March 9th, 2010
Dave interviews the owners of Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop, Jerry Lewanski and Janis Fleischman. The couple opened their bakeshop less than a year ago and share their interesting startup story. They started by completing thorough research, traveling around the United States and visiting successful bakeries. The only thing they didn’t plan for was their immediate success!
Amanda Cullen, small business marketing consultant, joins the group to give startup businesses advice on marketing their fledgling businesses. Marketing for small businesses doesn’t have to involve a large budget, and most of the time, the most effective marketing is quite economical.
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The Gift of Bread
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March 1st, 2010
Julie Saupe, CEO of the Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau, joins the show to give a tourism update for Anchorage. They talk about the 30-year history of the ACVB. While last year was the first year tourism declined in Anchorage, Julie is hopeful for the future. She shares her community report with listeners, and what that will mean for Anchorage tourism.
Dave’s second guest is Sam Dickey, Deputy District Director of the Small Business Administration. SBA programs are changing, and Sam has the details. He is hopeful that Congress will keep funding some programs, but deadlines for stimulus money have passed. They discuss trends and facts related to small business lending and what this could mean for your small business.
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Alaska Tourism Update
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February 22nd, 2010
Lori Davey, owner of Motznik Information Services, joins Dave Weatherholt to talk about buying a used (or existing) business. Lori purchased Motznik and tells listeners the story of the purchase process. She starts out by letting us know, “I sold my airplane to buy my business.”
Dave also talks about how your vendors can help with your financing. For many small businesses, borrowing has become increasingly difficult. Some have developed creative means of raising capital, and Dave has the details.
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Buying a Used Business
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February 16th, 2010
Non-profit organizations perform many necessary functions in our communities, but they face many unique business challenges, as well. Dave’s first guest is Candace Winkler, CEO of Thread, an Anchorage-based non-profit. They discuss some of the business aspects non-profits focus on more than other organizations, such as having a transparent accounting system, keeping administrative costs reasonable and keeping a strict budget. Candace also talks about her experience in rebranding Thread (formerly Child Care Connection), and the wide variety of non-profits that are in Alaska.
In the next segment, Dave brings in Jason Stralka to discuss taxes for non-profits and answer listener questions. Jason is a tax expert for Carter Tax, Inc. Dave discovers that he has a passion for taxes. Jason knows that taxes are more than just filling out the forms– he loves finding loopholes and saving his clients money. However, he realizes the importance of being accurate and paying all the taxes that are due to the IRS.
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Non-Profits are Businesses
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February 12th, 2010
Joining the show this week is Todd Clark, founder and president of DenaliTEK, one of the leading IT services firms in Anchorage. He and Dave delve into the concept of cloud computing and how it can help your small business. Revolutions in the the IT industry come and go, but cloud computing is an innovative way to increase efficiency and manage budgets in your organization.
Todd also discusses some of the business issues he faces: why he develops client relationships, what DenaliTEK does to keep clients and how they handle losing a client. All small business owners can learn from his candid assessment.
Dave and Geoff Burch, author and international guru, launched a new segment of “Getting Down to Business” called Going it Alone. In his trademark cheeky manner, Geoff encourages entrepreneurs to go out and make it alone. He says of employment, “Who was the first caveman who got another caveman to go out and kill a buffalo for him, then just give him a tiny piece of the buffalo as a wage? When did that start?”
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Cloud Computing and Your Future
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February 1st, 2010
Dave interviews Andy Riddell, VP and Business Banking Manager at Wells Fargo Bank. The discuss how important it is for a small business to develop a relationship with a bank. Andy provides advice for how to reach the business expert at your bank and how to start the relationship.
In Dave’s news update, he talks about Congress’s recent changes to the SBA loan program and other stimulus package details affecting small businesses. There might be good news for small businesses struggling to obtain loans.
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Building a Banking Relationship
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January 25th, 2010
Pamela Marsch joins Dave Weatherholt in this “Getting Down to Business” to discuss tips for buying and leasing commercial real estate. She is a commercial real estate broker with vast experience in Alaska’s real estate market.
Dave shares his personal experience with commercial real estate and hopes his listeners can learn from his less-than-ideal experience.
Dave also weighs in with his news update, bringing to light some useful business stories.
