Entrepreneurial Ecstasy

I am working on a start up and getting involved with a clothing store in their 5th month since launching. They really fill a niche market in my city and I want to get involved. However I face the following:

1. They have no clue how to run a business. Great visions but no idea on to put on paper then actually make it happen.

2. Staff is a lot of friends and many hands in the pot right now.

3. They have no marketing efforts but doing well.

4. It is a side project and does not have anyone’s full attention

5. I am not fully looking for a full time role but with some direction it can do very well.

What do you think? Worth 10k???

Any and all advice is appreciated.

Just thought I would write a post on this potential move, one that is probably being considered more and more as wall street becomes a less stable place to work, but still is overshadowed by the typical PE/HF exit opportunities. Here are "popular" notions regarding startups that I have personally heard:

1) Do not pay well
2) Unstable
3) More suited for ex-consultants
4) Good thing to do "later on down the line", after established doing banking/pe/etc

Here are the realities, at least as I have found them over the past year or so:

1) Startups do not pay bonuses the way banks do, this is true; that said, salaries in biz dev at many established, VC-backed startups can easily be $70k-$80k+ (developers can def make more); also, there is an equity component to most compensation packages, that draws from an allocated option pool that the company issues, typically along with their first seed financing. The upside here can obviously be tremendous.

What base people would you need to hire? What clients would you need? and how does a consulting company charge for there services?

Hello guys. I am a long time lurker first time poster. I am making this post as it will now clear my mind since I have been thinking about this non stop for a while now.. I know this may be a long post but please bear with me.

I am having second thoughts about the direction of my life right now and would really appreciate everyone’s advice.

My background. Live in NYC, just graduated w/ biz management degree from Baruch college in February. Around 3.6 gpa w/ Cum laude. After graduating I took a temp job at a top BB bank doing collateral management. I just got laid off in the beginning of July due to budget/staff cuts with the temps being the first to go. I enjoyed the feeling of working at a big prestigious firm and I liked the people but at the same time they pissed me off since they were so unmotivated and were just happy to be mediocre their whole life. They were mostly people like me that just graduated from decent schools like Vilanova, Baruch, etc..

So I did the IB thing for the past year, and decided it wasn't for me. Despite what all the college kids will tell you on this board, its not all it is cracked up to be. I happen to enjoy beer, life, girls, and downtime, none of which are compatible with IB. Current analysts or other ex-analysts will appreciate this.

So since I left in early March, I have been testing the Bay Area job market. I dont really want to do traditional corporate finance, and I am not crazy about going back into IB. I have picked up a few part-time gigs (both FP&A and M&A/Investment related) to pay the bills, and have really enjoyed it. I am able to essentially set my own hours, only take projects that I like, and it pays quite well hourly. So essentially I am thinking of making a go at starting a mini-business with ex-analysts for hire.

Me and a person is creating an Investment Portfolio that is off a disclosed theory. We both are going to equally invest money then we'll be able to provide a performance sheet and at that time market it to people will to invest in our portfolio. Ocamm Razor, I need you guys help just to rip it apart so our eyes can be a bit more fine tune on our steps.

how about all of you... after some years in banking, what about startin a hf, a pe or vc... guess thats the dream of many.
but what about other business, like a restaurant or even a chain.. get the logo, the colors and the food.. with some special interior and style.

how about a coffee store like starbucks. ive heard they're rentable..

or just get a transporter and sell sausages lol