EQ Journal

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Main Sources of Capital for Startups

Is lack of access to capital really the main barrier to entry for most entrepreneurs? I believe that a stated lack of access to capital by many would-be entrepreneurs is more of an excuse than anything else. There is lots of funding around for passionate entrepreneurs who can execute on a good biz model. Here [...]

Bootstrap Capital—The Last Word

Introduction How can you start a great business with no money down? How do you get ‘table stakes’ so you can have a place in the game? The rule today is, if you have cashflow, you will get financed, not the other way round. There really are no ‘no money down startups’; there are only [...]

Is Debt Cheaper than Equity?

I have always believed that (most) debt is less expensive than equity but many of my students view equity as ‘free’. Let’s suppose you start a computer consulting business or a herb garden business or whatever and you need some micro capital to start the new enterprise. I have done quite a bit of thinking [...]

The Ten Most Important Things for a Startup to Do

What are the Ten Most Important Things You need to do to Create a Successful Startup? By Dr. Bruce M. Firestone, B. Eng. (Civil), M. Eng.-Sci., PhD., Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa March 1st, 2008 (Prepared for the First Annual Entrepreneurship Seminar sponsored by The Entrepreneurs’ Club, Telfer School of Management) Well, [...]

More About Self Capitalization

What is Bootstrap Capital and Why do Entrepreneurs Really Need it? Is lack of access to capital really the main barrier to entry for most entrepreneurs? I believe that the stated lack of access to capital by many would-be entrepreneurs is more of an excuse than anything else. Here is my (absolutely unscientific) bar chart [...]

Entrepreneurship as a Career Choice

November 29, 2007 (Prepared for: The Small Business Policy Branch (SBPB) of Industry Canada for the Youth Entrepreneurship Forum, National Arts Centre, Ottawa, Canada) (By: Dr. Bruce M. Firestone, B. Eng. (Civil), M. Eng.-Sci., PhD., Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, Founder, Ottawa Senators) Question: Why do people choose to become entrepreneurs? a. [...]

Why Use Mortgage Brokers?

In an email exchange with one of my former students, I summarized some of the advantages that Mortgage Brokers bring to the table: 1. They can source mortgages from 8, 10, 12 or more lenders and get the most competitive interest rates and terms for you to choose from. 2. It saves you a lot [...]

Why Businesses Really Fail

Business Week published (Seton Hall University, Stillman School of Business study, August 25, 2003) their take on why most businesses fail. I’ll bet you that their top five reasons (too much debt, inadequate leadership, poor planning, failure to change and inexperienced management) are in fact related to number six on their list: not enough revenue. [...]