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Finding the Right Spot
(Graphic by Getty Images)
Posted in Alaska, Getting Down to Business, Real Estate | No Comments »
January 19th, 2010
Sponsored by DenaliTEK, an Anchorage-based information technology services firm.
Kathy Day of KD/PR | A Virtual Agency joins Dave Weatherholt to talk about public relations, and how good PR can benefit your business. Kathy explains how we can go beyond thinking of PR as “free advertising,” and truly maximize its potential. Dave tells us of his own success with PR– and just how much exposure it can generate.
Dave gives us an economic update, talking about interest rates, historical data and what this information means for us today. He addresses a question important to all of us, “Are consumers ready to buy?”
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Have you considered PR?
Posted in Getting Down to Business, Public Relations | No Comments »
January 10th, 2010
In this first “Getting Down to Business” of 2010, Dave interviews Todd Clark, founder of DenakiTEK, an Anchorage-based IT-maintenance, consulting and technology firm. Todd started the company nine years ago and discusses the road he’s taken to success.
Todd credits a great mission and vision statement with the successful growth of his company. Amanda Cullen, of Zoo in a Jungle Marketing for Small Business, joins the show and discusses how to create mission and visions statements that are effective for the organization along with how to use them as marketing tools.
Dave also gives a news update for small businesses, including tips for how to make your website great.
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Focus on DenaliTEK
Posted in Entrepreneurs, Getting Down to Business, Recession, Small Business | No Comments »
December 21st, 2009
Dave Weatherholt interviews Kim and Blain Roberts, owners of Westport Winery in Aberdeen, WA. They are passionate about what they do and have built a successful small business. Listen for their advice for other aspiring entrepreneurs.
Accountant Paul Foutz joins the conversation and makes projections for the Alaskan economy. He predicts what businesses can expect in the coming year. This episode of “Getting Down to Business” will be valuable to any small business owner.
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The Winery
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December 15th, 2009
Dave talks project management principles with Dan Maxwell, Technical Project Manager for Structured Communication Systems, Inc. They give listeners advice for “doing it right” – by defining “project”, analyzing risk analysis and discussing technology solutions. Dan sets forth an alarming statistic that 80% of projects fail– don’t let yours be one of them!
Dave also gives a business and economic news update by analyzing the Optimism Index over the course of the year.
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Doing It Right
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December 7th, 2009
In this week’s “Getting Down to Business,” Dave talks with IT expert Mark Mathis of Arctic Information Technology about Cloud Computing. Mark helps us understand what Cloud Computing is, how long it has been around and how small businesses can use it to reduce their IT costs. This useful technology is familiar to many businesses through companies such as Carbonite and Go To Meeting.
Dave also talks with Amanda Cullen about 2009’s Black Friday. They talk about the history of Black Friday, how performance was this year and the changing attitudes of consumers. Amanda, of Zoo in a Jungle Marketing, explains how these factors affect small business retailers.
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Cloud Computing
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December 2nd, 2009
If you missed Dave’s interview with Geoff Burch earlier in the year, here’s your chance to catch up!
International consultant Geoff Burch talks about his sales management book, The Way of the Dog: The Art of Making Success Inevitable. Dave finds this book very motivating, compelling and full of useful information. Geoff proves to be a lively guest who tells great stories.
In other news: We also learn that Dave is broadcasting during International Talk Like a Pirate Day!
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Sales: The Way of the Dog
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December 1st, 2009
Entrepreneurs Sydney Mitchell Dawn Walsh talk with David Weatherholt about their venture: a shoe store for women who love shoes beyond reason. Their store, Shoefly + Hudsons, is in Juneau, AK and appeals to shoe lovers in many creative ways– including hosting private parties.
David also talks economic news, using his experience dealing with recessions to encourage businesses. Paul Foutz joins David later in the show to discuss the Alaskan economy and what’s ahead in the coming year.
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Discovering Latent Revenue
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November 17th, 2009
David Weatherholt brings on the top franchisors in the state of Alaska: Jerry Kinn, owner of the Carl’s Jr. franchise and Michael Davidson, owner of 18 McDonald’s franchises to talk about the business of franchise.
These friendly competitors discuss the top ten franchise businesses, the benefits of franchising and the changing face of the franchisor.
Is franchising a good fit for your entrepreneurial spirit? How do you get started in franchising? Listen to find out!
