How to Start a Business

No matter how good you think your idea is, you need to find out what the market is saying about it. Entrepreneurs who are too close to their idea can become so convinced that it will be a success that they forget to look beyond themselves for confirmation. This can lead to a disappointing outcome.

Market research can be conducted in a variety of ways, including:

• Conducting surveys.
• Reading literature from economic studies.
• Studying competitors.
• Passing out samples of your product.
• Analyzing demographics.

One of the most important reasons to have a business plan is that it will help you get funding. Investors and lenders will want to know exactly where their money is going and what the prospects of a return on their investment are. Because of this, the market research that you have compiled is a key piece of the business plan.

Try your best to be both detailed and concise when you are creating your business plan. It's best to avoid technical jargon and industry terms that an outside investor might not understand. If you have to use these terms to get your point across, make sure you explain them.

Although the first item that you need to include is the Executive Summary, it might be easier for you to write it last. After you have created all of the other parts, it will probably be easier for you to summarize the business and your plan for how to start it.

There are a variety of ways to fund your business. You can borrow money from friends or family and offer to pay them interest, you can secure a small business loan from a bank or qualified lender, you can sell equity in your company, or you can apply for local and State small business grants. Crowdfunding is becoming a popular way to raise money.

If you choose to take the traditional route and apply for a small business loan, most lenders will require the following:

• A good credit score.
• Collateral to post against the loan (property, assets, etc.).
• A two-year history of your income.

Many business owners are reluctant to sell equity in their company because they want to maintain complete ownership.

By splitting ownership in a young company too many ways, you dilute its value and risk losing the equity that will one day make you wealthy. At the same time, you might need partners who can help you get your business where it needs to go. Most of all, you probably need money to invest in your business.

If you're having difficulty getting the loans or the credit that you need, selling equity could be a good option. Just remember that whoever buys equity is also entitled to a share of the profits.

The four most common legal structures for a small business are:

• Sole proprietorship: includes only one person who is the owner/operator of the business. There are no employees and all profits are the proprietor's personal income. The sole proprietor personally assumes all liability for the business. You'll likely need to use a schedule C form to report profits and losses.

• Partnership: a business relationship between two or more people who share costs and revenues. Partnerships do not pay income tax but must file an annual return. Taxes are passed on to the individual members of the partnership.

• Corporation: a corporation is a standalone entity with shareholders. A corporation must file an annual tax return and is required to pay corporate taxes.

• Limited Liability Company (LLC): LLCs are regulated by State laws. An LLC can be owned by a person, persons, or a corporation. Depending on the size and location of the LLC, it may be treated as a partnership or corporation for tax purposes. Check your State's laws for more information.

Income from a sole proprietorship can be reported on your personal income tax return, but corporations and LLCs need to be registered. The process for registering in each state is slightly different, but you need to provide the following:

• A registered agent, i.e., the company representative with a physical address in the State of incorporation.
• Names and addresses of officers, directors, and members.

If you have employees, you also need to register for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) with the IRS. You can apply online at IRS.gov.

It is unusual for someone who is starting a business to buy a property right away, but it may be necessary if your business needs the property to generate revenue.

For example, a self-storage business needs a piece of property with storage units on it in order to make money. If your business only needs a small office or storefront, renting is a much better financial option when you are starting out.

Determine where you would like your business to be located and then start shopping for commercial real estate. You can buy a property, or rent an office, store, or warehouse.

There are many different types of small business insurance that you can purchase, including:

• Property insurance: covers damages to your business's property.
• Liability insurance: protects your business from legal liability if your service or product causes harm.
• Professional liability insurance: protects professional service providers against civil lawsuits associated with their service.
• Health insurance: covers or partially covers you and your employees' medical bills.
• Automobile insurance: for single or multiple-vehicle coverage. Available for vehicles that are used for business purposes.
• Cyber insurance: coverage that kicks in in the event of a cyberattack that destroys your data or steals your customers' information.
• Business interruption insurance: available to supplement a sudden loss of income when circumstances beyond your control cause your business to shut down for a period of time.

Before you start advertising job opportunities, figure out exactly how many employees you need and what positions you need them to fill. Common jobs include:

• Cashier.
• Customer service agent.
• General laborer.
• Secretary.
• Administrative assistant.
• Manager.

The fastest way to advertise job opportunities is to post them online using job sites like Indeed. You can also use job posting software like Betterteam to post jobs to hundreds of sites instantly and manage applications as they come in.

As people send in their resumes and cover letters, you can read through them and separate qualified applicants from unqualified ones.

Once you have found enough suitable candidates for the job(s) that you are hiring for, reach out to them and schedule in-person interviews. These interviews will allow you to meet the candidates and further assess their ability to meet your business's needs.

Once you're prepared to bring the best candidates on board, send out formal job offers to each of them that include a possible start date, their rate of pay, and their official title.

When you approach a supplier as a business, you bring value because you represent the possibility of becoming a long term customer. A good business-to-business relationship is mutually beneficial because it gives long term stability to both parties.

One great way to develop relationships with other businesses in your area is to attend networking events. If you join your local chamber of commerce or business association, you will have the opportunity to attend networking events where you can meet other business owners.

One of the cornerstones of successful marketing is a compelling elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is exactly what it sounds like - a very brief summary of what your business is and why it is valuable. A good elevator pitch should grab the attention of investors and customers. It can also be your point of reference when you are branding products or services.

Before you start advertising, you need to create a brand identity. To do this, ask yourself questions like:

• Who are my customers?
• What problem does my business solve?
• What do my customers want?
• Is my value proposition unique?
• What kind of personality should my brand have?
• What feelings do I want to be associated with my brand?
• How do my competitors position themselves?

A logo makes your business instantly identifiable. If you have design skills, you can create your logo, but you can also hire a graphic design or logo design service to create a professional logo for your business.

A website and an active social media presence are essential in today's digitally-driven marketplace. You can use an AI website builder such as Zarla to build your own website or hire a web design agency.

Setting up social media accounts is very easy and 100% free. Create business pages on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.