So you have a new business you want to start? Great! I’ll share you, others helped me early on. Some of which are still helping me, as I need it. I thought I’d share this list of “must be done” to get started.
Once you get going with the day to day of your business, you loose the direction you once had. All the plans you initially had in your head will be gone. You don’t think so, but it happens, write everything down in a notebook or or better yet out it in a spread sheet. Believe me once you start doing the actual business part each day, you’ll never remember all the creative things you thought of in the beginning. I recently found a piece of paper with some of my early ideas. I was amazed how great my early ideas were!
It so important to have many things in place before your up and running. You will not have time later!
1. First, Research and read up on what your thinking of doing. Learn everything so there are no surprises.
2. Do a business market analysis of your area or on the net, for what your planning on doing. Make sure there are not too many others doing the same thing.
3. Get all the tax, business name, checking accounts, credit accounts, permits, licenses, etc. all set up and taken care of early.
4. Set up social networking sites. Start making new contacts and advertise for free your new business.
5. Set up a Business plan.
6. Set up a Marketing plan.
7. Get good business lawyer. Look some offer great deals!
8. Get an accountant to give you advice, you’ll need to know for you taxes later.
9. Make a business check list to follow.
10. Find the vendors you’ll need and who are you going to sell to?
11. Find the materials you’ll need to run you business?
12. Funding where is it coming from?
13. Think about getting an business advisor!
14. Insurance you may need some.
15. How about copyrights, trademarks or patents with your business?
16. Buy a computer, phone, scanner, etc.
17. Domain name purchase, hosting and website development all needs to be done.
18. Software which ones to use?
19. To much to list and the list goes on, but this a start!
Write your business plan very early on with goals – 1 yr, 2 yr, 5yr, 10yr etc. Really think about and develop you marketing plan, so you can really get started.
Make lots of “to do lists”, so you don’t miss anything. I even color code mine to importance, OCD like, but hey it works, right! Do not skip ahead in steps. Figure out the order of events and how they need to be done. Some things can be done much later and some have to be done first to build the other steps on.
As a mom take small baby steps each day towards your goal. Slow and steady gets were you want to be just fine.
I recently had a interesting conversation about just this. We talked about how a business can grow too fast and become out of control fast. You don’t want to have hire people right away, just in case do you have some informal help? You also don’t want to forced to sell the business you have worked hard to develop, because it’s bigger than what you can now handle.
Slow growth is important, believe it or not. You can control the business growth yourself!
If I missed something just let me know, I’ll add it to the list. This list is just to get you thinking and planning for your future. You can be a mom and run a business, I know many who do successfully. It’s all a matter of time management and putting out the big fires first.
Perseverance is needed, but we have this quality, we’re Moms!
Good Luck and happy brainstorming for you new adventure!
