Starting a business isn't always easy. But there's help out there. And if you're an entrepreneur over 50, that help might come in the form of Bizstarters.com.
The company provides coaching and support for entrepreneurs in the Baby Boomer generation. Read about how the business got started and what it does in this week's Small Business Spotlight.
Coaching for Baby Boomer Entrepreneurs
Provides business coaching and support for Boomer entrepreneurs.
Jeff Williams, creator and coach for Bizstarters.com told Small Business Trends, “To date, we've coached more than 1,000 new boomer business owners by offering them a totally mobile online planning program, regular expert telecoaching and a package of key organizational tasks completed by our expert support team. Most of our clients launch their businesses in 12 to 14 weeks, for well under $10,000. For entrepreneurial people over 50, we provide the bridge from a good idea to a great business.”
Business Niche
Surrounding clients with support.
Williams says, “Our mission of surrounding each client with the best advice, best planning and best support starts to be told in our Virtual Incubator logo, showing the upper body of a human surrounded by brightly colored dots representing each member of our startup team.”
How the Business Got Started
In the middle of a recession.
Williams says, “I started as a marketing consultant (after an 18 year corporate career as a MBA-trained marketing guy), but realized quickly that many small business owners were lacking experience in key parts of the business or had not properly completed key tasks. So, I evolved into a full service business start-up provider. Launching in the middle of the 1990 recession there were many, many talented managers who had been downsized. Over 7 years we guided more than 300 through the startup process, working with an award winning job training agency.”
Biggest Win
Making it through a successful 25 years in business.
Williams explains, “Over this period I have seen dozens of companies enter the market claiming to be the end-all guide for new entrepreneurs. I have seen much ballyhooed federal training programs aimed at launching new businesses come and go, and I have seen big corporate players claim to provide just the right kind of help entrepreneurial boomers need … and then disappear from sight. And yet, we continue to connect and serve the new boomer entrepreneur, helping all variety of people turn good ideas into great businesses.”
Lesson Learned
Build reliable streams of leads early on.
Williams says, “I would find marketing partners more quickly and develop more reliable streams of leads more quickly. Life is much more enjoyable as an entrepreneur when you enjoy a steady stream of people or businesses who are highly interested in what you do. When this happens you don't really need to sell - just show how you can solve a problem.”
How They'd Spend an Extra $100,000
Giving back to the community.
Williams says, “Provide training scholarships to veterans to start businesses, and to bring entrepreneurial education to more inner city kids.”
Business Helper
A dog named Junior.
Williams explains, “I started my business on our dining room table and my first “assistant” was my dog Junior, who tried day after day to pick up the mail the postman had dropped through our mail slot. He eventually succeeded in picking up select pieces of mail, but for some reason they were always bills!”
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Image: Jeff Williams, Bizstarters
This article, "Spotlight: Bizstarters Helps Entrepreneurs Over 50 Build Businesses" was first published on Small Business Trends
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