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Startup is the first step in small business entrepreneurship. Though fraught with details and perils, there are plenty of resources to help you succeed. See some we’ve collected as a starting point below.

Intro

Startups are getting easier. First thing’s first. A study by small business innovator Intuit 20 Trends That Will Shape the Next Decade suggests that, if you think small businesses are cheap and easy to start now, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Follow along as Small Business Trends founder Anita Campbell reviews some of the other key findings about what kind of economy these new business will operate in. Will one of them be yours? Open Forum Innovation

Business Plan

The perfect business plan is not always about format. To create a plan that will not only capture the interest of investors but also serve as a road map for your company, here are eight tips that should provide invaluable guidance when creating a successful venture and when helping it grow. Noobpreneur

Business consultant Scott Kopelchuk thinks business planning gets a bad rap. He’s probably right. There’s a growing concern that the classic business plan has become strongly criticized for unrealistic forecasts and predictions. But that doesn’t mean there’s no point in planning ahead. Abonar’s Blog

One more look at comprehensive planning. And we do mean comprehensive. John Wheeler starts with a practical planning guide and then moves on to the value in having a plan and a list of business goals and income goals. We saved this link for last because it is some of the most detailed information we’ve seen recently on the Web about what’s needed. Enjoy! BizNetCentral

Financing

Best advice when seeking investors. It may seem a bit obvious to start a conversation about funding for your business with a caution that you should only ask for money when you absolutely need it. After all, who would approach investors seeking funds they didn’t really need to get their business up and running? But there-in lies the problem, as Tony Johnston explains. Biz Money Matters

When your business needs no investors at all. On the other hand, Marty Zwilling gives us a birds-eye view of an emerging business type many of us are already aware of: the microbusiness. Owner operated, with five or fewer employees and a low, low startup cost, these businesses are for DIY entrepreneurs but on the plus side are contributing mightily to economy. No investors needed. Startup Professionals Musings

Marketing

Know how to read your marketing results. Make sure to determine from the beginning how to read your marketing results. Figure out how to determine whether or not your marketing efforts are effective. When starting a new business, marketing must be a huge part of your consideration. Be sure early on how to determine whether your marketing is succeeding. M4B Marketing

Start a business blog. In fact, this is not only a form of marketing but of networking as well. Don’t keep your new startup a secret. Announce it to the world. You may be surprised by the number of partners, suppliers or customers who may respond. The first step, says blogger Jimi Jones in this guest post, is to find your voice. Basic Blog Tips

Innovation

Why the best product doesn’t always win. Ken Kauffman argues that if the innovation of your product isn’t enough to win customers away from your competitor, than it’s time to go back to the category above: marketing. An important thing to consider, however, is that good marketing should adequately communicate the innovation of your product. The question is, do customers really care? In the end, Ken’s most important advice is to solve the customer’s problem. That’s the innovation they want. CFO Wise

Innovating like Edison. Whether you are starting a new business or breathing new life into an old one, innovation is the key fueled by creativity. But what if the creative juices just aren’t flowing? Are the innovative serial entrepreneurs launching one company after another really so different or can we jump start our creative spark and open our minds diliberately to innovation. Open Forum Innovation

From Small Business Trends

Small Business News: Startup Step-By-Step

View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends