Business Outline
Blog Outline:
- Location, Location, Location! Choosing a location is critical to the success of a business. This section will focus on ways to find or rule out locations based on common knowledge about the self service dog wash customer, the economy and the competition.
- Writing a Business Plan! Business plans may seem long and tedious, but they are great tools to keep you focused, watch for pit falls and work towards long term goals.
- Check with the City/County! Rules and regulations are just the first hurdle in setting up a business, but they are the biggest by far! This section will give you useful hints and tips on where to go, what to say and how to handle problems.
- Starting a Business! Going in to business is not just hanging a shingle out, these days the local and state government will require you to apply to be a business and choose a structure for your company. We will always refer you to legal counsel, but we will share what we did and how it worked for and against us.
- Floor Plans! How do you draw up a floor plan? What difference does a good floor plan make? Making the most of your rental/lease dollar! What are leases and how should you handle them?
- Design! Get creative, this is where you're ideas come to life! Bring character and personality to your business and make it shine. We'll discuss colors, signs and customer needs because a shingle can bring them in, but it's the experience that makes them long term customers!
- Equipment & Supplies! Starting a new business means shopping for equipment and supplies from different supplier than the average consumer is used to. As a business owner you will be contacting wholesalers, manufacturers and other professional services. Where to start and how to find them is not always the easiest task.
- Estimates & Budgets! Even the best designer doesn't want to waste money on expensive decorations that don't make sense. This is a key area where new business owners go over board and find they are too broke to even open the doors! Don't get caught in this trap, we'll make it easy to see what is necessary and what is not!
- Construction Begins! You haven't even open the doors, but you should be keeping a close eye on your time line, handling minor issues and sticking to your budget. Be flexible enough to change some items, but know when to hold your ground on others.
- Open = Marketing! This process can start as soon as you sign the lease, but in a business savvy town, it might be prudent to "surprise" all those potential competitors who are still "looking" into the business. A surprise successful opening can thwart potential competitors into choosing another town all together!
- Success! The Ability To Change, Adapt, Satisfy Customers and Grow all at the same time! It's a balancing act that rewards those who do it well and can ruin those who can't.
- Money! Money matters, because no matter how many customers you have, if your bank account isn't growing, neither are you! We'll take a look at daily operations, monthly budgeting, expansion and lastly the all elusive profit! Believe it or not some business survivor for years but never see a profit. Our dog wash and daycare boasted revenues in excess of $300,000! That was the positive view, but in reality with 14 employees, $10,000 in rent and other expenses we paid out $270,000 in expenses! That leaves us with $30,000/yr. in take home pay, which was barely enough to survive on! Planning ahead and making wise monetary decision can put cash in your pockets quickly and a long term nest egg to look forward too!
