Startup Tips

When you’re starting a new business, the last thing you want to do is waste money. That is exactly what you’ll be doing if you design your website yourself, believe it or not! The thing about Web design is that it’s a specialist skill.

Sure, there are plenty of online “site builders” that offer a point-and-click interface. But, what happens if you just don’t know what you’re doing? You could end up making a site that is mediocre at best. As you know, first impressions count. And that’s especially important in the business world.

Because you’re launching a new brand, you need to show people how committed you are to the cause. Offering your market a bad website to showcase what you do just won’t cut the mustard! So, why else should you entrust your new site to a Web design agency? Let me share with you a few reasons:

You don’t know your HTML from your PHP

On the face of it, the website design world appears full of acronyms that only geeks understand. Actually, that is the reality of it! In all seriousness, serious Web design isn’t just about using point-and-click software. Often, one must undertake manual “code” changes by editing HTML and script files.

If you don’t know what you’re doing, you could end up breaking something. What’s worse, you won’t even realise what you’ve broken! So, in short, hire a Web design agency if you’re not familiar with low-level coding.

You know nothing about accessibility

It doesn’t matter how good your creative design skills are. What does matter is how accessible your website becomes. It’s not just desktop and mobile users that will access your site. People with disabilities may use screen reading software to “read” your site to them.

If you create a website that only uses graphics and no text, how can they understand what you’re trying to say? You may as well have a blank home page because that’s exactly what those users will get!

A professional Web designer doesn’t just concentrate on the look and feel of your site. They will also make sure that it’s accessible to all audiences. If your site offers no accessibility, you could be breaking disability discrimination laws.

You think SEO is some new type of martial arts

The only person you will be kicking is yourself. Why? Because Search Engine Optimisation is crucial for any website, regardless of content! It’s the process used to improve a site’s search engine visibility. Of course, if you don’t want people to find your website, you can ignore this section.

But if organic search traffic is important to you, get a professional to design your site. They will make sure it is SEO-friendly.

You think the world should have more Flash-based websites

Last, but not least, you need someone to design you a site that doesn’t run Adobe Flash. Many companies like Google and Apple have withdrawn support for the platform. It’s cumbersome, slow and has security vulnerabilities.

If animations are your thing, get a designer to make you a site that uses HTML5 technology. In layman’s terms, HTML5 lets you do many things that Flash offers. Except that, it’s supported by modern Web browsers and all of the tech industry.

So, in short: don’t design your website yourself!

One of the best ways to get a new startup company noticed is to attend a tradeshow. At a tradeshow, you will be able to gain interest from investors and maybe even achieve some much needed press attention. But, it’s important to realise how competitive these events are. You’ll find at least four other startups vying for the attention of the same investors that you are after. So, how can you make sure your business is the one that they notice? It needs to be your idea that they go home thinking about.

Plan Ahead

You should be planning your attendance at a tradeshow months in advance. This isn’t something you wake up, think about for a few days and then attend. You need to be prepared and have all the marketing materials that you need in place. It’s crucial that your trade booth looks well designed and well funded. You need to give the impression that your business is already successful. Ideally you want investors to have a certain mindset. You want them to think you don’t need their money because someone else will invest. You need them to start considering your business to be in their best interest. This is all about presentation.

Purchase The Materials

You should think about purchasing materials and accessories to make your business stand out more than the rest. You may be thinking about using posters and pin ups to market your brand. But you should also consider buying frames for these posters. You should consider purchasing poster snap frames as these are easy to set up and will make your presentation look more professional.

You might also want to consider using a professional stall designer. It’s one of the best ways to guarantee that your business does, at least, get some interest. However, professional stall designs don’t come cheap. You might be better off using one to rent rather than trying to get one custom made.

Use Technology

If you can, you should consider how you can incorporate technology into marketing at your tradeshow. If it’s a product that you are trying to sell you could consider using a form of AR. By doing this, investors will be able to see themselves holding a virtual copy of your product on a screen. You can even use AR to show them how the finished product would work and what it could do.

