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Thread: small business start-up and loan questions

  1. #1
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    small business start-up and loan questions

    I have started working up a business plan to start my own ski and bike shop in the denver/golden area. i see a serious lack in the market that i know i can address.

    I am wondering if there are any folks out there that have much experiance writing a business plan that would be interested in offering some help to me. I have a great business sense of it, but don't really know what a loan officer is looking for in such a thing. I have been working on the basics: business overview (vision statement), the nuts and bolts of the operations, and the start-up costs. i would be looking for someone to offer some expertise in polishing, formatting, and fleshing out the plan a bit. also, i need a lawyer to draft up a consignment contract (rontele...)

    i don't have funds to really offer much in the way of money, but i can for sure offer the best deals ever on gear in the future if the plan gets picked up and the store gets going.

    additionally, if anyone is into the financing aspect of it all, i'd very very very stoked to get a pm from you too i need some info on what intrest rates and such i should be looking to expect, and how much i need to come up with to secure the loan and all of that.

    thanks all

  2. #2
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    PM me your email and I can send you a "Building a Business Plan" template from the Colorado Small Business Development Center.

  3. #3
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    pm sent.......

  4. #4
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    hey Marsh..first off, congrats! From what I've seen on this board, you'll be a tremendous shop owner. I'd be happy to read through your business plan. I've got alot of experience with forming new businesses and I'd be happy to read through what you have and offer some suggestions that would have helped me when I was in your shoes. I can also pass along some good info in regards to my experience with SBA Loans, Bank Lines of Credit, Private Financiaing etc...I'll drop my email in a PM

  5. #5
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    I'm curious to know what it is you think is missing in the Denver/Golden area. I would be willing to do some "grassroots" research that might help.
    Points on their own sitting way up high

  6. #6
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    I'm just here to say good luck! I looked into starting a marketing, web design and hosting company and after researching what it takes to start a small business and compete in a saturated market I got cold feet.
    Last edited by Lurch; 09-05-2007 at 10:47 AM.

  7. #7
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    PM sent.

    Looks like there will be plenty of people here that will be happy to help out. Time permitting, listen to as many ideas as you can and hopefully you can get some good ideas/points amid the obvious overlap.

  8. #8
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    If you bring an experienced and dedicated boot fitter to the Golden area, you'll have my support. You should put this forum down as a reference on the loan application.

  9. #9
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    Marsh,

    First off for the business plan check out www.sba.gov. They have a tutorial and self paced activity called The Business Plan-Road Map to Success. Sounds kinda hokey but there is some good stuff in there. I would also tell you to set up a meeting with your local SCORE chapter(service corps of retired execs). Their services are free and part of the sba department. You'll get matched up with a retired person that will likely have some strong retail background and will be a HUGE asset as you go through this.

    Lastly, good luck. There is no better feeling than waking up in the morning, grabbing the dog and heading to your OWN place of business. It will keep you up at night, you'll worry a lot more, even when there's nothing you can do or nothing REALLY to worry about, but it sure beats the hell out of working for some idiot that doesn't have the first clue how things should be done.

    Jay
    Five minutes into the drive and you're already driving me crazy...

  10. #10
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    PM Sent

    I was able to acquire some Venture Capital money in the past year with a business plan a friend and I put together while going to school and in the end had the VC come on board as a management consultant. Learned a great deal from him about proper business plan writing as we began to seek more capital - I'll send off my email address and maybe I can be of some help

  11. #11
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    Pm sent.

    there is a whole lot to learn about having your own business but it is SO much more satisfying than working your ass off for somebody else.

    plus i like gear so start a business

  12. #12
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    PM sent, hit me up.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by teambigdave View Post
    Pm sent.

    there is a whole lot to learn about having your own business but it is SO much more satisfying than working your ass off for somebody else.

    plus i like gear so start a business
    Satisfying...maybe yes. depends on your priorities.

    I wish you the best Marshal.

    It will be the hardest work you've ever done. I worked for myself for 20+ years and I have to say that now I am happier and more fufilled pulling in an hourly wage working for others. Working for yourself means it's a 24/7 stress headache, now I can clock in, clock out and wipe my feet of the responsibilities. I definitely get more ski days now, more vacation time.

