Ready to quit your day job and make a living doing what you love? It's time to take your subscription box idea from concept to reality!From formalizing your idea and approaching potential vendors, to pricing the boxes, managing fulfillment, and financing your first year, this insight-packed book features exclusive advice and ideas from successful subscription box company entrepreneurs."I found it very comprehensive!"-- Kelly Hanson, owner of Kelly Kits"Lots of great tidbits in here. It was a good reality check for me to read this."-- Nichole Smaglick, owner of Cooper & KidWhat you'll learn:How to Market a Subscription Box BusinessMake sure you're reaching the right target market by providing a unique value in the marketplace. Find bloggers and influencers and get coverage in national media.How to Price a Subscription BoxLearn how to conduct an accurate market analysis for your subscription box model. Determine what to charge for your subscription box and what the potential market size is so you can make revenue projections.Approaching and Working with VendorsFind the right vendors to work with and get tips on best practices for approaching vendors and negotiating deals. Learn how far in advance you'll need to plan vendors and products each month.The One Small Thing That Means Disaster for Your BusinessSubscription commerce isn't new, but subscription boxes are a relatively novel idea. Why do so many of them fail? Because they don't understand the one secret of subscription commerce that will make or break a subscription box business.

How to Innovate and Execute Leaders already know that innovation calls for a different set of activities, skills, methods, metrics, mind-sets, and leadership approaches. And it is well understood that creating a new business and optimizing an already existing one are two fundamentally different management challenges. The real problem for leaders is doing both, simultaneously. How do you meet the performance requirements of the existing business—one that is still thriving—while dramatically reinventing it? How do you envision a change in your current business model before a crisis forces you to abandon it? Innovation guru Vijay Govindarajan expands the leader’s innovation tool kit with a simple and proven method for allocating the organization’s energy, time, and resources—in balanced measure—across what he calls “the three boxes”: • Box 1: The present—Manage the core business at peak profitability • Box 2: The past—Abandon ideas, practices, and attitudes that could inhibit innovation • Box 3: The future—Convert breakthrough ideas into new products and businesses The three-box framework makes leading innovation easier because it gives leaders a simple vocabulary and set of tools for managing and measuring these different sets of behaviors and activities across all levels of the organization. Supported with rich company examples—GE, Mahindra & Mahindra, Hasbro, IBM, United Rentals, and Tata Consultancy Services—and testimonies of leaders who have successfully used this framework, this book solves once and for all the practical dilemma of how to align an organization on the critical but competing demands of innovation.

The lifeblood of your business is repeat customers. But customers can be fickle, markets shift, and competitors are ruthless. So how do you ensure a steady flow of repeat business? The secret—no matter what industry you’re in—is finding and keeping automatic customers. These days virtually anything you need can be purchased through a subscription, with more convenience than ever before. Far beyond Spotify, Netflix, and New York Times subscriptions, you can sign up for weekly or monthly supplies of everything from groceries (AmazonFresh) to cosmetics (Birchbox) to razor blades (Dollar Shave Club). According to John Warrillow, this emerging subscription economy offers huge opportunities to companies that know how to turn customers into subscribers. Automatic customers are the key to increasing cash flow, igniting growth, and boosting the value of your company. Consider Whatsapp, the internet-based messaging service that was purchased by Facebook for $19 billion. While other services bombarded users with invasive ads in order to fund a free messaging platform, Whatsapp offered a refreshingly private tool on a subscription platform, charging just $1 per year. Their business model enabled the kind of service that customers wanted and ensured automatic customers for years to come. As Warrillow shows, subscriptions aren’t limited to technology or media businesses. Companies in nearly any industry, from start-ups to the Fortune 500, from home contractors to florists, can build subscriptions into their business. Warrillow provides the essential blueprint for winning automatic customers with one of the nine subscription business models, including: • The Membership Website Model: Companies like The Wood Whisperer Guild, ContractorSelling, and DanceStudioOwner offer access to highly specialized, high quality information, recognizing that people will pay for good content. This model can work for any business with a tightly defined niche market and insider information. • The Simplifier Model: Companies like Mosquito Squad (pest control) and Hassle Free Homes (home maintenance) take a recurring task off your to-do list. Any business serving busy consumers can adopt this model not only to create a recurring revenue stream, but also to take advantage of the opportunity to cross-sell or bundle their services. • The Surprise Box Model: Companies like BarkBox (dog treats) and Standard Cocoa (craft chocolate) send their subscribers curated packages of goodies each month. If you can handle the logistics of shipping, giving customers joy in something new can translate to sales on your larger e-commerce site. This book also shows you how to master the psychology of selling subscriptions and how to reduce churn and provides a road map for the essential statistics you need to measure the health of your subscription business. Whether you want to transform your entire business into a recurring revenue engine or just pick up an extra 5 percent of sales growth, The Automatic Customer will be your secret weapon.

