I posted “8 Steps To Turn You Idea Into A Business” Consider to read it.
1) Come up with an idea
To find your business idea, ask yourself three questions; have you spotted a gap in the market? What’s your passion/hobby/skill and can it be turned into a way of making a living? Have you seen someone do something that you think you can do better yourself? The answers to these questions will give you the basis of an idea for a business.
2) Write a plan
A business plan acts as your routemap and will guide you from start-up to growth. It doesn’t have to be a long document and it’s easy to remember what to include as it spells I’M OFF.
Also read: 10 Tips For Writing An Effective Business Plan
A business plan acts as your routemap and will guide you from start-up to growth. It doesn’t have to be a long document and it’s easy to remember what to include as it spells I’M OFF.
Also read: 10 Tips For Writing An Effective Business Plan
- I is for Idea– outline the business idea.
- M is for Market– who are the customers you’re going to serve? As much as you know about your customer base, the better. Are they a particular age/gender, from a certain area or have a particular style? Research the market and show off your knowledge here.
- O is for Operations– ie what kit do you need to get started. Most businesses I see need only an internet connection and business cards to get going which helps for starting on a budget. If you do need access to space/equipment etc, bear in mind three words that will come in handy on your business journey ‘Beg, Borrow & Barter’ie approach someone with the kit you need and ask if you can have access in exchange for giving them profile/footfall etc.
- F is for Finances– which is two-fold; writing a cashflow forecast for the business which, at its most basic level, is projected sales less your costs = profit for the first 12/18/24 months. The second element, which will stem from the forecast, is whether you need any funding to get going. If so, take a look at StartUp Loans (google for it), some bank of friends & family or crowdfunding, which are the most popular forms of start-up finance.
- The final F is for Friends– or, slightly more professionally put, this is your support network of advisers and experts on whom you can call on the topics that may not be your strong suit.
3) Build a home on the web
With millions of customers online, it’s a good move for you to be there too. Start with a blog using free tools such as Blogger.com and WordPress.com or consider template websites like SimpleMag, Business-Insider and Create.net to get a home on the web, within a small business budget. Embrace social media by creating profiles on the main platforms (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram) to raise profile and connect with customers.
With millions of customers online, it’s a good move for you to be there too. Start with a blog using free tools such as Blogger.com and WordPress.com or consider template websites like SimpleMag, Business-Insider and Create.net to get a home on the web, within a small business budget. Embrace social media by creating profiles on the main platforms (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram) to raise profile and connect with customers.
4) Make sales
Start by making sales to friends and family and keep expanding from there. Sell online, via PopUp shops, through partners, and hand promotion materials to just about everyone you meet. Make your sales message as personal as possible and attract customers back through introducing email marketing plus offers and discounts that reward loyalty.
Start by making sales to friends and family and keep expanding from there. Sell online, via PopUp shops, through partners, and hand promotion materials to just about everyone you meet. Make your sales message as personal as possible and attract customers back through introducing email marketing plus offers and discounts that reward loyalty.
5) Manage the money
Cash is king so you’ll want to be sure it’s coming in at a faster rate than going out! Cloud accounting is an ideal solution with companies such as Xero making accounting software available for under £10 per month so you don’t have to spend all your time and budget on managing the money but you can sleep easy knowing the finances are in order.
Also read: How to Become an Entrepreneur with no Money
Cash is king so you’ll want to be sure it’s coming in at a faster rate than going out! Cloud accounting is an ideal solution with companies such as Xero making accounting software available for under £10 per month so you don’t have to spend all your time and budget on managing the money but you can sleep easy knowing the finances are in order.
Also read: How to Become an Entrepreneur with no Money
6) Raise profile
Get to know the journalists that cover your trade. Follow them on Twitter, reach out with releases and, by building expertise in your field, become the go-to person that journalists call when they’re after an opinion or quote. And remember, when a journalist does call, drop everything else to respond!
Get to know the journalists that cover your trade. Follow them on Twitter, reach out with releases and, by building expertise in your field, become the go-to person that journalists call when they’re after an opinion or quote. And remember, when a journalist does call, drop everything else to respond!
7) Get support
Surround yourself with experts, advisers and supporters who can help and guide on your entrepreneurial journey. Find business advisers on the web marketplace and access tech support from this blog community who are on hand to help with everything from tech set-up to the best apps for business.
Surround yourself with experts, advisers and supporters who can help and guide on your entrepreneurial journey. Find business advisers on the web marketplace and access tech support from this blog community who are on hand to help with everything from tech set-up to the best apps for business.
8) Repeat!
Keep repeating these steps and before you know it, you’ll be boss of your own thriving venture. There’s no better way to spend 2016.
Emma Jones is founder of Enterprise Nation
Keep repeating these steps and before you know it, you’ll be boss of your own thriving venture. There’s no better way to spend 2016.
Emma Jones is founder of Enterprise Nation