◆ Build a business from your own home

◆ Be a great boss – or your own boss

◆ Market your company and make an impact

CBN45 2013 PRINTED IN THE UK £9.99

the TechPro series

Manage money

Raise cash and keep it flowing with our

guide to profits

Take control

Learn everything you need to know

to start a legal, protected business

They did it!

Learn the secret of success from the

world's top startups

start u

p you

r ow

n bu

siness

go

from

tiny id

ea to

ma

ssive pro

fit!

4

Get startedRaise capital ................................................................ 8 Need a little operating float? It’s easy to generate cash

Stay legal online ......................................................... 14 Making money online is tempting but legally frought

Start up for free .......................................................... 16 A little ingenuity and cunning can get you off your feet

Get rich ....................................................................... 26 Want to make serious money? Check out these avenues

Find great staff .......................................................... 34 Don’t think you’re in this alone. You’re not

EssentialsFrom idea to business ............................................... 38 Turning your dreams into reality one step at a time

Launch an official business ....................................... 50 Do it by the books now, and you’ll thank yourself later

Manage your money ................................................... 64 Keep track of your finances if you want to succeed

Contents

contents

5

The perfect environmentFocus your workflow .................................................. 80 Stay on task and get things done efficiently

Build your team .......................................................... 88 Profile, interview, and select the best team

Practise proper ergonomics .................................... 100 Sit right and protect your health while working

Go freelance today .................................................... 106 Wave goodbye to The Man: you’re in charge now

Make a great working environment ...................... 122 Stay happy in the ultimate workspace

Stories of their successUrban Coffee Company ............................................ 126 From bean to cup to apps and beyond

Free Geek .................................................................... 130 Making money from old kit, and supplying those in need

App millionaires ........................................................ 134 A simple bit of software can make you rich

Top 20 startups .......................................................... 140 The best and brightest, profiled. Get inspired

Imagine it, make it,

sell it

38

From a bean of an idea to a cup full of product, you can turn your hobbies and desires into a nice little sideline

S etting out on your own is equal parts dream and nightmare. You’ll shed the bonds of The Man and become your own person, but you’ll also have to bear the burden of responsibility – if you want to be a success, you are going to have to make yourself a success. That’s

what this feature is all about. You may have heard the cheesy adage “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail,” but it’s been bouncing around for a century for good reason.

Whether you’re quitting your job to take on a new self-generated career on a whim (and let us say now, please don’t do that, it’s a bad idea) or supplementing your income by doing the best you can with hobbyist skills, we’ll give you the advice you need to get started, get producing, and get your products out there in the easiest way possible. Anyone with the drive can become a brand, and given time and effort your brand might just rival the big names. And if it doesn’t, we’ll help you make sure that your best efforts won’t leave you in the gutter. All you need is your internet connected computer, determination, and an idea...

imagine, make, sell

39

Money

matters

The issue of money management fills

many who start out on their own with

dread. But there’s no escaping it – the

business-savvy get ahead. In between the fun,

excitement and occasional sheer terror of

running your own gig, you have to face up to

the reality that it’s a business – and must be

managed like one if it’s going to succeed.

Cash flow is key. You need the right pricing

structure in place and a few tricks of the trade

to speed up the payment process. Crucially,

you’ll also need to know what’s coming in and

going out at all times. So let’s get cracking –

from balancing the books to planning ahead,

this section brings you a plethora of practical

business tips for managing your bottom line.

64

The issue of money management fills

many who start out on their own with

dread. But there’s no escaping it – the

business-savvy get ahead. In between the fun,

excitement and occasional sheer terror of

running your own gig, you have to face up to

the reality that it’s a business – and must be

managed like one if it’s going to succeed.

Cash flow is key. You need the right pricing

structure in place and a few tricks of the trade

to speed up the payment process. Crucially,

you’ll also need to know what’s coming in and

going out at all times. So let’s get cracking –

from balancing the books to planning ahead,

this section brings you a plethora of practical

business tips for managing your bottom line.

65

MONEY MattErs