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Franchises are Businesses, Too
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November 9th, 2009
David Weatherholt talks with Dan Sullivan, Mayor of Anchorage, about the relationship between government and small business. Throughout the decades, government regulation has been pilloried, but without some key legislation, our business environment would be unstable, recessions would be less predictable and small businesses would find it difficult to thrive.
Dan Sullivan shares his business background and the similarities between running a business and a municipal government.
Later in the show, Amanda Cullen, of Zoo in a Jungle Marketing, explains relationship marketing and how small businesses can develop strategies to build relationships with their customers. Strong customer relationships lead to stronger loyalty, more numerous customer referrals and higher profits.
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Alaska Municipal Government, Small Business and Customer Relationships
Posted in Alaska, Customers, Getting Down to Business, Small Business | No Comments »
November 2nd, 2009
On his radio show “Getting Down to Business,” David Weatherholt talks with Bob Poe, gubernatorial candidate for Alaska. Poe discusses his views on the relationship between government and small business– what it looks like currently and what he thinks it should be. This is a great opportunity for small businesses in Alaska to hear the candidate talk about issues affecting their livelihoods.
Also, David speaks with the deputy director of the SBA about the changes enacted last week by the SBA program. Finally, David introduces the show with a history of recessions, how government intervention has helped or hurt the economy and why we no longer call them “economic panics.”
All considered, this episode of “Getting Down to Business” is full of essential knowledge for small businesses.
Alaska State Government and Small Business
Posted in Alaska, Getting Down to Business, Recession, Small Business | No Comments »
October 29th, 2009
David provides an economic update, relaying to listeners some good news for the economy.
Guest Robert McDowell, Vice President of Information Worker Business Value for Microsoft, provides valuable advice for businesses looking to generate a better return on their technology investments. These IT investments include hardware, software and personnel. He discusses how Microsoft works with other vendors to create efficient business solutions.
Getting Value from Technology
Posted in Getting Down to Business, ROI, Small Business, Technology | No Comments »
October 17th, 2009
Having a great strategy is only the first step of a successful business. Dave’s show this week is about putting legs on your strategy and giving you tips for effective implementation.
Dave’s guest is Dwain DeVille, author of The Biker’s Guide to Business. Dwain is an entrepreneur coach and asks, “What do entrepreneurs and business leaders have in common with bikers?” The answer? More thank you think!
In the news, Dave alerts small businesses to the opportunity of applying for grants and stimulus money. Someone has to get it. Why not you?
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The Tragedy of Strategy
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October 10th, 2009
What is social networking? Does your small business need it?
Dave finds out what his Facebook page and Twitter account really mean. His guest, Mindy O’Neill, is the Director of Integrated Marketing for news magazine Alaska Dispatch. She imparts her social media expertise to Dave’s listeners (and Dave himself!).
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Making the Right Connections
Posted in Getting Down to Business, Sales | No Comments »
October 3rd, 2009
Tourism is 11% of Alaska’s economy, so a small change in growth can affect the state dramatically. What will tourism look like in 2010?
Dave welcomes Julie Saupe to the show. She’s the President and CEO of the Anchorage Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and provides a forecast on the upcoming 2010 tourist season.
How can small businesses that depend on tourism weather the economic storm? Dave’s next guest, Amanda Cullen, gives small businesses advice for reaching their customers– and it might surprise you just who she thinks is your customer. Her company, Zoo in a Jungle Marketing, specializes in small business marketing.
In the news, Dave talks about the credit crisis still plaguing small businesses, even while larger businesses see credit loosening. Dave’s moved “Getting Down to Business” over to station 1080 KUDO, and he’s excited for the new opportunities this station provides.
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Alaska Tourism Report
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September 26th, 2009
Dave reminisces about the business world of the 1980s, where the most technology a business encountered was a fax machine. As we all know, things have changed, and now information technology is required for every business venture.
In this week’s “Getting Down to Business,” Dave talks with IT expert Mark Mathis of Arctic Information Technology who will help you determine if your business needs a server. And what is a server, anyway?
In the news, Dave highlights the optimism index and forecasts some sign of recovery on the horizon.
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Do you need a server?
Posted in Getting Down to Business, Technology | No Comments »
September 20th, 2009
In this entertaining “Getting Down to Business,” Dave talks with international consultant Geoff Burch about his sales management book, The Way of the Dog: The Art of Making Success Inevitable. Dave finds this book very motivating, compelling and full of useful information. Geoff proves to be a lively guest who tells great stories.
