The document lists 10 questions to ask yourself when starting a business: (1) How are you currently making money? (2) How much start up capital do you have? (3) What are you passionate about or good at? (4) Are you already an expert in a field? (5) Will you create your own product or promote others'? (6) How much time can you commit? (7) What tools will you need? (8) What are you not good at? (9) What do you need to learn? (10) What are your timescales? Answering these questions honestly will help guide your business planning and focus your efforts.
2. What do you need to know when you are starting a
business? These simple questions will help guide you
when starting a business, and hopefully give you a head
start to your journey as an entrepreneur.
3. If you really want to quit the 9-5 and are serious about
starting a business, this post is a must.
4. If you're thinking of starting a business, ask yourself the
following questions;
15. Planning and focus is one of the most important stages of
starting a business, and you'll save yourself a lot of time
and money if you make sure you are open and honest with
yourself when in this stage.
17. How am I currently making money?How are you making
money right now? Do you have a job already? Are you
working full time or part time? Are you helping someone
else out? Are you looking for a job?
18. It's easy to get confused, and think that you have to start
from scratch, but if you're making money already, consider
incorporating the way you are making money into your
new business. E.g are you currently in sales and have good
product knowledge? Consider using this knowledge and
the power of your existing contacts when starting a
business.
19. How much start up capital do I have to invest in my new
business?
20. So many people try starting a business and fail miserably
due to lack of funding. Set your sights on what you can
afford. Start small and invest however much you can
afford in you or your business. Prioritise your spending
and make sure you are investing only in essentials such as
training, marketing or products.
22. What skills do you already have? Is there a subject or a
'niche' that you are passionate about? If you are stuck for
a business idea, look into your hobbies, passions and
current skillset for direction.
24. Are you already an authority? Are you well known in your
Niche? If you are already an expert in something, you can
quite easily promote or sell that expertise online. No need
to re-invent the wheel! Many people fail when they start a
business because they launch into a completely new field
that they know very little about and fail to do proper
research. Don't get caught out.
25. Will I create my own product or promote someone elses?
26. Affiliate marketing is perhaps one of the fastest and
easiest ways of starting a business. Affiliate marketing
involves promoting someone elses product in return for a
commission when a sale is made. having said that, it is
relatively simple to create your own info product such as a
tutorial, a course or an e-book, so make sure you decide
which route you will take before you start.
28. Plan your time around your lifestyle. When I first started
internet marketing, I was working all day and learning all
night. I burnt the candle at both ends and got nowhere.
When I finally used common sense and practised what I
preached, I organised my work on a weekly schedule and
got more done in those couple of hours a day than I had in
the months of long days and nights before! Ensure you can
afford to spare the time you are dedicating to starting a
business.
30. After speaking with lots of people who have spent
thousands on products and software, make a list of what
you really need and keep it simple! You don't always need
that 'must have' software, and remember, there is NO
push button product that will make you money. Stick to
these guidelines and save yourself a fortune!
32. Be honest with yourself. Just because you're not good at
something, you shouldn't dwell on it and let it stop you
starting a business. If you're confident that you can learn
the necessary skills with relative ease, then go for it. If
not, With the power of outsourcing and sites such as
odesk, elance and fiverr, you can get work done relatively
cheaply, and free up your time to get on with other work.
34. With so many courses available in all different areas of
starting a business, making money online, software etc, it
is important that you don't try and do 'everything' Plan
out what you need to learn and what can be outsourced,
and try and stay focused on that plan. I am saying this
because one of my WordPress Coaching students had
spent $7,500 on courses without making a cent online -
think about it, - do you really need to be a Photoshop
expert before you launch your blog, or can you outsource
the graphics and design work? Don't let the learning curve
hold you back.
36. Setting timescales are a really important factor when
starting a business. Don't turn into someone who will 'do
it later' or 'start that tomorrow.' Set yourself goals and
timescales for important milestones for your business
start up.
37. So, Are you set? Write the answers to the questions you
have asked yourself, and go plan Starting A Business!