Now you’ve decided on your business idea, recorded your business goals and started planning your cash-flow you need to set up some essential areas of your business. The 6 steps below with give you a brief insight into what you will need to set up to get on track for running a successful business.
1. Website. Setting up your website should be one of the first things you do as it establishes your company online to help promote your products and services. Customers can use it to keep up to date with your latest offers and give you another way to interact with them. Gone are the days of only expecting customers from the 30 mile radius of your chimney. Publishing your website online will allow you to be seen and found by an international audience of customers and ‘keep the shop open’ long after you have finished your working day. We like to refer to it as the globalisation of the kitchen table/study desk that you may currently be operating from!
2. Domain Name. You will have already established your small business’s name so it is important to purchase the domain name as the home for your website. Purchasing a domain name will help your customers remember the address of your site and help establish an online brand for your business.
3. Business Cards. Everyone’s heard of Business cards but many small business owners view them as a luxury item for big meetings. Having a well designed, unique business card will give your customers something else to remember you by as well as helping your business retain a professional image. Don’t be afraid to hand out more than one to each customer, if they are talking about you to other people you should be very pleased with the free advertising!
4. Custom Business Logo. A customised logo will help your customers remember you and help with the branding of your business. This branding will give your business a ‘personality’ and distinguish you from your competitors.
5. Form a Company. Forming a limited company – LLC or Ltd. – will not only give you a legal name to trade under, it will prevent anyone else from copying or using your company name and damaging your reputation. Make sure you don’t violate someone else’s trademark!
6. Account/Business Adviser. A good accountant will act as a business adviser or ‘virtual finance director’ for your company, providing advice on cash-flow and business decisions, not just on tax once a year. Many accountants run their own small businesses and are very well informed when it comes to helping you through situations you may not have faced before. Picking the cheapest accountant may seem a good option in the short term but making sure you trust and can work with them is most important for the long term success of your company.
Completed all of the above? Congratulations, you are open for business and you’re another few steps closer to running a successful company!
Tags: Business, Home Business
