Starting a small business

[Descartes]

So....

1) You have little to no industry experience.
2) You have no capital.
3) You have no idea.

So you're essentially wanting someone else to give you everything you need to start a business? Despite what the informercials at 2AM say, businesses don't often start by simply picking from a list of choices and saying, "I want to do that."

Starting a business is difficult. It takes time. It takes experience. It takes money. It takes expertise. Yes, there are exceptions to the rule, but most of these exceptions are little companies that operate off of eBay or some other fringe site and aren't likely to last more than a few years, at most. Even then most of them aren't successful.

 

[waggy]

heheheh i love threads like this. so entertaining.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: surferdude
I started my company for the low cost of ....drum roll please......... 100.00 US

its a small pool service company and all i started with was a pole,hose ,head and truck.

started cleaning then moved on to renovations and such.

at 1 point i had 6 employees, then i got tired of all the BS with taxes IRS ect ect.

trimmed back to just myself.

uncle sam sees that i make 30-60K yr

buddy also in the buss. only cleans pools has 60 regular accounts and is all above board with IRS grosses 250K.

personnaly i dont like 20 grit sandpaper with my bend overs so i keep most customers on a CASH or barter system.

So you're saying you Joesph Peklo of (address withheld) Pensacola, FL brag about evading income taxes on a public internet forum? Real smart genius.

 

[oznerol]

Originally posted by: Descartes
So....

1) You have little to no industry experience.
2) You have no capital.
3) You have no idea.

So you're essentially wanting someone else to give you everything you need to start a business? Despite what the informercials at 2AM say, businesses don't often start by simply picking from a list of choices and saying, "I want to do that."

Starting a business is difficult. It takes time. It takes experience. It takes money. It takes expertise. Yes, there are exceptions to the rule, but most of these exceptions are little companies that operate off of eBay or some other fringe site and aren't likely to last more than a few years, at most. Even then most of them aren't successful.

Normally I ignore replies such as this, but I'll give it a go.

I'm not asking to be spoon-fed anything, regardless of what you read into what I was asking. I'm more interested in other people's personal experiences with starting a small company with little to no money or experience.

It's been done before, people on ATOT have done it. So I figured I'd ask. I'm aware of the amount of work required and the percentage of failed companies.

Would you care to share any of your own experiences with starting a small business? Otherwise don't be so pretentious.

 

[SampSon]

There are many government grants available to start-ups. Or there are plenty of business loan programs available to thoes who have a business plan. Then there are always investment capital people. You also should plan on going into massive amounts of debt.

So....

1) You have little to no industry experience.
2) You have no capital.
3) You have no idea.

So you're essentially wanting someone else to give you everything you need to start a business? Despite what the informercials at 2AM say, businesses don't often start by simply picking from a list of choices and saying, "I want to do that."

Starting a business is difficult. It takes time. It takes experience. It takes money. It takes expertise. Yes, there are exceptions to the rule, but most of these exceptions are little companies that operate off of eBay or some other fringe site and aren't likely to last more than a few years, at most. Even then most of them aren't successful.

So you were never in his shoes? You always had years and years of industry experience, loads of capital and an idea? You had all the experience necessary in running a business as well?
I never knew you were such a business god since you were born. Snap back to reality and stop being so condescending in this thread and many many others.

The guy has the drive and a team of others who have that drive as well. He's looking for information, not critical remarks.

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: ducci

Originally posted by: Descartes
So....

1) You have little to no industry experience.
2) You have no capital.
3) You have no idea.

So you're essentially wanting someone else to give you everything you need to start a business? Despite what the informercials at 2AM say, businesses don't often start by simply picking from a list of choices and saying, "I want to do that."

Starting a business is difficult. It takes time. It takes experience. It takes money. It takes expertise. Yes, there are exceptions to the rule, but most of these exceptions are little companies that operate off of eBay or some other fringe site and aren't likely to last more than a few years, at most. Even then most of them aren't successful.

Normally I ignore replies such as this, but I'll give it a go.

I'm not asking to be spoon-fed anything, regardless of what you read into what I was asking. I'm more interested in other people's personal experiences with starting a small company with little to no money or experience.

