How to Start a Small Business
So, you’ve come up with a brilliant business idea. You’ve possibly even registered the name and had a chat with your accountant. But now what? Where do you go from here? What do other small business owners do in the early days?
Maybe you’ve even taken the next step and written out a business plan. Some people might tell you to start cold calling or sending out cold emails but here’s the thing: why would someone believe you’re the real deal if you don’t even exist online? Building trust and interest in your offerings takes time and patience.
After working closely with small business owners for 28 years, running my own business, and collaborating with our clients on theirs, I could honestly write a series of books on what I’ve learned. But let’s not overwhelm you just yet. Let’s focus on some easier, quicker steps you can take in the early days.
1. Get Social
Start by creating free social media accounts. If you’re unsure where to begin, start with Facebook and Instagram. They’re user friendly and work for most industries. If your business offers services for other businesses, give LinkedIn a go. It’s a great platform for building professional relationships and gaining credibility.
2. Claim Your Spot on Google
Create a free Google Business Profile. This is crucial for local businesses or anyone looking to be found online. It helps potential customers find you on Google Maps, see your contact details, and even leave reviews.
3. Create Professional Marketing Materials
Sign up for a free Canva account. Canva is an incredibly easy to use tool for designing social media graphics, flyers, and other marketing materials. You don’t need to be a designer to make your business look polished and professional.
4. Join Your Local Business Chamber
Your local business chamber is an affordable way to network, meet like minded entrepreneurs, and access ongoing support. Starting a business can be lonely, so having a community behind you is invaluable.
5. Invest in an Accounting Program
While spreadsheets may seem like a cheap and easy option when starting out, trust me, they’re not ideal in the long run. We’ve seen countless errors and wasted time from not using accounting programs. A platform like Xero not only keeps track of your invoices and bills but also minimises human error, reconciles your bank accounts, and generates tax reports.
6. Think About Your Day to Day Operations
How will you handle your daily tasks and to-do lists? In the early days, it might not seem like a big deal, but as you grow, you’ll need systems in place. Consider project management tools or CRM systems to manage contacts, enquiries and workflows.
7. Set Up a Professional Contact System
How will your clients or customers contact you? If you’re often in meetings or in areas with poor phone service, you’ll want to direct enquiries to an email address or website to avoid missing calls.
Start by registering an email address. If money is tight, a free email address will do, but investing in a paid email with your domain name is worth it. It can be frustrating trying to move customers over to a new email down the track.
The same goes for phone numbers, avoid using your personal number. Over time, it becomes a headache to transition clients to a work number, not to mention they’ll always have access to your personal number.
Starting a business is an exciting journey, but taking the right steps in the early days will save you time, effort and frustration later on. Don’t overthink it, start small and build as you go. At Mint Agency, we’re all about supporting small business owners to get things done efficiently and effectively.
Have any questions or need some guidance? Feel free to reach out!
