It's lonely being an entrepreneur. Starting a company often doesn't lend itself to social interaction, and when you need advice on a pressing issue it's depressing to look around and realize that there is no one to help. Free e-mail counseling offered by a bunch of retired executives. But if you thought a bunch of retired geezers couldn't possibly help operators of New Economy businesses, think again. One of the beauties of it, of course, is convenience.
Clients can fire off questions via e-mail day or night.
Most counselors respond quickly, usually within 24 to 48 hours. A counselor in Dallas shot me back a detailed answer to a question I posed on the site within 18 hours. N.Y. Dominguez, an accountant from Mexico who recently was awarded U.S. citizenship, is considering buying an existing car wash business or starting one with some investors. He said Ausderau told him how to determine the value of an existing business, the process for obtaining a SBA-guaranteed loan and pros and cons of different business structures. I received a lot of information with answers to my questions.