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Columns

Read Jerry Colonna's columns
Read Jay Ebben's columns
Read Ridgely Evers' columns
Read Tim Faley's columns
Read Michael Lechter's columns
Read Warren Struhl's columns

The Three Toughest Questions
by Ridgely Evers
Be honest with yourself about your new business to see how it measures up.
(April 2008)
Then a Miracle Occurs...
by Ridgely Evers
An idea, passion and time are 100 percent of what you need to get your start-up off the ground.
(January 2008)
A Primer on Equity Dilution
by Michael Lechter
The concept of dilution is a major factor when deciding on a financing strategy.
(January 2008)
Investors Invest in Management
by Michael Lechter
The team you have in place will figure prominently in an investor's decision to fund your business.
(October 2007)
Be Careful with Provisional Patent Applications
by Michael Lechter
There are reasons why you might want to file a provisional application, but saving money is not one of them.
(July 2007)
Patents as an Incentive
by Michael Lechter
Securing a patent offers an incentive to both inventors and investors.
(June 2007)
Impressing Your Audience
by Michael Lechter
The first step is to find an audience for your great business idea. The second is being sure you make a great first impression.
(March 2007)
The Definition of Success
by Michael Lechter
Convincing risk-averse investors that you have a plan for success, and profits, will help secure financing for your business.
(February 2007)
Keeping It Confidential
by Michael Lechter
Making the most of your intellectual property when seeking investors means making sure it's not compromised.
(January 2007)
Cash In on Your Business's Intellectual Property
by Michael Lechter
Intellectual property assets can be leveraged to fund your business's growth while maintaining a competitive advantage in your industry. Here's how.
(December 2006)
Strategies for Raising Capital
by Michael Lechter
As valuable as a parsing strategy might be when it comes to financing your business, it is not appropriate in every instance.
(November 2006)
Timing Is Everything
by Michael Lechter
How much you seek to raise and when that you raise it can affect both the availability and the price of other people's money (OPM). Timing should be viewed relative to both the stage of development of your business and condition of the market.
(October 2006)
Take a Loan or Share Ownership?
by Michael Lechter
If you have a choice between taking a loan and bringing in equity investors, which should you choose? Here's a look at the risks involved in each type of financing to help you choose the best funding source for your start-up.
(September 2006)
Your Money or OPM?
by Michael Lechter
If you have a choice between self-funding and using OPM, which should you choose? The answer depends upon the circumstances.
(August 2006)
You Don't Need Money to Make Money
by Michael Lechter
Yes, many people say you do. But the simple fact is that you don't need money to start a business.
(July 2006)
Leveraging Other People's Money and Resources
by Michael Lechter
When it comes to raising capital, entrepreneurs often can be anything but entrepreneurial in their thinking. Here's an approach to raising capital that will exercise your entrepreneurial skills while helping you secure the financing you need for your business.
(June 2006)
Growing Your New Venture
by Tim Faley
There are three interrelated areas you should keep top of mind while plotting the growth of your young company.
(February 2006)
Lessons from Kindergarten
by Warren Struhl
The only diploma I've ever hung on any wall is the one I received in kindergarten. It's also the one that I feel gave me the skills necessary to succeed in life -- and in business.
(February 2006)
Creating Your Business Plan
by Tim Faley
Understanding the key questions you must answer before writing your plan will help you write one that not only helps you plead your case to investors, but also creates an operational document your business can live by.
(November 2005)
Is Your Business Idea Feasible?
by Tim Faley
Making a critical evaluation of your business concept at an early stage will allow you to discover, address and correct any fatal flaws before investing time in preparing your business plan.
(October 2005)
Being Laser Focused
by Warren Struhl
Staring a new business can overwhelm you with new opportunities and responsibilities. Here's how to regain some focus during the process to help ensure your business's success.
(September 2005)
The Process of Creation
by Tim Faley
There's no magic 10-step program, but there are steps you can take to help increase your chances of business success.
(August 2005)
Doing Your Homework
by Warren Struhl
Knowledge is indeed power when you're building a new business.
(July 2005)
The Problem with Being First
by Jay Ebben
Customers and investors don't give much credence to the company that touts first-mover advantage. The company that has the right product or service is more likely to catch their attention.
(June 2005)
Working On Your Business Versus Working In Your Business
by Jay Ebben
Understanding the relationship between yourself and the direction of your company can help you develop an effective road map to running your business.
(May 2005)
Managing Risk in a New Venture
by Jay Ebben
You can't get rid of all the risk of starting up a business, but you can certainly take a few steps to mitigate it.
(March 2005)
Developing Effective Vision and Mission Statements
by Jay Ebben
When used properly, vision and mission statements can be very powerful tools, especially for new and small firms.
(February 2005)
Choosing the Right Legal Form
by Jay Ebben
What legal form your business takes can have significant implications on your personal risk in the business as well as your potential for financial returns.
(January 2005)
The Importance of Gross Margin
by Jay Ebben
Gross margin is an extremely important number for every new business to manage, as it impacts your likelihood of breaking even and the profits you earn.
(December 2004)
Telling Your Story
by Jay Ebben
Don't underestimate the importance of a business plan. It's a key part of understanding your business' success factors.
(November 2004)
The Reality of Raising Venture Capital
by Jerry Colonna
An e-mail from a Dallas-based CEO makes Jerry Colonna take a hard, realistic look at the current state of raising venture capital.
(November 2004)
What Makes a Good Opportunity?
by Jay Ebben
Evaluate your business concept using the three "M's" before you start up.
(October 2004)
Firing Is Never Easy
by Jerry Colonna
A startup manager is a jack-of-all-trades -- including Chief Firing Officer. Here are tips for a smooth dismissal.
(September 2004)
Firing Your Board
by Jerry Colonna
In far too many cases, the board is a disaster. Here's how to get rid of one that's failing miserably and how to create on you can really depend on.
(September 2004)
Forget VC Money, Fund Yourself
by Jerry Colonna
Venture capital takes ownership away from you; do you really want to do that?
(August 2004)
How to Get a Good Board
by Jerry Colonna
Here's one tip: Choose your board as if you're choosing your family. Read on for more.
(August 2004)
Secrets to a Solid Growth Strategy
by Jay Ebben
Tip: Not all businesses lend themselves to growth. Read on to find out whether yours should expand or duplicate.
(August 2004)
Pleasing Some of the People All of the Time
by Jay Ebben
Certain customers can be bad for business when their needs take away from your ability to serve others. Here's how to identify them.
(August 2004)
Handling Your VC Prospect
by Jerry Colonna
It's easy to alienate a venture capitalist if you don't know what you're doing. I should know. I used to be one.
(July 2004)
Think Global, Borrow Local
by Jay Ebben
When looking to grow your business, consider a loan from a community bank.
(July 2004)

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