    How are you going to feel when all the employees call-off on your "off" day that happens to be a powder morning...and you have to go in.

    Just something to think about.


  14. #14
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    Marshal- I'm currently in the MBA program at CU focusing on Entrepreneurship.... I'm pretty sure I've got more resources and connections than you'd ever need in the Denver/Boulder area. Shoot me a PM and I'd be happy to do whatever I can to help you out.

  15. #15
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    I was hoping that Alpenglow was gonna become my go-to shop once it moved in right down the street from me. But, after an EXPENSIVE mount that took too long and blah employee interactions, I decided that they wouldn't get my ski business anymore. The Bent Gate (they're cool) just opened up a new bike shop on Washington and Big Ring (THEY SUCK!...REALLY) opened up a shop on Ford. There is also peak cycles on 14th st. I would think a location more around the Denver West / South Golden area would be your best bet. But, I'm sure you are probably keenly aware of all of this already.

    We ARE lacking a used store. So, some kind of swap area would definitely get people into the store. There used to be a used bike and sports store + bike mechanic in the Ruby Canyon shopping center but it is a dry cleaners now.

    I don't know much about the business stuff. But I'd throw a website together for you for free and help you with the computer stuff.

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by smmokan View Post
    Marshal- I'm currently in the MBA program at CU focusing on Entrepreneurship.... I'm pretty sure I've got more resources and connections than you'd ever need in the Denver/Boulder area. Shoot me a PM and I'd be happy to do whatever I can to help you out.
    Don't you have some accounting homework to get through first before you tackle the business plan?

    There is a ton of information available via CU. The biz library is open to the public and if you ask nicely and find the right guy (Joseph Yu), he can find anything you need on any subject.

  17. #17
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    Good luck with this.

  18. #18
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    I look forward to becoming a loyal customer!!!

  19. #19
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    Yeah Schral!!! Mek it happin!!!

    I'll do whatever I can to help you along the way.
    Chocolate? This is doodoo, BABY!

  20. #20
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    Yeah Marshal! Sounds exciting.....and scary too.....kind of like skiing.......perfect.

  21. #21
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    Marshal, having owned a bike/ski/board shop for years, I have LOTS of caveats to impart.

    Be very careful of biting off more than you can chew, (especially after some initial success).

    Create a purchasing budget, and stick to it!
    (regardless of how drunk some rep gets you at interbike)

    Have realistic projections of off-season operational costs.

    Good golly, just PM me, I have a crapload of insights.

    Good luck in the interim.
    Forum Cross Pollinator, gratuitously strident

  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by telechuck View Post
    Don't you have some accounting homework to get through first before you tackle the business plan?

    There is a ton of information available via CU. The biz library is open to the public and if you ask nicely and find the right guy (Joseph Yu), he can find anything you need on any subject.
    Funny, I'm just about to do that right now. Good stuff.

  23. #23
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    Marshal - I am so proud of you for taking this step. It takes courage. But I can tell you that having your own busines is the coolest. Best of luck.

    One thing I can offer in the way of advice. If you let your wife be 51% owner, you can qualify for federal minority bsuiness startup money. Something to think about.
    Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.
    Henry David Thoreau

  24. #24
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    First off good luck, owning your own business is both good and bad, but it is yours to with as you please.

    I have run my own business for nearly twenty years, and am a complete failure when it comes to business. (I spent 8 years in college learning medicine, not accounting) I would get some good people around you (sounds like there are a few here on the board), especially a good financial planner/accountant. That is what has kept me in business, or at least prevented me from some big mistakes. A good lawyer to draw up purchase agreements, review leases, et cetera is also helpful. Find a local bank interested in you and your business, they can be very helpful. Avoid the big banks, they are worthless for small businesses, in my opinion.

    I agree it is a constitutional right for Americans to be assholes...its just too bad that so many take the opportunity...
    iscariot

  25. #25
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    What if we all just sent him our extra stuff and got him some startup inventory? Clean out the closets?
    Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.
    Henry David Thoreau

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