Advice on Starting a Business Writing a Business Plan, Section by Section Are you starting a business? Advice for small businesses on what it takes to create a solid business plan, including forming an outline, forecasting credible financial information, and establishing a marketing strategy. Business Plans by the Numbers When writing a business plan, here's how to run the numbers that matter without getting hung-up on those that don't. How to Choose the Right Legal Structure S Corp, C Corp, or LLC? How to Set Up a Website Want to create a terrific website without spending a fortune? How to Pitch Angel Investors Obtaining capital can be one of the trickier aspects when it comes to starting a business. How to Hire Your First Employee Your business is growing so fast that soon you'll be not only your own boss, but someone else's as well. How to Set Prices Pricing is easily one of the trickiest aspects of starting a business. How to Write a Memorable Slogan How to Choose an Accountant How to Conduct Initial Market Research
Farm Business Planning Business planning is key to beginning farmer success. It helps beginning farmers: Plan for the economic sustainability of a new farm enterprise;Obtain funding to purchase land, equipment and other resources from lending institutions, investors and/or grant making agencies; andArticulate what their farm will look like. On this page, we compiled free resources to help you understand what a formal business plan is, and how to start planning your farm business. Developing a Farm Business PlanEnterprise Budgeting Enterprise budget resources are included on this page because such tools are usually essential to develop your business plan. 1. A business plan is a decision making tool that takes the form of a formal document. Do I need a Business Plan for my Farm? AgPlan from the University of Minnesota helps rural business owners develop a business plan for free, while also offering sample business plans for ideas, and a way to print or download your plan. Starting an Ag-Business? U.S. 2.
1% for the Planet | Home Follow These 10 Steps to Starting a Business Starting a business involves planning, making key financial decisions and completing a series of legal activities. These 10 easy steps can help you plan, prepare and manage your business. Click on the links to learn more. Step 1: Write a Business Plan Use these tools and resources to create a business plan. Step 2: Get Business Assistance and Training Take advantage of free training and counseling services, from preparing a business plan and securing financing, to expanding or relocating a business. Step 3: Choose a Business Location Get advice on how to select a customer-friendly location and comply with zoning laws. Step 4: Finance Your Business Find government backed loans, venture capital and research grants to help you get started. Step 5: Determine the Legal Structure of Your Business Decide which form of ownership is best for you: sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), corporation, S corporation, nonprofit or cooperative. Step 7: Get a Tax Identification Number
Business Plans The business plan is a critical step in the development of a successful value-added business. It is a “blueprint” of how you are going to implement your ideas and create a viable business or business expansion. Although a business plan may be important for raising capital (or other purposes), the primary value of the business plan is for you, the founder(s) of the business. Writing the business plan will force you to think through issues of how you are going to create a successful business or business expansion. AgMRC has prepared several informational pieces to help you through the business planning process. Below are sample business plans of value-added businesses. More information on business planning is presented in the box at the right.
Form an LLC: Which state should I form in? - MyLLC.com, Inc. Wyoming is most famous for its national parks, geysers, expansive prairies and cheap land, but this state is always ready to lead the pack when it comes to business issues. It’s a wonder that it hasn’t exploded yet, but just wait…it will happen. Wyoming is also a tax haven and has many of the same benefits that Nevada has - including no business or franchise taxes of any sort. Officers are also allowed to maintain their privacy and remain anonymous, like in Nevada. But there’s more! One of the advantages that Wyoming offers that Nevada doesn’t is that it allows for what is called a “lifetime proxy.” Wyoming isn’t as popular as Nevada and I am not certain for the exact reason; however I have a sneaking suspicion that Las Vegas, “The Entertainment Capital of the World” has something to do with it.
What Does It Take to Run a Business? Are you smart enough? Are you tough enough? Are you brave enough? Are you stupid enough? If you do fail, what will it take to succeed at a second business attempt? You can’t really tell at the beginning whether someone will be successful with a start-up. When I started my first business, a couple former bosses made comments on my prospects. Was I lucky? Looking back, my prospects weren’t good. When I started my second business, everything had changed. I failed in six months. Start another business, of course. So what does it take to succeed in a business start-up? There are a couple things I’ve learned over the years.
