Before starting a business, you’ll need to know if you’re doing the right thing and who you’re going to turn to for guidance on things you may never have tackled before, such as your business plan, marketing plan and legal issues.

Robin Underhay, senior project manager for Business Enterprise Works, suggest some things to consider about yourself before starting your business.

Are you qualified to start a business?

• How much time have you invested in preparing for this move? Put the preparatory work in before you start not once you are up and going.

• Do you have a list of what may go wrong, because things will?

• Have you plugged in to a support system of mentoring, networking and training?

• Do you have any experience of dealing with customers? If not volunteer to work in a charity shop to get some or get a part time job in a customer facing role?

• How experienced are you in the market place you want to enter. If you have little experience – get a job in that field first.

• Do you understand the skills required – Seeing a potential sale, selling the deal, providing and delivering, asking for the money, keeping track of the cash & dealing with the legal and taxation aspects.

• Do you know who your competitors are and how do you expect them to react to your starting your business.

• If there are no competitors do people really want to buy what you propose to offer? Do they know it is available? If not how will you tell them?

• How do you cope with stress, are you used to it? How will you deal with it?

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By Robin Underhay  on   Jul 10,2008

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Keywords

start-up    entrepreneur    giving up work    new business    business skills    business acumen   

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