Don’t Forget About Social Media

As well as this, you should be thinking about how to use social media to your best advantage. For instance, you should be looking into spreading the word about your attendance. If you can get the name of your business trending you will already have the interest of some investors. Any social media network can be used to boost word of mouth for your company. But we particularly recommend looking into whether there is a snapchat story setup on the day of the event. If there is you definitely want you business to be involved and taking part.

We hope you use this advice to find tremendous success at the next trade show that you attend.

Success in the modern business world is much easier than you might think. That is because the entire landscape has changed since the birth of the internet. You can now reach potential customers and clients all over the world at the click of a button. That is a major advantage that entrepreneurs couldn’t enjoy in the past. Today, we’re going to issue you with a simple four-point guide that will explain the strategy you need to follow. It doesn’t matter what your company does to make a profit because the same advice still applies.

Create a website to promote your brand

The first thing you need to do is find a web designer who doesn’t charge extortionate rates for their services. Again, that’s easy now you can use the internet to search and read reviews. You don’t need anything too fancy during the early stages, but you need a domain that functions efficiently. Just describe your requirements and let the designer work their magic. In most instances, you can get a functional site in less than a couple of weeks depending on workloads.

Offer excellent customer service

There is no excuse for providing poor customer service to your customers and clients. Thankfully, the days of answering thousands of telephone calls have passed. You need to install a live chat feature on your website that allows people to get in touch in real time. That should help you to answer their questions or deal with their complaints fast. It should also mean you don’t lose too much custom due to simple issues. Most people will leave your site and look elsewhere if you can’t solve their problems in less than a few minutes.

Work from home until you need extra space

It’s always sensible to keep your outgoings to a minimum when you’re just starting out in the business world. So, it’s wise to work from home until you have no other choice. In most circumstances, you can still employ people on a freelance basis with the understanding they will also work remotely. When you have made a decent profit, you can look towards finding suitable premises. At that time, it’s advisable for you to contact as many commercial property agents as possible. That way, you can select the best possible building for your business and employees. As you will know, the location is should be a prime factor in your decision-making.

The only other things you need to worry about are marketing and promotion. We’re not going to discuss those issues in this post because there are some great articles on our website. Just make sure you take some time to continue your research before pushing ahead. It’s incredibly easy to waste your advertising budget on concepts that won’t benefit your operation. Indeed, that is why so many small business owners choose to outsource the task to specialist professionals. Take a look at your bank account and work out if you can afford that expense. It’s almost guaranteed that you will get better results.

Jumping into the world of business is exciting for any budding entrepreneur. However, it can be a very daunting playing field too, and there are many lessons to learn along the way. Making the most of the available resource is one of the most important things that you will realize early on. And that means curbing your expenditure wherever possible.

Funds will be limited, but it shouldn’t restrict your progress. Finding creative ways of squeezing more from those funds is the hallmark of a great startup. Follow these simple hacks, and you’ll be running your company in an efficient manner straight off the bat.

Run The Operation From Home

Home-based companies are more common than ever, and it’s not hard to see why. Taking this option will instantly reduce the costs of your operation. And with a few basic tricks, you’ll still enjoy the benefits of having a ‘proper’ business premises.

The main attraction of having an office in a prestigious area is that it gives your company status. We all know that first impressions are crucial in business, but you don’t need to blow your budget to achieve the desired appearance. Using a mail forwarding service is the perfect solution for any venture wanting to impress clients while running things from home.

Just think about the good use those savings can be put to.

Hire Freelancers

No successful business owner can achieve their dreams without having a winning team behind the company. Your employees are the driving force behind the venture regardless of its size. Therefore, getting the recruitment process right is a must.

Whether it’s a shop or a home-based business, hiring short-term freelancers is a great way to keep staffing costs low. This way, you’ll only have to pay for the work that’s completed. Those saved hours of annual leave will ensure that you make great savings.

You still need to give your team the same amount of love and attention. After all, a motivated workforce is a productive one. Nevertheless, you’ll be getting more work for less money. You don’t have to be a genius to work out that one.

