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Showing posts with label Business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Business. Show all posts

Monday, July 15, 2013

CrowdFunding Explosion! Not Just Yet...



 

The SEC has made dramatic headway in terms of its eliminating the rule regarding public announcements ("solicitations") by companies of their intent to raise money through the sale of securities such as stock, bonds or other instruments. That bodes well for the U.S/ capital markets in general, and especially for smaller business, such as start ups, technology ventures and small businesses who wish to become capitalized through an initial public offering ("IPO") or something similar.

By the same token, The SEC now has a firm deadline of mid-October by which it must promulgate its rules and compliance standards for smaller, i.e., crowd funded, public offerings of securities over the internet. These are both great strides.

What troubles my colleagues and myself here at CFI CrowdFunding Incubator LLC is that each state has its own securities governing body, generally under that state's attorney general's office, and each state is within its constitutional rights (assuming that the Constitution is still considered relevant by someone in issuing its own individual laws and guidelines with respect to offerings of securities within its jurisdiction.

These "Blue Sky" - like laws will undoubtedly come cropping up like crabgrass in springtime as soon as the October announcements are made by the Securities And Exchange Commission.

An article from a CBS newsbrief follows to shed some further light on the issue:


For crowdfunding, the revolution will be localized

Despite hoopla over the JOBS Act, few believe that national crowdfunding is set to take off -- and states aren't waiting around to find out
For crowdfunding, the revolution will be localized

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I strongly believe that each state's attorney general will want to have his or her respective say about its own "supplemental compliance rulings" to the JOBS Act. And because of this, interstate offerings, multi-state offerings and national offerings may require compliance with multiple sets of rules, which could be quite expensive (in terms of legal bills), and could make the SEC's rules almost irrelevant. There could even be some interesting legal challenges.

Yes. We are making great strides within the US with respect to crowdfunded online offerings.

But the issue that remains is: What will the states, each respectively, do, in terms of helping with the process, or hindering it. Those of us at The CFI Group Of Companies want to see legislation infused with the original spirit of the JOBS Act -- but whether or not the states' attorney generals will agree is a story yet to be told.

We will be keeping you up to date.


Douglas E. Castle, CEO

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Sunday, July 14, 2013

CrowdFunding - The REAL Cost.



 

The conventional wisdom about the "cost" of crowdfunding has now all but been boiled down to a simple rule of thumb. For the most part, prospective Project Sponsors believe that the cost of raising their capital will be about 5% to the hosting portal site owner, and anywhere from 1.5% to 3.75 % to the merchant payment systems processor. This, of course, does not take into account the cost (present or eventual) of rewards to contributors.The fast calculation is that a Project Sponsor might believe that raising his or her funding goal will cost from 6.5% to 8.75%. That's merely a part of the cost.

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I would suggest that you read this article very, very carefully, and then 1) go to the site for CrowdFunding Incubator LLC and read about the admonitions and obligations on the part of the Project Sponsor to do many things, and then go to the Instant Biz 101 blog and download document Number 4, or whichever document talks specifically about The Project Manager's obligations -- the download should become your bible and your principal source of reference.
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An article excerpt from The Washington Post, below discusses this in a qualitative, imprecise way -- identifying some of the types of cost (and missing some others), and avoiding qualifying campaign costs as well as post-campaign costs item-by-item.


What it costs to crowdfund
Entrepreneurs should remember that there will be costs associated with running a crowdfunding campaign, writes Bob Carbone, CEO of CrowdBouncer and board member of the CrowdFund Intermediary Regulatory Advocates. Before beginning the campaign, for example, a business may need to prepare key documents. During the campaign, business owners will need to pay the crowdfunding portal and handle certain compliance costs. In addition, entrepreneurs should be ready to pay for accounting and legal services after the campaign has ended. The Washington Post (tiered subscription model)/On Small Business blog (7/9)


A) Here's a quick checklist of your cost contribution elements prior to your own campaign:

1) prepare all of your video, audio, plan, use of funds and other exhibits;
2) be certain to have a LinkedIn, Facebook and other social media existence;
3) legally protect your intellectual property;
4) get your email and social media list together to "push" your pavilion, once you re up on the site. Your core investors are not generally strangers -- they are your friends, colleagues and social connections. Your going to hit them up constantly. Strangers generally won't believe in you unless your circle of contacts starts to throw money into your company's cup;
5) be certain that you are raising money for your project in the form of a legally-formed entity (in good standing) with a federal Taxpayer EIN.


B) Here's a quick checklist of your cost contribution elements during the campaign:

1) direct email campaigns;
2) social media campaigns;
3) delivering any promised documentation or rewards [Double Miles!] to your contributors;
4) thanking contributors and requesting that they bring in their friends as well -- expand your circle;
5) running your project while you are raising funds;
6) working your social media aggressively and relentlessly;


C) Here's a quick checklist of your cost contribution elements after the closing of the campaign, assuming that you've met your stated goals:

1) delivering a newsletter or statement of progress and success, as well as your thanks to all of your contributors;
2) being certain that you speak with your independent CPA and or tax attorney regarding any tax obligations which you may have for what you have delivered or received, and make certain that all regulatory filings and payments are made;
3) send your benefactors (if you are a for-profit entity or a not-for-profit with a specified project) monthly newsletters regarding your progress -- they way in which you are putting those contributions to work.