In other news: We also learn that Dave is broadcasting during International Talk Like a Pirate Day!
Listen or download below:
Sales: The Way of the Dog
Posted in Getting Down to Business, Sales | No Comments »
September 12th, 2009
The recession is finally heading towards Alaska, but Dave doesn’t want you to be pessimistic. He wants you to be prepared. To help you with that, he provides advice on cutting expenses and unnecessary costs in your business.
In the news, Dave talks about the recession’s effects on Alaska’s tourism industry and some competition for the Alaska Pipeline. And Dave’s guest is Ralph Swan, sales manager for Swan Employer Services.
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Preparing for an Economic Downturn
Posted in Getting Down to Business, Recession, Small Business | No Comments »
September 5th, 2009
Small business and labor have both been instrumental in building America’s success, and Dave takes the Labor Day Weekend episode of “Getting Down to Business” to explore the partnership between the them.
Dave’s guest, Paul Foutz, a walking encyclopedia of business information, shared important labor statistics with Dave and his listeners (appropriate for Labor Day Weekend, don’t you think?)
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Small Business and Labor- A Great Partnership
Posted in Getting Down to Business, Small Business | No Comments »
August 29th, 2009
Dave calls on all “Getting Down to Business” listeners to devote some time to long-term business planning. And, of course, he gives them advice and tools to plan effectively. Gerhard Vierthaler with Value Strategy Group explains the SWOT analysis to Dave’s listeners. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats and is a long-term planning analysis tool.
Long term planning becomes especially important during a recession. So, pull up a chair and let Dave give you Advice You Can Use.
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Long Term Business Planning
Posted in Business Planning, Getting Down to Business, Recession, Small Business | No Comments »
August 22nd, 2009
In this week’s “Getting Down to Business,” Dave continues discussing marketing by focusing on sales strategy for small business. His guest, Gerhard Vierthaler with Value Strategy Group, provides valuable cold-calling advice and encouragement in developing a small business sales strategy.
Amanda Cullen of Zoo in a Jungle Marketing gave small businesses advice on how to tie marketing in with your sales strategy to reinforce your brand and customers’ impressions of your business.
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Sales Strategy for Small Business
Posted in Getting Down to Business, Sales | No Comments »
August 15th, 2009
In this week’s “Getting Down to Business,” Dave asked Amanda Cullen of Zoo in a Jungle Marketing to give his listeners some creative marketing ideas for small business. Zoo in a Jungle Marketing specializes in small business marketing.
Dave also tells us the story of the founder of the Geek Squad, an entrepreneur who started the company with $600. As we all know, now Best Buy owns the Geek Squad.
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Creative Marketing Ideas for Small Business
Posted in Getting Down to Business, Innovation, Marketing, Small Business | No Comments »
August 8th, 2009
In this “Getting Down to Business” show, Dave further explores small business marketing with David Taylor of SugarSled Creative in Alaska and Amanda Cullen of Zoo in a Jungle Marketing, specializing in small business marketing.
The three talk about simple and innovative steps small businesses can take to advertise and promote their businesses. They also debate the benefits and drawbacks of low-cost positioning and why it’s not always a good idea to discount your products in a down economy.
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Small Business Advertising and Promotions
Posted in Getting Down to Business, Marketing, Small Business | No Comments »
August 1st, 2009
Small businesses need good marketing, which is why Dave dedicated this “Getting Down to Business” to marketing fundamentals. In a lively discussion, he talks with David Taylor of SugarSled Creative in Alaska and Amanda Cullen of Zoo in a Jungle Marketing, specializing in small business marketing.
They explain the 4-P’s of marketing (Product, Price, Place and Promotion) and how to integrate new marketing strategies into this classic categorization.
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Marketing Fundamentals
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July 25th, 2009
When you borrow money, there is a risk involved. Dave evaluates the risk to you and to the bank– and how these risks will affect your business. Everyone knows the cost of interest involved, but there are other costs and risks associated with borrowing that all businesses need to be aware of. He reminds businesses they need to, “Buy low. Sell high, and Keep the difference.”
Dave’s guest on “Getting Down to Business” is Mitch Jacobs, founder and CEO of On Deck Capital.
And in the news, Dave talks about the issues around mandating small businesses to provide health insurance for their employees.
