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How do I create .com startup

G

gabemcg

Platinum Member
So I have what I believe to be a really great Idea for a web based buisness, but I have no Idea what to do with it, or how to get it done...

I have about 0 programing skills, and I need someone who knows how to write software, I know I'll also need someone to do the website/host it...


grr... It soo frustrating, because I can see this being a huge success, but I have no clue where to start...

Obviously I'll need $ so any venture capitalists out there PM me 😉

really tho, should I just get a patent first or what?
 
I'm not going to give away the idea, I'm not a complete idiot, but baically it involves replacing an archaic analog distribution network with one that more closely resembles a P2P network... Saving end users thousands of dollars and requireing no extra effort... It really is an excellent Idea, does anyone know the process for getting a patent?
 
Find something else to do...

I'm part of a dotcom that has made it and it's hard as hell and you will lose a couple of years from your life.
 
Write up a business plan, do a feasability analysis, etc. and figure out exactly what you need, people will then consider giving thought to your idea. You have to show that there is potential and that you know what you're talking about, an idea alone with hopes and dreams won't get anywhere.
 
Originally posted by: tangent1138
so basically you have no programming skills, no host, and no startup capital.




huh.
Click to expand...

Alot of good ideas start with no host, no start up capital and no skills per se.

It's called being a manager.
 
$25k for a patent. No venture will dole out any money to someone who wants to start a .com startup and has no tangible product.
 
Find someone you trust who has the knowledge and skills to know whether your idea is feasible and get their input on it.
 
burkabitches.com

Target Audence: Middle Eastern Men.
Product: Women dressed in Burka's
Market strategy: Billboard's + internet advertising

That's my idea.
NO ONE STEAL IT!!!
 
first thing, sit down and write out what you want to do. why are you doing this? what do you want to accomplish? (and making beaucoup bucks doesn't count.)

second, go get a few books from the nolo press, which produces great self help books on how to start your own business.

third, once you have that ready, draft up a business plan. find a friend or two that might help you with the programming if you're drafting a website. a lot of businesses start out of your own pockets, so don't expect the money to start rolling in from a venture capitalist until you have something solid set up.

and on and on. but you need to have something in place before you can start branching out and contacting possible clients or they'll laugh you out of their offices.
 
I am honestly going to try and help you out here:

1. You have an idea, that's good but right now your idea is worthless (not in the sense that its a bad idea, just that it doesn't have any worth), and will be continue to be such until you have something working which you can show to others.

2. You have to find 2 (maybe 3) really good technical poeple who honestly believe in your idea. Its not enough for them to simply have the technical skills - in order to get a company off the ground everybody will have to work very hard for little to no money and that won't happen unless they are dedicated and REALLY believe in your idea.

3. What kinda skills do you have? If you have no tech skills, it'll be up to you to the everything non-technical (set up meetings with potential clients, promoting the business etc). If you fail at that, the company will also fail regardless of how good the software/service is.

4. I've heard that VCs are generally a bad choice, assuming you can get them. Chances are you'll have to use your own cash (and the cash of the poeple you will work with) until you can get revenue and basicly finance yourselves. I don't think you should expect external money until you have a working product, a few clients and some money coming in.

anyway, this is an absolute must-read from a person who's done this.
http://www.paulgraham.com/start.html
 
You're looking for an angel investor/capitalist, not a venture capitalist. The angel's help you get off the ground, they look at your business plan and will give you x amount of money for x amount of the company, depending on the terms, it's usually around 75%. Venture capitalists are usually used when you have the product finished, but you want some marketing, again, they'll give you x amount of money for x amount of the company, usually around 75%. If you want to maximize your return, it might be better to get a loan, because you'll be able to pay it off so once you sell the company, you'll get 100%, not 25%. Once someone owns 75% of a company, it's nearly impossible to buy that out.
 
Originally posted by: Martin
I am honestly going to try and help you out here:

1. You have an idea, that's good but right now your idea is worthless (not in the sense that its a bad idea, just that it doesn't have any worth), and will be continue to be such until you have something working which you can show to others.

2. You have to find 2 (maybe 3) really good technical poeple who honestly believe in your idea. Its not enough for them to simply have the technical skills - in order to get a company off the ground everybody will have to work very hard for little to no money and that won't happen unless they are dedicated and REALLY believe in your idea.

3. What kinda skills do you have? If you have no tech skills, it'll be up to you to the everything non-technical (set up meetings with potential clients, promoting the business etc). If you fail at that, the company will also fail regardless of how good the software/service is.

4. I've heard that VCs are generally a bad choice, assuming you can get them. Chances are you'll have to use your own cash (and the cash of the poeple you will work with) until you can get revenue and basicly finance yourselves. I don't think you should expect external money until you have a working product, a few clients and some money coming in.

anyway, this is an absolute must-read from a person who's done this.
http://www.paulgraham.com/start.html
Click to expand...


Pretty good advice. It sounds like what you have now is an idea, not a product. You can't start a business without a product.

As for VC, it is highly unlikely that you will get any funding from them. My dad ran a VC firm for a while, and it is EXTREMELY cut throat. 9 out of 10 businesses that they fund fail, so they are banking on the 10% of the businesses that do turn a profit to turn an INCREDIBLE profit. Not a few grand, not a few hundred grand, but 7-8 figures, and they want sustainability, normally 30% growth over the first 5 years (among other things) Additionally, I'm assuming that you don't have any real business background, so if you were to get VC funding, they would most likely want to put in a professional management team of their own to run the business, and if you don't have any technical skill, and you don't have any money, what exactly would be your role in the business?

Finally, just one last thing to note, starting a business is NOT like working a 9-5 job. While it is true that you can make your own hours, those hours will be more like 7AM-9PM for the first few years. This is doubly true if you are actively managing your business (instead of only doing the technical aspect of implementing your product)

I'm not trying to discourage you, but go out and do the research on how to start a business, it's absolutely critical that you do some type of feasibility analysis of your idea to determine if you should even bother following through with it. What seems like a world changing idea to you, might not have a large enough market to warrant entry. A feasibility analysis and a subsequent business plan will make this venture less like roulette, and more like an investment that is (semi)likely to succeed.
 
Originally posted by: QurazyQuisp
You're looking for an angel investor/capitalist, not a venture capitalist. The angel's help you get off the ground, they look at your business plan and will give you x amount of money for x amount of the company, depending on the terms, it's usually around 75%. Venture capitalists are usually used when you have the product finished, but you want some marketing, again, they'll give you x amount of money for x amount of the company, usually around 75%. If you want to maximize your return, it might be better to get a loan, because you'll be able to pay it off so once you sell the company, you'll get 100%, not 25%. Once someone owns 75% of a company, it's nearly impossible to buy that out.
Click to expand...


^^ Yep, also for startups without a solid business plan its difficult to get a loan. A lot of companies are financed from personal savings, investments from family and friends and (ug) Credit Card debt. Personally I would stay away from the latter option because those interest rates are going to KILL your bottom line.
 
Originally posted by: gabemcg
I'm not going to give away the idea, I'm not a complete idiot, but baically it involves replacing an archaic analog distribution network with one that more closely resembles a P2P network... Saving end users thousands of dollars and requireing no extra effort... It really is an excellent Idea, does anyone know the process for getting a patent?
Click to expand...

chances are its already patented, you might want to search to see if its already been patented.
 
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