How to Start a Small Business From Scratch

Know your motivations

Even if you have the best business idea in the world, it will be destined to fail if you don’t have the appropriate knowledge and skills. Someone with a short attention span probably won’t make a very good accountant, but someone with a computer program background would be well-suited to designing websites. As well as analyzing your skill-set, it’s essential to look at your motivations for turning your back on a secure job for the uncertainty of running a business. If your motives are not sincere and strongly felt, there’s a good chance your business will run out of steam at some point.   

Does your idea have a market

If you are certain that your business idea is something you want to pursue and are confident you have a skill set that can advance it, it’s time to do some market research. You need to ensure that your new business has a potential customer base. Begin with internet research, and reading books about your chosen market, your aim is to get a general sense of the types of customers your product will serve. At the same time, you should be analyzing the competition; what other companies are selling what you are proposing? Ask yourself what makes your product unique?    

What are your business goals 

A key component to the success of any business is the goals set out in the business plan. Initially, business goals can include things like: increase market share, maintain profits, increase margins, increase percentage sales of new products. These broad ideas will be the basis for your future strategy, everything from product design to marketing strategy; your business goals will be your guiding principles. Without these thought-out business goals in place at the beginning of your venture, the business will likely fail because of inefficiencies and poor decision-making.     

Create a brand identity

There’s a reason why some people choose to buy an Apple computer over PCs or Toyotas instead of VWs. The products themselves may be no different in terms of quality, but people have trust and affinity with the brand – they associate with the brand and it says something about them. Add to this the need for any new business to compete with its near competitors, and you have a strong argument for creating a brand identity. Enlist the help of a graphic designer to create a logo for you and a good business card design; your brand identity must stay consistent across all platforms.

Develop a marketing strategy

A successful business is built on solid foundations; when you have understood and implemented the previous steps, it’s time to turn your attention to marketing your company brand and your products. If you’re an entirely new brand, you will need to break into the market. One of the best ways to do this is by using social media. Hire some influencers to help increase your brand’s visibility and gain valuable followers; especially in the early days; you will want to get good feedback on your enterprise – there is no better place then on social media.