Now available in paperback—with a new preface and interview with Jessica Livingston about Y Combinator! Founders at Work: Stories of Startups' Early Days is a collection of interviews with founders of famous technology companies about what happened in the very earliest days. These people are celebrities now. What was it like when they were just a couple friends with an idea? Founders like Steve Wozniak (Apple), Caterina Fake (Flickr), Mitch Kapor (Lotus), Max Levchin (PayPal), and Sabeer Bhatia (Hotmail) tell you in their own words about their surprising and often very funny discoveries as they learned how to build a company. Where did they get the ideas that made them rich? How did they convince investors to back them? What went wrong, and how did they recover? Nearly all technical people have thought of one day starting or working for a startup. For them, this book is the closest you can come to being a fly on the wall at a successful startup, to learn how it's done. But ultimately these interviews are required reading for anyone who wants to understand business, because startups are business reduced to its essence. The reason their founders become rich is that startups do what businesses do—create value—more intensively than almost any other part of the economy. How? What are the secrets that make successful startups so insanely productive? Read this book, and let the founders themselves tell you.

The tools you need to get started with your subscription box.

Why start a subscription business? In a nutshell, subscription eCommerce businesses offer online shoppers a convenient, personalized, and lower-cost way to buy what they want and need on a recurring basis. This also turns one-time shoppers into repeat (and often lifelong) customers. And with predictable monthly recurring revenue (MRR) coming in, businesses can accurately forecast future growth and scale. Let’s unpack the benefits of a subscription business model: Here is what we’ll cover in this book: Introduction Curation Business Model Replenishment Business Model Access Business Model Finding a Niche Sourcing Your Products Packaging and Shipping Your Boxes

How to Start a XXXX Business About the Book Unlock the essential steps to launching and managing a successful business with How to Start a XXXX Business. Part of the acclaimed How to Start a Business series, this volume provides tailored insights and expert advice specific to the XXX industry, helping you navigate the unique challenges and seize the opportunities within this field. What You'll Learn Industry Insights: Understand the market, including key trends, consumer demands, and competitive dynamics. Learn how to conduct market research, analyze data, and identify emerging opportunities for growth that can set your business apart from the competition. Startup Essentials: Develop a comprehensive business plan that outlines your vision, mission, and strategic goals. Learn how to secure the necessary financing through loans, investors, or crowdfunding, and discover best practices for effectively setting up your operation, including choosing the right location, procuring equipment, and hiring a skilled team. Operational Strategies: Master the day-to-day management of your business by implementing efficient processes and systems. Learn techniques for inventory management, staff training, and customer service excellence. Discover effective marketing strategies to attract and retain customers, including digital marketing, social media engagement, and local advertising. Gain insights into financial management, including budgeting, cost control, and pricing strategies to optimize profitability and ensure long-term sustainability. Legal and Compliance: Navigate regulatory requirements and ensure compliance with industry laws through the ideas presented. Why Choose How to Start a XXXX Business? Whether you're wondering how to start a business in the industry or looking to enhance your current operations, How to Start a XXX Business is your ultimate resource. This book equips you with the knowledge and tools to overcome challenges and achieve long-term success, making it an invaluable part of the How to Start a Business collection. Who Should Read This Book? Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Individuals looking to start their own business. This book offers step-by-step guidance from idea conception to the grand opening, providing the confidence and know-how to get started. Current Business Owners: Entrepreneurs seeking to refine their strategies and expand their presence in the sector. Gain new insights and innovative approaches to enhance your current operations and drive growth. Industry Professionals: Professionals wanting to deepen their understanding of trends and best practices in the business field. Stay ahead in your career by mastering the latest industry developments and operational techniques. Side Income Seekers: Individuals looking for the knowledge to make extra income through a business venture. Learn how to efficiently manage a part-time business that complements your primary source of income and leverages your skills and interests. Start Your Journey Today! Empower yourself with the insights and strategies needed to build and sustain a thriving business. Whether driven by passion or opportunity, How to Start a XXXX Business offers the roadmap to turning your entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Download your copy now and take the first step towards becoming a successful entrepreneur! Discover more titles in the How to Start a Business series: Explore our other volumes, each focusing on different fields, to gain comprehensive knowledge and succeed in your chosen industry.

