Business Plan Exit Strategy Sweat Equity Intellectual Property 186

The Startup Magazine

JUNE 24, 2022

This is an essential step before you start writing your business plan. . Business Plan Is a Must . Imagine this as a strategic summary of your business. By having a reasonable, strategic, and well-composed business plan , you will have a representation of your road map. Think of the Brand .

Forecast 133

Forecast Business Plan Finance Government 133

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 24, 2019

A while back in a blog article , I pointed out that none of these justify a startup business plan with little or no budget for marketing. All require planning, deliberate actions, and quality content and event creation which will likely absorb all the savings from reduced paid media campaigns.

Media 238

Media Cost Framework Social Media 238

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 11, 2017

As a rule of thumb, most new businesses need a margin above 50 percent, even on wholesale prices, to cover operational expenses and survive long-term as a business. Based on your market size and penetration expectations, size how many units you will sell, at what price, in every channel. Project unit-volume and price levels.

Burn Rate 144

Burn Rate Forecast Angel Investor Revenue 144

OnlyOnce

JULY 9, 2013

Chapter 2: Defining and Testing the Story…Start Out By Admitting You’re Wrong, A Lean Business Plan Template, Problem, Solution, Key Metrics, Unique Value Proposition and Unfair Advantages, Channels, Customer Segments, Cost Structure and Revenue Streams. Chapter 3: Telling the Story to Your Investors…The Business Plan is Dead.

Startup 95

Startup Advisory Board Elevator Pitch Forecast 95

Steve Blank

MARCH 5, 2012

One of the confusing things to entrepreneurs, investors and educators is the relationship between customer development and business model design and business planning and execution. When does a new venture focus on customer development and business models ? And when do business planning and execution come into play?

Search 322

Search Business Model Customer Development Agile 322

YoungUpstarts

MAY 26, 2017

Your pitch deck is the most important assets your business will have, arguably more than the business plan itself. Based off the “Pitch then Plan” template originated by Silicon Valley venture capitalist Guy Kawasaki, I believe in creating a strong pitch first and then building a business plan based on it.

Cofounder 185

Cofounder Silicon Valley Forecast Business Plan 185

Up and Running

NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Do your research and validate your idea: You’re probably going to be doing this at the same time as you write your business plan. It’s the lean format of the business plan—the format that will allow you to adapt fastest as you progress through the startup phase. Your business model (or how you will make money).

Curation 60

Curation Lean Software Review Finder 60

YoungUpstarts

FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Despite its strategic importance and the resources devoted , both in the design phase of the plan and its subsequent execution, the fact is that about 60% of the business development plans do not meet the initial objectives, and many of them are still invalid even if approved annually by the managing director.

Developer 182

Developer Cofounder Channel Business Plan 182

Business Plan Blog

OCTOBER 8, 2013

Ten Deadly Business Plan Writing Sins for Raising Capital. Another key factor is how these business concepts are portrayed in the startup’s business plan. All good business plans put considerable attention on the competition for several reasons. Practicing Top-Down Sales Forecasting.

Business Plan 67

Business Plan NDA Exit Strategy Valuation 67

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 3, 2017

A while back in a blog article , I pointed out that none of these justify a startup business plan with little or no budget for marketing. All require planning, deliberate actions, and quality content and event creation which will likely absorb all the savings from reduced paid media campaigns.

Advertising 166

Advertising Marketing Startup Framework 166

Up and Running

MAY 14, 2015

Business plans go by many names: Strategic plans, operational plans, internal plans, and many others. Lately, I’ve been focusing on lean business plans. There are also one-page business plans, although those are really more summaries. Business plans for startups.

Business Plan 60

Business Plan Lean Forecast Balance Sheet 60

Up and Running

APRIL 13, 2021

I’ve spent decades working with plan v. I used plan vs. actual analysis once a month, comparing forecasts and budgets to actual results since I started Palo Alto Software back in the 1980s. Forecasting and budget math is usually simple. actual in spreadsheets. For the record, this method still works.

Forecast 147

Forecast Matching Balance Sheet Software Review 147

Gust

JANUARY 4, 2012

(It’s often possible to “ design around ” a patent to operate a business that achieves similar results in different ways.) Most investors will assume that if the business plan is solid and a large market opportunity exists, there will be vigorous competition from other players. Creating product mock-ups , wireframes, etc.

Intellectual Property 143

Intellectual Property IP Startup United States 143