ForumsStarting a Business

Steponfaith:

Research is always needed before developing a business plan. You may need to do additional research as you hone your business plan, but if you don't see a clear opportunity to generate income through your research - as GBIntel mentioned - creating a plan or mission statement will be a waste of time.

There is the possibility that you plan to create something that doesn't have an established market as of yet. However, this is high risk, takes longer and costs more to enter the market than an established market with current competition.

You mention that you haven't found anything "pertaining" to what you are planning, does this mean there isn't anything exactly like it or even remotely like it? There is big money in health care. Chances are that if there is opportunity to make money servicing the market, the larger corporations would have swooped in on it. Usually the smaller sized businesses have an opportunity by creating a niche in an established segment that the larger companies can't service.

I am willing to take a look at what you are proposing and let you know how best to proceed.

Hope this helps.

Doug Dolan

The Solopreneur's Guide

http://thesologuide.com

Steponfaith:

Not to throw SCORE under the bus, but I frequently hear the same results from a number of hopeful entrepreneurs as what you experienced. Sorry to hear that.

Focusing on your efforts, I think that you should first figure out who are the influencers and decision makers for buying your service. They may not be the people that go through the program; they may be the managers or executives above the people that you plan on training. However, you need to know who will influence the buying decisions and those that actual sign off on your services.

Once you understand who these people are, you can take a look at what medium you should use to get their attention (e.g. medical forums, seminars, direct mail pieces, email blasts, etc.). Once you have their attention you can explain the benefits (e.g. time savings, money savings, reduced turn-over, etc.) that they will experience from hiring you and ask them questions about what they would like to see.

Having feedback from your target market regarding their interests and the services that they are willing to pay for before you launch your company will help you create services towards a known interest. I have worked with more than one start up that created a product or service based upon what they thought would be a great idea, but then end up scratching their heads wondering why no one is buying. Having the input from the market first is always a great way to go.

Let me know if you have more questions.

Hope this helps.

Doug Dolan

The Solopreneur's Guide

http://thesologuide.com