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If you’re thinking of starting your own business, this can be a great way to make a living. Not only does starting your own business mean that you’ll be your own boss and able to work on your own time, it also means that you have a chance of increasing your earnings more and more as your business expands and develops. However, in order to be successful at starting and running your own business, it’s essential to make sure that you meet a number of basic business needs. Here are five things that every business needs when starting out.
A Website
Gone are the days when you could start a business and simply wonder about whether or not it needs a website as an afterthought. In today’s digital age with more and more customers not only shopping online but also using the internet to find local business and those further afield, having a website is critical to business success. Along with a website, your new small business will also need web hosting – somewhere secure to store all of the website data, etc.
Social Media
Along with a website, a new business in today’s day and age needs to have a good presence on social media. Social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter are often the go-to places for customers looking for new companies, brands, products and services, and therefore social media can serve as one of your biggest and most important marketing tools. You can use your business’ social media accounts not only to connect with new customers, but also to build and maintain an ongoing relationship with your current customer base.
A Plan of Action
Whether your business is predominantly online or offline, a business plan is absolutely essential to its success. Whether you choose to go down the traditional business plan route or opt for the newer lean startup methodology with a business plan that’s more of a ‘plan as you go’ affair, having plans and predictions in place for the future is crucial to your company’s success.
Capital
It might seem obvious, but you need money in order to start the majority of businesses. When planning your new business venture, it’s vital to outline exactly how you expect to be able to obtain the required start-up capital, and have a few backup options handy, too. For example, don’t just rely on the hope that you’ll be offered a business loan from the bank – what other options do you have if your application is rejected?
Market Research
Last but certainly not least, one of the most important things that your business needs in order to be a success is market research beforehand. In order to successfully cater to your customers, it’s crucial for you to fully understand both who they are, and what it is that they want. By conducting market research beforehand, you can ensure that your customers are satisfied right from the start.
Would you like to add to this list? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.