Embrace Online Marketing

The world of business has undergone immense change in recent times, and the internet has been the chief force behind this shift. Online opportunities have created a rich landscape for SMEs to shine, not least when it comes to marketing.

Social media platforms provide an arena for companies to reach a worldwide audience in seconds. If you can find creative ways of creating content that strikes a chord with the intended demographic, there’s no limit to what you can achieve. Meanwhile PPC marketing is a cost-effective way of enhancing those online ventures. This will allow you to complete successful campaigns on a shoestring budget.
Meanwhile, the immediate nature means that you can keep your marketing strategies fresh at all times. Try to encourage user interaction for the best results. Get this key factor right, and you’ll encourage greater sales while spending less money to achieve it. Quite frankly, it’s the ultimate recipe for success.

When starting out in the world of business, it’s easy to assume that doing things yourself is the best option. It’s not always the case, though, especially when it comes to finance. If there’s only one person you hire to help you in business, make it a professional accountant.

This is an important decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. However, the right accountant will ensure that your accounts are maintained in the best fashion. They may even offer advice on how to make improvements going forward. In many cases, they will save you money too. After all, you are unfamiliar with the field and won’t have accurate knowledge about claiming back expenses and other items.

This decision will also save you a lot of time and hassle. And as you already know, time is money.

Search For The Best Deals

It might sound a little obvious, but you’d be surprised at how much money businesses waste by not doing this. You wouldn’t spend personal finances without ensuring that you get the best value for money. Learn to take the same approach in business and you won’t go far wrong.

These ideas aren’t limited to suppliers and delivery firms either. Reducing overheads through better energy rates and insurances can make a huge impact to the health of your business. Make getting value for money a priority.

If nothing else, those reduced costs will allow you to offer more competitive prices to the customer.

All startup businesses have a big decision to make before they even get started – should you work as a sole trader or set up a limited company? Each has their pros and cons, and today, we’re going to take a look at what will be best for any given situation. Let’s get started right away.

What’s the difference between a sole trader and a limited company?

The main difference between the two business structures is all down to tax. If you are self-employed, as a sole trader or a partner in an unincorporated partnership, you will need to do self-assessment every year. You will pay tax on all your business profits and personal income, at a rate of 20%, 40% or 45%, depending on how much you earn. You also need to pay National Insurance Contributions. Class 2 contributions are currently set at £2.75 per week while Class 4 contributions are based on your annual profits.

Limited companies also pay tax – known as Corporation tax – on their profits, at 20% for all profits up to £300,000. However, the major difference is that limited companies can retain their profits and pay them out in dividends in future years. So, directors of the company can withhold paying tax on their dividends in a bad year, and instead, pay it in a good year later on down the line.

What are the advantages of being a sole trader?

There are some advantages of being a sole trader. First of all, it’s easy to do. Just register with HMRC and tell them you are now self-employed, and they will send you self-assessment forms at the end of the year. You can start trading immediately, and if you want to make the switch to a limited company, later on, it is a straightforward process.

It’s also the easiest route if you don’t plan on growing your business so that you need additional employees. It’s an easier way of working, too. You don’t have to fill in much paperwork, and there are few legal obligations involved, unlike with a limited company. You pay tax on everything you earn, minus your expenses and allowances, so it’s a simple way of going about your business.

What are the advantages of setting up a limited company?

While it takes longer to set up a limited company, it has never been easier. There are plenty of firms out there that do company formations for a small fee, and you should be up and running in no time at all. Also, depending on your earnings, you may pay less tax. In general terms, if you earn from £35,000 to £299,999 per year, you will be much better off being a limited company. Also, you don’t have to pay your own National Insurance Contributions.

It’s also important to note that as a limited company, you are a separate legal entity from your business in financial terms. So, you won’t be liable for any claim made against you – which you will be if you’re a sole trader.

Which is best?

It all depends on what you are happy with. There are plenty of pros and cons for each structure, so it’s a good idea to involve an accountant at an early stage to help you through the process. Good luck with the new business!

