10 Things You Need to Do Before Starting Your Own Business
Starting a small business is no small decision.
But despite the countless sacrifices and challenges small business owners face, an overwhelming 84 percent of small business owners would do it all over again.
If you’re thinking about taking the plunge and starting a business of your own, there are some key steps you need to take first.
Below are some of the top tips I have given through mentoring over 1000 SCORE clients and acting as an angel investor.
These tips spring from what I see successful entrepreneurs do and what I see those who come up short not do.
Here are the 10 things you need to do before starting a business:
1. Develop a powerful message
What customer problem are you solving that potential customers are willing to pay for? This is often called the value proposition.
Also, why will your business be operationally and financially successful?
Tip: Here’s how to set up and maintain a budget for your small business.
2. Focus on the customer and fully understand the market
There are many examples of companies that do not have the best product/service or are not first to market, yet are very successful because they have mastered marketing and sales.
Research the demographics and psychographics of your potential customer base and understand their buying habits.
Watch competitors, talk with similar businesses, browse your competitors’ websites, and understand what their customers are saying about them in social media.
3. Start small and grow
If possible, self-fund your startup and then go for funding when you can create a growth story. This might cause you to break up your product/service offering into smaller pieces so you can fund the early stages and get some traction and experience.
Tip: Use this advice to determine how much cash your small business should have.
4. Understand your own strengths, skills, and time available
Know when you need to engage an accountant, lawyer, insurance agent, marketing specialist, web page designer, or other professional. This will start your management process as a business owner.
Constant Contact partners with marketing consultants to help you get started on a variety of services.
5. Surround yourself with advisors and mentors
Launching and growing a business is difficult, and more than half will fail within 5 years.
No one person can have all the knowledge, experience, or even perspective to handle every business situation. Gain from others’ skills and experiences.
6. Get a SCORE mentor
If you’re not sure where to find a mentor, SCORE is a great place to start. SCORE mentors are free — just visit www.SCORE.org to find a face-to-face mentor near you or a mentor to contact via email or Skype.
Also at this site are many free workshops, webinars, and templates all focused on helping entrepreneurs successfully start and grow a business.
7. Write a business plan
Starting a business is difficult and risky; it’s easy to spend all your time and resources at it.
Having a written plan with your projected results and personal goals is the best way to stay on track.
As an example, your business may make a $20,000 profit. But if you live in a large city, support a family and maybe elderly parents, and are trying to save for kids’ college and retirement, then most likely $20,000 is not enough.
A business plan will put your ideas in concrete terms and help you identify places to change the business model where necessary.
8. Know your numbers
Have a good grasp on your sales, gross margins, profits, cash flow, and the specific metrics associated with your business.
You will be making many decisions “on the fly” and knowing the numbers — the business economics — will help ensure you make the right decisions.
Look for ways to cut costs where you can. Use cost-effective tools like email marketing and social media to drive awareness, rather than pricier traditional advertising methods.
Tip: Here are 10 ways to market your small business on a shoestring budget.
9. Understand there are no entitlements
Don’t underestimate this one: You will work hard for all your achievements.
Being a small business owner is one of the hardest jobs around. In a recent survey, 40 percent of small business owners said they don’t take vacations and have their money tied up in their business.
10. Have a passion for what you are doing
Being a business founder can be very lonely and there are not enough hours in the day to accomplish everything.
From big successes to large let downs, if you’re not fueled by passion at every step of the way your job becomes that much harder.
Want to hear the stories of successful small business owners?
Listen to Constant Contact’s Small Biz Stories podcast to hear how small business owners beat the odds and found success.
You’ll hear how they got started, their biggest obstacles, and their dreams for the future.
Have a question about starting your business? Leave us a comment — we’re here to help.
About the author: Hal Shelton’s business planning skills were developed as a certified SCORE small business mentor, corporate executive, nonprofit board member, early-stage company investor, and author of The Secrets to Writing a Successful Business Plan: A Pro Shares a Step-By-Step Guide to Creating a Plan That Gets Results. Suggestions for additional topics are welcome: email Hal directly from his website: http://ift.tt/1dsTMAy.
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