You don't have to start off with money to build a better life for yourself and your community; you just need to present your business idea to someone who is willing to provide you with the funding necessary to start the brickyard.
Let's create a 10-step checklist to do this
The 9 Step Checklist
1. Choose a location for the brickyard
2. Choose a brick type
3. Choose a production capacity
4. Select the closest matching proposal package and customise
5. Find potential partners
6. Arrange a meeting and present investment proposal
7. Present detailed business plan to those interested
8. Enter into a contract
9. Execute business plan
And now, in more detail.
1. Choose a location for the brickyard
Select a country and city for the location for this brickyard. This should be easy - pick somewhere that you are able to operate and be present. If you have the brickyard somewhere else, you will have a difficult time to control the operations, production and quality of your products. This will make investors nervous and hesitant to invest. If you have to start the brickyard somewhere else, make sure you motivate your trust in the person in charge at the location of the brickyard. A family member is best for this situation.
2. Choose a brick type
There are many types of bricks. When you are starting your business, make sure to choose a brick that people already know and have a demand for. It isn't a good idea to introduce a special brick without establishing your business first. Pick a brick that is in high demand and that you can earn profit from. For the business plan, this will also make it easy to calculate the financial projection in an existing market.
3. Choose a production capacity
If you are starting without experience, you should begin on a small scale rather than large. If you have some experience in brick-making, then you can scale up your production output. Don't choose a capacity that exceeds market demand. The production capacity will affect the size of investment needed.
4. Select the closest matching proposal package and customise
We are going to create some investment kits for you to use as a starting point. Some will be small scale, escalating up to large investment packages. Depending on your requirements, select the closest-matching investment package and make any alterations to it. You should change the name to your company, logo, location, etc.
5. Find potential partners
Once you have adjusted your kit and are ready to give a presentation, you will need to find some potential investors. This could be through the local chamber of commerce or through your ward councillors who desire community enterprise and will assist.
6. Arrange a meeting and present investment proposal
Instead of presenting one at a time, try present your proposal to a group of people. Find a good venue, pick a convenient time and inform your potential investors. Present your investment proposal (preferably with a projector) and answer any questions they have. Don't offer them the business plan at this presentation (if they ask for it, request a one on one meeting to do so). Thank them for their time and interest.
7. Present detailed business plan to those interested
There are two ways to approach potential investors - either be persistent until they say no; or appear less desperate for money. I prefer the second method. If you show a good idea and give confidence, a serious investor will come to you for more information. When they do, you offer your business plan for them to look at - this will be your secret weapon to secure an investment. For the investors that reject the invitation to invest, you can ask what made them decide not to invest; then you can address those weak points for the next presentation.
8. Enter into a contract
Some investors are experienced enough that they have their own contracts they will want you to sign to enter into a business partnership or investment agreement. If they do, go through the contract and request changes for clauses you do not agree with. This contract is a negotiation to ensure that the investor feels confident in the business plan and your abilities to execute it; but it is also there to ensure you maintain your interest in the business and that you don't lose more control than you want. Perhaps you don't mind that the investor will take 80% of the venture - as long as you are in agreement, this contract will legally bind both parties to the agreement. Alternatively, you can present your own agreement, but since you are requesting money it seems unlikely that you will afford the lawyer's fees to draw up a professional contract.
9. Execute business plan
After the contract has been finalised and all people in agreement, the business is ready to begin. Work with the investor to set up some aspects you will be unable to do alone (such as register a new business together, bank account, co-sign a lease, etc.) and then execute the business plan. Order the machinery, prepare the site, register accounts with quarries and other suppliers, etc. Once the machinery has arrived and the site is prepared, you can find the labour to create a team that will form the manpower of the business.
Be sure to keep your partner informed and ensure a phone call weekly to report the progress and any major events. If you show your partner that you have a high level of competence, they will be very likely to partner with you again on more investments.
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