W
elcome back to Clearing the Way. A resource for small business. I talk with sales and HR experts, other small business owners, and anyone else that can provide you with information to clear your way to success.
Today’s Topic: When and How to Start?
We covered:
How do you know if your idea is viable?
If a product, should I design the thing first?
Do I need a business plan?
What even is a business plan?
When should I make a business plan?
How early should I think through the numbers?
How do I even think about the numbers?
How can you test it?
Should I drop everything and start or ease into it?
I’ve decided the business is right for me, now what?
Do I file for my LLC?
What types of professionals do I NEED immediately?
Accountant? Lawyer? Bookkeeper?
Can I do it all myself at the beginning?
My guest today is Max Miller, Associate Professor, Director of Entrepreneurial Studies and Director of Ignite Business Incubator at Washington and Jefferson College. Max graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1990 with a Bachelors in English. He went straight to the University of Pittsburgh where he gathered a Corporate Law degree. Max spent the next 10 years as a corporate lawyer. In 2004, Max received his MBA from Northwestern University. Max spent the next few years working with a major corporation in process improvement and implementation. Over the next several years, he moved through a few new organizations where he was the Chief Administrative Officer, Director of VIP Experiences, Executive Vice President, and COO. In 2016, he joined the staff of Washington and Jefferson College. Max has also started a few businesses of his own. He has been the President and Chief Tasting Officer for Raise Your Spirits for the last 17 years where he helps organizations build lasting internal and external relationships using unique tasting experiences. Max leads the Ideas to Enterprise program at Ignite where local small businesses join a 5 week program that teaches business owners the fundamental skills for leading a successful business.
Max Miller
Ignite Business Incubator: https://www.igniteforsuccess.org/
Raise Your Spirits: https://www.raiseyourspirits.net/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-miller-0975681/
Full Episode