In this clear and informed guide to the business model that’s set to dominate twenty-first-century commerce, Adam Levinter makes a compelling case that the phenomenal success of companies like Amazon, Netflix, Spotify, and Salesforce wouldn’t be possible without the foundation they all have in common: subscription. A surge of subscription boxes in 2012 earned buzz for offering everything from razors to meal kits to underwear; since then the model has proven to be adaptable, profitable, and resilient, even as many traditional retailers struggle to stay relevant in the digital economy. Levinter takes a close look at the leaders of the subscription economy to pinpoint the essential elements of the model, and prove that while the basic concept may be as old as magazines, the ubiquity of the internet is enabling a new way for businesses to scale and succeed. The Subscription Boom shows that the appeal to both customers and businesses makes subscription a smart play for virtually any business.

How to Start a Business About the Book: Unlock the essential steps to launching and managing a successful business with How to Start a Business books. Part of the acclaimed How to Start a Business series, this volume provides tailored insights and expert advice specific to the industry, helping you navigate the unique challenges and seize the opportunities within this field. What You'll Learn Industry Insights: Understand the market, including key trends, consumer demands, and competitive dynamics. Learn how to conduct market research, analyze data, and identify emerging opportunities for growth that can set your business apart from the competition. Startup Essentials: Develop a comprehensive business plan that outlines your vision, mission, and strategic goals. Learn how to secure the necessary financing through loans, investors, or crowdfunding, and discover best practices for effectively setting up your operation, including choosing the right location, procuring equipment, and hiring a skilled team. Operational Strategies: Master the day-to-day management of your business by implementing efficient processes and systems. Learn techniques for inventory management, staff training, and customer service excellence. Discover effective marketing strategies to attract and retain customers, including digital marketing, social media engagement, and local advertising. Gain insights into financial management, including budgeting, cost control, and pricing strategies to optimize profitability and ensure long-term sustainability. Legal and Compliance: Navigate regulatory requirements and ensure compliance with industry laws through the ideas presented. Why Choose How to Start a Business books? Whether you're wondering how to start a business in the industry or looking to enhance your current operations, How to Start a Business books is your ultimate resource. This book equips you with the knowledge and tools to overcome challenges and achieve long-term success, making it an invaluable part of the How to Start a Business collection. Who Should Read This Book? Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Individuals looking to start their own business. This book offers step-by-step guidance from idea conception to the grand opening, providing the confidence and know-how to get started. Current Business Owners: Entrepreneurs seeking to refine their strategies and expand their presence in the sector. Gain new insights and innovative approaches to enhance your current operations and drive growth. Industry Professionals: Professionals wanting to deepen their understanding of trends and best practices in the business field. Stay ahead in your career by mastering the latest industry developments and operational techniques. Side Income Seekers: Individuals looking for the knowledge to make extra income through a business venture. Learn how to efficiently manage a part-time business that complements your primary source of income and leverages your skills and interests. Start Your Journey Today! Empower yourself with the insights and strategies needed to build and sustain a thriving business. Whether driven by passion or opportunity, How to Start a Business offers the roadmap to turning your entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Download your copy now and take the first step towards becoming a successful entrepreneur! Discover more titles in the How to Start a Business series: Explore our other volumes, each focusing on different fields, to gain comprehensive knowledge and succeed in your chosen industry.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE CMI MANAGEMENT BOOK OF THE YEAR INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD Today's consumers prefer the advantages of access over the hassles of ownership. It's not just internet services like Netflix and Spotify; even industrial firms like GE and Caterpillar are reinventing themselves as solutions providers. Whether you sell software, clothes, insurance, or industrial machines, you need to master the transition to the subscription model. Adapting to the subscription economy takes more than just deciding to sell subscriptions instead of products. You'll have to reinvent your company from the inside out -- from your accounting to your entire IT architecture. No matter how large or small your company, Subscribed gives you a practical, step-by-step framework to rebuild your business around a customer-centric, recurring revenue model.In ten years, we'll be subscribing to everything: information technology, transportation, retail, healthcare, even housing. Informed by insights straight from the servers of Zuora, the world's largest subscription finance platform, Subscribed is the book that explains how this shift really works -- and how business leaders can prepare and prosper.