Re: [HackerspaceSG] Request for Information: Business Clinic?

[Luther Goh Lu Feng]

Afaik, blk 71 offers accounting and legal clinics for free. They would probably offer such sessions if requested, and likely for free too.

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From: Juanita <juanita....@gmail.com>;
To: <hacker...@googlegroups.com>;
Subject: [HackerspaceSG] Request for Information: Business Clinic?
Sent: Fri, Aug 3, 2012 3:56:56 AM

I would like to test interest from the business owners out there, if you guys have an opinion :) If there are clinics on a variety of operational topics, would you pay $50 to attend a 60-90 minute session?  Structure:  - max 15 person - Specific topic for each session e.g. New company incorporation, How to organise your company finances, Hiring Foreigners, Government Agencies to Register For/How To Use - Participants send in questions before session e.g. How do I do CPF submissions, what documents do I keep for audit and how to I file them, what does my company secretary really do?? - Answers prepared before session and discussed at session - Time pending, open to the floor for any other questions It seems everyone wants guidance on fiddly details of running a business but would you pay for advice or would you rather do your own research? -- -- Chat: http://hackerspace.sg/chat

[Luther Goh Lu Feng]

[Luther Goh Lu Feng]

IMHO startups that are cash strapped will probably just google or ask their friends

[Juanita]

Cool thanks Luther! good to know blk 71 is doing something as well.

[Sven Berg Ryen]

It's a pretty neat list of info that you have there.
I think I would buy a book with all those topics - even an e-book,
since most of the resources online tend to be US based with the general
assumption that "what works in the US also applies everywhere else in the world"

But would I sit down at a seminar? Most likely not.
Maybe if the seminar came bundled with an e-book I could use later as reference.

[Juanita]

So here is a plug for an e-book that is in the making and might just
be what you are thinking of:

http://woodegg.com/sg

[Paul Gallagher]

Hi Juanita,

That's an excellent outline, and a nice formula for a business guide. Count me in to buy it when it is out;-)

Perhaps you should plugin a mailchimp or similar mailing list signup. Not only for you to tell us when the books are available, but it could be an amazing targeted resource for keeping an ongoing conversation and build a brand around being the "Lonely Planet" for entrepreneurs and investors.   

One suggestion for the Business Culture section is to get a little more nuanced and explain the culture in different sectors. It's a common (and misleading) simplification that there is just one culture to understand. I think this would be a common factor in all the countries you are planning to cover. i.e.

• Government vs. Government-linked vs. local major companies vs. local SMB vs. MNCs
• The influence of ethnic cultures in business e.g. for Singapore, differences and similarities in predominantly Chinese, Malay or Indian businesses
  

Cheers,
Paul

[Juanita]

Oooohh sorry I did not put that across quite right.

That was a plug for Derek Sivers' ebook series. I am not sure if he is
on the group but will forward your feedback. Always useful :)

On Aug 7, 9:28 am, Paul Gallagher <gallagher.p...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Juanita,
>
> That's an excellent outline, and a nice formula for a business guide. Count
> me in to buy it when it is out;-)
>
> Perhaps you should plugin a mailchimp or similar mailing list signup. Not
> only for you to tell us when the books are available, but it could be an
> amazing targeted resource for keeping an ongoing conversation and build a
> brand around being the "Lonely Planet" for entrepreneurs and investors.
>
> One suggestion for the Business Culture section is to get a little more
> nuanced and explain the culture in different sectors. It's a common (and
> misleading) simplification that there is just one culture to understand. I
> think this would be a common factor in all the countries you are planning
> to cover. i.e.
>

>    - Government vs. Government-linked vs. local major companies vs. local
>    SMB vs. MNCs
>    - The influence of ethnic cultures in business e.g. for Singapore,

>    differences and similarities in predominantly Chinese, Malay or Indian
>    businesses
>
> Cheers,
> Paul
>