The how-to guide to starting, funding, running, and exiting a successful online business in less than three months

Getting a thriving online enterprise up and running takes more than just a good idea. It involves building a website, developing it into a viable business, maintaining cash flow, hiring a staff, and much more. The task can seem daunting, butSuccessful Online Start-Ups For Dummies is here to help, showing prospective entrepreneurs how to develop a sound business plan, set up a proper company structure, and attract investment/funding in less than three months.

Many entrepreneurs have a great idea and the technical know-how to get a website up and running, but forget that it's a business that requires capital, management and continual growth.Successful Online Start-Ups For Dummies teaches new start-ups how to get "investment ready" and attract the right backers in a very competitive market, giving readers the specific know-how to keep their business runningor how to turn it over quickly and profitably so they can move onto their next start-up or retire.

Gives budding entrepreneurs everything they need to build and sell a profitable online businessTopics covered include "bootstrapping," common mistakes and missed opportunities at every step of the start-up business cycle, achieving rapid but sustainable growth, attracting the attention of investors and mentors, market validation, and much moreIncludes content specially tailored for readers in Australia and New Zealand, including details on all the major incubator events and start-up workshops in both countries

A great idea isn't enough to achieve real business success, makingSuccessful Online Start-Ups For Dummies the potential difference between personal financial disaster and a comfortable early retirement.

Stefan Korn is an internet entrepreneur and co-founder of WebFunda successful private investment firm for online start-ups. WebFund runs an accelerator program that trains web entrepreneurs and helps them get their start-ups in the best position to pitch to investors within three months.

Introduction 1

Part I: Following Your Dream 7

Chapter 1: Understanding the Start-Up Journey 9

Chapter 2: Starting as You Mean to Go On 35

Part II: Getting Your Start-Up Started 67

Chapter 3: Setting Up Shop: Products, Paperwork and More 69

Chapter 4: Launching Your Start-Up: The Early Days 99

Chapter 5: Gaining Traction: Ramping Up Your Start-Up 121

Part III: Growing Up 139

Chapter 6: Recognising Your Limits 141

Chapter 7: Growing Strategically 167

Part IV: Chasing the Pot of Gold: The Reason Your Start-Up Exists 195

Chapter 8: Starting to Make Money: The Post-Profit Stage 197

Chapter 9: Achieving Your Start-Up Vision and Cashing Out 215

Part V: The Part of Tens 235

Chapter 10: Ten (Plus One!) Mistakes That Cause Start-Ups to Fail 237

Chapter 11: Ten Ways to Boost Your Start-Up Resources 245

Chapter 12: Ten Things Investors Look for in Your Start-Up 253

Appendix A: Finding Support for Your Start-Up 259

Appendix B: Templates 263

Glossary 275

Index 279