Startup Challenge?!

[VincentHerrera]

My wife and I are competitive, so we came up with a (hopefully) fun idea, called "The Startup Challenge". This will give a total "noob" some idea of what decisions go into starting a photography business. Aside from being a teaching tool, anyone participating stands to make some money. And, the best part is, anyone on the forum is invited.

The idea is still a little rough, but the rules would be simple:

1. Most profitable=wins. Monthly, and annually.

2. It really has to be a start up. No piggy-backing on your current site, or using existing portfolios. This would work best for those actually starting up, those looking to re-invent, or just the extremely helpful.

3. Actual, real-time, profits/losses. Meaning, we must tally up every single expense as a new one. So, if you decide to use your expensive studio setup for the challenge, then the current prices you would pay (retail, ebay, etc. Not borrowing equipment or studio space from your current business, or whatever.) goes in the expense/loss category.

4. Full disclosure is a must. If you can't see yourself giving up a "trade secrets", or exact numbers, please keep out.

5. This is supposed to be a benefit to everyone involved, including the
casual reader. Fudging the numbers won't help anyone.

I'm open to more suggestions that will make this work better, overall. Also, I had the thought that this might be something too complex to have on a forum. That being said, I'm open to a more private competition between just a handful.

VincentHerrera added 723 Minutes and 23 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Am I allowed to bump my own post (even once)? If not, I'm sorry.

30 views and not even a suggestion for improvement. That's too bad. Now I know how some people feel about not receiving C/C. I'll leave this as an open challenge till the end of this week (March 21, 2009), and then I'll drop it. I hope that someone sees this and has their interest piqued (at least a little.)

Still, I find it hard to imagine that not a single TPF member is interested in just throwing a "back-burner" idea out there, and getting a project off to a jump start.

[J Eddington]

This seems like a offer that I saw from a guy who will finance your startup. But of course this is a challenge.

[toverman]

Originally Posted by J Eddington

This seems like a offer that I saw from a guy who will finance your startup. But of course this is a challenge.

Do you mean Mark Cuban?

[Jake]

Isn't this "challenge" what everyone with photography business goes through?
This sounds like you want to know all the in's and out's of having a successful photography business. What works, and what doesn't.
I guess calling it a "challenge" sounds better than saying "tell me everything you know".

There are tons people sharing all kinds of great info about starting up a business here on TPF. If you have a question about a subject you will probably get some great answers.
But I just don't think this whole "challenge" thing is going to work.

But I hope I'm wrong and loads of people jump on this!

[Cajungaltx]

I like the idea.... if I had a 'startup' company.

Money is a funny thing - people like to be quiet about it...

[VincentHerrera]

Originally Posted by thejakestir

Isn't this "challenge" what everyone with photography business goes through?
This sounds like you want to know all the in's and out's of having a successful photography business. What works, and what doesn't.
I guess calling it a "challenge" sounds better than saying "tell me everything you know".

There are tons people sharing all kinds of great info about starting up a business here on TPF. If you have a question about a subject you will probably get some great answers.
But I just don't think this whole "challenge" thing is going to work.

But I hope I'm wrong and loads of people jump on this!

I'm sorry that I came across that way. I've been a full-time, professional photographer since 2002(with the exception of the last six months of 2005. I'd relocated, and needed a viable source of income until marketing took hold), and I'm considering a secondary project. One that I can play around with. I was planning on being one of the participants, and sharing at least as much as the rest.

This challenge is only meant to encourage the competitive spirit that some people (read: me, myself, and I) have.

[David Whatley]

Is it limited to photography? I have done several startups in the past, and in a "restart" now. For those that are considering a restart, DONT :)
Just for slitz and grins, I'm in.

[VincentHerrera]

Originally Posted by David Whatley

Is it limited to photography? I have done several startups in the past, and in a "restart" now. For those that are considering a restart, DONT :)
Just for slitz and grins, I'm in.

Hmmm. What did you have in mind?

[micajoy]

I'm just starting up and I'm open to the idea.

[J Eddington]

That is the one. I just couldn't think of his name for anything. I still like the idea. He wants you to get off you butt and make it happen. I think that is what this challenge is about. Sometimes if you say something outloud for everyone to hear it makes you work harder at it.

Originally Posted by toverman

Do you mean Mark Cuban?

[VincentHerrera]

Janice,

That's the idea. I'd never heard of M Cuban till now, but I like what I've read so far. Ideally speaking, a couple of participants would almost be running partners. I've never been able to run alone -- not since I was in the army -- but as a semi-competitive, like-minded group...Wow, suddenly I was a runner.

I'm not trying to harm the industry, or take over someone's niche' market. All I'm trying to do is stay ahead of myself (which is the only place to be) :)

VincentHerrera added 7 Minutes and 9 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Originally Posted by micajoy

I'm just starting up and I'm open to the idea.

Sounds great! I'm still trying to work out all of the finite details of how to go about this, so please share whatever you've got (suggestions, concerns, motivation, etc.)

VincentHerrera added 66 Minutes and 44 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

I received a PM that might be more beneficial, while being less invasive.

"I was just thinking. Maybe you could make the challenge fit more people. Make the challenge to post one thing that they are going to do over the next 30 days to bring in more business. New or old. Then report at 30 days, 60 days and 90 days how it worked out. Since everyone has different price points score on number of New Clients and Repeat clients completing sessions. Rather than put $$$ to this use precentages. Up 25% new business, 15 % repeat business etc."

This makes more sense, and seems more comfortable for anyone thinking about participating. What do you think?