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Introduction
* Starting a small business is an exciting time, filled with the potential for success. Along with a great idea or niche, many small business start ups also need financing through banks or private lenders.Prosper: Get a Personal Loan for your Business2 And whether you're looking to start a brick and mortar storefront, an home-based business or an internet store, a solid, well-researched plan of action is a must.Small Business Administration: Small Business Planner3 From your first idea to your first customer, plan ahead for success. The following article will help guide you through the process of starting a small business.
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Ready to be your own boss? If you're tired of making money for someone else, it may be time to start your own business. How to start a small business will introduce you to the basics of getting your own small business off the ground.
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Small Business Tips
1. Create an online presence.
2. Start a blog that relates to your business.
3. Send out a newsletter for new and existing customers.
4. Add a poll to your websites.
5. Advertise in the signature line of your email.
6. Advertise on well-known websites.
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* by K. Ring
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Estimate Start-Up Costs and Potential Profits
1. Work your big idea out on a paper or worksheet first to get a good idea of its potential profit.Small Business Administration: Finance Start-Up4
2. Sites like Business Know-How and Palo Alto Software offer free online start-up cost calculators and worksheets to get you started.Business Know-How: Start-Up Cost Calculator Calculator5 PaloAltoSoftware.com: Starting Costs Estimator6
3. If your idea doesn't seem to be profitable, don't give up. Try a different angle or another related niche that you can fill.
* -For example, if you've decided to chuck the idea of selling housewares because you can't find a reliable distributor, consider becoming a distributor yourself.
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Research the Market
1. Search the web for the same business idea you have to see if the market is saturated.Positive Money Making Ideas: Money Making Ideas Index7
2. Check the local phone book, Yellow Pages and Chamber of Commerce to find businesses that are similar to your idea.
3. Use all available resources to thoroughly know your chosen business area(s) and options and when and if you choose to go ahead in an area, continue to do so throughout your business career - know your business better than anyone else.
4. Selected Resources to Consult: tour related businesses, consult your government business/small business assistance programs/centers, talk to people, Internet, public/college library and get a membership, introduce yourself and get to know your reference librarians and staff for a lifelong research helping relationship, find and interact with relevant associations and conferences, university/college/other business or continuing education or professional development courses, workshops, lectures, read books/articles/news sources/websites, find your own best sources, ask colleagues for recommendations etc. and develop ongoing networking with individuals and formal situations eg. business networking meetings, online discussion eg. talking on relevant blog posts (
http://www.google.com has a blog search ) etc.