Online Consulting (Appendices)

Executive Summary

Background

Business Concept

Market Analysis

Objectives and Strategies

Company Organization

Appendices

Issues List

Issue

While the owner has significant management experience in a medium-sized corporation, he has no experience as a business owner.

Solution

1. Use the services of experienced consultants during the startup phase, and thereafter where appropriate.
2. When possible and prudent during the startup phase of the business, create learning opportunities by performing work directly that might in the future be subcontracted.
3. Read industry publications and take pertinent training courses on a regular basis.
4. For the long term, identify potential equity partners in the business whose strengths complement the owner's weakness.

Issue

The proposed business concept is unproven because the combination of services that Borderline Transmissions plans to offer have rarely, if ever, been offered as the single specialty of a consulting business.

Solution

Owner's intuition says otherwise.

Issue

It may take longer than anticipated to build a sufficient income stream to support the owner

Solution

Owner has sufficient financial resources to devote full time efforts to Borderline Transmissions through October, 1994. If this problem extends beyond that time, the owner may need to pursue other income opportunities.

Issue

Borderline Transmissions will, at least initially, be a single-person company. Situations may arise where this resource is overextended due to project demands

Solution

1. Limit the number of projects undertaken at any given time,
2. Arrange contingency coverage with Alliance partners in advance of each major project.

Issue

The most valuable assets of Borderline Transmissions are its computer equipment, and the data stored on that equipment. These are subject to damage or loss.

Solution

1. Obtain insurance for all computer and telecommunications equipment.
2. Obtain and install a backup hard disk for the Quadra 660AV, and backup all business data each day. Also backup vital data once a month and store it off site.

Sample Language for Marketing Brochure

Why Online?

In the mid-1990s, online access has come into its own as a business communications tool. Companies (and their customers) are going online in record numbers. Many consider it indispensable and are turning it into a competitive advantage. Why? Because they know that online access puts some very powerful tools onto your desktop (or laptop, or palmtop):

• Electronic mail and fax capability, so you can instantly exchange messages and files with co-workers, customers, and vendors-across the hall or across the globe.
• Admission to the electronic marketplace, where products and services are traded in the fast-growing online community of over 20 million people.
• A key to the online data banks that provide—on demand—almost any type of business information.

The best thing about going online is that it frees you from the old limitations of time and location. Online, you can do business at any time of the day or night, anywhere in the world.

Why Now?

Why wait? Getting connected now is a smart move for companies of any size that use or provide information. That's because:

It's affordable. Today's communications hardware, software, and network services are within the reach of most company budgets, and they keep coming down in price.

It's easy. Most online resources are accessible with simple, point-and-click graphical software—the kind that's familiar to any Macintosh or Windows user.

Your competition is probably doing it.

By the way, you don't even need your own connection to advertise online—you can put your ad on rented disk space at of the many electronic shopping centers that have sprung up. But because communication is a two-way street, and because communicating online is the wave of the future, we recommend a direct connection for your business.

The Race for Cyberspace is on!

Why Borderline Transmissions?

Going online is the right move, but preparing a business for its launch into cyberspace can be an ordeal-even for experienced computer users. You have to negotiate a maze of tasks and issues, like:

Strategic direction. What specific online activities will support your business objectives? How can you best leverage your connection to increase sales and cut costs?

• Choosing from among the hundreds of available hardware, software, connection, and service options.
• Installing, configuring, and testing your system. Training your staff. Writing the user manual.
• Once online, navigating through cyberspace so you find what you need—and avoid information overload.

To get set up, you have two choices—you can do it yourself, or get help from an expert. If you decide to go it alone you can expect many hours of effort and frustration, and maybe some costly mistakes. If, on the other hand, you decide you can use some help–that's what Borderline Transmissions is for.

Current Balance Sheet

Income Statement

Startup Costs

Glossary

Following are definitions of the ex-dictionary terms used in this business plan.

Bbs

Bulletin Board Service. A single-location Online Service (could be either commercial or non-commercial).

Commercial Service

One of the following: America Online, BIX, CompuServe, Delphi, Eworld, Exec PC, GEnie, MCIMail, NVN, or Prodigy.

Database Service

One of the following: CAN/OLE, Chemical Information System, Data-Star, Data Times, Dialog, Info Globe Online, Lexis, Nexis, NewsNet, OCLC, Orbit, Questel, STN International, or Westlaw.

Internet

A global, non-commercial online network.

Isdn

Integrated Services Digital Network, a high-speed data communications technology employed over standard telephone lines.

Internet Provider

An organization providing Internet Access to the public.

Online Technology

The use of to modems (or more advanced connective technology) with communications software to allow computers to communicate with other computers.

World Wide Web

A hypermedia system for searching the Internet.

About the Owner

Samuel H. Palmer's long-time interest in personal computers began in 1979 when his parents bought a new Apple II and he spent many hours tinkering with it. He has never been the same since.

Palmer, 34, is a thirteen-year resident of San Jose, California by way of St. Louis, Missouri; London, England; and Eugene, Oregon. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from San Jose State University. Before starting Borderline Transmissions he worked for eleven years in the international banking industry, much of that time involved in the development of CashNet, an online financial data transmission network. Away from business pursuits he keeps himself occupied traveling, writing, playing the keyboard, and spending time with his two sons, ages 5 and 7.