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Appendix G – Sustainability Entrepreneur
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Yellow = Low (overhead) costs Green = Growth Blue = Personal Factors
TB In the past we needed infrastructure and buildings where people were working and expensive
computers. But do we still need all that?
TB In financial markets you can do everything from a complete virtual identity. Why do we need than those
big bank buildings?
TB If we have all those virtual networks, where do we need the offices for?
TB you need to step away from idea that you need to increase the scale to make it cheaper, that is
probably not the case
RL We grow when we have more users, which spent more. There are two ways to grow, either by having
more users, or when each individual user, uses more services.
RL look at other sites and the cumulative grow figures they use. Aim for the same growth, maybe a bit
less, but comparable.
RL We have firm growth figures for that. We do not have a lot of overhead costs. Most of our costs are
variable,
RL we have firm growth targets, which have to be reached.
RL From the growth figures we can determine whether people are using our services.
RL The growth figures covers a lot, if it does not grow than people probably do not like it or do not think it
is good.
RL in these times, especially when you are just by yourself, focus on just giving information from one
person to the next.
RL Also for the small scale, as long as you have a bit more information than the other, so that you can give
it from one to the next.
RL Another trend is that, you can do that by using a lot of resources, not only from yourself but also from
others
RL We try to outsource as much as possible
RL Everybody else can do it better than us, so let them do it. Through Internet you can do anything,
RL co-creation is about how you can use the society to improve your business.
RL you do not need a lot. You do not need a store, no product, when you offer a service.
OE give them a product/customer matrix and tell them to first focus on that.
OE in two years maybe an additional product or service, in three years maybe two extra customer groups
and that is the way to build.
OE continuing market research would improve the survival rate of the small entrepreneurs. Especially the
niche is where the small entrepreneurs can jump in.
OE For example a lot of the ZZP-ers do not want to grow. They do not want employees
MB you should not overestimated the financial sustainability of a starting entrepreneur.
MB a lot of people that do not realize how much money they need to set aside. Besides the normal costs
you have, you also have to reserve money for the tax-authority, investments and those kind of things.
MB entrepreneurs who started up their business and have a wife that will say; 'o, now you are an
entrepreneurs, so I can start driving an BMW'
MB people from other cultures who have become an entrepreneur, will have family that will say; 'well, you
are a success now, so you can start taking care of us'.
MB The signs that I receive now, is that people also need coaching about how they should get their family
of their back. Delta Lloyd is now training people to do that.
MB Apparently that is particularly common in the Surinamese society
MB I think that growth objectives is something that starters are not looking at
Elmar Hoogendoorn 115
Sustainable Microfinance