It's been done before, people on ATOT have done it. So I figured I'd ask. I'm aware of the amount of work required and the percentage of failed companies.

Would you care to share any of your own experiences with starting a small business? Otherwise don't be so pretentious.

I believe I've shared a lot of advice about my own business ventures, and I've spent a lot of time talking to ATOTers about their own ventures. I'd guess that I've probably spent as much as a hundred hours of so this year alone talking to people, offering advice, encouragement, resources, etc. Most of my discussions occur in PMs or offline and I do it with no expectation other than that the person asking the question do a little research.

I apologize if I came off as being pretentious. I assure you I'm not. My objection was that you gave us nothing to go on. You're asking for someone to give you blind advice, and no one offering such advice can do so constructively. I believe I gave you the only advice you really need at this point: Think more about what you want to do. You can't build a business on various talents and drive; however, these components serve as a solid foundation for success when you do further scope down your ambitions.

So, what can I really say? Should I give you the thousands of different issues that you'll encounter, the hundreds of potential markets, all the issues involved with getting started, etc.? Surely you understand this is impossible in a post, and this is why I was a little antagonistic.

I'd be happy to help in PM or in this thread if you can give more information.

 

[alnoa]

Originally posted by: iwantanewcomputer
wait...you do't have a buisness plan, a technology, an idea, or even know what field you want to do buisness in?

may the force be with you

LOL... I think as others have beat to death(I hate horses), you're going to need the idea first.

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: SampSon
There are many government grants available to start-ups. Or there are plenty of business loan programs available to thoes who have a business plan. Then there are always investment capital people. You also should plan on going into massive amounts of debt.

Again, I'm not trying to be a jerk here, but he doesn't yet have any of those things from what I understand.

So....

1) You have little to no industry experience.
2) You have no capital.
3) You have no idea.

So you're essentially wanting someone else to give you everything you need to start a business? Despite what the informercials at 2AM say, businesses don't often start by simply picking from a list of choices and saying, "I want to do that."

Starting a business is difficult. It takes time. It takes experience. It takes money. It takes expertise. Yes, there are exceptions to the rule, but most of these exceptions are little companies that operate off of eBay or some other fringe site and aren't likely to last more than a few years, at most. Even then most of them aren't successful.

So you were never in his shoes?[/quote]

No.

You always had years and years of industry experience, loads of capital and an idea?

I've always had ideas, but obviously I didn't always have the experience and the capital. That comes with time, and with time comes an increased network of resources that you can reach to when you do have something of substance.

You had all the experience necessary in running a business as well?

Absolutely not. I'm still learning and making mistakes a long the way, but I can tell you that what I thought I knew then is nothing at all what it's truly like.

I never knew you were such a business god since you were born. Snap back to reality and stop being so condescending in this thread and many many others.

I didn't say I was a business god. I didn't even say I was proficient.

To call me condescending is rather insulting considering how much time I have spent helping others. I may be crass at times like any other, but no one is perfect.

The guy has the drive and a team of others who have that drive as well. He's looking for information, not critical remarks.

If all it took was drive then we'd all be successful business owners. I believe my advice was rather constructive in trying to provide him something of a reality check. He can choose to ignore it if he wishes.

I'll back out of this thread now as I sense I'm not welcome. I offer apologies to anyone if they saw my post as offering more rebuke than worthwhile comment. As always, I'm available by PM if anyone has any questions and I'll always do my best to help.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: surferdude
I started my company for the low cost of ....drum roll please......... 100.00 US

its a small pool service company and all i started with was a pole,hose ,head and truck.

started cleaning then moved on to renovations and such.

at 1 point i had 6 employees, then i got tired of all the BS with taxes IRS ect ect.

trimmed back to just myself.

uncle sam sees that i make 30-60K yr

buddy also in the buss. only cleans pools has 60 regular accounts and is all above board with IRS grosses 250K.

personnaly i dont like 20 grit sandpaper with my bend overs so i keep most customers on a CASH or barter system.

So you're saying you Joesph Peklo of (address withheld) Pensacola, FL brag about evading income taxes on a public internet forum? Real smart genius.

hmm where is teh snitch to turn him in? hopefully someone has.