How to Build a Startup With Zero Cash

[mandy]

2 related articles:

We came to these 5 Conclusions (Some may not apply to your business, but they were for ours):

- No Business Plan: Don’t start by writing a business plan, a short executive summary and a presentation is what people will look at or read. If you can write clearly about your idea in 2-3 sentences then you are good to go, business plan should be a mashup of documents you wrote to explain different side of your company. Personally I don’t think anyone will ever read your business plan, maybe when VCs do their Due Diligence (?).

- Registration: We went to register our company and went to a lawyer from day one, they usually charge less when you’re just 2 guys in a garage developing a prototype...

full article: http://www.foundread.com/view/a-zero-cash-case

OK, so no one has written you a check to fund your startup.  What are you doing while you're waiting for that check?

If the answer is "nothing" and you think getting a check is the only way to start a business, I've got news for you.  There are a lot of ways to move your startup forward without having cash in the bank.

Let's assume that it will probably take longer than you think it will to get funded, if you get a check at all.  In the meantime, the more you can get done in the time you're waiting and pitching, the further along you'll be when you're ready to launch.

As a bonus, the further along you are before you get funded, the less equity you will potentially have to give up.  Getting more done makes your company more valuable, which means you can command a higher premium for the equity you're about to give up!...

full article: http://www.gobignetwork.com/wil/2007/7/1.../view.aspx