Tag Archives: equity

Starting a Small Business – Crowdfunding


Quickly, Congress passed the JOBS Act this year with a provision allowing companies to solicit investments from “unsophisticated” investors.  Previously, solicitations could only be made to high net worth investors.  The provisions were to become effective on January 1, 2013 pending rules to be written by the SEC. The SEC has not written the rulesContinue reading “Starting a Small Business – Crowdfunding”

Starting a small business – Social Entrepreneur


“I want to make the world a better place.”  “I only buy Fair Trade products.”  “I want to contribute X amount of my profits to XYZ charity.”  I am a newbie to these kinds of businesses.  As a misanthropic curmudgeon, I try to maintain an open, however skeptical, mind to these business models. If you’reContinue reading “Starting a small business – Social Entrepreneur”

Starting a small business – Marijuana


A few more states legalized possession of marijuana.  Check out this map – I can’t verify the information.  But it looks like legalization is gaining momentum.  Does this mean that you could start a marijuana business? Farming sucks.  You need arable land, water, seed, fertilization, a strong back, hanging barns and security.  (I’m basing thisContinue reading “Starting a small business – Marijuana”

Strategy for innovation – Society and Culture – AEI


Strategy for innovation – Society and Culture – AEI. I think this is all crap.  Innovation shouldn’t be affected by government.  While I agree that government should get out of the way, I believe that innovation needs more private capital. Let’s go outside the box.  Let’s introduce a 3% annual wealth tax on all accumulatedContinue reading “Strategy for innovation – Society and Culture – AEI”

Free Business Plan Review Offer


I must be crazy.  On April 16th, I posted an offer on Craigslist for a free business plan review.  I wouldn’t write it for you but give you creative criticism from the point of view of a potential investor or loan officer while also testing the feasibility of the plan.  There were NO takers.  IContinue reading “Free Business Plan Review Offer”

Starting a small business Part 9


How much money do you need to start a business? How do you make a small fortune in the restaurant business?   Start with a large fortune.  That one kills at most CPA gatherings. Lots, to answer my first question.  When starting a business, you need to figure out what you need including capital equipment,Continue reading “Starting a small business Part 9”

Embrace the Executive Summary – The Accelerators – WSJ


Embrace the Executive Summary – The Accelerators – WSJ. This is horrible advice for 99% of small business startups.  If you’re blessed with coding skills and an incubator, go ahead and follow this advice.  If you are starting any other kind of business, with YOUR money on the line, you need to build a budget/plan.  Check outContinue reading “Embrace the Executive Summary – The Accelerators – WSJ”

Starting a small business – Restaurants – UPDATED


Just don’t.  “When I save some money (or inherit it or win the lottery), I want to start a little Uzbek restaurant where all my friends can come and hang out.  It will be like a party every night.”  How about: “I can cook so I can open a restaurant.” A successful restaurant might be theContinue reading “Starting a small business – Restaurants – UPDATED”

Starting a small business Part 8


What business should I start? Harking back to one of my early posts, does the world really need another __________?  Fill in that blank with the type of business that you are thinking of starting.  I now know that the world really didn’t another CPA firm specializing in individual tax preparation and small business accounting.Continue reading “Starting a small business Part 8”