Freesourcing: How To Start a Business with No Money

Book description

So you've got the drive to start a business. You might even have the Big Idea all mapped out. But then you realise that you've got no money to take it to the next stage. Back to the day job? No way. That's where Freesourcing comes in. Believe it or not, you don't need money to start a business. There's an entire industry out there waiting to help you take your idea and make it happen... for free.  All you need to know is where to find the help and how to get your hands on it.

Freesourcing is the definitive guide to free business start up resources, showing you exactly where to go and who to talk to when you're starting a business on a shoestring. Freesourcers don't just think outside the box - they find out where they can get the box for free too. You'll find information on free:

  • Premises

  • Money

  • Computers

  • Travel

  • Online resources

  • Stationery

  • Advice and support

  • Legal help

  • Banking

  • Networking opportunities

  • Marketing and PR

  • Stock

No cash? No problem. So what are you waiting for?

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. Introduction
  3. About This Book
  4. 1. Use What You Have
    1. 1.1. Time
    2. 1.2. Family, friends and your social network
      1. 1.2.1. Limekiln
      2. 1.2.2. Facebook
      3. 1.2.3. Twitter
      4. 1.2.4. Audioboo
    3. 1.3. What's lying around?
      1. 1.3.1. Trashion House
      2. 1.3.2. Stuff in your house
      3. 1.3.3. Stuff in your life
      4. 1.3.4. Stuff in your head
    4. 1.4. Creativity
    5. 1.5. Emotion
    6. 1.6. The art of barter
    7. 1.7. Experience
      1. 1.7.1. Business consultant
    8. 1.8. Prices and negotiation
    9. 1.9. The entrepreneurial advantage
  5. 2. Setting Up the Foundations of Your Business
    1. 2.1. Elevator pitch
    2. 2.2. The legal entity
    3. 2.3. Using professional help
    4. 2.4. Business plan
    5. 2.5. A place to work
      1. 2.5.1. Pop Up Restaurant
    6. 2.6. Money
      1. 2.6.1. Credit card finance
      2. 2.6.2. Sfoozing
      3. 2.6.3. Savings
      4. 2.6.4. Inheritance
      5. 2.6.5. Bootstrapping
      6. 2.6.6. Buying and selling
    7. 2.7. Travel
    8. 2.8. Sourcing equipment
      1. 2.8.1. Declutter Expert
    9. 2.9. Food for thought
    10. 2.10. Business cards
    11. 2.11. Making yourself look bigger than you are
    12. 2.12. Protecting your ideas
      1. 2.12.1. Trademarks and patents
      2. 2.12.2. Copyright
      3. 2.12.3. Creative Commons
      4. 2.12.4. Digital download store
      5. 2.12.5. Getting your head around the public domain
    13. 2.13. Trial business services
    14. 2.14. Banking
  6. 3. IT and Communication
    1. 3.1. Computer equipment
      1. 3.1.1. DesKtop publishing
    2. 3.2. Getting on the Internet
      1. 3.2.1. Find a free wifi hofspot
        1. 3.2.1.1. Orange mobile
      2. 3.2.2. FON
      3. 3.2.3. Free dial-up
    3. 3.3. Data storage and back-up
    4. 3.4. Email and website
      1. 3.4.1. Free and easy service
      2. 3.4.2. Blogging
      3. 3.4.3. Professional blogger
      4. 3.4.4. Copywriter
      5. 3.4.5. Technically advanced users
    5. 3.5. Communication
      1. 3.5.1. Mobile phone
      2. 3.5.2. SMS
      3. 3.5.3. Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
      4. 3.5.4. Status updates
      5. 3.5.5. Fax
      6. 3.5.6. Directory enquiries
      7. 3.5.7. The Number (0800 118 3733)
        1. 3.5.7.1. Freedirectoryenquiries (0800 100 100)
    6. 3.6. Webinars
    7. 3.7. Template documentation
    8. 3.8. Professional business applications
      1. 3.8.1. Customer relationship management (CRM)
        1. 3.8.1.1. Sales force automation (SFA)
      2. 3.8.2. Web analytics
      3. 3.8.3. Expense tracking
      4. 3.8.4. Specialist database applications
      5. 3.8.5. Project management
  7. 4. Help, Skills and Training
    1. 4.1. Ask for help
    2. 4.2. Get new skills
    3. 4.3. Community skill sharing
    4. 4.4. Find a mentor
    5. 4.5. Motivate yourself
  8. 5. Research, Innovation and Prototypes
    1. 5.1. Research
      1. 5.1.1. Research consultant
    2. 5.2. Generate great ideas
    3. 5.3. Sell what you have
    4. 5.4. Get money to turn ideas into products
      1. 5.4.1. Start a business-to-business software company
    5. 5.5. White labelling
      1. 5.5.1. Ideas are infectious: make sure yours are worth catching.
      2. 5.5.2. White labeller
    6. 5.6. Getting stocked up
      1. 5.6.1. eBay retailer
      2. 5.6.2. Selling from home
  9. 6. Customers, Brands, Marketing and Sales
    1. 6.1. Create your own brand
    2. 6.2. Find customers
      1. 6.2.1. Sales agent
    3. 6.3. Get publicity
    4. 6.4. Obtain testimonials
    5. 6.5. Read trade magazines
    6. 6.6. Benefit from an army of sales people
    7. 6.7. Get accredited
    8. 6.8. Attend exhibitions
    9. 6.9. Get paid in advance
  10. 7. Growth and Next Steps
    1. 7.1. Forms of growth capital
      1. 7.1.1. Business angels
      2. 7.1.2. Venture capitalists
      3. 7.1.3. BanKs
      4. 7.1.4. Government
    2. 7.2. Some inspiration
    3. 7.3. Conclusion
  11. Freestarts: More Businesses You Can Start for Free
  12. The 10 Rules of Freesourcing
  13. Glossary
  14. Acknowledgements
  15. About the Author

Product information

  • Title: Freesourcing: How To Start a Business with No Money
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: January 2010
  • Publisher(s): Capstone
  • ISBN: 9781906465803