| Want to start your own business but think you can't | | | | help it grow or by putting the money away to invest in |
| because you just don't have the funds? | | | | the bigger version when the time is right. |
| It is possible to overcome this small obstacle and grow | | | | Also important is to put your plan for growth in writing |
| the business of your dreams! How? By starting smaller | | | | so you won't lose sight of where it is you are heading |
| and systematically building towards your dream | | | | and what you are ultimately working for. Create a nice |
| business. | | | | graph depiction of your business goals for growth and |
| For example: If you want a restaurant, start a catering | | | | post it somewhere you can review it every day. Also |
| company first. Can't afford a catering company? Sell | | | | notate the thresholds for moving to the next stage. For |
| baked goods from your home to a local café to | | | | example, if your ultimate goal is to own a restaurant |
| start building your experience, contacts, and cash | | | | and you are starting with selling baked goods to a local |
| reserves until you are ready to take that next step. | | | | café and then moving to a catering business, note |
| Want a clothing line? Start by selling your designs to | | | | on your plan when these changes will occur. You could |
| local retail shops. Not ready for retail? Sell your designs | | | | decide to move from selling to a café only to also |
| online on your website and through sites such as or | | | | catering to one event per month when your cash |
| Want a retail shop? Start by selling goods online or to | | | | savings have reached $500. Then, when you get to |
| local retail shops. Not sure if you're ready to keep up | | | | the point that you can cater say, five events a month, |
| with retail? Sign up with an established retail company | | | | you may wish to stop selling to the café. |
| such as Avon to get you started. | | | | Just make sure that your plan is detailed enough that |
| The most important thing to remember is that when | | | | you know exactly what your next step is and when to |
| you earn money it needs to be reinvested in "your | | | | take it. But keep in mind that your plan should be |
| business," either by reinvesting in the smaller version to | | | | flexible; you may need to change it as you go. |