If you are about to launch your own business, your mind is probably racing with things you need to organize and plan. It can take time to become established and build a brand, but if you have the fundamentals in place from the outset, it can make it a whole lot easier and a lot less daunting.
If you aren’t sure whether you have everything you need to get started, keep reading. We’ve put together a list of 7 things that every start-up business needs, which should help you on your exciting new journey.
A business name
You can’t promote a company with no name, so if you haven’t yet settled on yours, it’s time to make a decision. Although having a name that relates to the products or services you are offering can help, it isn’t essential, so some brainstorming and narrow it down from there.
Once you have decided on something that you feel fits the bill perfectly, it will be a weight off your mind and allow you to focus on other things.
A logo
You may not think a logo is all that important, but it is crucial regardless of how small your business may be. A logo promotes brand recognition which should help increase sales, so if you haven’t already got one, talk to a graphic designer.
If you want to save a bit of cash and are reasonably creative, you could always make one yourself. Add it to packaging, business cards, social media advertising, and any marketing campaigns you may be putting together. The more it gets seen, the more recognized your brand will become.
Office furniture
You don’t need anything particularly fancy in terms of furniture, but you will need the basics. You may not consider office chairs a priority, but you are likely to be working long hours, so you need to make sure you are comfortable and have good posture. A bog-standard desk will suffice, but, if possible, try to get one with a decent amount of storage.
The right packaging
If you are selling products rather than services, you need to consider your packaging options. If, for example, you are selling apparel or other items that you want to keep free of moisture or dirt, lock bags are a great way to keep your products secure and safe from the elements. If you intend to sell fragile items, padded envelopes, bubble wrap, or poly pellets provide a good solution and aren’t too expensive.
Think about what you need in terms of product compatibility and size, and shop around for the best deals.
Premises
One of the things you need to consider is where you will run your business from. It makes sense to start from home if you can, as premises can cost a lot of money and leases can be lengthy. If you do decide to work from home, then, if possible, allocate a room in your home solely for your business.
Working at a dining table and stockpiling products in your bedroom may be ok for a small amount of time, but before too long, it will start to take its toll on you and your family.
An online presence
Every business nowadays needs to have an online presence. If you don’t want to go down the dedicated website route at this stage, then social media is the perfect platform. Create accounts with them all and put together a marketing timeline to give you a clear idea of what you want to promote and when.
The bigger the reach, the greater chance of getting new orders, and the more likely your business is to succeed, so, create regular content and work your audience. If you don’t have vast experience in marketing strategies or social media marketing- don’t panic! There are some fabulous resources online which may help.
Good employees
If you intend to employ people from the outset to help you get off the ground, then you need to make sure they are the right fit for your business. You need a team that understand your vision and are eager to be part of making your company a success.
Experience is, of course, important when recruiting, but it’s even more fundamental that you get on well with those you intend to employ and that there is a good dynamic amongst all of you. The last thing you need when trying to build a business is to have to deal with staffing issues so think carefully before employing anyone to join your team.