You are currently browsing the MrBizPlan.com weblog archives for May, 2008.
- Mr BizPlan Says (41)
- October 7, 2008: How the Credit Crisis Affects Small Business
- September 26, 2008: Is Your Brand Awesome? Should it be?
- September 17, 2008: What's going on? From Wall Street to Main Street.
- September 2, 2008: The Universe of Opportunities
- August 7, 2008: Rags to Riches...Anecdotally Speaking
- June 30, 2008: Building Quality Financial Projections
- June 16, 2008: "The Only Thing We Have To Fear..."
- May 29, 2008: "Free Money to Pay Your Bills!" Or Maybe Not (Part 2)
- May 20, 2008: "Free Money to Pay Your Bills!" Or Maybe Not (Part 1)
- May 9, 2008: Ten Reasons Why Businesses Succeed (In My Opinion)
Archive for May 2008
“Free Money to Pay Your Bills!” Or Maybe Not (Part 2)
May 29, 2008 by mrbizplan.
In Free Money to Pay Your Bills! Or Maybe Not Part 1 we discovered how Matthew Lesko (and others) use word play and semantics to get you to buy their books believing you will obtain riches on someone else’s dime. In Part II we will discuss what you really are buying when you purchase one of these grant guides.
A distinction needs to be made between grants, loans you don’t have to pay back, financial assistance payments, and government contracts all referred to by various grant guides as ”free money”. These words get thrown around a lot in Lesko (and others) commercials so much and sometimes so close together they seem interchangeable when in fact they are not.
Grants- There truly are grants available for small businesses. And, I believe in fact the people represented on Lesko’s commercials genuinely received grants for the business they started. But, the fact is these programs are far from prevalent in most communities. And when they are available they are: a) limited in geographic scope and industry classification b) limited in terms of who can qualify for them and c) limited in how the money can be used. Most of the grant sources are localized so if there is a grant for a person with a disability to start a widgit retailer in Podunk, Missouri they are not going to give you the money to start that shop anywhere else.
Posted in Mr BizPlan Says | Print | 6 Comments »
“Free Money to Pay Your Bills!” Or Maybe Not (Part 1)
May 20, 2008 by mrbizplan.
Matthew Lesko is my nemesis.
You know the crazy guy on late night infomercials prancing around in his question mark suit screaming about “Free” money to pay your bills…or to buy something…or to start a business?
For years now this guy has made a fortune selling publications that are full of information that is free and available to the public. There is nothing inherently wrong with charging for the convenience and reprinting cost of information that would have taken considerable time to gather and publish…that is not where I take issue.
Posted in Mr BizPlan Says | Print | 1 Comment »
Ten Reasons Why Businesses Succeed (In My Opinion)
May 9, 2008 by mrbizplan.
This list reflects my experiences only, is based on no other research and is in no peticular order.
10. They had a well researched, well written business plan that backed the assumptions in their financial projections.
9. The business was an original idea or at the very least was different from the competition…they have several competitive advantages and/or served a niche.
8. They underestimated their market size and demand for their product or service.
7. They implemented structured employee training and standard operating procedures before they opened their doors.
6. They excuted a marketing plan beyond a grand opening and for longer than a few months.
5. They created a strong brand with immediate name recognition.
4. They overcapitalized their working capital account…i.e. they had lots of cash on hand.
3. They delivered exceptional customer service before, during, and after the sale.
2. They were in the right market, at the right location, at the right time.
1. They have an unending passion for what they do.
Donovan Wadholm
www.diybizplan.com
Posted in Mr BizPlan Says | Print | 1 Comment »