| Success... all you need is one sound idea and a plan for | | | | purposely systematized so the business can be sold |
| its achievement. Let's take a closer look at planning | | | | as franchises. The angle being that it is better to have |
| and how it ties together with organization and control. | | | | 10% of what 100 people can do then 100% of what |
| Having a business plan, even a simple one, is the most | | | | you can do. This fact alone is worth taking the time to |
| critical element of the startup of a small business of | | | | plan your business from the beginning to "systematize" |
| any kind. Planning helps you look more closely at the | | | | every element of operation when it is starting up or a |
| legal, financial, management, marketing and selling | | | | very small enterprise. Systematize it from the ground |
| issues confronting you. It answers the fundamental | | | | up! If you already have a business, think "systems".If |
| questions of what product or service will you offer | | | | you are thinking about starting a small business, |
| and how are you going to market and sell it. | | | | contact your Secretary of State and ask for a small |
| Developing a plan is an important indicator of your | | | | business start up kit, they are free and offer guidance |
| ability to operate a small business. It takes careful | | | | to planning and ensuring legal operation with local, state |
| thought, discipline, time and energy to think through your | | | | and federal agencies. You can also contact the Small |
| business idea.Doing so will help you understand and | | | | business Administration at SBA Answer Desk 6302 |
| control each step of each action you take as you | | | | Fairview Road, Suite 300 Charlotte, North Carolina |
| assemble your business for operation. A typewritten | | | | 28210 or by phone 1-800-U-ASK-SBA |
| plan represents your understanding of your business | | | | (1-800-827-5722) Or Online: The SBA has a ton of |
| and your market and helps organize and control the | | | | free publications on every area of business planning to |
| project. You have two possible states of attitude and | | | | help you succeed as well as contact information to |
| operation: Either control or chaos. Let me give an | | | | Small Business Development Corporations (SBDC's) |
| example; can you make a better quality burger at | | | | And Small Business Investment Centers |
| home than a fast food burger? Of course you can! | | | | (SBIC's).Copyright © 2006 |
| But, the fast food industry sells billions of burgers and | | | | James W. Hart, IV |
| you probably don't sell any right? You can make a | | | | All Rights reservedJames W. Hart, IV, a consumer |
| better burger but they sell billions of inferior | | | | advocate and CEO of Smart Books Publishing, has |
| burgers...why? Because the fast food industry has a | | | | been involved in the field of residential and commercial |
| "plan" to make hamburgers with "controls" to | | | | real estate mortgage financing since 1987. Hart, |
| systematically produce hamburgers of consistent | | | | previously licensed to engage in the sale of real estate |
| quality and characteristics which are delivered to the | | | | in the state of Ohio, has been directly involved in the |
| public again and again. That is, they have a "highly | | | | origination of residential and commercial mortgage |
| controlled" production and selling system. The key to | | | | financing and has worked with residential and |
| any business success is planning, systemization and | | | | commercial mortgage lenders, large commercial |
| control. That is the success behind franchises...a | | | | mortgage banking firms and life insurance companies |
| proven system of operation.Can you imagine how | | | | for financing. Hart is an honorably discharged veteran |
| much harder you will work if your business is started | | | | of the U.S. Army, graduate of the University of Toledo |
| and operated by chaos? Would you buy a franchise | | | | and graduate of the Cleveland Institute of electronics. |
| that sold chaos? Even the smallest business, a | | | | He is a member of the National Panel of Consumer |
| cake-making business for example, needs systems | | | | Arbitrators and the Council of Better Business Bureaus, |
| and controls. Which raises another point: Many | | | | Inc. During 1992/93 Mr. Hart appeared on a number of |
| franchises start off as a small business, which is | | | | radio and TV stations throughout the U.S. |