HomeResourcesArticles&NewsInteractiveLinksAbout UsContact Us
 Home > Interactive Content > SMB Strategy Cast

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

SMB Strategy Cast #17 - Municipal Wifi and the Small Business

  • May 17, 2006

  • Podcast Description – Cover business strategy topics that pertain to startup, small and medium business.

  • In this episode - I will talk about the hot topic of municipal WiFi and how it affects small and medium business, as well as introduce the new format for this Poscast.

  • I doubt you have been able to escape the articles on free and low cost wifi in Philadelphia and San Francisco over the last few months. Big names such as Google, Earth Link, and Cisco have been involved in the bidding process.
  • .
  • How will Municiapl WiFI affect your small or medium business? - The bottom line is that it will save you money and increase productivity. Some example how:

  • o You are staying in a Hotel in San Francisco – instead of paying the $9.99 a night in the hotel for access you log into the free wifi to check your email.
    o You have remote sales people in Philadelphia that take orders on their laptops – now they can transmit instantaneously using the free wifi instead of waiting until latter when they have an Internet connection, are in the office or paying for wireless broadband.
    o You employ people that work from home and need broadband which you pay for…

  • This sounds great, but back to those Ads that the members of the press feel we should be worried about - I am not sure what to say, how about “there is no such thing as a free lunch” and we all realize this. Some one has to pay for the service and through advertising is much better that out of the small business’ pocket right?
  • But the bottom line is that we the small business owners do get it. We want the free wifi and are willing to look at a couple ads in lieu of paying $6 for an hour at Starbucks, $12 for a night at a hotel or $80 for a month of wireless broadband.
  • Link to article in eWeek by Andrew Garcia, "San Fran's Wi-Fi Plan Includes Ads".
  • Music for today’s show was provided by to the podsafe music network at music.podshow.com. The artist is Bob Hughes (www.bobhughesmusic.com). Go to Bob's page on the podsafe music network.

  • Email questions or comments to podcast@bizplanhelp.com
  • For help with your business plan, startup or strategy project, check outwww.eaglestrategygroup.com and www.bizplanhelp.com

  • Download this Episode

Friday, May 05, 2006

SMB Strategy Cast #16 - Business Plan - Financial Plan Part 2

  • May 5, 2006

  • Podcast Description – Cover business strategy topics that pertain to startup, small and medium business.

  • In this episode - This is the second episode in a 2 part series on the FINANCIAL PLAN.

  • Will cover what is included in the Financial Plan and give tips for creating the Financial Plan
  • .
  • Using Microsoft Excel or another spreedsheet program to set up the financial statements

  • In general, create forecasted financial plans with 3 Years – 1st year by Month, 2nd & 3rd year by quarter.

  • I like to build the Excel with 6 sheets, 3 are for internal discussions: Assumptions, Startup Costs, and Projections. The other three sheets are the financials that will get copied into the business plan: P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow.
  • Assumptions – Big Picture Text to set the reader’s mindset – Example: Revenue in the first year will be $2 million and grow 10% per year.
  • Startup Costs – What is needed to get the business up and running or get a product into production? Examples: Equipment, Real Estate, Salaries, etc.
  • Projections – Detailed profit and loss by month for the 3 years. On the P&L you show revenue, on the Projection you break down the revenue into its major components. Example – A product company may show major products or product lines and show the sales by month and use the assumption of growth by 10% per year.
  • P&L – I actually put three statements on this sheet. Three year annual, which is just the total form the other two statements, 1st year by month, and 2nd & 3rd year by quarter. Most of the items on the P&L are just sums form the projection page.
  • Balance Sheet and Cash flow are the final two sheets. – like P&L I include three statement: 3 year annual, first year by month, and 2nd & 3rd year by quarter.

  • Podsafe Music at beginning and end of show - MSFF, “Brooklyn”. For more info on MSFF go to there page on the podsafe music network. Or, for more podsafe music go to music.podshow.com.

  • Email questions or comments to podcast@bizplanhelp.com
  • For help with your business plan, startup or strategy project, check outwww.eaglestrategygroup.com and www.bizplanhelp.com

  • Download this Episode