6 easy Steps to follow when starting your first business

You will look at the six easy steps listed below and wonder why, if it’s so easy, you have never set up a business yourself. And why aren’t there more businesses around, if this is all it takes. You’ll notice that money wasn’t mentioned. How can you possibly start a business without loads of money. Actually money is the least of your worries. You’ll find it if the rest is all sorted out.

The good news is that there is no magic involved when starting your business. A lot of information is available in books, searching the internet, getting in accountants, marketers and other advisers. Stick to the following few principles and you should be good to get started.

1) The supporter

Get close and enthusiastic support. Have a look at how many big businesses started with at least two people. Bill Gates had Paul Allen when they founded Microsoft. Steve Jobs had Steve Wozniak for Apple. HP were Bill Hewlett and David Packard. Google had Sergey Brin and Larry Page. And there are many more.

There is a reason for this. You need support when starting a new venture. It can be really frightening trying to set up a business on your own. It could mean that you give up before you have a chance to make it. Most successful businesses have had to grow through some tough times. You need somebody who will be enthusiastic when you are ready to give up. If you can’t find a partner, get a coach.

2) The team

Employ staff who share your vision. And if you employed staff who seemed to have shared your vision but who eventually lose that enthusiasm, regrettably you will need to give them the pink slip. You cannot build a business with people who do not burn with the fire of enthusiasm for the product or service you are building.

3) The product/service

Decide on something that is unique. It could be unique service, with other words the product might not be new but your service is exceptionally better than anybody else’s or the product could be unique. Customers will need and want to purchase this. It is not that important that you and your business partner know everything about the product or service. But it helps. It helps to ensure that whoever supplies you or works on the product/service with you isn’t going to cheat you.

If you know you want to establish your own business but are not sure what to do, then have a look at trends. Watch such websites as TrendWatching or Springwise and follow the new stuff that is happening in the world. Adapt a product to fit in with a trend. Make sure to select something that gets your own enthusiasm bubbling over.

4) Be exceptional

Ensure that the product or service that you will be offering to your customers is exceptional. Do not waste your time producing a half baked offering. Your business will not last. Whatever you decide to offer has to be considered so good, that it is talked about. For further ideas on the concept of ‘exceptional’ check out Seth Godin.

5) The customer

Keep close to your customer at all times. Be your customer’s best friend. Ensure you customer thinks you are his only solution to whatever his needs or problems are. Constantly question your customer as to how well you are serving him and what else you could do to make the experience even better. Be totally and absolutely customer focused. This is beyond important.

6) Lead the project

Be prepared to take chances and make decisions to ensure that it happens. This is not the time to delegate. Ensure your team sees that you are prepared to lead and to make those awkward and tough decisions. They will follow no matter what.

And as a final step in your progress towards your own business sign up to my RSS feed or fill in your e-mail address to subscribe to my new posts. No spam, most definitely.