Insurance and Risk: Protecting Yourself Before Something Goes Wrong
Why risk matters in business April has been about protecting what you’re building. We’ve talked about choosing the right business structure, understanding licenses and paperwork, and thinking realistically about protecting your ideas. The final piece of that foundation is something most entrepreneurs would prefer not to think about at all. Risk. Entrepreneurs are naturally optimistic […]
Protecting Your Idea Without Becoming Paranoid
Why entrepreneurs worry about idea theft At some point in almost every startup conversation, someone leans forward and lowers their voice. “I have an idea,” they say, “but I’m worried someone might steal it.” It usually comes right after they’ve described the concept in extremely vague terms. Something like, “It’s kind of like an app… […]
The Fear of Paperwork: Licenses, Permits, and What Actually Matters
Why paperwork feels so intimidating If March was about building the identity of your business, April is about protecting and stabilizing what you’re building. Last week we talked about choosing the right business structure. Once that decision is made, many new entrepreneurs immediately run into another obstacle that feels just as intimidating: paperwork. For some […]
How to Choose the Right Business Structure in Tennessee
Why business structure matters March was about planting the seeds of your business. Branding. Messaging. Talking to customers. Figuring out if the idea actually works. April is where we start protecting what you’re building, and one of the first steps in that process is choosing the right business structure. Now I know the moment someone […]
Competitors Are Teachers: Learning From the Market You Enter
At some point in this journey, a new entrepreneur will proudly say to me, “No one else is doing this.” They usually expect applause. Instead, I give them the blank stare of a man who has seen too many businesses die from a total lack of competition. If nobody is doing what you are doing, […]
Finding Your Early Adopters in a Small-Town Market
Customer discovery is not just about talking to people. It is about talking to the right people. Because not everyone is ready for your idea. Some people will need five years and 14 friends convincing them before they even consider trying something new. Those are not your first customers. Your first customers are the people […]
How to Interview Your Target Market (and What to Ask)
So you have accepted the fact that you are not your customer. That is a solid first step. Now we are moving into the part where you talk to real humans and learn what they actually care about. This is called customer discovery. Not customer guessing. Not customer assuming. Real conversations with people who might […]
If You’re Not Talking to Customers, You’re Just Guessing
There is a universal truth in entrepreneurship that nobody wants to hear. You are not your customer. You might think you are. You might feel spiritually connected to them. You might even believethat everyone in the world thinks exactly like you. But unless you are planning to buy everysingle product you make… we need a […]
Should You Quit Your Day Job?
Every new entrepreneur eventually asks the same question. It usually sounds like this:“So… when do I quit my job?” to which I respond “should you quit your day job?” And I get it. You want to go all in. You want to burn the ships. You want that dramatic movie moment where you toss your […]
Is Your Business Model Profitable?
Business Models Explained: How to Know if Yours Can Make Money I love enthusiasm. I love when someone sits down with me at The Biz Foundry and starts explaining their business idea like it is the next big thing. The energy is contagious. But, right after the excitement fades and we both stop imagining you […]