All businesses will need a workplace to get things done during the day. But, how can you find the perfect workplace? Check out the tips below to find out more:

Affordability

Obviously, one of the main things you’ll consider is the price. How much money do you have to spend on a workplace? If you’ve got a lot of cash to play with, you can start looking at more things than someone on a budget. You can look at bigger office space, or even consider buying at entire building. When you’re on a budget, you’ll look at things on a much smaller scale. You’ll try and find smaller office space because they tend to be cheaper. Or, you look at alternatives to renting an office. Some people decide to run their startup from home because it’s more affordable. If you can’t find the money to pay for a proper office, this is a great solution. Then, you have something that combines the two things; a virtual office. With one of these you get a business address but can work from home. One of the benefits of a virtual office address is that it’s cheaper than renting normal office space. Plus, you still get the luxury of having a professional address for your business.

It doesn’t matter what type of workplace you choose for your company. What matters is that you can afford it. Don’t try and pay for office space if you haven’t got the funds to do it. Maybe you can only afford a home office at this moment; there’s no shame in that. If you can afford a virtual office, then get one. And, if you are in the position to rent office space, ensure you pay for some that won’t destroy your finances. Take a look at your budget and figure out what you can afford before you start paying for things.

Size

The size of your workplace is also something you need to consider. It all depends on your situation and how your business is set up. If you’re running a business on your own, then a home office is probably very convenient for you. There’s no need for you to rent office space because you only have one person to think about. You have no use for a spacious office with lots of different rooms. So, it makes sense to have your workplace at home, as it’s convenient. However, if you have numerous employees, a home office may not be the right fit for you. Granted, you and your employees could all work from home, but sometimes that doesn’t work out. Sometimes the right choice for you is to rent office space. You’d need to find somewhere that has enough space for you and your employees to work comfortably. Cramming everyone into a tiny office is not a good idea, it will feel cramped and horrible. Similarly, there’s no point in getting a big office if you only have a handful of workers.

Take a look at your company and figure out how much office space you’ll need. If you don’t need any, then that’s fine, you can work from home. But, if you do need a proper office, consider how big it needs to be.

Location

The final thing to think about is the location of your workplace. A lot of people aren’t aware of how important this can be for businesses. A good location can make a great deal of difference to the success of your startup. This is where a home office puts you at a slight disadvantage. It’s unlikely that your house will be in the centre of a city and easy to find. If someone wants to meet with you, it can look bad when you give them your house address. No one likes driving around trying to find a house. With a proper office, you’ll usually be in a good location. There’s lots of office space up for rent in city centres. This means you’ll be in a very convenient location and easy to find. Of course, if you work from home you can try and get a virtual office in the city. Doing this will mean you can go there to have any meetings.

Find a good location for your workplace and you’ll be onto a winner. Try and avoid getting an office, or virtual office, in remote locations. Make your business easy to find and you’ll reap the rewards.

After reading this, you should know what makes the perfect business workplace. Think about how big it needs to be, how much you can afford to pay, and where it’s located.

The great idea is a wonderful thing. We probably have a few thousand each day at least. No one would claim that every great idea is going to last the distance. Some will seem brilliant at first. You’ll spend days and even weeks turning it over, working out different aspects of it. That’s quite normal for a budding entrepreneur. In fact, it is to be encouraged.

Then you do a little research and find out that it has been done before. That is still not the end of the idea. After all, your angle and approach could bring a whole new meaning to the business. And you are free to dream on. But how do you know if your idea is strong enough, and have you got what it takes to back it up?

Market Research

There’s nothing new about market research. For a good reason. It works. It is the one failsafe method of ensuring that your idea has got what it takes to make a viable business. Get out there and ask some tough questions. Obviously, you don’t want to give your game plan away, but you have little to lose at this stage. It can be a great help to look at other business models. Let them inspire you but quietly examine what the magic factor was that made that business succeed. Was it good luck? Perhaps it was drive and vision. More often than not is was a sound understanding of marketing strategies.

Getting the right tech behind you.

We run our lives with some of the best tech ever available. Good tech is about ease, speed and communication. With cloud availability, it is becoming easier for us to access and outsource major components of our businesses. Be selective about the systems and solutions that you use. Keep it simple.

