List Only

Start my own Independent Research Business...?

It's time to start my own business. I have a full-time job at a TV station in marketing, as a sales/research coordinator, where I've worked for 4 years. There's a high turnover rate in our department (due to the dept. head, a combo of the boss from the movie "Office Space" and the pointy-haired boss in the Dilbert comics). I have a B.A. in Communications, and I'm close to an M.A. in Communications, with English/Literature Minor. I have 15 years of experience in every form of media: print, market research, presentation/graphic design, radio/disc jockey, internet material & television. I have connections in every branch of media, and I have terrific skills in making relationships with clients. I won awards for my work. My finances are getting together. I honed my research skills with education & professional experience (sales, Lexis/Nexis). I want to start my own research business. My customers would be businesses learning about the market, the competition, etc. Where do I start?

Public Comments

1. You start by writing a business plan, so you know what you're getting into, and whether it will be profitable or not. (sba.gov) You need to think about your target customer segments, pricing for etc. Also consider the information already collected you can re-analyze (census, sba.....there are MANY companies that feed off this info to write e.g. grants, do customer segmentation research etc.). Census does a survey at least one a month if not more (economic indicators, etc.) Good luck!