Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses
In the United States there are approximately 29,000,000 small businesses. Most of these small businesses are founded by one or more entrepreneurs. One US Small Business Administration (SBA) measure for defining a small business is: a small business has 500 or fewer employees. According to the SBA, of these 29 million small businesses, approximately 23,000,000 small businesses do not have any employees.
In the United States, approximately one-half of all jobs are supplied by small businesses, so there is a correlation between more small businesses and increased availability of jobs.
Entrepreneurs Create Small Businesses
First, the entrepreneur conceives the invention/product/service and/or business model. Then that entrepreneur will develop a method to commercialize the invention/product/service. According to the SBA, each year more small businesses “are birthed than die.” Over the years, BPL has witnessed entrepreneurs who fail to realistically approach the problem of anti-commercialization forces that result in the death of small businesses. At the same time, those entrepreneurs who do persist can create small businesses that have 100 or more employees with annual sales of 200 million dollars or more.
The owners of a $200MM small business usually have a group of trusted advisors in place, but what about startups?
Entrepreneur Advice and Startup Considerations
If you are one of the 23 million small business owners, entrepreneurs or start-ups, you should:
- Think and rethink the invention/product/service
- Discover competitors and discern how your invention/product/service is different – your market niche is likely narrower than you originally thought
- Determine how to make a profit in your niche market
- Seek and listen to the advice of other successful small business owners
- File Intellectual Property Applications – if your market and price point(s) justify the filings
- Patents owned by startups provide the owners a limited monopoly to prevent others from making, using, offering for sale or selling their patented invention
- Investors appear to like small businesses with Intellectual Property portfolios
- Prepare a business plan
- Commence assembling your team of trusted advisors – mentors first – then accountants, attorneys, engineers, insurance professionals, investors, lenders, and scientists, etc.
Many small business owners reap large financial rewards when the small businesses are sold to a third party.
Get Help With Your Small Business Venture
Business Patent Law, PLLC would like to assist you with your small business or Intellectual Property needs. Please contact Business Patent Law, PLLC and we will discuss possibilities for your business.
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