Six-Week Start-Up. Rhonda Abrams

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checklists and very specific advice, this book walks you through the process of starting your business, step by step. I’ve detailed the critical components of getting a business—a successful business—under way and created an easy-to-follow program for dealing with those components.

      Starting a business can seem overwhelming—there’s so much to do, so much to figure out. How do you set prices? What licenses do you need? How do you choose a location? Where do you find customers? Where do you get the money?

      All these details seem paralyzing.

      I know, because I’ve been there. I’ve started and built three successful companies. I still remember my first weeks in business—deciding on a business name, getting my first business card designed, figuring out a way to land my first customer. I was flustered by buying my first computer and choosing the software to go with it.

      I want to make it easier—much easier—for you. And I want to not only deal with all those details, but to make sure you have some fun along the way—staying motivated and getting energized.

      So, in this book, I’ve organized the start-up process into a comprehensive program that breaks down the many tasks of launching a business into six, manageable weeks. During each week, you’ll focus on just a few major issues; this makes it possible for you to manage the necessary details without feeling overwhelmed.

      Each week consists of:

       Main accomplishments: These cover major issues you’ll have to deal with when you start your business, such as money, laws and regulations, and operations.

       Checklists: Each accomplishment is broken down into a checklist of steps for you to mark off as you complete each one. This makes it easier for you to tackle each major accomplishment.

       Worksheets: To make completing your checklists easier, each week includes helpful worksheets and planning forms. Use these to guide you as you go along. Even after you’ve opened your business, you may want to keep these completed forms to refer to from time to time.

       Make appointments with: Each week includes a suggestion of which experts or advisors can help you complete that week’s accomplishments and checklists.

      You can undertake these accomplishments in any order—or break up checklists into separate weeks!

      In addition, throughout this book, you will find:

       Questions to Ask: Lists of suggested issues to deal with when you meet with key contacts such as investors, attorneys, accountants, and many more.

       Red Tape Alerts: To give you a “heads-up” warning when an issue may have legal or tax consequences.

       What Would Rhonda Do: Insight and advice based on my real-life experience.

       Check It Out: To help you find useful information and resources online quickly.

       Start It Free: To help you find free versions of applications such as website builders, data storage, and accounting applications, so you can get your business up and running for as little money as possible.

      This book covers everything from taxes to trade shows, accounting to advertising, customers to computers.

      Of course, you might want to—or need to—take more than six weeks to get your own business under way. That’s okay. Set your own pace. This book still serves as a plan—a “cookbook”—outlining the steps to launching your business—whether you take six weeks or six months.

      Can I guarantee that in six weeks you’ll be sitting on a beach counting your money? No. This isn’t some late-night infomercial.

      Instead, this is a realistic, do-able guide to getting your own business up and running.

      If not knowing where to start has been holding you back from launching your business, or you feel overwhelmed by the details, or you’re afraid you don’t have the money to pay for the advice you need, then this book is for you.

      Where do you want to be six weeks from now?

      week 1

       WEEK 1: LAY THE FOUNDATION

       WEEK 2: GET THE INFORMATION YOU NEED

       WEEK 3: CUT THROUGH RED TAPE

       WEEK 4: TAKE CARE OF OPERATIONS

       WEEK 5: DEAL WITH MONEY ISSUES

       WEEK 6: OPEN YOUR DOORS!

      Week 1

       Main accomplishments:

      #1 Clarify your business vision and concept

      #2 Create your company identity

      #3 Get organized

       Make appointments with:

       Graphic designer

       SBDC counselor

      Lay the Foundation. . .

      Congratulations! you’re now officially starting your new business. During this first week, you’ll jump right in with some of the fun stuff of starting a business—like choosing a business name and developing a corporate identity. But most of the week is devoted to establishing a strong foundation for your new company: making sure your business concept is solid, developing a network of advisors and supporters to help you build and grow your company, and taking care of the organizational details to make day-to-day business life more effective and efficient.

      In other words, we’re going to make sure you get off to the right start.

      Even if you are starting a one-person business, you’ll

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