Is it better to buy a mature business, or start one from the ground up? How do you determine whether a startup is feasible, or whether an ongoing business has any life left in it? What is the research and planning process? How do you fund such a project? What are the organizational steps in achieving your goal? How long does it take? What are the pitfalls in each step? Who do you turn to for answers? Our experience is fully engaged throughout the US and beyond, and as an example, we have just finished a research project in Cuba. We can help you in answering each of these critical questions. Our goal is to cut to the quick and not waste anyone's time, money or effort.
A great concept is to trust no one! But it depends on your idea, as to what can be stolen and how to safeguard it. We are dealing with an extremely delicate situation right now, where we are selling the "concept", without giving away the technical details that would compromise the sensitive information. If your concept is that sensitive, I would get an attorney to provide you with a Non-Disclosure/Non-Compete Agreement for your consultant to sign, before sharing information with him/her. Contact us for further clarification, if you wish.
VCs invest in startups with extreme rarity. Unless the business is already churning Revenue and preferably Profit, VCs are simply not interested. We deal with them on a regular basis, and their criterion is extremely tight. Startups can be difficult to pinpoint as to demand, price points and anticipated growth. They are far riskier than banking on mature operations that have patterns for much of these issues already in historical place and simply need capital to make they grow wider and faster. Startups suggest risk, and VCs are risk adverse - as are banks and other institutional lenders. The tools to use in dealing with investors of any kind for a startup tend to be based on market conditions from competitors and general industry research. Trade organizations are often great sources for this kind of data. Size of the market, growth patterns, industry forecasts, margins and profit percentages can frequently be found in these areas. And markets can change quickly and frequently, so monitoring these sources on an ongoing basis is crucial. We are doing two (2) research projects right now, and it is exciting and tedious, all in the same breath. If we can help, let us know.
As a Business Broker, the first thing you would want to do is to try to connect with others that may have used Brokers' services. Find out who is successful and who is responsive to your particular need. The biggest is not necessarily the best. Depending upon your particular Company, you could get lost, in a larger Brokerage. And depending upon the type of business you have, you may want to deal with the closest Broker you can find, rather than someone out of state. But again, that depends on the type of business you have and whether Buyers from outside of the area would be open to acquiring your Company, or may even be better for your type of operation.