Does It Make Financial Sense? | Northeast Beginning Farmer Project How Profitable Will it Be? Now that the list has been narrowed down, it is time to see if the enterprises that have been chosen meet the financial goals you have in mind. It’s also important to realize that how you farm is as relevant to profitability as what you grow. Even farmers who all grow the same thing will experience a wide range in profitability depending on their efficiency, markets, scale, and expenses. A report called Grower to Grower: Creating a Livelihood on a Fresh-Market Vegetable Farm from the Univ. of Wisconsin illustrates this idea. Perhaps the most difficult part of getting started in farming is putting together a realistic budget for your new enterprise(s). So what to do? First, you need to know what your farm’s fixed costs are: mortgage, taxes, insurance, and depreciation on buildings. Develop Your Own Enterprise Budget Enterprise Budgets Online More info to help you with budgets: Johnny’s Select Seeds has some nice tools to help you with calculating seed needs.
Incorporate Online | Online Business Incorporation Services There are many Online Incorporation sites that offer differing degrees of incorporation service. Many offer Articles of Incorporation forms and templates for a set fee. However, these forms and templates are just part of the incorporation process. They will also address what matters you need to deal with once incorporation is complete. Incorporate Online Today with one of our recommended specialists below: Business Incorporation Services MyCorporation.com MyCorporation.com have formed over 100,000 corporations and LLCs and could incorporate your business in as little as 48 hours. Their service package is comprehensive, and veryhighly recommended. Corporate Creations Founded in 1993, Corporate Creations is a leading provider of incorporation services, corporate document filing and retrieval services, independent director services and registered agent services nationwide and offshore. Legal Zoom Save time and money on common legal matters!
Startup How-To Guides Quitting your job to launch your own business can be a hard pill for your company to swallow, particularly if your company is in the same industry. Here's some advice. Laying the Startup Groundwork Starting your own business is not just about having a dream. There are real steps to ensure your business a successful start. So what are all of the things you should consider when launching your new brainchild? Planning for a Successful Start The old adage goes: failure to plan is a plan for failure. Raising Capital You've got the idea and you've got a plan. Establishing Your Image You may have a great idea, product or superior service, but have you thought about what image your startup will take on? Finding Customers Without customers, it doesn't matter how great your product is, how well you branded you are, or how well funded your start-up is. More Startup How-To Guides How to Start a Foundation BY Gwen Moran An Introduction to Business Plans
Sustainable Agriculture If you like your produce organic, you're not alone. There's a healthy market for products grown without the aid of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides. But how can farmers deliver top-quality food without these tools? As a student of sustainable agriculture, you'll learn to see agriculture as a partnership with nature. You’ll study earth-friendly techniques like crop rotation -- planting different crops in the same field during different growing seasons. The right combination of crops can have all sorts of benefits. Students of sustainable agriculture learn the concepts and techniques they need to practice and promote farming that is environmentally sound as well as profitable. Did You Know? In the , only farmers who follow strict USDA guidelines earn the right to label their products "organic." Are You Ready To...? It Helps To Be... College Checklist Should you apply directly to the school of agriculture? Course Spotlight Which colleges offer a major in Sustainable Agriculture?
“Slugging it out:” Building A Consulting Firm in a New MarketScoop According to small business consultant Elynn Fish (and almost every business owner out there), “slugging it out” as a small firm in a new market isn’t easy. Some of the most important things in building a consulting firm include getting and keeping clients, creating cash flow, and convincing your prospects that they need your services. Last Thursday in the grand return of #scoopitchat, I teamed up with Elynn to discuss some best practices for developing a small consulting business in a digital world. Some key takeaways include: 1. Have passion for what you do, and be willing to take action on that passion.Don’t only work hard; work smart as well.Pace your growth. 2. Have proof of skills, build credibility, engage targeted areas. 3. 4. Help them identify the gap – where are they now vs. where they could be with your services.Share case studies and previous clients’ outcomes. 5. 6. Don’t try to be perfect. Miss this week’s chat?