4 Important Things You’ll Need to Start a Business

Julie Starr • October 30, 2020



Starting a business is a big decision that requires careful planning to get it off the ground. Many people find it extremely challenging and fail to follow through with their plans. Have you thought of starting a business of your own? Maybe you already did – or maybe you tried and failed and feel the same as  84% of small business owners  who admit that they are willing to do it all over again. Whatever the case may be, here are four things you’ll need to get your business started on the right foot.

  • A business plan

Writing a business plan is the first step to starting a business. Creating a business plan makes it easy for you to identify solutions and provide solutions before experiencing them. You need to figure out the type of business you want to start. Would it be a partnership or sole proprietorship? Maybe it is a 3D printing service you want to create. Then you can learn more  from experts such as RapidPSI. By projecting your results when you commence, you can stay on track and focus on your objectives.

It’s important when you’re creating your business plan that you know how to be flexible. Be an opportunist. Learning to take opportunities that are good for you is important if you want your business to be successful. Franchise opportunities can be a good way for you to get ahead with your business, and they provide a bit of extra security. Some of these opportunities even offer training, so you have a lot to gain!

  • An understanding of your inherent strengths and skills

One of the most important tasks to outsource if you can’t do it alone is your finances. As said above, obtaining help from an accountant will ensure that your business’ finances are always up to date no matter what. It doesn’t matter what type of business you own – finances are important! Whether you’re in the food industry, the fashion industry, or even a nonprofit organization – there is no exception to having your books in order. If you’re a nonprofit, this is even more applicable to you, because having your finances in order will determine the length you can go to make a difference. That said, there are nonprofit bookkeeping services that can assist you with all your bookkeeping needs while you focus on making a lasting difference in the world.

  • Passion for your new business

Being a business owner can be tiring, frustrating, and stressful.  In addition to that, you may be spending all your hours working but unable to accomplish enough. The drive you need at this point is passion. That is what keeps you motivated to achieve results even when you face failures and disappointments.

  • Start small and focus on growth

Perhaps, you do not wish to commit all your financial resources to this new business , so you decide to begin small. Fortunately for you, this is a safe strategy for start-ups. Starting small allows you to monitor progress until you are certain it’s time to go full-time and big. When you start small, you can usually choose to break it up while funding the early stages. For example, if your business is the retailing of skincare products, you can choose to go with one product on social media- slowly introducing your products and attracting clients. Over a period, you may have gained a more considerable following, making it easier to introduce more products.

You may also get all the financial resources you need to kickstart your business by pitching your idea to potential investors. For any startup, the ability to present a solid pitch to investors is crucial to bringing in the financial resources your business needs. Although several factors may determine the success or otherwise of your presentation, having a solid and well-packaged pitch, overall, can capture the attention of investors. Use a startup pitch deck to ensure that you give your startup business a better chance of attracting the right investors.

  • An understanding of your inherent strengths and skills

What are your limitations, strengths, and weaknesses? Knowing how to use each one and translate it into business success is a mark of a good entrepreneur. For example, you should know when to engage external help services such as a lawyer, accountant, or marketing expert. Understanding that you cannot do it all on your own is a character trait you will need when your business becomes a popular one.

It is a good thing to start a business, but you would not succeed without the right tools or skills. Take precautionary steps to ensure that you carry out your operations efficiently and productively. Do not be frightened by big companies within your industry. They all had to go through a grueling process of initialization, understanding the customer, moving past failures, and an unflinching determination to do better over the years. Start with your plan now to start that fantastic business idea.