Ensure you base website is as good as you can make it. It really pays to spend some time here, making sure that it looks that part. Above all, you want to make it easy for your customers to find out information and make decisions. Keeping your customers informed is going to ease the way ahead.

One of best ways to reach your customers is through text. SMS Solutions offer a fast and easy solution. An approach like this is fast and cost effective. It will make your business run more smoothly.

Understand all your costs

Examine the costs and projections as far as you can. What level of business investment is going to be required to get you off the ground? We are all hearing about how easy it is to start a business for very little capital, and that’s great to a point. There will always be a certain cost however regarding your input. But if your idea does not have access to some form of capital and investment it may not be able to generate enough speed to get up and fly.

Being underfunded is probably one the biggest mistakes that you can make. It shows that you have not looked hard enough at the bricks and mortar of the business. Go back and draw up a cash flow chart that is based on the worst case scenario. You never know, you might exceed expectations. That is the sign of success. It is the sign of a startup that is more than strong enough.

Opening an online store is a dream-come-true for many. Who knows, it could turn into a million-dollar business. We’ve seen it happen, as popular e-commerce sites take off, and attract thousands of customers. You can start the whole enterprise from your bedroom, selling hand-made crafts if you wish. Online shopping and e-commerce is still growing in an enormous way. You can take advantage of this, and hop aboard the train. Don’t worry, it’s easier than you think to get started.

1. Choose your product and niche

The first step is deciding what sort of store you’d like to open and run. This is your chance to choose something you’re passionate and excited about. Remember, your online business should be your escape! It’s a chance to make money from something you love. Having said that, choose a niche that has real market value. Take a look at your potential rivals and competitors. What can you sell that is different to others? Getting this part wrong is one of the biggest reasons for business failure.

2. Make connections with wholesalers

You have two main options when starting an online store. The first option is making and selling your own product. If you’re into crafts, then you might want to make and sell your personal creations. However, most shop owners use wholesalers to get their hands on goods. This means purchasing products at low value to sell on your online store. For example, you might want to approach fashion wholesalers to choose a particular range of clothes to sell.

3. Creating the website

If you’re going to set up an online store, you need a website! Don’t worry, this is easier than it sounds. You can do the hard work yourself, using one of the various website builders and online store templates. However, it’s often better to commission a professional online store design. You’ll get a unique and custom design that matches your brand and vision. Remember a good web design is optimized for sales, and that’s best left in the hands of the experts.

4. Marketing and promotion

By now, you’ll have a beautiful new website, and a variety of products to sell. All that’s left to do is get people interested! Without visitors and customers, you won’t make a penny. The best place to start is social media. You can begin to create a community around your business on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. You can even pay for online adverts to promote your new shop.

5. Finances

Of course, don’t forget to keep a keen eye on your budget and finances. Remember, this is a business, and it should be run like one. That means keeping track of orders, budgeting for supplies, and managing the income. At the end of the year, you’ll have to file your tax return, and keep your accounts in order. If things start going well, you’ll have to consider registering your business with the government too.

See, that wasn’t as tricky as it seemed, right? If you’ve got a great idea for an online store, try it yourself. You might become the next big success story!

Starting a new health care company could be the best thing you ever do. People with the right qualifications and skills could make a real difference to their local community. When all’s said and done, everyone will become ill at some point during their lives. That means you shouldn’t have to work too hard to fill your books with patients. The tips and advice in this article will help you to avoid common mistakes and make your mark in the healthcare industry. You need to follow the right process to ensure your new business becomes successful within the first twelve months. Otherwise, you could lose your investment.

Begin by concentrating on a niche

It’s wise to keep your new company as small as possible during the early stages. That will help you to make higher profits and keep your business going. For that reason, it is wise to select a niche until you can afford to employ more doctors. People who work in the plastic surgery world tend to earn lots of money, and so maybe you should start there? Alternatively, you could focus your efforts on pediatrics or another specific area. The last thing you want to do is spread yourself too thin. When that happens, the level of care you provide to patients could decrease. The best advice we can give is that you need to start small and progress slowly.

