Steps To Launch A Small Business

There are few things quite as exciting as starting your own business. Entrepreneurs like nothing more than to start a new venture and if you have a great business idea, then it could prove to be a rewarding and lucrative chapter. Setting up a small business can also be a real challenge, and there are a few difficult obstacles to overcome initially. This can understandably make it daunting, but the following information on how to launch a small business will act as a guide for getting set up so that you can hit the ground running and get off to a smooth start.

Market Research

First, you need to make sure that your company has a chance of succeeding. To do this, you need to research your competitors, your customers and the economic conditions in your industry. Understanding the market ensures that there is demand for the products and services that you aim to provide while also allowing you to gauge the competition and see where you could fit in. Using a free survey tool could help you with your initial market research without having to spend a lot. The key areas to research are if there is demand, how big is the market, what is the income range and employment rate and where do customers live and where can your business reach. You must also consider how many similar options are available and the pricing of this.

Choose Structure

The structure that you decide on will impact aspects like tax, personal liability and day-to-day operations. Sole proprietorships are quick and easy to form and will give you complete control, but you can be held personally responsible for debts and obligations of the business. Partnerships are for two or more people. Limited partnerships will have one general partner with unlimited liability and all others have limited liability, while a limited liability partnership has limited liability for every owner. Limited liability companies protect you from personal liability and allow you to take advantage of corporation and partnership structures benefits.

Brand Identity

Now you will want to create a brand identity. Your unique identity will include a company name, a logo and a slogan. Additionally, you may also want to select a color palette, typography and general personality for the brand. Creating this brand identity can be challenging, but think about the most recognizable brands in the world and what works for them. The name, logo, and slogan should be attractive, paint the organization in a positive light and give an indication of what you do and why the consumer should choose you over the competition. It is also important to trademark the name, logo, and slogan to safeguard the brand identity; you can learn more here.

Business Plan

Next, you will need to craft a business plan. This plan will be the foundation of your business and will guide you through every stage of starting and managing the company. These plans can also be used to secure funding by showing potential investors that they will see a return. It can be an intimidating stage and particularly if it is your first venture, but there is a lot of helpful advice online and a standard structure to use for traditional plans.

Registering

How and where you register your company will depend on the structure and location, but in most cases, it will simply involve registering with state and local government. Registering is important because you could miss out on personal liability protection, tax benefits, and legal benefits. Following on from this, you will want to obtain federal and state tax ID numbers so that you can pay federal and state taxes.

Calculating Costs

Calculating startup costs is a vital stage as this will allow you to attract investors and establish when you should turn a profit. Every business will differ, but a few costs to consider are office space, equipment, supplies, licenses, and permits, insurance, utilities, advertising and marketing, market research, inventory and employee salaries. You will then need to organize expenses into one-time and monthly expenses.

Funding

When you have a clear idea of your one-time and monthly expenses, you can create a formal report of start-up costs so that you can secure funding. A small business can be self-funded, but the majority of entrepreneurs find that they need to find investors or take out a loan. Investors can be a great way to fund the project, but it is likely that you will have to exchange for an ownership share or role in the company, and this can be beneficial if they are an industry expert.

Licenses & Permits

It will depend on your particular industry, but the majority of small businesses will need to apply for a range of licenses and permits from state and federal agencies. Industry requirements can vary by state, so always visit your state’s website to find out more.

Setting Up

You will now be ready to get up and run successfully. It will involve hiring office space, purchasing equipment, buying inventory, hiring staff, etc. In addition to this, it is also vital that you have a high-quality website made along with social media pages. These are crucial for expanding your base and increasing brand awareness. Internet marketing practices like pay per click advertising (PPC) and search engine optimization (SEO) can be valuable tools and particularly for small and new companies as it allows you to increase your visibility online and compete with more established brands in your industry.

Having a great business idea is only a small part of what goes into making a successful organization. As you can see, there are many important steps to take when launching a small business and this can often deter entrepreneurs. It should not, as it can actually be relatively straightforward when you know what you need to do and you have a clear vision. Provided that you have taken the time to craft a detailed business plan, setting up and running a small business should not be too challenging and hopefully, it will not be too long until you turn a profit. The above will help you to get started, but you will then want to look for ways to grow.

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About Dequiana Jackson

Dequiana Jackson, Founder of Inspired Marketing, Inc., helps overachieving women entrepreneurs conquer limiting beliefs and create marketing plans that grow their businesses. This includes one-on-one marketing plan development, digital product creation, web design and content marketing. Dequiana is the author of Know Your Business: How to Attract Ideal Clients & Sell More and runs the award-winning blog, Entrepreneur-Resources.net.

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