12 Steps to
Startup
After repeated attempts at squeezing your square self into a round hole, you’ve finally admitted
it isn’t going to work—you’re just not cut out to be someone’s employee. You want to say
good-bye to the corporate world and embark on a journey toward the greener pastures of entrepreneurship.
And that’s where we can help. Come with us on this 12-step journey toward business
ownership. From helping you think of a business idea to creating your business and marketing
plans, these 12 steps are sure to set you on the right path.
1. Take a Skills and Interests Inventory
Begin a soul-searching process to determine which business is right for you. You’ll definitely
have an advantage with a business that’s a spin-off of your background or experience. You can
also enjoy success in an area where you have strong interest yet lack experience, though you
may need to qualify yourself through entrepreneurial training or professional certification programs.
Jot down the skills that already exist in your talent bank. What do you like to do with your time?
What technical skills have you learned or developed? Do you have hobbies or interests that are
marketable? It might help to create a personal resume that lists your professional and personal
experiences as well as your expertise. For each job you list, describe the duties you were responsible
for and how successful you were at each. Be sure to include professional skills, educational
background, hobbies and accomplishments that required expertise or special knowledge.
Don’t forget the personality factor. Are you outgoing and friendly or do you prefer to keep to
yourself? Do you like working indoors or outdoors? Do you enjoy working with the general public
or with a few close clients? Do you love working 24/7 on an exciting project, or do you enjoy
your downtime as much as your work time? Every business has its own personality, and your
own personality should be a complement to the one you finally choose.
You should also talk with others in businesses similar to the ones you’re considering about the
traits and temperaments needed to be successful. Find out what they really like about the businesses
they’re running and also what they don’t like. Compare their responses with your own interests
and personality to see if there’s a fit. Don’t stop searching until you find an idea that couples
your love for the work with your marketable talents.
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2. Research and Evaluate Your Idea
Many people have great ideas, but their businesses flounder in the marketplace because there
really isn’t an audience for their product or service. Thorough research will help support expectations
about a business’s success as well as uncover any potholes in your thinking. Ask yourself
these questions:
�� What problem does my product or service solve?
�� Who will buy my product or service?
�� Why will they buy it?
�� Where will they buy it—specialty shops, department stores, mail order, online?
�� What do I need to charge to make a healthy profit and will people actually pay that?
�� What products or services will mine be competing with?
No business—particularly a small one—can be all things to all people. The more narrowly you
can define your business and your target market, the better. So it’s crucial that you create a
niche for yourself in the marketplace—it’s the key to success for even the biggest companies.
Wal-Mart and Tiffany’s are both retailers, but they have very different niches: Wal-Mart caters to
bargain-minded shoppers, while Tiffany’s appeals to upscale jewelry customers.
To find out if your business idea has a chance of succeeding in the marketplace and to help you
create an effective marketing plan, you’ll need to do more than just answer the questions listed
above. You’ll also need to conduct more formal market research.
First, meet with a consultant, talk to a business or marketing professor at a local college or university,
These sources can offer guidance and help you decide exactly what information you need to gather.
Generally, you’ll need to collect information on three crucial aspects of your business: industry
information, target market and your competition.
You can dig up trends, statistics, surveys and other data from
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3. Calculate Your Costs
It’s critical to determine how much cash you’ll need to open and operate your business before
you hang out your shingle. To keep your business running smoothly in its startup phase, you’ll
need enough capital to cover all expenses until you reach the break-even point. Many experts
recommend new companies start out with enough money to cover projected expenses for at
least six months. It’s foolhardy to expect to generate revenue immediately—it’s best to play it
safe and plan for all contingencies.
Create a checklist of expenditures. These suggested tips will help you get started:
�� List the equipment, furniture, supplies and people needed to operate your business.
�� Itemize startup costs for inventory, signage, sales and marketing literature or tools,
research and product development, licenses, permits, operating capital, and legal or professional fees.
�� Calculate your monthly overhead for rent, supplies, utilities, business and health insurance,
taxes, Internet access, shipping and other services.
�� Factor in your salary and employee or contractor wages.
Refer to industry-specific startup books and resources for additional costs that may apply to
your respective business type. As for determining accurate cost estimates, a good rule of thumb
is to assume everything will cost more than you expect, so pad your numbers in order to create
a safety net. Tally and double-check the numbers before you begin writing your business plan
and searching for startup funds.
