David Friedland
Maybe it’s been your life-long dream to finally branch out on your own and create something from nothing, or maybe you just have a really good idea that might work better than the way things currently are being done. Whatever the case may be, congratulations! Starting a business is no small feat and takes tons of dedication and determination to see through from start to finish. It’s not something you can just give a half-hearted effort to and expect to make any progress. Starting a business is hard work, but also very rewarding in many ways.
For this dream of yours to become a full-fledged reality that brings your desired results, there are some things you’ll need to take care of that are much more crucial than you may think at first glance. These are 8 important things to take care of when starting a business.
Register your business
In most countries, you can register your business online or by mail. You’ll need to figure out what kind of business it is to do this, i.e. a sole proprietorship, a limited liability company (LLC), etc. Make sure that the legal requirements are met for your business to be successfully filed and registered, which may include getting a minimum number of signatures or filing forms with your local city/county government. Having a registered office services will be a big plus if you’re in the beginning stages of building your business. No matter if it is a private address or the place where your company is renting out a commercial space your business must have a registered office address.
Get a business bank account
Depending on the type of business you start and intend to grow, getting a business bank account is another crucial thing that must be taken care of before you open your doors to customers. There might be certain requirements for you to be eligible for one, such as having an Employer Identification Number (EIN) or being part of a certain industry that will require you to have this done.
Even if you don’t plan on financing your operation with outside money yet, having a business credit card would be very helpful for your business as well, which will also require a bank account. For instance, if your business is based in Southeast Asia, having a corporate credit card Singapore is a must for seamless transactions. You can also set limits for your employees whenever they’re using credit cards for business purposes with real-time updates.
Strategies of naming a brand
A good name will help people remember you, connect with your products or services, and stand out from competitors. The wrong one can confuse customers, lead them astray, or give them the impression that you don’t have what they’re looking for even if you do. Start by brainstorming all of the words related to your business and jotting them down on a piece of paper. Let thoughts flow freely and don’t overthink anything just yet. After that’s done, narrow it down to the options that conjure up positive feelings in you, such as words like “happiness,” “peace,” and “freedom.” Add in words that represent your desired customer base, such as “family” and “sustainable.” Combine the two worlds to create a name that has a powerful meaning behind it, for example with words like “lovely” or “pure.” In case you don’t like it you will probably have a good idea of what to focus on.
Online presence
You cannot successfully promote and run a business without even having a basic brand logo, website, and social media where people can find out about your company’s offerings and contact you for more information or place orders directly online. At the very least, you’ll need a simple website with an about us page, contact information, and maybe even some basic product or service description. It can be as simple as a WordPress blog if you don’t have the technical knowledge to properly design one for your business.
After having your business’s name registered in search engines like Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc. you’ll also need to make sure that your website will show up in search results and be found by people who are looking for what you offer. That’s why it is important to get a domain name and hosting plan from reliable companies like Godaddy, Hostgator, Namecheap, etc.
Create a “business plan”
A business plan isn’t just something you create for fun; it is an integral part of any successful business that you can’t just ignore or hope to improvise as you go along. A business plan will help you set your goals for the future and keep track of your progress, which will also motivate you to keep moving forward until they are reached. Sure, it’s alright if you don’t have one in the beginning, but at one point you’ll need to sit down and get this done properly.
Create an inventory of your products/services
You cannot sell anything if you don’t have it in stock. If you’re just starting with a small business or intend on keeping it small then this will not be that much of a problem for you, but you’ll need to plan and start purchasing your products in bulk before they sell out or run out of stock. You can’t just expect people to wait while you place an order and go through the delivery process.
Marketing strategies
This is one of the most important things that will make or break your business, so do not underestimate its significance. Even if your products are the best in the world, they’ll go to waste if no one knows about them or can’t easily find you online. That’s why you have to have a marketing strategy that will fit with your business’s goals and what you want to achieve through it. It isn’t just about advertising though, as there are many ways to get your name out there, from simply talking about it with everyone you meet to attending local workshops and events.
A good way to start is by creating a business plan that includes a marketing strategy. You can also use SEO, Adwords campaigns, email marketing/promotions, social media campaigns (also known as SMO – Social Media Optimization), and many more.
Delivery/transportation of products
Sure, coming up with a good product is important but it’s useless if you can’t provide the necessary means to get it from your location to your customer’s doorsteps. That’s why you have to invest in a delivery service that is fast and reliable at a decent price. If you’re just starting then it would be best to use a website that allows customers to schedule their deliveries online. You can’t just expect your first few clients to call you every time they want something, so you have to offer them an alternative.
Starting a business can seem like an overwhelming and daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right plan in place and some dedication on your part, you’ll be able to get everything up and running smoothly without too much hassle or stress involved. Remember that there are no set rules for what kind of company you want to create; just do whatever fits best with your values and preferences.
