The excitement of going it alone and "sacking the boss" as many of the scams put it does have it's limitations when it comes to putting the right activities in order. I guess, the worst thing to face when starting up a business for the first time is deciding the best place to start. I keen mistake I made was trying to to a lot of things all at once as there is a tendency to try to be everything from financial director to tea lady all at the same time, and when your tea is better tasting that the account books, then you know you might need a helping hand...
One of the first things which needs to be done is a business plan (and yes, I can hear your groan from here,) it sounds dull and uninteresting but it needs to be done for a number of reasons, but perhaps the most important one is that you need to see what it is you want to do, on paper - when something is written down in front of you, it suddenly appears human with legs and feet and eyes staring back at you. You give it depth and purpose. It is only then that you can be comfortable with how the business is going to run and what it is going to achieve for you and your market.
Aha! She's mentioned the M word, yes, marketing and I am not talking about strolling around the shops taking your mind of the job (which and I will warn you now, DOES happen so try to concentrate on something else rather than saying "to Hell with it" and nipping in to town!) Skipping gaily down the road to success hand in hand with your business plan complete with flip charts, will be your marketing plan, and if the first didn't make you think, this second plan will.
Suddenly that baby (and it will be your baby because that's how you will refer it as) needs some guidance if it is going to get you anywhere. The first thing you will have to do is think about is the following:
1. Who your customers are!
2. Where they are at present AND if you were them, how would you go about tracking them down for the service or product you are going to provide? Start thinking the way your customers think and you are half way there to throwing the net and gathering them in out from the cold...
So as I was saying regarding the giving up thing - there will be times when you think that the sky outside your window looks so enticing today and that you just might go and have a cup of tea and sit out in the garden for just a little while - but DON'T. Business - any business needs commitment and lots of it and that cup needs to overflow with it. Get the plans over and down with before you sit down to catch up with the news on how swine flu is taking a hold (don't let that stop you going out to fish the flyer's) this is when you will find that being self employed needs an element of self discipline - after all, no one is going to do the running around for you, so before advertising beyond belief, track down the best ways to do that advertising - will your customers read the local free papers? This is a good place to start, it will cost you nothing (we love that word) and the papers will be circulated everywhere for you, so no running about burning up petrol. Will your customers read something if you put it through the door?
Here is a sore point - look out for the "No Canvassers" notice on the door and take note of it - you need to set up a good reputation so start as you mean to go on. Secondly, if you are running your business from home, would you be happy to put your details through some one's private front door? Many people won't be so if you want to sleep soundly at night, bear that in mind - if your business is going to be home based, don't forget it is your home, and probably someone elses as well, so keep it private...
onemum 2009
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