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.
Most people wish they read more. It is an activity... Read More
Gas prices continue to go through the roof and increased... Read More
10 Ways to Boost your ProfitabilitySo many business owners work... Read More
Are the endless lists of Top-7's and Top-10's taxing your... Read More
Are you scratching your head after business events wondering why... Read More
The 9-to-5 grind can make you feel like a just... Read More
1. Examine everything in your office from the view of... Read More
Email etiquette is the key to help calm down anxious... Read More
I have some good news and I have some bad... Read More
The Ten Commandments of Goal Setting While it's good to... Read More
Did you know that there is one critical difference between... Read More
Web Site Blues? Need one, don't know where to start?... Read More
Either simply a looker-on or a player in the world... Read More
Are you ready for a BASH? Have you ever been... Read More
Although dentistry may appear to be different than other types... Read More
It is possible for small companies and individual business people... Read More
Never in history have more entrepreneurs launched more new businesses!... Read More
1. Use subheads throughout your ad copy.Subheads are great to... Read More
If you are like me, you are living some distance... Read More
Most people have at least one favorite quotation from a... Read More
What is a niche business? A niche business is one... Read More
So you have set up your company, fairly established and... Read More
1. Get to know people. First meet those people in... Read More
Do you know exactly what actions you need to do... Read More
Creating a website is one thing, making it better is... Read More
scheduled maid service Winnetka ..I have some good news and I have some bad... Read More
While some new business owners face the issue of not... Read More
As the holiday season starts to settle in, the workload... Read More
From an employee's perspective, management often conducts itself in ways... Read More
'Tis the season to give. And finding the right gift... Read More
Networking is probably the best way to build a profitable... Read More
Being appropriately dressed is essential in making good impressions in... Read More
There are many places you can get books, and I... Read More
It has been said you can lift the Rock... Read More
Many new coaches struggle to attract their first client. Often,... Read More
Have you put a lot of effort, time, and money... Read More
Advertising executive Alex F. Osborne first coined the word "brainstorming"... Read More
If you've been thinking of starting a business on the... Read More
Which one are you? An effective IT project manager, able... Read More
What is Choice Theory (CT)? CT is a theory of... Read More
1. Use subheads throughout your ad copy.Subheads are great to... Read More
Seven Reasons Why Training Doesn't Produce the Desired Results and... Read More
The term "junk mail" is a well-known term. To... Read More
We all know that running a home business is highly... Read More
A lot of people are insecure about buying something or... Read More
"Vision is the spectacular that inspires us to carry out... Read More
1. Think Big ? In college, Michael Dell said he... Read More
What follows is a bold statement, but sometimes it takes... Read More
Talking is the least important half of any conversation. Listening... Read More
1. Maintain regular working hours and stick to them.2. Get... Read More
Top Quick Tips |