4. Write Your Business Plan
You gain an advantage by building your business on paper first. A business plan’s value goes
beyond its ability to help secure a loan package for you. It’s a working document that helps you
prepare for opportunities as well as difficulties.
Just as you wouldn’t start off on a cross-country drive without a road map, you shouldn’t embark on your new business without a business plan to guide you. A business plan won’t automatically make you a success, but it will help you avoid some common causes of business failure, such as undercapitalization or lack of an adequate
market. You’ll find weak spots in your business idea that you’ll be able to repair. You’ll also discover areas with potential you may not have thought about before—and ways to profit from them.
There are three primary parts to a business plan. The first is the business concept, where you
discuss the industry, your business structure, your product or service and how you plan to make
your business a success. The second is the marketplace section, in which you describe and analyze
potential customers: who and where they are, what makes them buy and so on. You’ll
also describe your competition and how you’ll position yourself to beat it. Finally, financial section
contains your income and cash flow statement, balance sheet and other financial ratios,
such as break-even analysis. This part may require help from your accountant and a good
spreadsheet software program.
Writing a plan forces you to think through every aspect of your venture. Only by putting together
a business plan can you decide whether you should proceed with your idea or look for a new
one.
5. Identify Sources of Startup Financing
Once you’ve decided on the type of venture you want to start, the next step on the road to business
success is figuring out where the money will come from to fund it. Where do you start?
Most entrepreneurs self-finance their businesses through personal savings, credit cards, second
mortgages, or loans from friends and family. You may also be able to match your qualifications
with a microloan:
Although there’s no such thing as “free money” for small businesses, there are some cash
awards, prize money and minigrants offered by a dwindling pool of organizations
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6. Choose a Business Structure and Name Your New Business
Of all the decisions you make when starting a business, probably one of the most important is
the type of legal structure you select for your company. Your structure can make a big difference
in how you pay taxes (how much and how often), raise money, handle lawsuits, or dissolve or
pass on the business. Will you operate as a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, S corporation
or limited liability company? Because each business form comes with different tax consequences,
you’ll want to want to make your selection wisely and choose the structure that
most closely matches your business’s needs. If you’re not a tax or legal expert, you should seek
advice from a professional on how to pick the structure that’ll best manage your liabilities.
Also important in the success of your business is the right name for your new venture: The right
name can make your company the talk of the town; the wrong one can doom it to obscurity and
failure. If you’re smart, you’ll put just as much effort into naming your business as you did into
coming up with your idea and writing your business plan.
An effective name will establish your marketplace presence, convey what you do, and create a
memorable impression. Thumb through phone books, DBA filings, directories and The Trademark
Register to research names already in use or similar to yours.
Conduct a business name check in the nearest CAC office near you
7. Work Through the Startup Paperwork Maze
Visit your city’s “first- or one-stop” business center—you can usually find it through the government
listings in your phone book or through your local chamber of commerce. These offices can
provide information about licensing, permits, your particular business type, and running a local
business in general. Find more information at your local
You should also speak with an experienced insurance agent about purchasing a business owner’s
policy (BOP) and any additional coverage that will protect you against lawsuits and natural
disasters. You need to make sure your business is adequately covered so you don’t lose your
shirt.
8. Develop Your Marketing and Customer Service Plans
Without marketing, no one will know your business exists—and if customers don’t know you’re
there, you won’t make any sales. When your marketing efforts are working, however, and customers
are streaming through the door, an effective customer service policy will keep ‘em coming
back for more. So now it’s time to create the plans that will draw customers to your business
again and again.
A marketing plan consists of the strategies and devices you’re going to use to communicate to
your target audience. A customer service plan focuses on your customer’s requirements and the
ways of filling those requirements. The two work in concert.u p
Descriptions of your market and its segments, the competition and prospective customers
should be in your business plan. This is the start of your marketing plan. Based on this information,
you can begin choosing the communication channels to use to get the word out about your
business: radio, TV, billboards, direct mail, fliers, print ads, etc. Then prioritize your tactics and
begin with the ones that your research has shown to be the most effective for your audience.
For example, a TV repair service’s marketing program may be supported mainly by paid advertisements
in the phone book, since “Television Repair” is one of the most often looked-up headings
by homeowners.
