business plan

Welcome to the Entrepreneur's Secret

Darlene Ziebell — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:27:39 -0500

The Entrepreneur's Secret

Darlene Ziebell — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:19:59 -0500

An innovative blog for business owners to share ideas for business strategy, business operations, and start-ups. Business owners today are too busy working in their business to work on their business. This blog discusses methods and ideas for small business success. If your creating a business plan or own a company with less than 500 employees, this blog is designed to help you manage your business more successfully.

Bio and Interests: Darlene Ziebell

Darlene Ziebell — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:07:57 -0500

Darlene Ziebell is the Entrepreneur's Secret. Her CLEARED FOR SUCCESS: TAKEOFF IN BUSINESS series incorporates the business strategies used in large enterprise corporations and the battle scars and successes of 30 years of entrepreneurship. Darlene designed this method based on her years of consulting with the Fortune 500 and 30 years of her personal entrepreneurial experiences. Her own experience expands across a variety of industries.

Bio and Interests: ivan mladenovic

ivan mladenovic — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:06:14 -0400

Throughout his career, Ivan Mladenovic has always been interested in developing businesses. His experience various fields, including technology, branding, sales, and management, have prepared him to assist others in getting new ventures off the ground, or improving existing enterprise by applying the latest trends and technologies.

Where Business Plans Fail

sales predict5.com — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 11:46:13 -0400

Where Business Plans Fail

How the Credit Crisis Affects Small Business

Donovan Wadholm — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:05:44 -0400

The big media is talking about big dollars, big companies, and big bailout packages. Sub-prime mortgage backed securities, money market mutual fund savings, and now commercial paper have all been at the center of the conversation of the current credit crisis in the US and, in recent days, worldwide.

Bio and Interests: Antonio Fonduca

Antonio Fonduca — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:05:10 -0400

Antonio Fonduca is an executive advisor and a seasoned business strategist. Having worked with startups as well as with global enterprises, he advises entrepreneurs looking to raise venture capital and investors looking for quality dealflow. Antonio enhances client business by developing marketing & financial strategies, preparing investor quality business plans and gathering competitive intelligence.

www.visualcv.com/fonduca

www.linkedin.com/in/fonduca

What's Going On? From Wall Street to Main Street.

Donovan Wadholm — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:48:29 -0400

The Universe of Opportunities

Donovan Wadholm — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:19:58 -0400

About a year ago, I co-funded the start-up of a pizza restaurant, in a city near my own, with a friend I’ve known since high school. At the end of this month that restaurant will no longer be mine. Despite breaking even, we have decided that it is time to move on to better things.

Rags to Riches…Anecdotally Speaking

Donovan Wadholm — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:16:15 -0400

I love listening to a good story…especially ones about entrepreneurs and their path to eventual success. The woman or man who turned nothing into something, who did it quickly, and without the help of others, AKA the “rags to riches” story.

Building Quality Financial Projections

Donovan Wadholm — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:02:43 -0400

Probably one of the most uncomfortable things a first time entrepreneur has to attempt is their first set of financial projections. Frequently I hear the following:

Capital Business Plan Logo

Donovan Wadholm — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:57:51 -0400

“The Only Thing We Have To Fear…”

Donovan Wadholm — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:44:18 -0400

I grow tired of hearing the opinion that business plans are not a necessary component of starting a business. In Mike Michalowicz’s blog post Business Plans are OUT! Here’s the New Way… he expounds on the virtues of the “Three Sheet Strategy” in lieu of a business plan.

In a nut shell the “Three Sheets” are:

“Free Money to Pay Your Bills!” Or Maybe Not (Part 2)

Donovan Wadholm — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:47:37 -0400

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.

JP's Blog

Jean-Pierre Pugliese — Thu, 22 May 2008 09:29:44 -0400

Jean-Pierre's blog provides some thoughts/ideas that he has and/or came across.

“Free Money to Pay Your Bills!” Or Maybe Not (Part 1)

Donovan Wadholm — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:32:07 -0400

Mathew 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.

Ten Reasons Why Businesses Succeed (In My Opinion)

Donovan Wadholm — Fri, 09 May 2008 10:25:27 -0400

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.

Throwing In The Towel - Knowing When To Close Your Business

Donovan Wadholm — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:15:09 -0400

The fact is that not all businesses will be successful. Some have even heard that 80% of new businesses fail by the 5th year, although this is disputed by many and evidence suggests that the failure rate is closer to 50-60 percent. Even so, there may come a time in your business venture when you start questioning wheather to stick with it despite the pain or quit, getting out before the pain gets worse.

Who says it's "too early" to get venture funding?

Bill Franklin — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:06:55 -0400

Entrepreneurs are often told that it is "too early" for their company to receive their first or a subsequent round of outside funding. What that really means is that there is something that has scared off the outside investor. Well known entrepreneurs with a good track record can get funding based on little more than a good idea. So what are you doing wrong? This blog is meant to help anyone who has ever been told that they had a great idea or great company, bit it's just "too early."

Just Say No, Yes, or Yes if...

Donovan Wadholm — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:12:49 -0400

Maybe it is a midwestern thing but lenders around here have a hard time just saying “No”.

Let me lay out a scenario for you:

April Fool

Donovan Wadholm — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:23:45 -0400

Looking back at April 1st there were several occasions for someone reporting bad news to smile quietly and say “April Fools!”.

Unfortunately, the one to legitimately play an April Fools joke on me was my eight year old son, who upon arriving at school said he forgot his backpack only to reveal he put it on under his coat. At least the spirit of the tradition was not lost on one person.

My Videos

Donovan Wadholm — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 23:03:22 -0400

Download my videos at www.youtube.com/mrbizplan

Bad Credit and Business Loans

Donovan Wadholm — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:24:26 -0400

Bad Credit is not always a death knell when it comes to business banking. If there is a legitimate reason why you have poor credit some lenders can look past it. Typically, health problems, divorce, or a layoff (known as “life events”) can ruin a persons credit report through no fault of their own.

Business Partnerships

Donovan Wadholm — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:16:59 -0400

I meet and work with about 200 entrepreneurs a year who are interested in starting a small business.
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Financial Projecions for a Start-Up

Donovan Wadholm — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:46:06 -0400
Creating financial projections is part art and part science. First, accuracy is a relative term. Nobody would reasonably expect you to forecast sales exactly as they will occur in the future. What is important is coming up with a reasonable range of sales based on 1) your market research of the level of potential demand and 2) your ability to produce or deliver products or services to the client.

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