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Track 1: Plan and Build the Business
Track 2: Build the Brand
Track 3: Get Found and Get Leads
Track 4: Sell, Deliver and Keep Customers
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Track 1: Plan and Build the Business
Before You Start: What a Business Actually Is
The Business Plan on a Napkin
Product or Service: What Are You Really Selling?
The Business Model on One Page
Validating an Idea Before Spending Money
Market Size for a Normal Small Business
Revenue Models
Knowing Your Competitors
Competitive Positioning: Why Someone Should Choose You
Startup Costs: One-Time Versus Recurring
Fixed, Variable and Semi-Variable Expenses
Revenue Is Not Profit, and Profit Is Not Cash
Gross Margin Versus Net Margin
Pricing From the Numbers Backward
Break-Even: How Many Sales You Need
Unit Economics
Your Business Can Be Profitable and Still Run Out of Money
Building a 12-Month Cash-Flow Forecast
Working Capital and the Cash-Conversion Cycle
Deposits, Payment Terms and Collecting Money Faster
Seasonality and Surviving the Slow Months
Owner Pay Versus Business Money
Building a Cash Reserve
When Borrowing Helps, and When It Hides a Broken Model
Reading a Profit-and-Loss Statement
Understanding a Balance Sheet Without Becoming an Accountant
The Numbers Every Owner Should Watch
The Monthly Financial Review
Choosing a Name (and Making Sure You Can Keep It)
Picking Professionals to Work With
Building Your Outside Team: Attorney, Banker, Insurance Adviser and Tax Professional
Partners, Recruits and Early Hires
Co-Branding and Strategic Alliances
Building Relationships: Vendors, Customers, Other Owners
Your Marketing Budget: The Number Everyone Underestimates
The Owner’s Mindset
The Real Business Plan
The Go/No-Go Decision
Your First 90 Days of Marketing: The Checklist
Start Here
Learn
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Expand
Track 1: Plan and Build the Business
Track 2: Build the Brand
Track 3: Get Found and Get Leads
Track 4: Sell, Deliver and Keep Customers
Resources
Glossary
Tools We Use
Newsletter
About
Contact
