It seems difficult to start a new business. Of course, the details depend on the type of enterprise you are building: manufacturers face special challenges, as do retailers and consulting companies. But as long as your philosophy is consistent with your financial situation, there are some basic things that are related.
After discussing this issue with some business owners, consultants and experts, we boil down the necessary conditions for starting a business to several simple steps. If you apply these basic laws to your own business, you can solve some basic problems of successfully establishing a business.
1. Verify your idea.
Ainas, founder of new york Tarim Consulting Company, Tarim Consulting Group? Einas Ibrahim said that the biggest mistake made by new entrepreneurs she met was to start putting entrepreneurial ideas into practice before confirming the market demand. If the goal of your business is to sell a product that the world has never seen before, then make sure that the world really needs your product. Because if no one needs it, maybe it shouldn't be born at all. If someone needs it, make sure they are all very happy to pay for it.
? Don't put your idea into practice easily until it is proved? , Ainas? Ibrahim said. ? Make sure there is a market. Make sure this is what the customer wants. Sometimes, entrepreneurs' ideas are not exactly the same as customers' needs? .
Market research is particularly important for enterprises interested in starting a business. If your goal is to become a billion-dollar enterprise, please verify your ideas to ensure that the market can meet your wishes.
Your idea may be very good, but it may also be too small to get the support of investors. If the whole market is less than 500 million dollars, then venture capitalists are not worth investing? .
2. Strengthen your plan and budget.
Even the best business plan can go wrong. Successful start-ups predict unexpected things? And prepare ready-made answers.
? You need to have a plan on how to run the business. Leonard, founder and chairman of Green Group, an accounting, consulting and tax company headquartered in New Jersey, and professor of entrepreneurship at Babson College? Leonard Green said.
These decisions should include the tasks of your startup, business structure (limited liability company, sole proprietorship company, small joint-stock company) and salary policy.
When estimating the cash demand of start-ups, assume that your company's income in the first year is zero, Leonard? Green said. ? Many times, even if you have sales performance, you will still have a few months without a lot of money available. He added. ? Do you still have to pay rent, utilities, inventory costs, wages and product promotion expenses? .
3. Build a suitable team.
Perhaps the most critical step in the development of a startup is to organize a team, who can work together and develop products.
Your team members must be able to understand your ideas about how to run a business. ? The key factor here is that entrepreneurship is a team sport? , Mark? Mark cooper Smith said. ? Build a team at an early stage and base it on shared values. Because if you hire employees and have partners who share these common values, you can make decisions based on these values? .
Mark? Cooper Smith quoted the late management guru peter drucker, who wrote 60 years ago that an enterprise has only two core functions: marketing and innovation. In other words, enterprises exist to create and sell products. ? I will ensure that my team has these two functions? He said.
In addition, you need a pragmatic team, who can unite and support each other when the situation becomes difficult. Sit down with key team members and prepare for all possible accidents. Leonard. Green will ask: What should you do if your partner is ill? What if I get divorced? If the enterprise suddenly develops badly, should we go to the bank at once? You must decide these things in advance, because this is not only my business, but also our business? .
4. Find someone who supports you.
An entrepreneur's journey may seem like a lonely exploration. However, before you start such a journey, you need to make sure that the people you love will fully support you. In fact, is it good for your emotional health? The health of the company is of paramount importance.
Margo, co-founder and chief marketing officer of Memi, promotes wearable technology designed for women? Margot Gallard said. ? As an entrepreneur, you can't do it alone. Do you need psychological and emotional support from friends and family to help you tide over the difficulties? .
20 12, Margo? Grad resigned as Diane. Diane von Furstenberg, the marketing director, started working with Leslie, her business partner? Leslie Pearson founded Memi. Her first adventure was a round-the-clock tornado? Tornadoes are either exciting, frustrating, rewarding or disturbing, and sometimes all of them happen on the same day. But she got on the right track with the help of her relatives.
? I think I'm the cheerleader of the company? Margo. Grad said. ? When everyone is saying. No? When I was young, I always cheered myself up. Yes, yes, yes. . ? When I feel depressed, sad and tired, I need help to continue. So, who should I rely on? My family, my friends, my husband? .
5. Respond to feedback and optimize your model.
When is Bayard? When winthrop conceived to produce hoodies made in America, he provided hundreds of potential customers with clothing samples and asked their opinions. How does this fabric feel? Is it too thick and hard? Is it too soft? Also, is it too tight? Wait a minute.
Bayard, founder and president of American Giant, a San Francisco-based online clothing sales website? Winthrop said that if you don't ask your most likely customers for detailed feedback, you will never know whether your idea is a good one. ? Do we do this from putting pictures on the website to making 100 sweaters and delivering them to people? He said.
Founded in 20 12, the American giant has considered redesigning every detail of the hoodie. Before starting the company, Bayard? Winthrop asked customers about all aspects of clothing: cuffs, fit, hats and even zippers. The choice of fabric alone took six months to adjust.
? In our special and narrow field of sweatshirts, making it well is like cooking delicious food? , Bayard? Winthrop said. ? You need to show it and ask people if they want to buy it.
How to do?