Starting your Start-up calendar

Filed in archive Start Up on December 11, 2009

© tanakawho


It's about to be the start of a new year. And if you've got a new business or start-up in mind for your 2010 resolution, don't wait, start working now. Here are some tips for your December start-up prep.

1. Try making appointments for January in December. Make all your VC and consultant appointments now. Most people won't have free time during the holidays but their schedule will fill up as soon as the new year begins. So go ahead and get on their calendar for January now before they're stuck in catch-up mode.

2. Get your plan written now. While your consultants may not have free time over the holidays for you, you'll probably have some. Even with family in town, most people end up having a few lazy days. Put those days to work for you. When you are creating a start-up and looking for funding the most important thing you need is a business plan. Make it concise, not more than the page. At least have an outline by the time everyone gets back to work.

3. Practice your pitch. While you've got some of that free time in December, after you've finished the business plan, talk through it. Don't just walk into someone's office January 3rd and talk through your plan the first time. Practice to your spouse, a mirror, a partner, whoever will listen. Get an elevator speech together. Think about the pros and cons. Look for market research on the internet. Just a few dry-runs can make a huge difference in your confidence when you actually are on the spot.

I could go on about presentation and design but being forward thinking is the point of this article. What can you do now? Plan your calendar, work out the tedious things and generally be prepared. Why waste time spinning your wheels when January comes around, hit the ground running.

What are you doing to make sure your start-up takes off as soon as 2010 begins?