Business on a budget

[MSL]

Hi,

I've just started a blog for people who want to start a business but only have a small budget, so it basically gives a few ideas on what they can do etc. I'd like to include a few case studies on there, so wondering if anyone would mind 'featuring' on the blog, if you managed a start up on a budget of under £1500-2000?

Firstly, what do you think to the idea? (Its not really a business, just a resource kind of thing)

and secondly, if you're interested, please reply to this thread or PM me.

Thanks

[meisage]

The idea is good. I think this will be a great help especially to those who really wanted to start a business!

[MontiC]

The idea is good but already opt by Entrepreneurs.com. I advise you to do it for local people who wants to start their business. I hope you will receive huge response.

[MSL]

Thank you
I was thinking of targetting local, but to be honest, most resources applicable to one area applies to the next area in one way or another. I'll link to it once I've put a few more posts and a bit more information on. I've basically picked random and realistic ideas, and looked into them a little bit to see what can be done with them, how they can be started, what you'll need, that kind of thing. I've seen some of the other 'ideas' sites, and don't aim to be as big as them! (would be nice though!), but a lot of them tend to keep gearing readers towards signing away email addresses, and heading them towards buying e-books or encouraging to join those get rich quick schemes. Any advice/suggestions would be most welcome though!

[Kris79]

Well, I think you do a good job! Lots of people have interesting business ideas, but a limited budget, that's why sharing ideas can be very useful. I used to think that it's much easier to create sometimg together and I think that your blog can help people to pay attention on different business ideas, maybe they haven't ever considered that. It's harder to start when you have a limited budjet, but, to my mind, business idea is important, if it's someting interesting that may bring money then I think it may be possible to find an investor or take out, for example, a start up loan.

[lordlancaster]

Hi MSL,

From our experience, many people can and do start a business with only a small sum of money which is one of the reasons why we introduced our monthly £1,000 Shell LiveWIRE Grand Ideas Awards in 2009.

Indeed, when we gather feedback from all our £1,000 winners, although the cash is helpful to them, they almost always talk about the confidence and kudos the prize money gave them. The PR they receive is also a big boost to their business which can help open doors for them by way of new opportunities, business partnerships and further funding.

If you're looking for case studies to feature on your site, you might want to take a look at our 'Google Map of Shell LiveWIRE Award Winners' which shows where they are based across the UK. (If you click on the little map markers then you can read more about each business).

Our Video Lounge and YouTube Channel is also filled with elevator pitch videos by Shell LiveWIRE Award winners so feel free to link back to them or embed them into your site.

[adam_greenough]

Hey MSL!

I founded my web services start-up, Amazorize (www.amazorize.com), with £4.50 my Mum lent me for web hosting and a domain a couple of years ago. 2 years on we're operating from our own offices which we use in exchange for a small fee and occasional services exchange and beginning to take on staff! I ran my business outside of my school hours to so time and money are certainly not determining factors of success in the online services industry at least. :-)

[MSL]

Thank all of you .

Is it expensive to get a blogged designed..i.e. to not look like an actual blogspot blog? It is a blog (obviously), but its also got pages (case studies, ideas, resources, etc, etc)...is this kind of thing expensive or should I just go with a template? I'm graphics trained so the blog to me looks very unappealing! But things like blog design/the code behind it are alien to me and I don't want to lose the content!

Lord Lancaster, I'd love to have the video's etc on it that would be amazing! Thanks

I'll reply to the PMs shortly. Thanks again

[adam_greenough]

Originally Posted by MSL

Thank all of you .

Is it expensive to get a blogged designed..i.e. to not look like an actual blogspot blog? It is a blog (obviously), but its also got pages (case studies, ideas, resources, etc, etc)...is this kind of thing expensive or should I just go with a template? I'm graphics trained so the blog to me looks very unappealing! But things like blog design/the code behind it are alien to me and I don't want to lose the content!

Lord Lancaster, I'd love to have the video's etc on it that would be amazing! Thanks

I'll reply to the PMs shortly. Thanks again

If you'd like to set up a nice looking site/blog I'd totally recommend picking up a theme from themeforest.com and whacking it on a Wordpress (www.wordpress.org) site. My business is essentially creating sites so if you need a hand setting anything up then give me a shout!

Our rate for setting up a custom Wordpress site is around £350 depending on the scope and that's very competitive so you'd be looking to pay around that or upwards for a site to be created for you. :-)