Tuesday, December 6, 2016

How Can I Invest in Startups?

According to an angel investor Paul Graham, startup investing is easier than I expected, and also more interesting. The part I thought was hard, the mechanics of investing, really isn't. You give a startup money and they give you stock.”

Well, it’s easy to invest in a startup, but finding the right startup to invest in is still tricky. You must first explore all the arenas to find the right startup and here are some ways to do so:
  • For direct investments, use venture investing platforms like microventures.com, fundersclub.com etc.
  • Investing in startups through your IRA or self-directed 401k is a great blend of tax shelter and growth potential for your retirement funds.
  • You may also invest in startups via personal connections and relationships with entrepreneurs and founders that you can build in person on online over Linkedin and other business networks!
  • Attending pitch events is also a great way to look for ideal startups.
  • Subscribing to startup news is also a great way to find investable ideas!
  • Join a syndicate on AngelList if you prefer to follow other investors.

You may also be interested in knowing the process for cashing out from startup investment.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Never Stop Networking. Don’t Give Up

There comes a time for many first time entrepreneurs and small business owners that they feel exhausted with work load, stagnant growth, slow revenue streams and overall with the tiring business environment and they feel that networking is not just possible!  

Well, that’s the point where the game begins; and you will find in all small business help resources to keep on networking even when you are super tired!  

It’s the actual challenge and the best way to meet this challenge is to never stop networking, never stop pushing. It’s easy to give up when everybody around you … is telling you ‘you can’t do it’. You have to be around positive people. Then push on.” – (Starts at 1:08) Tom Force, Owner, ICE Keytags

Monday, November 7, 2016

Small Business Resources for New Entrepreneurs

Being a new entrepreneur, it's very common to feel lost at times. In fact, seasoned entrepreneurs also encounter such situations at times when they need help.

Business advisors, mentors and consultants are though the best source of help, they are not always available for a variety of reasons, i.e. your budget doesn't aloow hiring a consultant, the mentor you want to go to is already booked and so on.

In such a situation, good blogs are life savers, and so it's a must to know about some which can be really helpful in starting and growing your small business.

Here are few I really like and I am sure, you will find their advice very useful!
  1. Outright.com
  2. Kick-Ass Business Advice
  3. StartupsBuzz.com
  4. SmallBusinessClan.com
  5. Meryls Notes at meryl.net
  6. Unconventional Thinking
  7. CareersLinked.com
  8. Bryan Nagy - Marketing Insight
  9. The Small Business Watchdog
  10. Small Biz Bee

Monday, October 10, 2016

Small Scale Ice Cream Shop; a Profitable Business Ideas for Villages with Hot Climate



If you live in a small town, rural setup or a village where most of the year or at least 6 months are hot enough to enjoy cold refreshment, starting up your own ice cream shop can be one profitable business idea.

You might have explored tons of small business ideas for small towns in various lists and now you are undecided about which one to start. Starting up an ice cream shop is low investment idea, plus it cannot be unsuccessful, if your ice cream tastes good enough to attract people!

Though the business requires low investment and not a bigger space, but does need handsome amount of training and skills to set up and manage the business. 

Focus on making of delicious flavor of ice cream and how to serve it well to maximum people. Don’t worry about the space, it can be a mobile ice cream shop too!

Here are some resources that can help you start and run your ice cream shop more effectively:

Sunday, August 28, 2016

Mobile Food Truck; Is It a Good Business for Cities Like Chicago?


Chicago is without a doubt, one of the most fertile grounds in the US for small businesses. If you are a fresh grad living or planning to move Chicago, or an executive looking to quit job and start own business, Chicago has a number of opportunities!

I am sure, you are not lacking business ideas, as you might have explored a big list of small business ideas for Chicago already, but you are just undecided.

So, if you are confused with the idea of “food trucks” and think of it as something ugly that sells unhealthy greasy food, you need to wake up! Time has changed and now almost every good food outlet, i.e. restaurant, cafĂ©, chefs etc. are taking it serious!

Yes, it requires and investment, but not as much as a full-fledged restaurant requires… so yes, it’s a low budget business idea for cities like Chicago and has a huge potential!

While you move on roads with your mobile restaurant, it’s not just the food that will speak about it, but you will get ongoing media attention and social media fans!

So, it’s a big yes…. Go for it, and all you need to focus is delivering the best taste and healthy food!

Here are some links to help you get started:

While I am a big supporter of mobile food truck business in Chicago, my friend Sam insists on starting a recruitment agency in Chicago. Do check his view point too!




Thursday, August 25, 2016

Pick & Deliver Car Washing Service Can be a Highly Profitable Business in New York City

Did you know thousands of people, drop the idea of car wash on regular basis just because they cannot afford all the time to take the car there, wait for it to get washed and then drive back.

So, if you have lately been exploring lists of small business ideas for New York City, and you feel you have nothing to invest in, go for this one.... All you need to spend is a few hundred dollars on marketing your service online.

Get the order, go and pick the car, get it washed and drive it back to the customer and charge your commission. You even don't need to invest in a service center initially. As you will be bringing so many orders, you can get discounted rates from any car washer!

Now, this guide will help you in marketing your car washing service online!

One of my friends also discussed photography as a low cost business in New York. Do check that too, as it also doesn't need any investment, except in marketing!

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

3 Small Business Ideas that are high in Demand in Mumbai & Pune

As a fact of the matter, when the economy of a city grows, there are more opportunities for people to start small and micro businesses. This is exactly how you may find hundreds and thousands of small business opportunities in Mumbai and Pune.

At StartupGuys.net we developed big lists of small business ideas for Mumbai and small business ideas for Pune. The lists include almost just any good business idea that can prove to be success, however, here I’d like to list the top 3 that are always in high demand. Here goes my list:

1- Restaurant: People cannot live without food, so either you start a food cart, a food van or a proper restaurant, it should pay off the reward.

 2- Recruitment Firm: Hundreds and thousands of companies out there. Employers want to hire and candidate want jobs. And it’s evergreen!

3- Groceries Delivery Service: People in big cities need things to get done faster, so rather than going out and spending time in a nonproductive concern they want it to be delivered. It’s going to be a big hit in future!

That’s my choice; and yes do check my other post on 3 Easy to Setup Small Business Ideas for Mumbai or Pune.