Remember How I Said I Had A New Business Model?

Yeah, and didn’t it sound so cool? Well, it sounded cool to me anyway…And remember how it sounded like it was the “future” plan for my business? As in, soon, but not today?

Yeah.

Well, it’s today. In fact, it was yesterday. I had a meeting with a really great new restaurant…cool chef, up from San Fran (won’t hold it against her), wants everything I have…times, oh, say THIRTY!!! What, did I just say we could provide 30 pounds of Arugula? Ok, I didn’t say I could do that today…but I did say I could do that.

And I can do that…not here at Windy Hill Farm (where I live), but here at Dancing Hills Produce, the name of the produce arm of Gardener to Farmer. I think I should say Farm one more time…

So, I need a network NOW…and interestingly enough, I already have two growers (since yesterday!)…so that is a great sign! Now, I need to spend this weekend hammering out the details…Here’s what I think I will need:

• A contract with the grower that includes a non-compete clause and income split
• A strategic growing plan
• Ummm…a finished business plan? (don’t throw rocks…I know I need to finish it)
• A harvest and delivery process
• Legal incorporation
• Liability insurance (these last two are musts, actually, they are all musts)
• A Tanq and Tonic…with a couple of limes, please…

It is clear that I will have no shortage of postworthy topics…and if you have any suggestions about other things I can do, please, feel free to contact me!

StartUp Nation and Office Live, What’s not to Like?

Listen, this StartUp Nation site is unbelievable…It has to be one of my favorite resources. I don’t know if you are a podcast addict, like I am, but they have a million casts, all about issues that are relevant to business owners…A couple of my favorite…one with Tim Ferriss and this one about eCommerce.

These guys really know how to sell their product. They have identified their niche, providing support for start ups and entrepreneurs, and their whole site is dedicated to just that…so many resources, they have essentially become my “go to” business site. Now, that is an accomplishment when there is such a glut of information out there that I spend most of our time screening it out…

And they are such smooth sellers…they have plenty of free information on their site, but they also offer products and services at a cost…usually, they have a great deal, a certain percentage off, extra benefits, etc…which makes these offers very appealing to businesswomen on a shoestring budget. And here’s the deal…I can be very cynical when it comes to being “sold”…been there, done that, don’t want to do it again. But, this format is so genuine, transparent, and helpful, that I don’t mind it. I think, “Yeah, that is a great deal and I DO need someone to help me with X”. Do yourself a favor and check them out.

One of my other favorite sites is Microsoft Office Live. I know, I know, Microsoft Office is an expensive, but necessary software for business owners everywhere…but here’s the deal…most of what is offered on Office Live is FREE…yes, you can choose to upgrade and/or buy additional services, but it is really designed to function very effectively for small businesses who can’t afford all of the bells and whistles…

For example, I host my gardening business (Gardener to Farmer) website there…I created a site off of a template and they gave me the domain free…yes, FREE! None of that cost me a dime. I also have an email account that is forwarded to one of my MSN accounts for free.

I recently discovered that forwarding of email accounts, something I thought to be an essential component of all email accounts, is not always free. A fact I am none too happy about…

In any case, Office Live has a contact manager that links your accounts with Outlook, as well as multiple business applications. All of the services are so user friendly my 8 year old could do it…note to self: train Nathan to use Office Live, STAT…

Which brings me to the ultimate value of both of these sites…as an Entrepreneur, I am already working long days, scrabbling around to piece together information, funding, contracts, etc. The last thing I need is difficult to manage technology…if I am going somewhere for help, it has to be easy to find what I need and simple to use.

In a business, saving time equals saving money…and saving money equals cash in your pocket…