Helping you launch and grow your startup

The Razor-Razorblade Business Model

The razor-razorblade business model relies on selling an initial product at a relatively low price, followed by consumables, where the firm makes the majority of its profit.

Why be a solo entrepreneur?

The solo entrepreneur – or solopreneur – offers can many advantages of large teams when starting a business – this article explores some reasons to consider going it alone.

Switching costs: The impact of locking in customers

Switching costs essentially lock customers into a particular supplier, increasing the difficulty to change suppliers. This article explores the impact of switching costs and the various barriers to changing suppliers.

The importance of an elevator pitch

The elevator pitch – a description of the essence of your business’s strategy that you are able to share within about 60 seconds, or the time to go up an elevator – is critical for startups to develop. This article explains the benefits of having an elevator pitch strategy, beyond securing financing.

4 Risks of pursuing a blue ocean strategy

The blue ocean strategy approach of identifying or creating a new market space free of competitors sounds attractive, it also has a lot of risks associated with it. This article examines four of the main risks associated with a blue ocean strategy. 

B2B Sales: Identifying key decision makers

For business-to-business sales, there can be many different decision-makers – each with their own interests and evaluation criteria. This article explores different stakeholders and how they can influence purchase decisions.

The 4P Marketing Mix: Promotion

This article explores the role of promotions within the 4P marketing mix – including the purpose of promotions and different ways of promoting your product or service.

Applying the Five Whys Analysis

This article explains how to apply the Five Whys Analysis – a root cause analysis approach for identifying the underlying cause of problems.

The importance of a business plan: Why all startups should develop one

It is easy to discount the importance of a business plan. As a startup founder, you likely have lots of pressing activities, and since there are likely many uncertainties about your business, it is possible to fall into the trap of continually delaying documenting your firm and its approach.

What is inorganic company growth?

Inorganic company growth is growth through acquisitions or mergers with other firms. Rather than growing internally by gradually building internal resources and the customer base (organic growth), the company seeks to grow through acquiring another firm.

Why so many startups fail

This article explores some of the key reasons why startups fail, with tips to help you avoid some common pitfalls in your own business

Becoming comfortable with failures

Nobody enjoys failures – anyone who says to ‘celebrate’ them will still have experienced disappointments of their own. However, there are significant reasons to at least get comfortable with the idea of failure.

The better off test in diversification decisions

What is the better off test, and why is it important in diversification decisions? This article explores why it is important to assess whether the two areas are better off in one firm vs two when diversifying.

The benefits of retaining full ownership of your startup

Taking on outside funding is not a decision to be taken lightly. It does not necessarily match the ambitions of all entrepreneurs, nor is it always the best decision for the organization. This article explores some of the reasons to be cautious before seeking and taking on outside investors.

Business Model Innovations

This guide explores the importance of adaptions to business models, and the opportunities presented by adopting a different business model.

What is competitive parity?

This article explores what is meant by competitive parity – and why firms may not be able to gain a competitive advantage over others

Examples of switching costs

This article explores some of the most common forms of switching costs – from termination fees to effort to relearn a new system.

What is the VRIO framework?

This article unpacks the VRIO framework – and why it is important to consider whether resources are valuable, rare, hard imitate, or substitute, and the organization is organized to support the resource.

Examples of B2C advertising

This article considers different ways of marketing products and services to customers – from mass TV adverts and social media to flyers and word-of-mouth referral approaches.