Simple Steps To Make Your Office Space More Eco-Friendly

By Julie Starr • October 7, 2024
Becoming more eco-friendly and running a greener business is a responsibility that business owners really need to think more about. The good news is that if you spend a lot of time in your office, there are plenty of ways to make it more eco-friendly without having to overhaul everything and start again (which isn’t just disruptive, but expensive too). So, if you’re ready to get started, here are some simple steps to make your office space more eco-friendly; read on to find out more. Use Energy-Efficient Lighting This idea is a simple one that you can do no matter what else might be on your list of tasks - it’s quick, easy, and really makes a difference; change your light bulbs to something more energy efficient. If you’re still using traditional fluorescent bulbs, it’s time to upgrade to LED which doesn’t just last longer, but also uses a lot less energy. They’re easy to install and they’ll help you cut down on your office’s energy usage almost instantly. If possible, you should make the most of natural light too, so think about rearranging your workspace to let in more sunlight, which saves energy and can boost your mood - it’s a win-win that you can do right away. Prioritize Air Quality The air you breathe matters, and keeping it clean can do wonders for your health and the planet. One way to improve air quality is by adding plants to your workspace because plants are natural air purifiers, and as a bonus, they’ll make your office feel more inviting. Another great idea is to make sure your office’s HVAC system is working efficiently, and having air duct cleaning done by professionals is an easy step you can take to improve air quality and ensure your heating and cooling systems aren’t wasting energy. Clean air ducts mean cleaner air, less strain on your system, and even lower energy bills, so it’s a simple but really effective thing to do. Switch To Reusable Products If your office is still stocking up on single-use plastic items, it’s time for a change - swap your disposable cups, utensils, and plates for reusable ones and you’ll be surprised at how much waste to eliminate. And what about encouraging people to bring their own mugs and water bottles to work? Give them tea, coffee, and water to refill everything with, and you’ll be doing your bit to help the planet and have less waste to deal with as well. And don’t stop with these things either - there are loads of reusable products that could be useful in your office. You could have refillable pens and ink cartridges for your printer, for example. Go Paperless Speaking of your printer, is that an office machine you actually need? If you were to go digital and aim for a paperless office , you might be able to do away with the printer, which means less money spent on ink and paper, and less energy used altogether. You should be able to set up a system where documents can be shared online and stored electronically, and there are plenty of tools around to help you do exactly that (and much more). If you don’t need to print something and you don’t need a physical copy of a document, don’t make one - just use the digital version instead and you’ll be a lot more eco-friendly.

3 Most Unsustainable Industries & What They're Doing To Be More Eco-Conscious

By Julie Starr • October 4, 2024
Sustainability often gets pushed on the common person. Joe Public is told to be more sustainable with their daily habits as the government pushes for more eco-friendly measures. This is all well and good - but does it really matter when 71% of greenhouse gas emissions come from just 100 companies around the world? Small business owners are desperate to prove their sustainability, but what are bigger companies in some of the most polluting industries doing to help? We’ve taken three of the least sustainable sectors on the planet and explored the unique ways they’re trying to cut down on emissions and be more eco-friendly. Mining Any industry revolving around drilling underground will not be very environmentally friendly! Mining causes a lot of pollution, but its unsustainability often comes from the way it damages local environments and ecosystems. So, what is this industry doing to change things? It’s largely focusing on more responsible mining practices to reduce waste and mitigate the impact on local environments. This is done through mining dust suppression systems to prevent airborne pollution, reforesting mining sites when they’re no longer in use, and recycling as many materials as possible. Is it perfect? No, but it’s a step in the right direction. Fossil Fuels Shock horror; the fossil fuels industry is the most damaging to our environment. Finding ways to change the scope of this sector is the key to ensuring a better future for all. Some companies in this industry are trying to do this through carbon capture and storage. This is a technique where CO2 emissions are captured before they’re released into the atmosphere and stored underground. Realistically, the main thing fossil fuel companies should be doing is pushing for more renewable energy sources. Many are doing this - though reports suggest they’re not investing as much as they should. If fossil fuel companies dumped more money into developing biofuels and other renewable sources, pollution from this industry would drop dramatically. Fashion The most unbelievable stat to take from this post is that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of our global carbon footprint . That’s remarkable (and worrying), considering how most of us don’t view it as a “dangerous” industry. Fast fashion is the main problem; poorly-made goods are pumped out at a rapid rate, and consumers constantly buy new things. Fashion companies are trying their best to resolve this. Most big brands will now have sustainable lines using recyclable materials. Consumers also hold the key to solving this problem: stop buying new clothes all the time and wear yours for longer. Or buy pre-owned clothes to slow down the fashion production line. Companies can still do more as well: they are trying to adopt more eco-friendly production processes that use less water and energy. The moral of this post is that everyone can do their bit to fight for a more sustainable future. Keep this in mind for your small business . It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in; there will always be ways to promote eco-friendly practices.
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