Monthly Archives: February 2011

Your Startups Pre-Launch Checklist: Mac vs. PC (Part 14 of 14)

Mac vs. PC from the Startup Garage

Your Startups Pre-Launch Checklist: Mac vs. PC (Part 14 of 14)

Mac vs. PC: The Great Debate
Since the dawn of time there have been hundreds of great rivalries: Thomas Becket vs. Henry II, Yankees vs. Red Sox, and Wile E. Coyote vs. Roadrunner (just to name a few). In terms of information technology, Macs and PCs have been carrying out an epic feud of their own for many years.

Now, you may have already chosen what camp you are in based on past experience. If you are setting up a new infrastructure, put your biases aside and re-evaluate whether a Mac or a PC is right for your small business.

A Breakdown of Each

Below is a rundown of Macs and PCs and how they fit into your startup:

Mac

  • Can run OS X and/or Windows
  • Simple to use
  • Less likely to get computer viruses (can still happen though)
  • Comes with the Apple Store support team
  • Trendsetting, well designed, and visually appealing
  • The majority of artists use Macs

PC

  • PCs are customizable and entrepreneurs can build their own
  • Tend to be less expensive
  • Many different PC companies to choose from (HP, Dell, IBM, etc.)
  • PCs have a larger support community
  • The majority of businesses use PCs

Pros and Cons of Using Macs and PCs for Your Startup

It should be noted that there really is no set rule when it comes to determining whether a Mac or PC is right for your startup. In the end, its really what you prefer in a computer that matters. Traditionally, Macs are usually used for creative people such as photographers, graphic designer, and film directors. They are generally easier to use and are less likely to contract a virus than a PC.

On the other hand, PCs are more widely used in the business world. They tend to be about half the price of Macs and have many more business applications available to them. There is also a wider variety of PCs than Macs, so it may be easier to find one that suits your small business needs.

Just to recap: the most important thing to keep in mind is what your startup is doing before you buy all your computing needs. Try to do some research before you make your purchase. Asking companies related to your industry what computers they use is a great way to avoid headaches in the future.

 

Whether you have a question about your business setup or you’d like to discuss our business plan writing services, feel free to contact us for a free consultation!

Your Startup’s Pre-Launch Checklist: Location (Part 13 of 14)

Location from the Startup Garage

Your Startup’s Pre-Launch Checklist: Location (Part 13 of 14)

Now that you have written your business plan, set up all of your legal groundwork, and put a marketing plan into place, you should start thinking about setting up your physical infrastructure. In this post, The Startup Garage will go over the dos and donts of picking the best location for your startup or small business.

What Questions Should I Ask Myself?

The first question that most entrepreneurs should answer before they select a location is quite simple: how much space do you really need? Here are five questions to ponder about before you start checking for For Rent signs:

  • How much space do you need?
  • How much can you afford to pay?
  • How important is location to your startup?
  • When does your new space need to be ready?
  • Have you thought about everything your small business may need (furniture, phones, fax, Internet access, etc.?)

Where Should I Start Looking?

Asking a Commercial Real Estate Agent is often a good starting point when you are searching for a location for your startup. These agents will generally focus on finding a place, negotiating a lease, and/or search for vendors to help you with the move. Most of these brokers are free to you, since they tend to receive a commission from the owner of the building.

Read Your Lease!

Make sure you understand what your lease says before you sign it. Landlords tend to skew lease agreements in their favor, so it may be a good idea to have an attorney that specializes in commercial real estate review the lease before you sign. You’ll be happy that you did!
 

Whether you have a question about your location or you’d like to discuss our business plan writing services, feel free to contact us for a free consultation!

Startup America – The New Partnership to Support Americas Startups

Partnerships to Support America from the Startup Garage

Startup America – The New Partnership to Support Americas Startups

Two weeks ago was President Obamas second State of the Union address. While there have been mixed reviews regarding the speech overall, there were some positive implications for startups. As part of a mission to win the future by out-innovating, out-educating and out-building the rest of the world the White House launched Startup America on Monday, an initiative designed to encourage the development and success of new startups. The program focuses on increasing funding opportunities for startups and improving entrepreneurial education, with resources provided by both the public and the private sector.

Who is Taking Part?

So far only a few of the tangible details of the program have been announced, but one thing that we do know is that several big name entrepreneurs and companies are getting involved. The Chair of the initiative is Steve Case, co-founder of AOL, and some partners that have already signed on include Google, Facebook, HP, Intel and IBM.

The specifics of how partners will be involved are still mostly unknown, but the general parameters for what they will contribute will include 3 things: creating workshops to educate business owners, bringing entrepreneurship education to institutions of higher education, and funding new businesses.

Facebook has made their role in Startup America more clear with the announcement of their program entitled Startup Days. The program includes 12 monthly meetings around the country to provide early stage companies with engineering and design support on the Facebook Platform. Another contributor to the Startup America program is Tech Stars, a startup incubator that currently has 4 locations in Seattle, New York City, Boston, and Boulder, CO. They have announced a plan to support 10 new incubator locations around the country as part of the initiative, an expansion which they hope will be responsible for the creation of 25,000 jobs.

Funding Entrepreneurship

In addition to encouraging private companies to take a larger role in supporting entrepreneurs, the federal government has also committed to contribute $2 billion in funding for startups over the next 5 years. More specifically, the money has been dedicated to startups with high growth potential, as well as startups inunder servedcommunities. Some companies are also pledging significant funding to startups through the program: IBM has committed $150 million to the program, and Intel has committed $200 million. We hope this is the start of more major funding resources to come, whether from the federal government or private sources, as lack of funding is one of the greatest challenges for startups today. One interesting aspect to watch is how the federal dollars are allocated. With so many startup experts like Steve Case and the Kauffman Foundation getting involved, it seems like they would be much better at choosing deserving startups for the funding than the federal government would.

We are also hoping to see more funding and resources directed toward small businesses and startups that are not considered high-tech. These traditional companies account for about three quarters of all startups in the US, and are clearly a cornerstone of our economy.

While the specifics of the initiative are still being rolled out, the prospect of upgrading our support system for startups should be very exciting for entrepreneurs everywhere.

 

Whether you have a question about your startup or you’d like to discuss our business plan writing services, feel free to contact us for a free consultation!