If you’ve decided to start your own business, you’ve made a smart choice. Currently, lots of individuals across the country are making the very same decision, and there are many reasons for this. Some people have simply always wanted to be an entrepreneur, whilst others want a change from their usual 9 to 5 day job. Whatever the reason for you wanting to launch your own start-up is, you should be incredibly excited about the journey in front of you.
Along the way, though, you’re going to need some help – especially if you’re a beginner. Running a start-up can be challenging, even for those who have decades of experience. Therefore, you need to absorb all of the advice in this article to be at the top of your game.
Without further delay, it’s time to go through the ultimate checklist for start-up business owners.
1. Have a reliable car
First up on the checklist is one of the most important steps of all: have a reliable car.
No matter what type of products or services you’re selling, having a reliable car is essential. Every month, you’ll likely need to drive to meet customers, clients, suppliers, and many more people – which will be significantly more difficult without a car. Of course, you’ll sometimes be able to rely on virtual meetings, but that will only get you so far.
Riverside Car Sales have a nice range of cars that are perfect for start-up business owners, so make sure to spend some time browsing the models they have on offer.
2. Decide your business name, branding, and values
Next, you need to make some big decisions surrounding your business name, branding and values.
Ideally, your business name should be short, marketable, and catchy. Avoid any complicated jargon, as this is a sure-fire way to turn customers away.
Your branding should be consistent and centered about your desired business personality. For example, you might want to enter the beauty industry with your start-up, which means it would be a good idea to adopt a fruitful and vibrant brand personality.
Lastly, your business values are essentially the heartbeat of your day-to-day operations. Choose values that you have a genuine belief in and that can be marketed to your customers.
Common start-up values often include:
- High-quality customer service
- Trust
- Loyalty
- Inclusivity
Once you have ticked off your business name, branding, and values, you will have created a solid foundation to build on.
3. Register your website
It’s impossible for a modern business to operate without a website. Business websites allow you to do so much; including sell your products to customers, provide customer service, and promote your products.
Therefore, you need to register a website name as soon as possible. Although certain website domains can be expensive, the short-term costs are often more than worth it, especially when you choose a short and marketable domain name relevant to your start-up.
4. Create business accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Furthermore, you will need to create business accounts on all the major social media platforms. Here, you will be able to promote products, communicate with your customers, and post interesting photos and video content. Over time, your followers will grow, enabling you to have a greater digital presence.
5. Open a business bank account
Lastly, make sure to open a business bank account. It’s never a good idea to conduct business-related finances using a personal account and is much more professional to use a business bank account, instead. Also, it makes paying your tax returns much simpler.