I have to "start" a small business [on paper only] for a class I'm taking at a local junior college. [associate's degree].

Given my interest in puppets/venting, I thought I'd used that as a basis for this hypothetical business. i.e. I don't have to actually start the business, just do everything on paper.

Can someone give me some ideas? For example, should I call this an entertainment business? or what?


Any other ideas?

Are they wanting the specifics or the outline of the business? Ex. Do they want to know the steps you would take, such as opening a website, applying for a city license, getting insurance... or do they want to know what your business is?

For the latter:
Entertainer vs. entertainment The first is a person, the second a company that provides more than one person.
Services provided Traveling puppet show for audiences, particularly young audiences.
Expected clients Schools, libraries, churches, Blue and gold scout banquets, daycares, park and rec programs, birthday parties, fairs, festivals, children's museums...
Geographic range of clients Any of the above within (?) miles of _________________.
Expected costs Inventory $3,000 per year (puppets, magic, sound equipment, staging)
Travel $4,000 per year (mileage, tolls, hotels, airfare)
Insurance $300 per year (performer's insurance)
Advertising $3,000 the first year (postage, printing, booths at conferences, google ad words, website, etc.)
$1500 each additional year
Business phone: n/a (will use home phone)
Office rental: n/a (will run from home)
Possible tax savings on office in the home.

Optional:
Sales of product after show (I don't do this but others may chip in and say how much you can expect)
Number of shows per year: It will take a minimum of 150 to consider it full-time and it is difficult to get more than 220 in a good year. So 150-200 is a good estimate. This is 3 to 4 per week. That lets you know how much your AVERAGE fee should be.
Ex. Average $200 would only give you $30,000 before expenses (listed above) if you had 150 shows. So you want to charge more than $200 for schools, churches, and perhaps libraries. Daycares, birthdays, and parks and rec will want to pay less than $200.

We have to answer 20 questions about our business. Here's what I've come up with so far.


The Top 20 Questions


1. What type of Business do you want to have or do you have?
a. Entertainment/puppetry

2. What is the purpose of your business?
a. To entertain audiences using puppets/ventriloquism; clean humor and a message of faith


3. Who are you target customers?
a. Churches
b. Non profits
c. Corporations

4. What is your primary product or service?
a. Entertainment with a message


5. What is the primary function of your product or service?
a. To use ventriloquism and stand up style humor as a vehicle to bring a positive message of faith to churches and to bring a secular message of teamwork to corporations.


6. What are the three unique benefits of your product or service?
a. Adaptability
i. If an organization does not want a faith-based message, the message can be adapted for a secular message such as teamwork, customer service etc.
b. Solo act
i. Customers will not have to pay for a team.
c. Unique to the SC area.
i. I am not aware of anyone else doing this in the state.



7. What is your reason for being in business? (to make a profit is not a viable answer here)
a. To use humor via ventriloquism, to deliver a message to my audience.

8. What led you to develop your product or service?
a. A desire to use humor as a venue for taking a message of hope, faith, and joy to potential customers. This is a form of ministry as well as a business.


9. Who is your competition? (be specific)
a. No known local competition.


10. How is your product or service different from that of your competition?
a. n/a

11. What are the top three objections by potential customers to buying your product or service immediately?
a. Do they need a humorist
i. Yes, humor is a great way to cause people to let their guard down, therefore easier to receive a message
b. Value
i. Will it be worth hiring someone
1. Proof of this will come from clients that I work for at little or no cost
c. They can do it themselves
i. Yes, but it takes years of practice to do this, they will not be effective.


12. What is the pricing of your product or service versus your competition?
a. Since I am just starting out, and local to SC only, Id be less expensive than hiring a nationally known talent.



13. When will your product or service be available?


14. Is this product or service used in connection with other products / service?
a. Not yet, possibly later with DVDs of past shows etc.

15. Are you making any special offers to distributors or customers?
a. Customers within a 50-mile radius will pay a lower rate and will not have to pay for travel or a hotel.


16. What is the key message or phase that describes your business?
a. Every person has value, and should have deep joy because they are a creation of Gods.


17. What are your current plans for advertising and promotion?
a. Word of mouth
b. Website with video of a performance
c. Will also use a speakers bureau


18. Do you have datasheets, brochures, diagrams, sketches, photographs related press releases, or other documentation about your product?
a. Not yet.


19. How will you finance the growth of your business?
a. From my profits


20. Do you have the management team needed to achieve your business goals?
a. n/a


Thanks
Rog

I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I know that fully well.
Ps. 139 [NIV]

keep THREE sets of books: one for you, one for the teacher and one for the Feds...

I thought I'd take a crack at answering your questions as it regards my own business.

The Top 20 Questions


1. What type of Business do you want to have or do you have?
a. Entertainment/ Puppets, ventriloquism, and magic

2. What is the purpose of your business?
a. To entertain and motivate families or children in an audience.


3. Who are your target customers?
a. Churches
b. Schools
c. Libraries
d. Birthdays

4. What is your primary product or service?
a. Entertainment with a message


5. What is the primary function of your product or service?
a. To deliver a motivational message that will be remembered for years to come.


6. What are the three unique benefits of your product or service?
a. Available year round
b. Local
c. Affordable quality without the exaggerated cost

7. What is your reason for being in business?
a. To create smiles and motivate individuals

8. What led you to develop your product or service?
a. I have always loved humor and puppets. Through the years I have been given ample opportunity to learn more about each.

9. Who is your competition?
a. Theater groups and individuals who do school assemblies
b. Local magicians, puppeteers, or ventriloquists
c. Vacation Bible School pre-packaged programs
d. Videos

10. How is your product or service different from that of your competition?
a. My costs are low because I stay busy locally, act as my own secretary, and have ample inventory already.
b. My show is completely self contained. All I need is a plug in and an 8 by 8 area.
c. I have 20 years of experience, with over 4,000 shows.
d. I offer a variety in one show via puppets, ventriloquism, and magic

11. What are the top three objections by potential customers to buying your product or service immediately?
a. They have not seen me perform (if they had there would be no hesitation)
b. Funding: Although I am very affordable they may not have the funds at this time
c. They may never have had something like this before.
d. They can do it themselves, although it takes 5 times as many people and 10 times as much preparation time, to accomplish something that won't be as professional, though passable.


12. What is the pricing of your product or service versus your competition?
a. I am mid-range in the pricing, though I am one of the least expensive full time performers.



13. When will your product or service be available?
a. I have several themes and each is available year round.


14. Is this product or service used in connection with other products / service?
a. This is a great fit for anything where jumphouses, balloon animals, or face painters are considered. Those provide short activities for individuals while I provide a longer show for the entire audience.

15. Are you making any special offers to distributors or customers?
a. Customers in Sacramento County will pay a lower rate and will not have to pay for travel or a hotel.


16. What is the key message or phrase that describes your business?
a. Laughter and lessons that last!

17. What are your current plans for advertising and promotion?
a. Word of mouth
b. Website with video of a performance
c. postcard mailout to schools
d. email to state pastors
e. flyer mailout to libraries within 80 miles


18. Do you have datasheets, brochures, diagrams, sketches, photographs related press releases, or other documentation about your product?
a. Photos
b. Postcards
c. Business cards


19. How will you finance the growth of your business?
a. 10% of net income will go to marketing
b. up to 10% of net income will go to props and supplies


20. Do you have the management team needed to achieve your business goals?
a. Supportive spouse


Thanks

Thanks Tony, I've used your answers as a "go by" and created my own. I'll turn it in Monday.

Thanks
Rog

I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I know that fully well.
Ps. 139 [NIV]