My Comments

• Opening a Restaurant - 04/16/2009
  Restaurants are among THE most challenging businesses to open, and to finance. To address the needs of restaurant owners, we have developed a whole series of business plans just for them: the 7 Step Restaurant Business Plan Series. Right now we have 9 business plans, from bakery to wine bar, and are adding more. You have included some excellent resources, Amy. I hope that restaurant owners take the time to really delve into them before opening their doors.
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• Selling While Planning the Business - 12/12/2008
  William, what a great list of steps to take before opening! There is one more that I would add: create your website. This doesn't cost much money, and it does wonders in terms of establishing credibility for lenders/investors. In most business plans I also recommend that a copy of the website be included on a disk, or at least a link to the home page, with another link to an access protected area for further investor information.
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• Business Plan Restaurant - 12/12/2008
  Indeed, Frank, so much goes into creating a strong restaurant business plan that it is hard to summarize in just a page or two. Everything you note must indeed be there!
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• Internet Marketing - 12/12/2008
  Great intro, Matt! I know too that one of the biggest problems facing internet businesses is searching out funding, or, more to the point, convincing bankers that they know what they are doing. Internet marketing is still part of the wild and wooly web world, so creating a strong internet marketing business plan is a real challenge. Thanks for getting us all headed in the right direction.
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• The Business Value of Twitter - 12/04/2008
  I'm sorry, but I just don't get it. I see how lots of posts makes Twitter more important, but I don't see how it makes me more important. If I put that amount of time and energy into my website, I think I would be further ahead. It is a cute name, but just how much of your time can you devote to promote some else's cute name?
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• Starting a Pool Hall - 12/04/2008
  You are so right! Pool halls are gaining in popularity as we speak. There's just something about the neighborhood hangout that seems to really appeal to people, especially in tough times. We really have noticed a big jump in our Sports Bars Business Plans the past few months. Thanks for this great information!
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• Choosing the Right Web Hosting for You - 09/04/2008
  For those of us less technically inclined, a good solid web host is SBI. This is a web host focused on the small business. Thousands of people have set up successful businesses using the tools available here. I've been with them for four years now, and absolutely could not be happier.
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• Business Plan Software - 08/05/2008
  The 7-Step Business Plan series has just been introduced at http://www.businessplanmaster.com . This series uses Word and Excel based templates that are easy for everyone, and includes a 85-115 page workbook with each template.
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• Creating a Great Business Plan - 01/16/2007
  Frances, your resources are really top of the line! Thank you for putting them all in one place. My advice to entrepreneurs: The only time a business needs a formal business plan is when it needs financing. Since most businesses need financing most of the time, most businesses really do need a great business plan. When you do write that business plan, write it with all the passion that you feel for business -- that is the only way a lender/investor will know how serious you really are.
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• Web Hosting Services for Small Business - 10/03/2006
  I have to add a good word for my web host. By way of disclaimer, I am also a Moderator on the Forums (a volunteer position). But what Forums! This is, without question, the most astounding "help and be helped" spot I've ever seen on the web. This is really a company that judges itself by its clients' success. And I'm making more money than I ever have on the web. It just doesn't get much better than that. It's at http://www.sitesell-results.com .
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