The second episode of Starting a Business in Maine examines the critically important and intellectually rigorous process of determining whether one’s good idea is in fact an economically feasible one, and the role that “finding a niche” and a sound business plan play in the creation of a successful company.

In this episode, viewers will meet two doctors “from away,” Hank Ford and Imbesat Daudi, who ventured outside of their experiences in the operating room to open Slopes, a brewpub in Presque Isle that offers locally made beer. Slopes is not the first enterprise that Ford and Daudi have started together, and the program examines the process by which they determine whether their ideas are simply desirable whims or potentially profitable businesses. It also shows how two people of different backgrounds can rely on their complementary strengths to create a unified entrepreneurial vision.

Experts on hand to talk with host Lou McNally and answer viewers' questions will discuss the critical importance of a feasibility study and identify the elements that need to be part of any comprehensive business plan. They'll help potential new business owners to understand that the most successful businesses derive their opportunities by finding hard-to-copy products or services that are competitively distinctive or superior to what is already available in the market.  They'll also counsel would-be entrepreneurs on common mistakes to avoid, such as "me too" businesses or basing a business solely on one's own needs as opposed those of potential customers.

The Maine Public Broadcasting Network recognizes its program collaborators, the Maine Community College System, the Small Business Administration and the Maine Small Business Development Centers.