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Startup Tips and Tricks: Getting a Small IT Shop Off the Ground

Startup Tips and Tricks: Getting a Small IT Shop Off the Ground. Presenter: Kevin Grossnicklaus June 25 th , 2011. We want to thank the sponsors of KCDC. Without them, none of this would be possible. Thanks to Our Sponsors. Gold Sponsors. Silver Sponsors. Product Sponsors. Agenda.

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Startup Tips and Tricks: Getting a Small IT Shop Off the Ground

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  1. Startup Tips and Tricks:Getting a Small IT Shop Off the Ground Presenter: Kevin Grossnicklaus June 25th, 2011

  2. We want to thank the sponsors of KCDC. Without them, none of this would be possible. Thanks to Our Sponsors Gold Sponsors Silver Sponsors Product Sponsors

  3. Agenda • Introductions • Lot’s of content • Final Thoughts

  4. Introductions • Kevin Grossnicklaus • ArchitectNow-www.architectnow.net (2009-Present) • President • Washington University - CAIT Program (2003-2010) • Instructor • SSE - www.SSEinc.com (1999-2009) • Chief Architect • Software Development Practice Leader • Email: kvgros@architectnow.net • Twitter: @kvgros • Blog: blog.architectnow.net

  5. ArchitectNow • Training • Mentoring • Framework Design and Implementation • Code Reviews • Project Development • Short Term and Long Term Engagements • As Needed Support

  6. Expectations

  7. Expectations • Why am I here? • How deep are we going to get? • Will this pertain to my exact business? • What types of businesses might this information be most pertinent to?

  8. Getting Started

  9. First Steps • Naming • Incorporation • State Incorporation • FEIN (IRS Form SS-4) • Bank Account • Securing: • Domain Name • Twitter Handle • Initial Web Presence

  10. Identifying Partners • Banking • Legal • Accounting • Health Insurance • Liability Insurance • Mentors • Partners

  11. Banking • Local vs. National Bankers • Advantages of staying local as a small business • Financing Needs? • Debt financing (loans) • Equity financing (investors) • Simple Checking Account • FEIN required

  12. Legal • Identify local small business attorneys and meet with a number of them • Why is legal necessary? • Contracts • Protection • Biggest Legal Needs • Employee and Contractor Agreements • Trademark (and Patent?) Help • Partnership Documents • Master Agreements • Work Orders

  13. Accounting • Identify local small business accounting firms and meet with a number of them • Why is accounting necessary? • Questions • Corporate Taxes • Help in securing financing • TAXES!

  14. Health Insurance • Insurance options differ greatly between a company with one employee vs a company with multiple • Find a good insurance broker willing explain your options • Be prepared to pay

  15. Liability Insurance • Health insurance brokers and liability insurance brokers are two different people, companies, etc. • You WILL need liability insurance • E&O insurance

  16. Mentors • Identify people in your peer group you look up to that have had success in similar businesses or just businesses in general • Reach out to them via a lunch or happy hour and ask questions, get advice, and start to build a relationship to get further guidance

  17. Partners • Partners are companies for whom you rely on for business or to achieve the goals of your business.

  18. Marketing • Brand and Logo • Don’t be afraid to invest in your identity • Initial Website • Community Events • Speak and sponsor • Make your presence felt in the market • Networking Events • SEO • Social media • Relationships

  19. Sales • Contracts • Billing • Receivables • Reporting

  20. Location • Home Office • Physical Office • Onsite at Clients

  21. Tools and technologies

  22. Tools Overview • Email • Phones • Website • Computers • Collaboration • Development Tools • Accounting • Misc: • ALM • Time Entry

  23. Phones • RingCentral($99/Month for 5 lines plus cost of IP phones) • Custom 800 numbers • Fax System • Automated attendant • Custom voice mail and extensions for all employees • IP Phones, soft phones, mobile apps (iPhone, Android, and Blackberry) • Voicemail to WAV file via email

  24. Website • DNS management • CMS Systems • DotNetNuke • Orchard • SiteFinity • Others • Templates • TemplateMonster • ThemeForest • Others

  25. Computers • Big box vs Custom vs. Mainstream (i.e. Dell) • Dell Business Account • Considerations • Backups: Acronis True Image • Support: Dell • Security Patches: Microsoft • Antivirus: Vipre

  26. Collaboration • Hosted SharePoint: FpWeb, SherWeb • GoToMeeting($49/Month) • Microsoft CRM ($200/Month) • SalesForce.com

  27. Development Tools • Microsoft BizSpark Program • ALM • Hosted TFS • SVN via Assembla • Git via GitHub • Other Dev Tools: • Balsamiq ($80/User)

  28. Accounting • Quickbooks ($400) • All invoicing • Financial reporting • Receivables

  29. Misc Tools • Harvest Time Entry ($60/Month for 5 users) • ConstantContact • HootSuite • EventBrite • VistaPrint

  30. Growing a business

  31. Single Employee to Employer • Payroll • Outsource • Tax implications • Group Health Insurance • High cost and strict rules • 401k • Strict rules for owner • Safe Harbour • Legal • Employee Agreements • Subcontractor Agreements • Misc • Vacations • Ethics • Expenses • HR

  32. Office Space • Office Space • Furniture • Lease • Utilities • Location • CraigsList • DiscountCoffee.com

  33. Final Thoughts

  34. Additional Resources • Magazines • Inc • Entreprenuer • Local Small Business Resources • http://www.ithinkbigger.com/ • City, State, and Federal Small Business Programs • Local Business Owners Networking Opportunities

  35. Additional Resources (Cont.) • Peers, Family, Friends • Graphic Design Support • CrowdSpring,99Designs, and HatchWise

  36. Next Steps… kvgros@architectnow.net Twitter: @kvgros

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