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Category Archives: Financial Models
I really enjoy reading Jason Fried’s articles in Inc. Magazine. It is truly refreshing to read a fresh approach to business that is rooted in customers and products. Recently Jason wrote about hiring an administrative assistant. At first blush … Continue reading
The law and advertising, beware!
About 15 years ago my company learned some hard lessons about the law and advertising. We said something in our ad that we should not have said. It turns out there is something called the Lanham act that allows competitors … Continue reading
Make it better or shut it down – Keeping your focus
I am a big fan of Jason Fried of 37Signals. I think what they have accomplished is not only amazing but sets a model for others to pursue. Recently Jason wrote a post for Inc. Magazine titled “Walking Away From … Continue reading
Posted in Financial Models
Tagged 37signals, Business, Business model, Business plan, Cash flow, Chicago, Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Finance, financial model, Financial plan, financing your start-up, Free Cash Flow, Home, Jason, Marketing, Marketing and Advertising, Planning, Revenue, Ruby on Rails, Small business, Start-up, Startup company, Twitter, Value proposition
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Naming your product
Many of my clients are creating a new product. Some of these clients are brand new companies and others are existing service providers who have recently developed a product. When you are a brand new company no matter what … Continue reading
Posted in Financial Models
Tagged Business, Business plan, Business Services, Cash flow, Company, Customer, Customer Management, Entrepreneur, Finance, financial model, Financial plan, financing your start-up, Free Cash Flow, Investment, Marketing, Marketing and Advertising, Marketing plan, Models, Planning, Revenue, Service provider, Small business, Start-up, startup, Startup company, Value proposition
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Negotiations in business – practice, practice, practice
Doing business is a series of negotiations. From the moment you plan to start a business to serving your customer, you find yourself negotiating. For most people negotiations brings to mind price, but there are many other areas … Continue reading
Posted in Financial Models
Tagged Business, Business plan, Businessperson, Cash flow, Customer, Customer Service, Entrepreneur, Extended warranty, Finance, Financial plan, financing your start-up, Marketing, Marketing and Advertising, Negotiation, Planning, Price, Revenue, Service provider, Small business, Start-up, startup, Startup company, Value proposition
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What is an angel investor?
Following the launch of the Plains Angels this week, I have had several people ask me what an Angel Investor is. According to the Angel Capital Association: An angel is a high net-worth individual who invests his or her own … Continue reading
Posted in Financial Models
Tagged Angel Capital Association, Angel investor, Angelsoft, Business, Business model, Business plan, Cash flow, Entrepreneur, Executive summary, Finance, financial model, Financial plan, financing your start-up, Investment, Investor, Planning, Revenue, Small business, Start-up, startup, Startup company, Venture capital
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Partnerships – a guaranteed divorce
Many of the clients I advise are in partnerships. It is a common situation. Two or more people get together to solve a problem and the next thing you know a partnership is born. If you listen to the first-time … Continue reading
Posted in Financial Models
Tagged Articles of Partnership, Business, Business plan, Consulting, Entrepreneur, Finance, Financial plan, financing your start-up, Free Cash Flow, Investment, Marketing, Marketing and Advertising, Marketing plan, Planning, Small business, Start-up, Startup company, Value proposition
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Let go or be dragged
So the other day I was getting ready for yoga class when one of my classmates told us about something she saw on Facebook. Someone, I do not know who, posted “Let Go or Be Dragged” on their … Continue reading
Posted in Financial Models
Tagged Business, Business model, Business plan, Cash flow, Employment, Entrepreneur, Executive summary, Expense, financing your start-up, Investment, Marketing, Marketing and Advertising, Marketing plan, Planning, Revenue, Small business, Startup company, Value proposition
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How do I tell you…?
Dear Small Business Owner, How do I tell you? How do I tell you that the tops of all the napkin holders in your restaurant are covered in dried, crusted food? How do I tell you that your email is … Continue reading
Mentors: Why, who, when, and what next
Mentors play an important role in business. Most successful business people I know will attribute some of their success to having good mentors. So what makes for a good mentor? Well, it depends on you. First you have to decide … Continue reading
The business sayings of my father
I grew up the son of an entrepreneur. My father was Bill Colwell. For anyone who was in Waterloo, Iowa in the early 70s you could not miss him. He ran TV commercials on channel 7 every night for Schukei … Continue reading
The paradox of a new idea
Recently I drove by a closed restaurant. It had been a steakhouse most recently. I thought about how tough it would be to compete against the other steak houses in the area and wondered if that was why it … Continue reading
Posted in Financial Models
Tagged Accountancy, Business, Business model, Business plan, Entrepreneur, Finance, financial model, Financial plan, financing your start-up, German, German language, Groupon, Marketing, Marketing and Advertising, Marketing plan, Planning, Restaurant, Small business, Startup company, Steakhouse, Value proposition, Wikipedia, Yahoo
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Do not compete on price, unless…
There was an interesting article about a new start-up company called AutoSlash in the New York Times this past weekend. AutoSlash says they will get you the best price on a car rental by constantly checking for better deals even … Continue reading
Posted in Financial Models
Tagged Business, Business model, Business plan, Car rental, Cash flow, Customer, Entrepreneur, Finance, financial model, financing your start-up, Hertz, Marketing, Marketing and Advertising, New York Times, Planning, Revenue, Small business, Startup company, Transportation, United States, Value proposition, Walgreens
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What can we learn from the Komen Foundation polarization
In the aftermath of the controversy surrounding the Susan B. Komen foundation decision and the reversal of the same decision, perhaps the best thing we can all do is learn from the situation. Regardless of the side you might … Continue reading
So, whos ready to step up to the next level?
Growing a business quickly requires that you can bring new employees into your business and bring them up to speed in their tasks. Too often, bringing a new person on requires one of your best employees to take precious time … Continue reading