Business Bricks

Neil Watson says:
Keep it simple. Complexity, if it’s ever needed, can come later.
Eight steps to getting things done: 1. Many things are simple 2. Know what you are trying to do 3. There is always a sequence of events 4. Things don’t get done if people don’t do them 5. Things rarely turn out as expected 6. Things either are or they aren’t 7. Look at things from others’ points of view 8. Get things done in the shortest possible time
Taken from Simply Brilliant by Fergus O’Connell.
by Neil Watson on 17 Jan

Andy Bell says:
Don’t worry about a business plan (unless you are doing something horribly complex like selling a product). Get out there and get selling (Point 3 of this article)
by Andy Bell on 17 Jan

Bryan Hay says:
A great idea. As someone who is in “pre-startup” mode (if such a thing exists), I am probably the ideal customer for a book like this. What I’d love to see is practical advice (from people who have done it successfully) on what must be done, what should be done, what can be put off till later, and what can be avoided altogether. There’s so much information out there these days that it’s very easy to become confused, so prioritising advice and keeping it simple would be a real selling point for me. My other suggestion would be to separate out clearly the links to advice from the links to people with products and services who can help. I need both, but not at the same time. Once I’ve decided what I need to do, having access to a well defined list of potential help (where to get things done) would be brilliant.
by Bryan Hay on 17 Jan

Ray Backler says:
Stick to the project. It is easy to get side tracked (like me answering this!). Ask yourself if you are selling something, whether your actions will help sell more boxes (if it’s in a box that is). There are many things to do when setting up a business and some are essential. Guidance on knowing what to do and what not to do would be useful. Just remember that as a start up, you are someone else’s sales opportunity (and you may not need what they are selling until much later).
by Ray Backler on 17 Jan

Barry says:
Preparation has its limitations - know when to just “get things done”.
Focus.
Make decisions based on customer requirements not competition movement.
Build SEO into your website design from day 1, don’t leave it as an add-on.
Be different - Provide a service/product that people want to talk about - Word of Mouth is the best value advertising available.
Know your market.
Know your figures.
For any project, forecast the time you think it will take and then times it by 3.
by Barry on 17 Jan

Matt Weston says:
Thanks all above, great words. Just to clear up a few mysteries: [1] This is the fictitious starting point for a nonfiction book I’ll probably never write. [2] Instead I want to evolve a kind of index of the best of what’s in the public domain. [3] What I’m really looking for are more links to essays/ posts/ apps that help you start-up a start-up. Links that can be explained by a max fifteen word headline.
by Matt Weston on 17 Jan

Ian Hoy says:
Beginner’s quickstart to marketing your business
Although this is aimed specifically at technical writing the principles will easily adapt to most businesses.
by Ian Hoy on 17 Jan

Karl Meyer says:
How about “Find a Cash Cow and Milk It”? - we stumbled onto ours (a small plastic horse) and it (and its stablemates) now generate over 30% of our profits! - We never wanted to sell horses but they pay for the business leaving us free to focus on the rest
by Karl Meyer on 17 Jan

Ian Boys says:
Never start a start up that relies on staff. You need to be there every day. Our sandwich shop is going under because I need to be in the Post office down the street.
by Ian Boys on 17 Jan

steve dobson says:
Make the logo smaller, and the idea bigger… Matt, as ever, you hit the nail on the head for finding some quality ideas to help people build their success. Of course, if it’s your own success that you’re after, then you may want to think a little more about how it’s going to make money, if indeed that’s your goal. Building a book like this… with people contributing links to you as an editor… to add to chapters as appropriate is a very smart idea. On the other half of the page, sell the advertising space… pixel by pixel. I might even buy a few myself!
by steve dobson on 17 Jan

Simon Sharman says:
I just read John Osher’s 17 mistakes in your How to start-up a start-up. Over the last year or so of reading your output, I have seen many gems that have been filed away. I am someone who has worked in broadcasting for 10 years, and now decided to go it alone having just set up my own Promotional DVD & Video Company, so these editorials are invaluable. This last one though - 17 mistakes from an old master - is pure gold. Well done for keeping me this interested in Bricks so long. You never cease to amaze…
by Simon Sharman on 18 Jan

Lawrie Stewart says:
35 years in hotels this may help someone.
Not in any particular order.
Do your dead posh SWOT analysis,Business Plan and Cashflow to get your loan.
Then do it again realistically for your business, set time related targets.
1. Don’t believe the P&L you get from the agent, figures have been juggled to make it look as good as possible.
2. Visit the business as much as possible at different times with different people to get different views.
3. Pay attention to staffing levels, how much work they are doing and ask pertinent questions discreetly.
4. Your costs will always be higher x2 than anticipated.
5. Get a good structural survey.(it costs money but you will not regret it) any problems? get a reduction on the price or walk away.
6. When you view, search every nook and cranny and ask questions (list beforehand) then view again and ask more. Don’t be shy it’s your future.
7. Ask at the PO the local shop, the pub down the road. Get as much local info as possible there is never too much, the seller won’t volunteer info about factories closing or bypasses.
8. Where do your customers come from (1 mile,2,3,5)
Are they regular or once a month, where/how do you get new ones?
9. Remember..Standards are what matter and you are taking over theirs. Can you better? You will have to. Set a timescale for everything and involve staff
10. Be very prepared for twiceas much work as you were expecting and a lot of heartache. Finally cancel all holidays you were expecting.
by Lawrie Stewart on 20 Jan

Bev Toogood says:
Brilliant tips. Here’s something that’s occurred to us after 18 months of trading: despite the fact that we chose this path and had fantasies about how wonderful it would be, sometimes the workload & stress is horrendous and it’s tempting to wonder why you gave up that day job with a reasonable salary (not that it seemed reasonable in those days of course!). Hold on to your dreams and the reasons why you ‘went it alone’ when the going gets tough. Keep being excited and inspired. Oh yes, and definitely cancel all holidays you were expecting.
by Bev Toogood on 4 Feb