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Starting your own business is a daunting prospect. There’s so much to learn, seemingly endless red herrings, and so many of your friends and family are advising you against it.
However, just because starting your own business is daunting doesn’t mean you can’t be prepared for what lies ahead. Building yourself a strong foundation is the best way to ensure your business succeeds.
So, here are five things you should know before starting your own business:
Get an academic qualification
There are no two ways around it; the more you know, the better prepared you will be. Taking a degree in business administration and management, such as the Touro Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, will expand your skill-set, give you an ability to lead and organize your business effectively from the get-go. As well as this, you will understand how to get the most out of your staff and build a business people want to work for.
Investing in yourself from the start is a worthy investment for your business, too. It will transform your confidence and ability as an entrepreneur, saving you costly lessons you would have to discover further up the road.
Choose an industry you’re interested in
There’s no way you can stay motivated with the blood, sweat, and tears of entrepreneurship without being passionate about your industry. In order to succeed as a business owner, you have got to live and breathe your products and industry day after day, year after year, finding new ways to serve the customer.
Stay vigilant to the thoughts that pop into your head when you first wake up in the morning, and when you fall asleep at night. Chances are, this will give you an indication as to whether your chosen industry is right for you or not.
Know how to sell
You’d be amazed at how many budding entrepreneurs start businesses with zero ability to sell their products. It’s easy to assume this is what professional salespeople are for, but sales are your company’s lifeblood. Without a strong sales skill set, you can’t hope to know how to position your brand, choose where to advertise, or plan your next product.
Thankfully, you don’t have to be a sales master. A working understanding is enough to get you started, and it isn’t rocket science. Focus on where you sell your products. If you have a traditional brick and mortar store, then read up on old school salesmanship. Work a job as a door-to-door salesperson until you have a strong understanding.
If your business is online-based, practice copywriting. Again, this isn’t difficult to learn, and a grasp of the basics is enough until you can employ a professional to pick up the reigns.
Work for somebody else
If you are thinking of starting a business, it’s crucial to understand how existing companies in your industry are organized and managed.
Gaining shop-floor experience in your industry will serve you on many fronts. You’ll have first-hand experience with customers, products, and business strategies. This will likely inspire your own ideas and plans for new products, ways of serving the customer, and learning from the mistakes of existing markets.
It’s worth remembering that you can’t revolutionize an industry or create a game-changing product without understanding the current market.
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This content is brought to you by Leo Harry.
Photo: Shutterstock
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