Use technology to your advantage

Medical firms have to remain at the forefront when it comes to new technology. You need your business to become as efficient and reliable as possible. There are new software packages you could use to streamline your operation. Health care computer programs help to link all your most critical information together. They allow you to keep a close eye on patient records, and you can even create care plans. You just need to perform some research to find the most appropriate packages for your business. Going digital could help you to stand apart from the competition for the next couple of years. Some firms won’t be ready to implement those advancements for a long time.

Design a fantastic marketing strategy

The last thing anyone wants if for your business to fail. That is why you must spend time working on the best marketing strategy. There are thousands of patients out there who need your services. So, you just need to make sure you reach them without breaking the bank. Launching a website for your new company is a wise first step. However, you’ll have to use paid advertising solutions to ensure your target market encounter the domain. You should look towards outsourcing the job to a specialist for the best results. Doctors don’t have enough time to deal with promotions when they should be looking after their patients.

These simple tips should be enough to guarantee your business goes from strength to strength. There are always risks involved when starting a new company. However, you can tip the scales of balance in your favor by seeking advice from the experts. We are confident you now know the best route forward, and we wish you the best of luck. Hopefully, your healthcare brand will grow and become a household name during the next twelve months.

Engineering is one of the most lucrative and thriving economies on the planet. It’s no wonder that so many engineering startups are cropping up. As the engineering world expands and grows, it needs small niche companies to work quickly and efficiently. For that reason, engineering startups are often better than their giant corporate competitors. Whether it’s civil engineering, computing, or manufacture, the industry is wide and vibrant. There’s never been a better time to start a small business in this industry. But, before you dive in, here are five things you need to consider.

1. Budgets

Just like any other business, you need an acute awareness of the budgets and costs. Running any startup requires a tight reign on the balance sheet, especially in the early days. But, it’s particularly important in engineering. Here, the startup costs for material, equipment, and research is often quite large. Do you have the capital to get started, and run an effective company? Failing to do so is one of the main reasons startups fail in the first year. These budgets will also help you work out how much you’ll charge for your services.

2. Choosing a niche

We’ve already touched on one or two engineering niches. And it’s crucial that you understand the scope and range of engineering opportunities. However, clients and customers aren’t looking for a jack-of-all-trades. They’re looking for highly-skilled, technical experts in a niche subject. If you’re to make a success of your startup, you need to choose a highly focused niche. Use your experience, expertise, and passions, to tap into the right market area.

3. Experience

Unfortunately, engineering is not an industry you can simply walk into. It’s technical, skilled, and complex. The industry demands high qualifications, and plenty of junior experience. If you’re looking to start a company in this sector, you should ideally have plenty of experience. You need to know how the industry operates, from the inside-out. You should also build up a database of contacts who can help you along the way. You’ll need these contacts to help land your first job in the business.

4. Stores management

Working in engineering means working with lots of components, supplies, and high-tech equipment. If you’re to run an effective startup, you need effective stores management. That means processing your incoming materials and goods, and managing them on site. It is particularly important in the manufacturing sector of engineering, but applies to all sorts of niches. A series of stores management software and expert personnel will help create the right environment.

5. Future development

Success in the engineering industry is all about creating a better future. The best companies are always thinking ahead, and planning for the next generation. This forward thinking requires research and development, and an eye for future design. As a business owner, it’s now your job to manage the future planning, and find new gaps in the market. What technology will dictate the coming decades, and where is engineering going? These are the answers you’ll have to answer.

With hard work, and a clear vision, you can take your engineering startup to the next level. Before you do, take these considerations on board, and plan ahead. Good luck!

What is the path of the modern entrepreneur? The road from zero to success is probably a lot shorter and easier to travel than most people realise. It’s certainly true to say that becoming an entrepreneur is a lot simpler than it used to be. You first need to formulate an idea. This could be a business idea or an idea for a product or service that you wish to sell. Next you need to consider whether this is a product or service the public need or want. Have you found a market gap and do you know how to fill it? You must be honest with yourself at this point. Make sure you have not convinced yourself the idea is an original concept when it’s something that others have already thought of. Next, you need to think about funding, and this is precisely where the journey begins.