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Alternative Lending Sources
Posted in Business Planning, Finance, Getting Down to Business | No Comments »
July 19th, 2009
Financial ratios sound intimidating, but Dave reassures listeners that it’s just, “Looking at the story behind the numbers.” After his regular news update, Dave helps Sunburst Coffee learn the importance of industry standards, ratios and other financial concepts. Dave makes these tools easy to understand and apply to your business.
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Financial Rations: The story behind the numbers
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July 18th, 2009
Dave believes the market analysis is the most important part of the business plan. He tells listeners what they need to include, what banks are looking for and what they need to know to ensure success.
Dave’s guest is Amanda Cullen of Zoo in a Jungle Marketing. This marketing firm specializes in small business marketing, and Amanda has a unique marketing philosophy for small business.
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Market Analysis for your business plan
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July 18th, 2009
Banks aren’t the enemy of small business, as Dave proves in this “Getting Down to Business” podcast. Dave takes listeners through the history of banking and how you can negotiate with them successfully for your business.
Relevant to today’s topic, Dave interviews Andrew Riddell, Vice President Business Banking Manager at Wells Fargo.
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Creating a Loan Package
Posted in Business Planning, Finance, Getting Down to Business | No Comments »
July 11th, 2009
In this wrap-up of the “Getting Down to Business” series on crafting a business plan, Dave Weatherholt gives listeners his final advice and tips for an effective business plan.
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The Do’s and Don’ts of Business Planning
Posted in Business Planning, Getting Down to Business, Small Business | No Comments »
July 11th, 2009
Dave’s guest on “Getting Down to Business” is Sam Dickey, Deputy District Director for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) who informs Dave’s listeners of the changes (some of them extensive) to the SBA. Some changes make it easier for small businesses to refinance loans.
And to help small businesses get their loans, Dave delves even deeper into the business plan for Sunburst Coffee. This podcast, he details the needs for the management team section and why it matters.
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Business Plan: Management Team
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July 4th, 2009
For Independence Day, Dave spoke about some of his favorite American entrepreneurs and small business people. Then, some breaking news surprised everyone that the state’s governor, Sarah Palin, would be resigning from office in two weeks. Dave and his producer Kathy react to the news with analysis of what this means for Alaska.
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American Small Business Greats
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June 6th, 2009
Dave’s guest on today’s “Getting Down to Business” is Elizabeth Happel, Vice President of the First National Bank of Alaska.
Preparing financial projections is often a difficult of scary process for new businesses. However, if you’re serious about your business venture, it is time well spent. While 95% of startup businesses fail in the first 5 years, Dave will walk you through the steps needed to plan ahead and be successful.
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Business Plan: Projected Financial Statements
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May 30th, 2009
During his KABA radio show, “Getting Down to Business,” David Weatherholt interviews Lynn Klassert, Senior Relationship Manager for Key Bank.
The bulk of the show is devoted to the financial projections of fictional Sunburst Coffee, Limited. The scenario: Dave is Anchorage’s best barista and wants to bring his blends to the city. But there are so many questions. How many customers do we need? When will we break even? Where will the money come from? Where should we locate the business?
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Business Plan: Financial Projections
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May 16th, 2009
In this very first episode of “Getting Down to Business,” David Weatherholt interviews Russell Ball, owner of Alaska Computer Brokers.
Dave also talks about the entrepreneurial spirit, the need for a business plan and the importance of balancing the free spirit of the former with the orderliness and planning of the latter.
Listen to the podcast now, or download it:
Nuts and Bolts of Business Planning
Dave also tells us about the seven critical areas a business plan needs to address:
- Executive Summary
- Define the business concept
- Market Analysis
- Employment and Management Planning
- Financial Analysis
- Benchmarks
- Appedices
Posted in Business Planning, Getting Down to Business, Small Business | No Comments »
May 13th, 2009
After the regular news update, Dave dives right in to the breakeven analysis portion of the business plan in this “Getting Down to Business” show.
Dave’s guest, Paul Foutz, is the CMA of the Institute of Management Accountants.
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Business Plan: Breakeven Analysis
As a bonus, in this podcast you’ll learn what motivates Dave to keep doing this show, week after week. (Hint: it’s all about you, the listener.)
Posted in Business Planning, Getting Down to Business, Small Business | No Comments »