Not counting your hours of labor, the cost of your contributor rewards, your fees paid to outside professionals and your tax burden, by the time you are 60 days past funding completion (assuming that you are doing a $50,000.00 funding for a techno or business venture), you can expect to have spent a total of at least 20% of the funds which you've raised -- the beauty is that you only pay the bulk of it (my guess is all but about 5% to 7% of it) out of proceeds raised, and you can reimburse your earlier out-of-pocket costs out of contributed funds. Am excellent deal, actually.

CFI - The risk is minimal, and the potential reward, well... enormous.

Douglas E. Castle  

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Tuesday, June 4, 2013

9 Steps To Super Wealth - And Amazing Success


Saturday, June 1, 2013


9 Steps To Riches: The Magical Mindset Of The World's Wealthiest And Most Powerful People 

You should be visiting: The CFI Group Of Companies Website. There's a great deal for everyone's self-growth, professional success, achievement and happiness. BTW: Entrepreneurs and Project Sponsors for CrowdFunding are welcome!

 










Yes. There are certain mindsets, decision making characteristics and ingrained habits which make and keep the world's ultra wealthy...well...ultra-wealthy. In the aggregate, if you review all of these things, memorize them very well, and make them a conscious part of your personal, "Magical Mindset," odds are in your favor that you will make better lifestyle, business, investment and general management choices. In my blogs, Douglas E. Castle and The Taking Command Blog, I allude to these frequently.

Every businessperson, entrepreneur, Diva-In-The-Making, manager, commander, Project Sponsor [http://GoToCFI.com] and ambitious boot-strapper or future tycoon needs to read and memorize these critical strategic ways of thinking. The outline, taken from brief articles drawn from Forbes, INC. and CEO  magazine follows, with brief explanations of each item (in fact, a voice recorded recital of all of these items follows at the end of this article which you can listen to over and over to reaffirm these points to your subconscious!):

If you want to get an edge and separate yourself from the common herd, take some cues from the seven beliefs and habits of the most successful people:

1. An equity position is necessary to get wealthy. 
Ninety percent of the super-successful say this is true, versus fewer than half of the masses. More importantly, 80 percent of "business brilliant" people say they already have an equity stake in their work. Just 10 percent of the middle-class have an equity position of any kind, and the vast majority (70 percent) say they're not even trying to get one.

2. I'm always looking to gain an advantage in my business dealings. 
About 90 percent of "business brilliant" individuals say they are always trying to grab an edge, compared with just about 40 percent of the middle-class. Gaining even small advantages in a series of deals can have a cumulative effect on your wealth, but since most people aren't even looking for one, they're that much more likely to end up on the disadvantaged side of every deal.

3. Doing things well is more important than doing new things.
Getting wealthy usually means you've taken an ordinary idea and executed it exceptionally well. That's what 9 in 10 "business brilliant" people believe. Most other people, though, think that wealth requires a big, new idea. Unfortunately for them, big ideas are rare and risky. Too many people are waiting on the sidelines for the perfect big idea to come along, while the most successful people have jumped in the game, and busily honed their skills at execution.

4. I hire people who are smarter than I am.
Exceptional execution requires those who are business brilliant to focus on the two or three things they do very well. So they get their work done by building teams with complementary capabilities. Surveys show that most people, though, would rather learn to do tasks they're bad at than get others to do them. The business brilliant know that you get to the top because of your strengths, not your weaknesses.

5. It's essential I really understand my business associates' motivations.
If you're dependent on other talented employees, you'd best know what makes those talented people tick. That's the belief of about seven in 10 people in my "business brilliant" cohort, compared with fewer than 20 percent of the middle-class. My survey suggests that your willingness and desire to really get to know and understand your business associates is a sure marker of success--and one that most people don't have.

6. I can easily walk away from a deal if it's not right.
The "business brilliant" know that bad deals, like bad marriages, can be painful--and costly. So if the deal on the table isn't right, 71 percent say they have no problem cutting bait and moving on. Only about 22 percent of the middle-class say the same. Most people are willing to take their chances on deals that don't seem right from the start, even though it's less risky to walk away.

7. Setbacks and failures have taught me what I'm good at. 
Those who are "business brilliant" have, on average, more failures than members of the middle-class. But they use those failures to help them succeed on the next attempt. Just 17 percent of the middle-class say they learn from their failures in this way, which is really a shame. Everything worth trying contains an element of risk, after all. If you fall on your face, you might as well learn from the experience to help you succeed on your next try.

