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.

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.