How to Start a Small Business Step-by-Step Guide
Set your own hours, choose your projects, and build a portfolio and business you’re proud of. From website design to blog graphics and more, many companies seek out experienced graphic designers for support on a variety of projects. If you’re like Brian and you’ve already thought about a solution for a problem you encounter in your life — or you’re on the path to doing so — then starting a small business may be in your future. It may also be for you if you dream of clocking out of your nine-to-five job for the last time and becoming your own boss. Before deciding, you might want to consider the following advantages and disadvantages of business ownership (Small Business Development Center, 2006).
These are highly visible companies—such as computer software businesses, genetic-engineering enterprises, or laser-development companies—that attract much interest from the investment community. Entrepreneurs and investors who start them often intend that they grow quite rapidly and then go public or be sold to other corporations. This strategy requires them to acquire a permanent source of outside capital almost from the beginning. As the company grows, other people enter sales, production, or engineering and they first support, and then even supplant, the owner’s skills—thus reducing the importance of this factor.
Shopify has a free Digital Downloads app that lets you offer digital products in your store as easily as physical products. T-shirts, hats, phone cases, hoodies, skirts, tote bags, and more become canvases for your creativity. You can think up witty slogans for developers or references that resonate with cat owners—if there’s passion and pride within a community, there’s a potential t-shirt business you can start.
The beauty of a small consignment business is that you can now start one online. You can sign up on a platform such as Poshmark, Depop, and even Etsy, then easily start selling your own used fashion from home. If you have an eye for style but don’t want to invest in the inventory of a brand-new boutique, consider starting a consignment shop. It will allow you to curate a collection of clothing that matches your goals and aesthetic, without the overhead of a boutique selling entirely new garments. If you’re highly organized, are detail-oriented, and have experience planning large events, it might be time for others to benefit from your skills. If you have significant experience in or knowledge of a specific subject, consider becoming a consultant.
You can always start a side hustle without quitting your 9-to-5 and build out the concept with little-to-no risk. We live in a world rife with problems, and often a lack of funding causes those problems. A successful business would put you in a place to do something about the issues you see and care about. As your business grows, so will your personal brand—and vice versa.
That way, you can better gauge whether it’s a good fit for you and whether you want to make the full investment. Opening an ecommerce store can be forbidding for those who don’t want to deal with inventory management or supply chain logistics. Interested buyers typically drive directly to your home for pick-up — but if you’re not interested in human interaction, you can leave it outside and have the buyer pay via an online platform. Licensing and insurance will be the two most important factors in opening a dog walking, grooming, or training business, but your canine colleagues will surely make up for the initial red tape.
You’re not restricted by the standards and procedures of your boss or corporate culture. Maybe you’ve thought of a way to make processes more efficient. Maybe you want to make sure your employees get fair wages and family leave time. Whatever problems you’ve encountered in the working world, you have a chance to do something different with your own business.
