Successfully start your business

When an entrepreneur first decides to look at business ownership, it generally sets off a series of complex and confusing questions as well as an emotional roller coaster. The complex and confusing questions include…Will I buy an existing business? If it’s existing it’s already an existing business it should be established and therefore come with less risk. What about buying a franchise, that may be easier as I then have the franchisor to help me? How about I start my own business, I can then do it my way? If I start my own business, what will I do and will it be successful? The bottom line is that it’s already pretty confusing and hard to decide.

Because business ownership has three different paths we can take, this workbook is built for one purpose only and that is to help a business owner who is considering starting their own business. Lots of would-be entrepreneurs go down this path. Many stop before they really get going for many reasons, while many start but don’t conclude the journey as they run out of time, money, enthusiasm or all of these reasons combined, or for other reasons. A separate workbook is available on buying an existing business and is called Successfully Buy Your Business: Expert Advice from a Business Broker. If your decision is made to buy a franchise then please look for my workbook called Successfully Buy Your Franchise: Expert Advice from a Business Broker.

If this workbook has one purpose it has two goals. The first goal is to outline and inform about the different tasks and questions a business owner starting from scratch will have to make as they move through the decision making process. The second and most important goal is to encourage the business owner starting their business from scratch to make all decisions that at any time during the ownership, management and operation of their business, the business they are building should be ready for immediate sale to a motivated buyer. Perhaps I can hear you gasp – that doesn’t make much sense, but obviously I beg to differ. And let me explain why. I think most would agree that we go into business to make money. The money allows us to live our lifestyle and follow our dreams. No argument from me there. It’s my suggestion, based on my experience as a 5 time business owner and as a business broker, that you will get more money for your business if you discipline yourself to operate the business and have it always “buyer ready” than try to sell the business when it suits you. I see too many business owners trying to exit business ownership when the economy is declining or they have health, family, personal, employee problems etc, and so the final price they get from the business is much less.

The inspiration for this guide comes from my personal experiences in buying, selling, owning and operating five businesses in two countries, researching many, many different types of businesses, and my current experience as a business consultant/broker to those that wish to exit or enter business ownership. I wish someone had given me some organized structure to tackle this difficult experience as I have had to learn it the hard way. Now my goal is to help make that journey easier for you. For more information visit my website at http://www.RogersonBusinessServices.com