Paul Holzschuher ⋅ Lebanon , OH Ohmart/Vega ⋅ 40 years experience

I highly suggest starting a business plan as your road map to take to where to want to be.
While doing the "market" research you may find a better business idea.
Check with your local SBDC office for advice and the service is free.
Thanks,
Paul

Tom Ordonez ⋅ Miami , FL ⋅ 14 years experience

My advice is don't write a business plan and don't hire a lawyer...yet.

I practice the lean startup, which is derived from lean manufacturing. What you need to do first is find out problems (in your market) that you can improve. Once you find a problem to improve. Think of a solution. Identify who is your early adopter, who really needs this solution.

Do you know when Apple releases a new phone and there are people waiting in line overnight to be the first ones to but the product? These are early adopters. They don't care if the solution is perfect but it is good enough a simple solution. After identifying your early adopters, think of the simplest solution possible.

There are a few more steps in this process, which is not the usual 30-page business plan, $5K in lawyers. The lean startup process is how companies are innovating now. If you need more info please let me know. Tom

Lawrence Cruz ⋅ Stamford , CT Chief Patent Counsel - Conair Corporation ⋅ 22 years experience

I am a patent attorney and former US Patent Examiner, starting in 1987. I have advised many people over the years on the very issues you are raising. To the extent it does not conflict with the business of my clients, I would be glad to discuss with you my impressions and share general advice, at no charge. I think I can help you avoid unnecessary spending and effort if we talk soon enough. Send me a private email address to reach you at.
Lawrence Cruz

Dennis Crumb ⋅ Lafayette , CO Crumb & Associates, LLC ⋅ 14 years experience

Hi Ed,

Writing a business plan is the best place to start. It requires you to think through everything it will take to be successful, sales and marketing, accounting, capital investment etc. It is one of the things I help businesses with. I have developed a business plan tutorial and if you give me your email address I would be happy to send it to you. You can email me at dcrumb@crumbandassociates.biz

Thanks
Dennis

Brian Richardson ⋅ Columbus , IN U.S. Army, Sergeant ⋅ 8 years served

Ed,
Did you have a particular area that you need assistance in? I agree with Kendrick that there is a need for lawyers and accountants. But depending on where you are in the process, that might be premature.

If there is any "non-secret" info that you can share here, let us know so we can see how to best help you.

If you prefer, I would be happy to discuss it with you offline as well. You can email be thru my website below. Good luck.

Brian Richardson
www.VetLaunched.com

Kendrick Wells 3 ⋅ Louisville , KY Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation ⋅ 30 years experience

Many entrepreneurs in the initial phase of starting a business have found that the U.S. Small Business Administration, especially its "SCORE" group, is very helpful. SCORE is a group of business people, some retired, who give advice and mentoring to startup and small businesses. Here is the national SCORE web address: https://www.score.org. You can get to local SCORE units from the national site. Second, when you begin you will need a lawyer and probably an account. You will need the lawyer for the legal requirements and, perhaps more important, the lawyer can advise regarding legal protection for your ideas. So, you will be looking for a lawyer who has "intellectual property" experience or is in a firm that does. Third, do not disclose your ideas to anyone who has not given you a written commitment to hold them in confidence.