Every business owner receives startup tips from friends, colleagues, and contacts in the business world. Your startup business should use these 10 online resources to turn startup tips into a successful plan of action. Your search for startup tips should take place through the filter of professional qualifications and experiences. Startup business tips offered by industry groups, experienced entrepreneurs and government agencies are likely forged from past business ventures of varying successes. New business owners often fall into the trap of trying to find positive counsel rather than finding the best advice. The best lesson a startup business owner can learn is to accept advice good and bad before making an informed decision. If you only accept “get rich quick” advice from inexperienced advisers, your startup will be steered in the wrong direction from the beginning.
Government Resources for Startup Tips
The U.S. Small Business Administration (http://www.sba.gov/) is the starting point for thousands of entrepreneurs each year trying to start their businesses. The SBA provides essential resources and tools to small business owners throughout the United States. Entrepreneurs can learn how to write business plans, grant proposals, and marketing materials by consulting the SBA website. The federal government also offers information on small business grants and loans through the SBA though the administration seldom offers direct loans to startups. If you have hit a stumbling block on the SBA, the Local Resources page will help you find local agencies that can answer your questions.
The Internal Revenue Service (http://www.irs.gov) is another essential source for startup tips used by new business owners. The IRS has dozens of pages devoted to startup tips including tax deductions, record keeping requirements, and responsibilities by businesses to their employees. These pages explain the minutiae of running a startup including W-2 forms, Social Security Number verification, and provision of employee benefits. Your entire staff should be familiar with the startup tips offered by the IRS to ensure proper oversight over your business.
Patenting Your Startup Ideas
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (http://www.uspto.gov/) should be consulted regularly as your startup develops its products. The Patent and Trademark Office offers electronic applications for patents, trademarks, and copyright protection to speed up the review process. Your staff can learn that patents are used for inventions, trademarks for logos and slogans and copyrights for artistic creations. The federal trademark website has several databases to help applicants avoid duplication of existing IP protections. Once you are ready to apply for protection of your company’s intellectual property, you can weave through the maze of fees and paperwork through the Patent and Trademark Office website.
Venture Capital for Your Startup
Your startup business may need financial help on top of commercial loans and personal savings. Startups of all kinds have used venture capital in the past two decades to boost their finances without resorting to loans. A venture capital firm supplies a certain amount of money to a startup in exchange for management fees, a stake in the business and some creative control over the business. The abundance of venture capital firms in the United States means that an industry group like the National Venture Capital Association© (http://www.nvca.org/) is a good starting point for startups. The NVCA© has a list of member firms and investors who are always looking to hear a good pitch from fellow entrepreneurs.
Learning Materials for Startup Owners
The process of starting a new business is fraught with learning opportunities for new entrepreneurs. A good source of startup tips and business news for entrepreneurs is Entrepreneur Magazine© (http://www.entrepreneur.com/). This monthly magazine is designed specifically for small business owners looking to attract customers, survive downturns, and expand during good times. Entrepreneur Magazine© covers everything from marketing and sales to technology and franchising opportunities for its readers.
Your startup business can expand in favorable environments with the help of the National Business Incubation Association© (http://www.nbia.org/) and SCORE® (http://www.score.org/index.html). The NBIA© is an industry group that represents business incubators nationwide that offer low rent, work spaces and resources to startup companies. Your business can learn more about local business incubators by searching the NBIA’s© member database today. SCORE® offers one-on-one guidance and startup tips to entrepreneurs through its more than 300 affiliates in the United States. Your business can benefit from an analysis by a SCORE® representative as well as publications and resources exclusive to this non-profit group.
TechStars© (http://www.techstars.org) takes the summer internship approach to mentoring business startups. This investment firm offers $6,000 in startup funding to three businesses who participate in a summer mentorship program. TechStars© allows twenty businesses to participate in the mentorship program each summer which includes speeches, onsite meetings and demonstrations from experienced business owners. Your participation in TechStars© opens up the possibility for seed funding as well as the networking opportunities unavailable elsewhere in the business world.
Startup Business Events
After receiving startup tips from various sources, it is time to converse with fellow entrepreneurs. Your approach to startup business events can follow a thoughtful academic approach at the U.S. Association of Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs© (https://usasbe.org/conference/2009/) annual conference. The yearly USASBE conference is touted as one of the largest meeting of business scholars and entrepreneurs in the United States. In addition to the presentation of academic papers on startup businesses, entrepreneurs can speak with scholars about proven methods of business management. The theoretical framework built at the USASBE conference can be mobilized at every stage of the startup process too.
Your small business should look at industry-specific conferences like TechCrunch50© (http://www.techcrunch50.com/2009/blog/) to showcase your products. TechCrunch50© is a competition among startup businesses in the application and software development fields sponsored by the tech blog TechCrunch. The event’s organizers review new products from more than 200 applicants to find the 50 best applications for a particular year. The $50,000 grand prize for the winning company is only the tip of the iceberg at TechCrunch50© as venture capitalists get a chance to see products in action. Your attendance at an industry conference serves to advertise your business while showcasing your products to buyers and investors.
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