Business
An Aspiring Entrepreneur’s Guide to Starting Your Own Business

Starting and growing a business takes a lot of time, effort, and consistency. It’s a tiring yet highly rewarding endeavour that often tests the mettle of anyone brave enough to enter the arena. Thankfully, we now live in a digital age where various resources can alleviate the stress that comes from the whole process.
Nowadays, it’s possible to establish a business from the comfort of your home. If Mark Zuckerberg can build a basic website inside Harvard University’s Kirkland House, before eventually turning it into a multi-billion-dollar empire, then so can you (millions not guaranteed). Even better, you have access to a much wider pool of resources and knowledge that can steer you towards your entrepreneurial dream.
With that, allow us to help you—an aspiring entrepreneur—jumpstart your own venture.
The Importance of a Business Structure
Think of your business structure as your blueprint. It can be the determining factor for your success right from the get-go, which is why it’s of the utmost importance to consider this before anything else. Many budding businesspeople choose to start as a sole proprietor due to its simplicity in terms of price and operations. However, it can be risky in the long run. A business can fail for a multitude of reasons and if you are personally tied to that business then your own assets could be seized to pay any legal fees or penalties. Registering your business as an LLC (limited liability company) allows you to clearly draw a line that separates you as an individual from your enterprise. You won’t be responsible for the debt and liabilities of your business, which will not only ensure you don’t face financial ruin, but will make it much easier to start again.
The Value of Automation
Automation is not as popular as news sources give it credit. Many people still aren’t comfortable with how this innovation is quickly changing the landscape of business. Yet despite the ethics of automation there is no doubt that small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) benefit enormously from it.
For example SME’s are now able to offer much better customer service through the ability to provide quick and accurate answers to inquiries. This allows companies to not only provide much more efficient customer service, but also allocate valuable resource to other areas of the business where automation isn’t needed. This saves on costs and shows that your aspiring business is taking heed of the latest trends.
Get professional help
When starting a business, it’s important to get the right kind of advice. It can be difficult to make sense of all the different types of legal and financial regulations you have to take into consideration. As with any venture, it’s best to seek expert counsel from a professional accountant or lawyer. Get a notary public to assist you in signing any necessary documents and filing any important paperwork. It’s essential to get the basics in place before you take any further steps. It is important to stay up-to-date on local, state, and federal regulations to ensure your business complies with all laws. Professional guidance can make sure you know what you need to do in order to get your business off the ground and running legally and smoothly.
Ensure you start with a steady foundation
Having a good product and/or a service is the core of any business. But for it to reach the pinnacle of success, you have to start from the ground up and build a solid foundation. Business journalist Chomwa Shikati writes about the importance of having the right people around you: “you will need people to help you build your business and get your product or service into the hands of paying customers.” An aspiring entrepreneur who saves costs on hiring, will more than likely end up losing money through lack of expertise and cutting corners. Even with innovations like automation, you still need people to drive your business forward.
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