"The Business Code" by Dan Brown

While there has been a lot of press about interim executives appointed to head large or public corporations, interim executives play a major role for small businesses. Interims often do a better job than the formerly appointed executive. There are many types of interim executive roles ·        To do a very specific job, perhaps a  startup, turnaround or sale, ·        Provisional appointments that may lead to a full-time position, ·        Developing and implementing a business succession plan, and ·        others are simply filling a hole. What sort of person do you want as an interim executive? Good interims are flexible and responsive; they are fast-learners with a broad range of skills; and they are high-energy people, able to put in long hours when needed. Some of the softer features of what makes a successful interim executive often get overlooked when drawing up the profile for the type of person you want. What makes interim executives successful? Thr

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Because most people tend to associate the term “crowdfunding” with platforms like Kickstarter and GoFundMe, many people assume that equity crowdfunding platforms operate just like they do. However, sites like those don’t provide investors with a material return on investment. Equity crowdfunding gives investors the chance to invest in a startup or existing company by purchasing a percentage of ownership of a company that they think has a chance to be successful.   Although restricted to accredited investors only Equity Crowdfunding has grown to an estimated $2.5 billion in equity investment in 2015 with growth expected to double year on year. At this rate it is projected to surpass Angel and Venture Capital funding in 2016 . Equity Crowdfunding offers several investment and finance instruments.   InfiniumInsights is now a Business Sponsor for EquityNet, one of the largest equity crowdfunding sites. Sponsored deals fund faster. We also provide coaching to optimize your analysis re

Nine out of ten investor groups and lenders say the majority of business plans they receive do not provide the information needed to match their funding criteria. Too often boiler plate or plans using a general template are submitted. Many make the mistake of viewing a business plan as nothing more than a creative writing exercise that can be completed in a few days; a one-time document or something to be done cheaply and quickly to attach to a loan application or give to potential investors. res ipsa loquitur (Latin for "the thing itself speaks") ... the "facts speak for themselves." A Small Business Administration (SBA) study revealed that the degree of business success is proportionately related to how comprehensive and detailed the business plan. The number one reason businesses fail is lack of capital. I maintain lack of capital is experienced due to poor or insufficient business planning. A US Bank study of failed businesses determined the num

Raising Money For Your Small Business An overview of Small Business Funding Options is now available on Amazon

“The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.” Oliver Wendell Holmes Wells Fargo’s in depth study of business turnarounds concluded “all turnaround situations could have been avoided if timely corrective action had been taken.”   What is pre-turnaround?   Pre-turnaround is an integrated comprehensive action ensuring internal consistency, by reshaping strategy, financial aspects, organization and operations to transform a business to realize its strategy and vision and avert turnaround status. A pre-turnaround program is company-wide and touches every aspect of the company. Contrary to common misconceptions, pre-turnaround does not always involve employee and expense cuts. If pre-turnaround initiatives are implemented early enough objectives can often be attained through restructure and re-direction to increase revenues and efficiencies.   Pre-turnaround not only focuses on what to change, it also focus

While there are many lists available as to why you should have a business plan there are basic reasons you need a business plan: To get a loan for your business. Banks, the SBA, and investors all require a business plan. I’ve never heard of anyone getting a business loan without a business plan. To get investors. VC’s, Angels, and private investors all require a business plan. I’ve never heard of anyone receiving an investment without a business plan. A road map to run and grow your business A proper business plan will define operational and growth milestones. Your business plan should set out the “road map” for you to follow to business success. Your plan allows you to make sure everyone is on the same page and be proactive in response to market changes. The old adage still applies, “the only people who need a business plan are people starting a business, people buying a business, people selling a business, people who own a business. If you are thinking about or in bus

I am often asked what is the value of my business or how much ownership do I have to give up. Too often a potential client insists their business is worth millions and investors would be falling over themselves to rush to give the business owner millions for a few percent ownership. There are thousands of pages written about how to value a startup or pre-revenue company. Before proceeding with yet another page on how to value your startup I’ll give you the simple answer. A business, like anything, is worth what someone is willing to pay. For owners valuing their business is often an emotional exercise. For investors it is a logical exercise in math. Each business sector has an accepted multiple to set the value for companies generating revenue and profits. Depending on your sector the multiple is either times revenue, EBITDA, or profit. E.g. at 3 times revenue, if you have $1 million in revenue your business is worth $3 million. If you have revenue and no profits usually the

Too often I am contacted by people who mistakenly believe that a “great idea” means people will want to give them money to start their business. Reality check: if you have no money to assist with your fund raising or crowdfunding campaign then it’s probably best that you don’t even try. You need money for a comprehensive investor or lender-centric business plan, executive summary, and pitch deck, for  lawyers, for accountants, for marketing, for assistance with your offering terms, for more marketing, for due diligence costs, for escrow fees (if applicable), for offering transaction fees, for regulatory filing fees, and for more marketing. You may have the coolest thing in the world, but nobody works for free and you’ll only get what you pay for in terms of services and quality. Many are under the misconception that you can raise lots of money by simply posting your deal on a crowdfunding site. The key to successful crowdfunding is marketing your offering. The keys are basi