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Huge Free Exposure With a Sweepstakes
Offering potential customers a chance to win a prize, gives them a powerful incentive to visit a site. Create a non-cash prize, aiming to fulfill their true passion or interest.
By Bruce Scher
When I hear or read the words sweepstakes, I...
My Top Ten Tips For Selling Travel on eBay
Becoming a seller on ebay can be daunting. Becoming a travel seller can be impossible, unless you know the secrets. My tips on selling on eBay can apply to all categories of items, but some steps are unique to selling travel.
The travel...
Persistence is Tops
To take the online road to success is not, contrary to millions of internet and email ads, the short road traveled. There is enormous revenue potential through online channels, predicted to top $8 billion by 2005. We all would like our piece of...
Small Business Ownership and Whole Business Accommodations
Self-employment is never easy, and there are increased challenges when the business owner has disabilities. Business owners with disabilities need to find ways to operate their businesses successful in a competitive environment.
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The Real Truth About Working Smarter, Not Harder
Running a business or department can often stretch you to the limit.
To be effective at doing what you do best, it's imperative to look at what tasks you can either delegate or outsource.
Delegating
This is an interesting word. For some...
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Securing Second- and Third-Round Venture Capital Financing
Widget sales are booming -� the competition is scrambling, demand is up, and the books are finally treading water. Your core management team has big ideas for the future of Widget Inc. Opportunity is abundant; but how will you fund that next big leap?
As your start-up matures, obtaining second- or even third-round funding may allow your business to expand and grow into new opportunities identified after your business was established. If your product or service has proven itself in the marketplace, you may be a candidate for an additional round of funding.
Some possible uses of post start-up funding include:
* Penetration of new markets, either by industry or geographic location
* Development of new products or services that compliment your key lines of business
* Acquisition of competitors, staff and/or facility expansion, or new equipment
Damage Control
If your company is struggling to make ends meet, post start-up financing is not an effective way to address red ink.
Consider other methods of debt management such as refinancing, streamlining systems of production, and bootstrapping before looking for additional funding. Investors will not be interested in extending additional funds to companies that have not yet established themselves firmly in the marketplace.
Identifying Post Start-Up Funding Sources
The best source for post start-up funding may be your original investment partner. However, sometimes asking your investor-partner for additional funds can be a lot like asking your parents for a raise in your allowance. You�re going to have to really prove a need for it, and even then, your original funding source may have woke up on the wrong side of the financial plan.
Should this prove to be the case, there are additional sources to consider, including:
* Lending institutions (banks)
* Venture capital firms
* New private investors
* Other professional service providers
within your core management team
If you developed a list of potential investment partners prior to start-up, renew your contact with these individuals. By telephone or letter, convey the success your product or service has experienced, as well as your purpose for the post start-up funding. With a solid track record in hand, you may be surprised to find how many potential second-round investment partners you have.
In addition, you�ll be in a stronger position during the negotiation process, meaning you won�t have to give up as much control to achieve your desired result.
Tips For Maximizing Post Start-Up Funding
* Don�t commingle funds. Avoid falling into the trap of using new funds to level the books. If you obtained additional funding for expansion, do not deviate from the plan. Address any cash flow problems or existing debt service independently from your company�s expansion needs.
* Learn from past mistakes. Undoubtedly, your company�s start-up phase was a learning experience unlike any other. Recall the lessons learned from handling your initial start-up capital. Now that you�ve established a strong working relationship, call in your management team to gather additional opinions on the best way to disburse funds on each project.
* Look for new opportunities along the way. As you implement your expansion plan, be on the lookout for ways to streamline and maximize the results of your efforts. Don�t be afraid to upgrade your plan; remember that your business plan should be a �living� document, able to flex as the status of your market and the general economy change.
About the Author
Jim D. Ray is a seasoned entrepreneur and president of Web Presence, a national web design firm exclusively serving the small business market sector. To learn more, or for a free quote for your own web site, visit the Web Presence web site at: http://www.web-presence.net.
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