Step 1: Do You Need Money?

You may have read a few articles online that claim to start a business you do need money to begin with. Essentially, they say, you can’t start something from nothing. But we disagree with this mindset. In fact not only do we think it’s possible, we think it’s the easiest way to do it. It all starts by knowing what type of business you want to set up. We would like to present the idea of an ecommerce business. This means that your business will operate entirely online. There are a number of advantages to this model, but the first one is obvious. It’s free to set up or at the very least, priced to be incredibly valuable.

Step 2: Knowing The Benefits

Before we continue this journey, it’s important that you know all the advantages you get following this path. Firstly, we’ve already mentioned it’s cheap but your business model is already going to be saving you money. By running your company online, you’ll will be able to operate it from home. You’ll also find that you can run it without hiring many if any, other members of staff. If there are jobs that are too big for you, you can outsource these to another company saving on costs.

Since you will not be investing money in your business, you’re cutting the risk. If you do spend money on your business, we think the most you’ll spend is up to a thousand. Losing that isn’t nothing, certainly, but it’s a lot less than you would need to set up a business offline. If your company does fail, you can cut your losses and move on. At least you will be able to say you tried.

You will also find that setting up online; it’s easy to make a name for yourself. There are a number of different tools that you can use to set up your online company and gain interest. Again, a lot of these won’t cost you anything.

Step 3: Getting Started

You may think at this point your business has already started. But we’re still at the hypothetical stage. All we’ve established is that you won’t spend much money if any and the advantages of this model. We haven’t yet shown how you will do this.

We suggest you begin by making a name for yourself, building an online profile. You can do this using the social media accounts that you are probably active on every day of your life. Af first, we suggest that you use the basic social networks like Facebook and Twitter. On these, you can set up business accounts. You can then use both to update already interested followers and gain new ones. Updating these accounts with interesting information will catch the attention of potential customers online. You need to post about the industry you’re thinking about joining. Start to tease the product or service that you’ll soon be offering and slowly grow your campaign. At this point, you still shouldn’t have spent any money.

Will your business involve anything colourful, graphic or interesting? An online fashion store would be an example of this because you could share pictures of the clothes you’ll soon be selling. Get creative, hiring models to wear the clothes and photographers to snap pics. Then set up a blog adding the pics, and link some to Pinterest. This is just one example of how social media can help your new brand blossom overnight.

Step 4: Site Set Up

When you are starting to gain the interest of people online, it’s important to have somewhere they can find more about your business. This will be your company website. You should only use your blog for advertisement or to expand on ideas. When you set up your site, it’s important you use an e-commerce software that enables easy payments and transactions. If you do this, you make customers lives easier, and they will be more likely to use your company. A poor ecommerce software could damage your business before it’s begun. That’s why this is an area we do suggest you spend a little money to get the best. A Magento agency for ecommerce use one of the best pieces of software on the market. It’s certain to give your company a running start.

Don’t forget when setting up your site you can spend a little extra on marketing. That way you’re sure to gain the interest of consumers. Remember this won’t cost a fortune and will still fit nicely into the average person’s personal budget. We suggest you focus on SEO and web design. You must make sure users find your site, and once they do, it’s important they stick around to make a purchase. That means your site needs to look and feel professional.

Step 5: Free Funding

Your site is up, your networks are active and you’re ready to sell. But wait, you might be wondering how you can afford to produce what you’re selling? There are two approaches you can take for this issue. Either you do finally take out a small loan to be for the first fixed costs and then pay it back. Or you use the support, you’ve already gained, through a crowdsourcing scheme. We know which option we would choose but you may not want to be dependent on your customers. The choice is entirely yours to make.

Once you’ve taken these steps, you will have a successful business up and running online. The best part is that you could easily have completed the whole process in less than six months on a shoestring. But you’ll still have the potential to make a fortune!