Startup mistakes, although common, is avoidable. So you have decided to start a business. You have an idea. Let’s say you want to be a carpenter. You print some brochures, some business cards, and take out an ad in your local community newspaper. You pay R15,000 for a website and a domain name that tells
Business Plan Writer… To use one or not… Therein lies the question. Writing a business plan is time-consuming, but it’s essential if you want to have a successful business that’s going to survive the startup phase. If your business doesn’t have one, maybe it’s time to start writing it. The process of writing a business
Business Plan Consultants in South Africa range from fly-by-nights that want to make a quick Rand to reputable entities that write Business Plans for a living. Everyone knows the saying that there are only two things of which we are certain in life: “In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.”
Having a new business idea is great! But, without a business plan, or using a generic cookie-cutter business plan template a business is essentially rudderless, and day-to-day activities are likely to be haphazard and reactive, in stark contrast to those businesses implementing a well thought out business plan. Unfortunately, there are a number of “business
Business Plan Copycats have been around since we started JTB Consulting in 2006. In a world full of fake news, half-truths, scam artists, snake oil salesmen, the question that I often get is “How do you deal with people who copy your work?” How do you deal with people who steal your idea? How do you
Your investor pitch can be one of the most daunting things you have to endure as an entrepreneur. Investors are much better at negotiations than you are; after all, this is what they do, and they do it daily. You on the other hand, rarely do it. When you approach potential investors to invest in
Entrepreneurs who are starting a new business often wonder, “Do I really need a business plan? Is writing business plans really the best use of my time?” The answer to these questions is almost always, Yes! A business plan is an integral part of starting a new business. A business plan is a very important
Tune in to any business channel or podcast, whether online or TV and chances are that you’ll see an interview with a CEO. If I mention the word CEO, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? For some people, a superhero with incredible creativity and panache (think Jeff Bezos and Steve Jobs). For others,
Difficult customers are a part of every business person’s life. The importance of knowing how to deal with difficult customers during the infant years of your new start-up company can’t be overstated. Being equipped with this knowledge and interpersonal skills can assist in ensuring your company’s long-term survival. As cited by Dr David Freemantle, “To
Business ideas emerge on a daily basis. Some great, some good, some just ridiculous. Do you have ideas for a new business? For entrepreneurs, it is often easier to come up with a variety of business ideas for new companies and more difficult to implement those concepts. A business concept is a bridge between an
Product and service ideas ideally morph into profitable business ideas. Creating great new business ideas is not a very difficult task to overcome, but what if you do not have a creative bone in your body? The next time you are struggling to come up with a new idea, try the following: 1.) Shopping: Next
Funding a new business is part and parcel of an entrepreneur’s journey. You have a great business venture idea (or at least you’ve been told by family and friends that you have a great idea) and you are now raising startup capital but why, oh why is it that nobody wants to invest in your