For your customer service plan, think about what it’ll take to develop relationships with your customers
that can be mutually beneficial for years to come. Since repeat customers are the backbone
of every successful business, in your customer service plan, you’ll want to outline just how
you’re going to provide complete customer satisfaction. Consider money-back guarantees, buying
incentives, and the resolution of customer complaints. Determine what your customer service
policy will say, how you’ll train your employees to attend to the needs of your customers and
how to reward repeat customers. Remember, this is just the beginning: Your program should
evolve as the business grows.
9. Court Your First Customers
You have a profile of the end user of your product or service. Now’s the time to get in the habit
of “talking up” your business—telling everyone you know about it. Ask for referrals from colleagues,
suppliers, former employers and other associates. You can improve the quality of your
referrals by being specific in your request. For example, an insurance broker developed a successful
referral network by asking existing clients if they knew anyone who was “in a two-income
professional family with young children,” rather than just asking if they knew anyone who
needed insurance.
Consider offering free consultations or an introductory price to first-time buyers. Consider joining
forces with a complementary business to get them to help you spread the word about your new
venture. For example, a carpet cleaner might offer incentives to a housecleaning service if
they’d recommend them to their regular customers. Once you’ve done work for a few satisfied
customers, ask them for a testimonial letter to use in your promotional materials
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10. Develop and Hire Your Support Team
Even if you think of yourself as a one-person operation, you’ll need a team of support people to
help you create a successful business. From contractors and suppliers to advisory board members
and employees, each of these individuals can help make or break your new business. Start
networking—with friends, family, business associates, the professionals in your life—to widen
your network and choose the best people for your team.
Your advisory board can include a mix of professional peers, legal or financial advisors, or mentors.
You need to develop a network of advisors whose talents, knowledge, resources and skills
can be used to help you handle the demands of your business. Besides providing you with
sound advice, the collaborative talents of your team can also help you obtain larger projects and
grow with your clients’ needs. Meet with them a few times a year to solicit their professional
feedback.
If you need to hire employees, consider interns, students or part-timers as your first-time hires.
If you think you won’t need permanent employees in the beginning, you can also look into temporary
services and independent contractors. If you’re planning to hire someone on full-time,
however, remember that the employees you hire can make or break your business. While you
may be tempted to hire the first person who walks in the door “just to get it over with,” doing so
can be a fatal error. A small company just can’t afford to carry deadwood on its staff, so start
smart by taking time to figure out your staff needs before you begin looking for job candidates.
11. Execute Your Marketing Plan
If you took our advice in Step 8, you’ve already created a marketing plan designed to help you
spread the word about your business. Now’s the time to establish your marketing infrastructure. You
work against yourself when you’re not prepared to respond to opportunities that result from your
marketing efforts.
Your stationery, business cards and marketing materials should be ready for distribution. If your
customers can reach you via e-mail, set up auto responders to handle their queries. Have a phone
system in place that allows customers to easily get in touch with you. Develop a Web site that offers information on your company and its products and services. Whatever response methods buyers can use to contact you, you should have materials that can be sent via those same mediums.
Jump into action: Mail a press release to the local media announcing the opening of your business.
Do a joint mailing with other complementary businesses to widen your reach. Beat the
deadline for your Yellow Pages ad, and talk with your manufacturer about co-op advertising opportunities.
Take advantage of all free directory listings. Contribute an article to a trade journal.
Send out special offer postcards to prospects. Create a coupon offer. Make a speech at a networking event. Track the results of your devices by asking all respondents how they heard
about you. Whatever you do, don’t just sit back and wait for business to fall into your lap. Despite popular opinion, if you build it, they will not just come! You’ve got to get the word out and keep working your contacts in order to attract customers to your new business.
12. Hang Out Your Shingle
You’ve done all the legwork. All your permits and licenses are in hand. Your dedicated business
line is set up with a professional voice-mail greeting. You’ve marked the calendar with a few
prospect meetings and networking events. You’ve got your shelves stocked and even a few
projects lined up. Now it’s time to open your doors to more opportunities and much success as
an entrepreneur!
This e-book was adapted from an Entrepreneur article by O. Chris Iyke
Copyright (c) 2010 schoolwebng.com. All rights reserved.
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