Interview Day Publications

I leave you with the last interview published in Publications A Day If you prefer the full interview will download in PDF format can do so by clicking here.

How did the idea of writing this book?

Had always wanted to write a book like this, that enhance and stimulate entrepreneurship. When the Grupo Planeta, by Deusto, one of my favorite publishing houses, was interested in, I realized that there was something like a perfect storm and it was time to make it socially appropriate and the best company to do so.

Tell us about it.

"Now is the time to assemble your company" is like two books in one. On one side is a manual for initiating and setting up a company. It is true that there are more manuals for entrepreneurs, but also think it brings a testimonial. I have spent almost 20 years setting up companies and investing in third party companies. Sometimes they come out very good and very bad, that makes it a book based on a story, mine as an entrepreneur, which attempt to provide a realistic view of the time and today's society.

  Who is it for?

To all those who want to approach something that is positive in itself, the entrepreneurial spirit. If you think or dream up a business in the book is for you, but if you put it and do not work for others, or even public administration can also be. From any position you can have and encourage entrepreneurship.

Why it's time to start a business?

  It is always a good time to start a business, but in this economic period that we go through is the best time to start a business. During the crisis have gone 350,000 companies and 260,000 self-employed, 14% of all businesses in the country and the best way to create jobs to improve the situation is the creation of companies. The book attempts to see positive and show that these data, frightening the other hand, can be transformed into an opportunity.

How, in your opinion, is the Spanish business situation?

Really hard. Spain is a barren field for business. For years, politicians have thrown things at each head with the business involved. Now from the authorities try to stimulate that business owners and entrepreneurs to go under the rocks, when for years had been worth entrepreneurs and freelancers.

What are the aims of the book?  

Translate my experience when starting a business. My intention   is that anyone who wants to start a business knows what to expect. Will   a hard road and not easy, but ultimately the effort worthwhile.   Also who wants to be an entrepreneur, but does not the profile, perhaps   reading the book will realize that you should not do, is another   issues the book raises.  

What is the first step when deciding to start a business?  

The first thing is to have a clear business model that we would like   perform. Must be mature and clearly structured. The fact   have a definite idea of ​​what we develop is essential and   well once you have outlined, we must carefully consider   how they carry out. But the essence is the idea to develop.

  What helps you can tell?

  If you count with a grant to start a business going bad   track. It is true that giving more autonomous   aid and that there are sectors such as biotechnology or R + D + i   more easily opt for these, but I would not depend on aid   to start a business and less on aid from the ICO. It is best   pursue other avenues of funding or even start a company   very little capital, if the latter is possible.

How long it takes, on average, starting a business?  

In Spain, it takes an average of 47 days. If we consider that   countries like Belgium who take 3 or 4   days or 7 days it takes to United   Kingdom this is an outrage.   Not even with the implementation   Single Window we have   the Administration to expedite   procedures.

  Is everyone ready   to start a business?

  To think   that all   world can   mount a   company is   crazy.   The first   is that it is   a matter   vocation,   but also   circumstances   personal   should be sufficiently   optimal   to take   sacrifice involved   undertake   company. Also   is also a matter of training, in college we did not have   enhanced entrepreneurship.

What conditions are needed to mount a successful business?

  A longing not easily yield to difficulties, having   capacity for analysis and detection of opportunities to take risks   and, above all, have one quality: being able to surround yourself with people   more talented than you.  

When a company starts to be profitable or is it better that we close?  

There are two major lines. The first is to be close to meeting the objectives   the first year. The second passing the first 3 years in which   a project and is considered mature.

  In what areas are more likely to start a business today?  

Currently, any project based R & D technology has many   probabilities. Also new sectors such as biotechnology or   clean resource management are on the crest of the wave now, in addition   they are more likely to receive support from the administration.

What distinguishes the Spanish entrepreneur from those of other countries?  

Here we are afraid to take risks. It is not something only Spanish, but most especially   Mediterranean countries like Greece and Italy also happens. The   Americans taught the "no pain no gain" (no pain, no gain) from   schools, here we so afraid to fail than not taking risks.  

As for facilities to start a business, what sets us apart   from other countries?  

Unfortunately, we are light years ahead of countries like the United Kingdom. There,   When starting a business everything becomes easy, social and   by the administration. In our country the opposite is true. The   businessman or entrepreneur is frowned upon, is a potential operator.   Spain raw spirit of the official before the entrepreneur.  

Do you think the Civil Service offers facilities to undertake?  

As I said before, no. In a country with 20% unemployed, the only   solution that the government has raised regarding the firms has been   meet with 20 large employers. The solution is to empower and   support the creation of small and medium enterprises to generate   employment. But instead all are administrative and bureaucratic obstacles,   not to mention the lack of aid.

  And we have adequate information on how to ride one?   

There is a general misinformation, but in reality when someone is   thinking of starting a business that no other information of   how. Certainly go through a thousand windows (though now only   there is a: single) and will have to go through a lot of obstacles.   In our country there is power to the entrepreneur, so that the information   business is limited. It would be quite positive that the administration   change this perspective on the entrepreneur.   

What is more difficult when starting a business?  

    Right now the funding. Are neither banks nor expect it. The position   institutions such as the Official Credit Institute (ICO) during this   crisis have been unfortunate, have been more focused on communicating and   advertising that all is well and no credit problems for our   entrepreneurs. That's not true, and bank credit is closed and the   under the ICO is a joke and poorly distributed.  

Any advice?  

Alternatives. Getting seed capital from family, friends, investors   private or business angels, and venture capital funds. Do not lower   arms at the first failure of a bank. There is life   behind it.

  What philosophy should take an entrepreneur?  

Business as it always has, and not despair and settle   something that is otherwise very Spanish, the politics of grievance. The   administration will not solve our problems, yet the employer   Spanish autonomous and has repeatedly demonstrated that can   cope only.

  Perhaps the biggest problem of the Spanish entrepreneur is the fear of   frustration and failure?  

Not the biggest problem but an important one. It seems that in Spain   Failure is a scourge that will follow you throughout life when it is actually   quite the opposite. Failure and error is where you can get more   wisdom. In Anglo-Saxon countries, many investors and raised   invest in a project of an entrepreneur who has not previously failed,   because it is the failure of which will learn faster.   Another problem is education, we lack training in the world   company.  

Many people think that starting a business is difficult. What   say?  

That is difficult, indeed. That of course is much easier in countries   Northern Europe, Japan or the United States, but still, that   extra effort on compensation surrounding countries, and that   times like these, it is a tremendous asset to depend on you   prop himself working on behalf   

Tags: Alejandro Suarez Sanchez-Ocaña , interview , it's time to start a company , posts a day.