Ephraim finally decided to take the plunge. Eppy to his few friends, he knew he had it in him. A business! Money flowing, working for himself not a m.........boss, tax write-offs, endless creativity and the sky's the limit. Finally, after working eight years, and saving a little money, he was on his way. He just knew he had it in him. His mind worked light years ahead of the game. It was just a matter of starting.
Eppy wasn't going to do it like so many others. He was going to do it right from the get-go. Remember, he had a product that, if not everyone needed, everybody would want. "I'm a marketing genius after all", he thought to himself.
So he officially began the business one fine spring day. What to do? Well, first of all a business plan. He hired a consultant at $100 per hour to help him with it. He was going to do it right. The consultant would help him with the marketing devices he could use, although knew he had the talent to sell whatever the market. And of course there was the internet. Cinch for orders there. And a salesman or two as well. Couldn't miss.
So he and the consultant, Manny Igotcha, sat down together and planned the business, Eppy with the talent and Manny with the framework. Although Eppy had all the answers it's always good to get input, he thought. Sooner (or later) after many days and nights of sitting at Eppy's oak table they hammered out a plan for Eppy's business. It was long, many, many pages, but Eppy was happy with it since it was mostly his idea, and Manny seemed to agree at the end. Manny didn't really want to stop the planning, it seemed to Eppy but hey time's money and it was time to implement. Although surprised when he received Manny's bill, money well spent. At least he had done it right.
Let's see. I need an office first, a good one. He went downtown to the Century City offices and looked around. Prestigious area, just what he needed to get the fat cats, the ones with the money and connections. No budget suite for him. He was going to do it right. He finally settled on the penthouse suite in a 40 story, modern, glass lined, unique octagon shaped building with lawyers, doctors and acquisition companies as co-tenants. So what if it was a five-year lease. He had what he wanted and needed.
An interior decorator helped him with the interior. Plush Haitian cotton couches and chairs in the waiting rooms. Green velvet for his office with three sides of the octagon showing in the rather large corner of the building. Leather very high backed chair for himself, seat elevated so he's be looking down at the customers, light to his back to lend to the dominant motif he was creating. Solid oak, large desk with computer table built in, a place for the MDTV and a place for the security camera monitor he was going to install. Keep tabs, he thought. In the other 5 smaller offices he furnished with the basics but in keeping with the rich appearing scenario, kind of mini-Eppy offices. The 8 secretary slots also had the basics but with a noticeable (thought Eppy) flair. Ok, he had the office he knew he needed.
Now personnel. He hired two salesmen, salary plus, with a promise to start in two weeks. And two experienced secretaries, one from the acquisition company where she had been recently fired. She didn't come cheap, but he scoffed at Allistor Acquisitions for firing such an experienced lady. The secretary's were old and ugly but Eppy wasn't going to fall for hiring the young, beautiful ones. Business came first, and he didn't need young floozies doing their nails on company time. He wasn't dumb. The interior decorator, Vera Plush, also recommended original oils for the walls from some well known artists. After all, they would be an investment and prints or lithos were soo tacky.
Now the accountant. Someone with real education and know how. Maybe could do some financial planning as well. He interviewed several and ended up choosing the one who really looked the part-short, balding, wire spectacles, the rumpled suit with vest and the guy with the most years of experience (even though he didn't come cheap either, but if Eppy was going to succeed, only the best). He put the best corporate lawyer on retainer (every business needed a lawyer working directly with the company so he could be duly influenced), just two floors down. He was a little shocked at the price but went ahead and signed the multi-year contract and felt good about it. He was doing the right thing! And of course the CPA, on retainer, for complicated transitions and to use when he decided it was time to go public. Locked him up with a multi-year deal, too.