8. I'll recite these words and take these actions every single day:

"Here's what I'm thinking."
You're in charge, but that doesn't mean you're smarter, savvier, or more insightful than everyone else. Back up your statements and decisions. Give reasons. Justify with logic, not with position or authority.

"I was wrong."
I once came up with what I thought was an awesome plan to improve overall productivity by moving a crew to a different shift on an open production line. The inconvenience to the crew was considerable, but the payoff seemed worth it. On paper, it was perfect.
In practice, it wasn't.

"That was awesome."
No one gets enough praise. No one. Pick someone--pick anyone--who does or did something well and say, "Wow, that was great how you..."
And feel free to go back in time. Saying "Earlier, I was thinking about how you handled that employee issue last month..." can make just as positive an impact today as it would have then. (It could even make a bigger impact, because it shows you still remember what happened last month, and you still think about it.)
Praise is a gift that costs the giver nothing but is priceless to the recipient.

"You're welcome."
Think about a time you gave a gift and the recipient seemed uncomfortable or awkward. Their reaction took away a little of the fun for you, right?
The same thing can happen when you are thanked or complimented or praised. Don't spoil the moment or the fun for the other person. The spotlight may make you feel uneasy or insecure, but all you have to do is make eye contact and say, "Thank you." Or make eye contact and say, "You're welcome. I was glad to do it."

"Can you help me?"
When you need help, regardless of the type of help you need or the person you need it from, just say, sincerely and humbly, "Can you help me?"
And in the process you'll show vulnerability, respect, and a willingness to listen--which, by the way, are all qualities of a great leader.
And are all qualities of a great friend.

"I'm sorry."
We all make mistakes, so we all have things we need to apologize for: words, actions, omissions, failing to step up, step in, show support...
Say you're sorry.
But never follow an apology with a disclaimer like "But I was really mad, because..." or "But I did think you were..." or any statement that in any way places even the smallest amount of blame back on the other person.

"Can you show me?"
Advice is temporary; knowledge is forever. Knowing what to do helps, but knowing how or why to do it means everything.
When you ask to be taught or shown, several things happen: You implicitly show you respect the person giving the advice; you show you trust his or her experience, skill, and insight; and you get to better assess the value of the advice.

"Let me give you a hand."
Many people see asking for help as a sign of weakness. So, many people hesitate to ask for help.
But everyone needs help.
Don't just say, "Is there anything I can help you with?" Most people will give you a version of the reflexive "No, I'm just looking" reply to sales clerks and say, "No, I'm all right."
Be specific. Find something you can help with. Say "I've got a few minutes. Can I help you finish that?"

"I love you."
No, not at work, but everywhere you mean it--and every time that you feel it.

Nothing.
Sometimes the best thing to say is nothing. If you're upset, frustrated, or angry, stay quiet. You may think venting will make you feel better, but it never does.
That's especially true where your employees are concerned. Results come and go, but feelings are forever. Criticize an employee in a group setting and it will seem like he eventually got over it, but inside, he or she never will.

---------------

9. I'll occasionally use these three words to give me instant credibility:

When it comes to credibility-building, the three most powerful words in the English language are: "I don't know."

Many salespeople and most managers think that they'll lose credibility if they admit ignorance, especially about something about which they "ought" to know. However, the exact opposite is the case.

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If you enjoyed the article above, and want to truly program your conscious and subconsious minds to put these suggestions into beneficial action, listen to the recording which follows at least once every day, preferably around dinnertime, when you are alone and relaxed.

Thank you for reading me, and for retweeting (RT) and sharing my articles with your connections, colleagues and friends through your social media!

Here's a taped recital of all of these important points for your repeated listening, training and habituation (you will likely need an Apple Quicktime or similar player to get play this and to receive the maximum benefit, although when downloaded you may route it to your Windows Player, and other programs and devices). Your best option is to make this page a favorite, and review and replay as needed. Maximize the benefit by reading (visual) and by listening (aural, subliminal).

RECORDING [CLICK] OF "9 STEPS TO RICHES"

Again, thank you.

Douglas E. Castle

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CFI, C.F.I., CrowdFunding Incubator,  crowdfunding, crowd funding, incubators, accelerators, finance projects, listing services, start up, small business, SME, funding, capitalization, financing, leverage, company services, management, marketing, fundraising, technology, mentoring, advice, media, branding, memes, business tips tricks tools and resources, entrepreneur, forum, discussion, applications, technologies, risk assessment, business model, strategic planning, organizational development, connections, networking, early-stage, first-round, angel  funding, venture capital, credit lines, assistance, business growth, biz builders, social media power, delegation, automation, monitoring, metrics, brainstorming, meetups, joint ventures, partnerships - http://CFICrowdFundingIncubator.blogspot.com, http://www.CrowdFundingIncubator.com, marketing, messaging, news releases, free, gain market share, increase backlinks, SEO, influence, disruption theory, directory, RSS feeds, Douglas E. Castle, blogroll, blogs, crowdfunding blogs...

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