Do you have big ambitions for the new year? For some people, new year’s resolutions go a step further than eating more healthily or getting a gym membership. If the mammoth task of setting up your own business is your goal for 2018, here are three steps to begin making your dream a reality.
1.Begin writing your business plan
There are so many things to think about when you’re starting a business, and the first thing you need to do is get your thoughts in order. You don’t need to write your entire business plan in one go, but the sooner you get started, the better. Write down ideas as they come to you, and begin to outline things like the basic premise of what you are going to do, how you are going to do it, and what your goals are. Once you start writing your business plan, your ideas will begin to fall into place.
2.Begin researching
What are your competitors doing, where should your premises be, and what do your customers want? There are many important questions to ask when you first get started, and the answers will help you to begin shaping your business and making the right decisions. This research has an important place in your business plan, and this is particularly true for your competitor research. What better way to decide where to start than to look at what other businesses in your sector are doing, and where they succeed or fail?
3.Define your brand
Your research will help you with defining your brand, which is one of the first things you will need to do. You will need a name and perhaps a logo and a slogan or strapline, and you’ll need to give each of these things careful thought. The decisions you make about your brand should be influenced by your goals and purpose, as well as who your customers are, what they need and how you are going to reach them. All of this can be shaped by the research you do – and of course you’ll want to make sure that there isn’t someone else out there using the name you have chosen, or who already uses the website domain name you want.
There is so much to do when you’re first starting your business, including setting realistic goals and getting your finances in order. But by taking it one step at a time and giving yourself a plan to work from, you just may reach your goal of setting up your own business in 2018.
If you would like any help with writing a business plan that will propel you towards success this year, contact cbm online using the form on the right or call 01604 420 420.