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For those of you that own a small business, how did you get started?

Posted on 3/15/16 at 8:21 am
Posted by Delacroix
Member since Oct 2008
3992 posts
Posted on 3/15/16 at 8:21 am
I have an idea for an online business that could potentially generate a small supplemental income. However, I have no idea where to start.

Are there any books, websites, blogs, etc., I should read?

Should I get my idea trademarked first? Any advice on what to do/not to do? Literally any advice would be helpful. TIA
Posted by TDsngumbo
Alpha Silverfox
Member since Oct 2011
41895 posts
Posted on 3/15/16 at 1:11 pm to
I'm gonna need to know that idea in order to help.
Posted by Azazello
Member since Sep 2011
3187 posts
Posted on 3/15/16 at 1:16 pm to
All you need here

from a lecture at Stanford Business School
Posted by BeerMoney
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2012
8433 posts
Posted on 3/15/16 at 2:26 pm to
Maybe read Personal MBA
LINK /

I find that people who obsess over trademarks and hiding secrets never actually end up getting their product off the ground. Get the damned thing prototyped and get it making money asap then tweak. That's my 2 cents for what it's worth.(1 cent no doubt)
Posted by Saint5446
Member since Jan 2014
825 posts
Posted on 3/15/16 at 10:06 pm to
Started by doing something in my field that wasn't a conflict of interest to my full time job during my spare time. Did everything on my own at first, including payroll, labor, admin, etc. Boss at full time job took an interest and we ended up partnering on both gigs. Don't waste time trademarking shite like others did, just start doing whatever it is that is going to make money for the business (legally of course.)
Posted by Aristo
Colorado
Member since Jan 2007
13292 posts
Posted on 3/16/16 at 5:26 pm to
My wife and I saved enough money and bought the previous owners out. Let me tell you, it is a headache dealing with local government on your permits, fees, and registrations.
Posted by LSUShock
Kansas
Member since Jun 2014
4925 posts
Posted on 3/16/16 at 5:42 pm to
You really have to just do it. I pulled the trigger a few weeks ago on an app idea I had and we are in the discovery process right now. I was lucky enough to have a close mentor who specialized in app development/generation, but until I made the leap, my idea was worthless. Everyone has ideas, execution is everything.
Posted by Fbohn1
Member since Jun 2009
216 posts
Posted on 3/17/16 at 1:29 pm to
Follow Ramit Sethi - also could join one of his courses, Earn1K or Zero To Launch. Look into it if you're really wanting to follow somebody/have some framework.
Posted by JoseVargasTX
Heath, TX
Member since Sep 2011
720 posts
Posted on 3/17/16 at 1:31 pm to
You get to a point where the passion and want to work for no one else but yourself drives your every moment and you make it happen.
Posted by Giantkiller
the internet.
Member since Sep 2007
20643 posts
Posted on 3/18/16 at 7:58 am to
quote:

For those of you that own a small business, how did you get started?


You need money before you can do anything.
Posted by Iosh
Bureau of Interstellar Immigration
Member since Dec 2012
18941 posts
Posted on 3/18/16 at 12:23 pm to
quote:

Should I get my idea trademarked first?
You trademark a name or a logo, not an idea.

You might be thinking of a patent, but I would advise anyone against trying to patent their "online business" idea. The USPTO has spent the last two years shoveling those into the furnace under Alice v. CLS.
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