The 9-to-5 grind can make you feel like a just another cog in the corporate machine, constantly punching the clock for someone else's vision. One day, while dreaming of the world outside the cubicle, you have your big "Eureka!" moment-you've come across an idea so perfect that you need to start your own business around it.
Coming up with the idea is the easy part. Now, you're thrown into an entrepreneurial world where even the experience businessperson can feel overwhelmed by all the details.
It's hard to know where to even begin. So here are some tips to starting your own business:
- Craft a primitive budget: do you have enough capital to get this idea rolling? First things first, figure out roughly how much it'll cost you including all expenses, and where that money will be coming from. Call in favors from everyone you've even leant money to in the past in need be.
- Does the business world need you?: is there a large enough demand for your product? Ask around before even attempting to start your business-check with similar businesses in the area, or around the country. Find out how they started, and what kinds of clients they target, to get an idea of where you'll fit in the market.
- Create a strong management team: your team members should share your vision of the business, and a certain amount of proficiency and credibility. Rely on your connections to find the perfect people for the jobs that will bring their expertise to the business. Remember that you will eventually have to set aside your ego and let them control certain aspects of the company, so your have to feel comfortable around your management team.
- Start small: instead of immediately trying to market your product to 5,000 companies at once, focus on a few dozen specialized local companies to network with. This way you can call them each personally, mail them your marketing materials, and then arrange a meeting.
- Quality matters: you want to be able to set your self apart from all the other businesses similar to yours. Having an eye-catching yet simple to navigate web site and presentation material is key to succeeding in the modern business world. Creating quality marketing tools doesn't have to cost you a fortune either; consider hiring a design art or marketing student from a nearby university to help out. You never know, you could even meet your next Junior Executive.
- Come up with a good business plan: keep it less than 25 pages, and include information about your management team, who your customers as, and most importantly, why the world needs your business. At this stage in the game, don't over-focus on the financial side of things yet. A business plan outline can be found at http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/planning/basic.html.
For more tips, including an A-to-Z guide to starting your own business, and 21 ways to draw customers in, go to http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/planning/basic.html.
Jessica Klein is a member of the 'Mount Real Research Team', whose aim is to seek out and distribute business information to the virtual public. She is a freelance writer based in Montreal, Canada who loves writing about anything from accounting to zebras.
For more info about Mount Real, visit http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/planning/basic.html.
1. Admit there is a problem.The very first step in... Read More
When sending mail to clients and potential clients, make your... Read More
Counselling non-performing team members is a tough part of any... Read More
As the holiday season starts to settle in, the workload... Read More
"Vision is the spectacular that inspires us to carry out... Read More
Business etiquette is essentially about building relationships with colleagues, clients... Read More
Always include a powerful signature on every email you send... Read More
1. Outsource what takes you too long to doWhen you... Read More
Are you ready for a BASH? Have you ever been... Read More
You have seen their ads and you may have wondered... Read More
10. Procrastination Condemnation - Lose the Labels! All those things... Read More
Your business card is a valuable piece of real estate... Read More
Have you put a lot of effort, time, and money... Read More
How do you increase business profits? Answer the following questions... Read More
Here are seven excellent ways to earn income from international... Read More
10 Ways to Boost your ProfitabilitySo many business owners work... Read More
You have a great idea you know is a winner.... Read More
Seven Reasons Why Training Doesn't Produce the Desired Results and... Read More
The Internet is a fast growing medium, trancending the personal... Read More
Good Speakers need good listening skills to become Great CommunicatorsSpeakers... Read More
In Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen's original "Chicken Soup... Read More
Almost daily, newspapers, business magazines, radio and television carry reports... Read More
Web Site Blues? Need one, don't know where to start?... Read More
You're busy with your business today, aren't you?You're pushing your... Read More
As a counselor, therapist or healing professional (massage therapist, physiotherapist,... Read More
maide service in Buffalo Grove ..1. Make a clear, specific commitment to what you want.... Read More
You need sales and you wanted them yesterday. Here are... Read More
Rut -- a routine procedure, situation, or way... Read More
Have you put a lot of effort, time, and money... Read More
One way links will help you gain better rankings in... Read More
If you're a beginner, starting a website doesn't have to... Read More
At Macquarie University in the early '90s, three Australian early... Read More
Google is the pre-eminent search engine (SE) with no close... Read More
As the holiday season starts to settle in, the workload... Read More
One way to manage your time more effectively is to... Read More
The Ten Commandments of Goal Setting While it's good to... Read More
While some new business owners face the issue of not... Read More
Leadership, leadership development and leadership training are "Hot" issues in... Read More
Many people find it really hard to write for business... Read More
Talk to Your People Often By building a great... Read More
As a counselor, therapist or healing professional (massage therapist, physiotherapist,... Read More
Does your business have a money tree you can shake... Read More
How's your business going to keep growing with the holidays... Read More
The 2004 election is over--at least in the minds of... Read More
If you don't possess the time, money or inclination to... Read More
Ever lost a sale you thought was in the bag?... Read More
Many businesses lose money yearly because they don't think creatively... Read More
1. Examine everything in your office from the view of... Read More
Did you know that there is one critical difference between... Read More
1.) Brainstorming for an idea - You must select what... Read More
Top Quick Tips |