We have entered a new year and it’s time to embark on that new business idea. Starting a new business is a great way to bring an innovative idea to life.
The benefits of starting a business allows you to choose your own hours, gain freedom and independence. Equally, it will make a positive impact to the economy by offering job opportunities to skilled workers.
Here are some of the tools and resources to help get started.
Market Research
Market research is crucial in determining if your idea has the potential to become a successful business. By gathering information about potential customers and businesses already operating in your area of interest, you can identify opportunities and potential challenges.
According to Failory’s interview with failed start founders, the common reason for business failure is a lack of product-market fit. Basically, they couldn’t connect with the people who wanted to use their products. You can avoid this costly mistake by first doing your homework.
To better understand the market, you can:
- Join online discussions (Hive, Quora, or Reddit, ) and ask questions or get feedback.
- Conduct a survey from online communities to gather information.
- Join groups that are composed of your target audience and ask questions.
- Create a focus group focus to get their perspective on your product or service.
Before creating a business plan, make sure the wants of your target market, along with the economic trends are in line with your business idea.
A One-Page Business Plan
A business plan is a critical document for any business, big or small. It outlines your goals, strategies, financial projections, and competitive advantages.
Like wise, it serves as a roadmap for the future of your business, helping with staying focused and organized.
Although, most business plans are long and time consuming, I stumble across one that is short and efficient.
The One-Page Business Plan at Bplans.com is great for starts ups and new entrepreneurs that feel overwhelmed with a multi-page business plan.
BPlans One-Page Business Plan
Register your business for Free + Applicable State Fees
Your business name legally identifies your business.
Registering your business is an important step to ensure you are compliant with local, state, and federal regulations. Further more, it gives you legal protection for your business name, allows you to open a business bank account, and provides access to business resources and funding opportunities.
Incfile.com makes it easy to help you get started. You can file for LLC, S Corp, C Corp or nonprofit for $0. The only fee you pay will be required by your state.
Whether it’s a new business, restructuring a business or want to stay compliant. Incfile.com offers a variety of services for a business success.
Get a Free Domain + Hosting
A domain name is an important part of having a successful online presence. It allows you to create a unique website address and helps with easily being found and remembered.
Also, having a domain name helps to build credibility and can make your site appear more professional.
Additionally, it allows you to create email addresses that are associated with your domain name, which is helpful for branding purposes. Hosting is the physical space for your website. It’s usually purchased through a hosting provider like HostGator.
Hosting Packages are offered at different levels and includes WordPress, a free, open-source content management system. HostGator is one of the most popular platforms is used by millions of users worldwide for creating engaging and functional websites.
Market Your Product or Service
There are many ways to market your website. Most importantly, you will have a clear understanding of your target audience and the goals you want to achieve. This can be found in your One-Page Business Plan.
Some of the ways are to: optimize your website for search engines, create content that will attract your target audience, engage with your audience on social media, setup a PPC campaign, create a mailing list, and use influencer marketing.
Additionally, you can setup an affiliate program, run contest, or giveaways. The key is to experiment and see what works best for your audience.
Conclusion
Starting your business the right way will is crucial. Taking the time to research, plan, and consider legal implications, you will ensure that your business has a strong foundation for success. In the long run, it will save you time and money.