Welcome to the Big Bad Business Blog!
In this series, I will offer advice and resources that I have discovered on my journey of entrepreneurship to help you start, grow, organize, and promote your creative business. We will discuss a range of business-related topics including, but not limited to, the following:
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> How to write a business plan
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> Branding and market research
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> Business banking & expense tracking
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> Securing capital for your entrepreneurial adventure
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> Teambuilding & hiring employees
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> Pricing strategies
Every business begins with a great idea. And questions, there are so many questions. Here are a few to ask yourself when becoming an entrepreneur, especially in the creative realm of Lafayette County. These ideas can apply to any community of any size in any location. This advice is not limited to Oxford and Lafayette County!
VIABLE
--Does your business have what it takes to become a real and profitable business?
LOCAL
--Can your business or idea be developed and grown in/around Lafayette County?
SUSTAINABLE
--Is your business idea sellable with potential for repeat sales and growth?
Once you’re ready to get down to business, there are many things to consider.
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> How do I get started? Do I need a name, tax ID, licenses, and registration?
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> Should I consult with an attorney or accountant?
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> How does my online presence or physical location look?
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> What is my company culture?
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> How do I reconcile my accounts and balance my checkbook?
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> What is a Federal Employment Identification Number?
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> How do I conduct market research?
The steps forward to getting your business off the ground can be overwhelming, I know. Growing and maintaining a business can hit road bumps on the way to success. Hopefully, this will serve as a guide you can apply to your business.
My plan for this guidebook is to offer information, resources, and research that you can use and apply to your business or idea. I will cover many topics over the next few months. I will be speaking with local artists, experts, and entrepreneurs for their stories. I hope that their experience will resonate with you, and any advice or knowledge they offer will help you on your path to entrepreneurship. I will include links to articles or websites that I find to be helpful. Essentially, I will be your researcher for all things entrepreneurial and business-related. Feel free to reach out to me at the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council or via email--
I’m excited that you are on this journey! Follow along for weekly information dumps, reference links, and more! Thank you for joining me on this path to entrepreneurship!
--Andrea Drummond