Start Your Dream Business
Start Your Dream Business
1. Choose your product or service
Most self-starters have a good idea about the product or service they will offer the public, or other businesses. If you’re still undecided about yours, look at your hobbies, interests or talents for inspiration. Or search online for businesses that are currently available for resale or franchising, or for a product you’d like to sell. At the same time, try to imagine the customer who might be interested—or not—in the product or service.
2. Know your customers—and your competitors
Knowing your potential clientele, and what they value, is as important as knowing which other companies want their business. The saying “for every customer there’s a dozen competitors” may not apply in your field, or at least not yet. But do gather information about your customers and any potential competitors you may have to face, and figure out what will make your product or service unique and valuable. Make this research an ongoing practice as your business develops.
3. Plan your marketing strategy
Check out how and where your competitors market their products, and plan a strategy that will work best for you: will you advertise online, in newspapers or flyers, on the radio or television, or simply rely on word-of-mouth? Next, register or incorporate a company name; you can now create business cards, a website, and other promotional materials without worrying that someone else is using the same name. If marketing isn’t your strong suit, consider hiring a marketing consultant. The Canadian Marketing Association is a good place to start your search.
4. A healthy bottom line
Success in business is not just about money, but we won’t deny it is important. Before you invest your own, or seek outside financial help, try to gain a sense of whether or not your business can make money, and if so, how much and how soon? You will need to write a business plan to define your business and provide the roadmap to making money. The business plan describes your company in detail: product, management style, marketing strategy, and financial plan. There are many online tools available to help you along. If you need outside funds to make your dream a reality, then take your business plan to the bank and apply for a small business loan.
Start Your Dream Business - To learn more about this author, visit Marvin Garellek's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
If you’ve been dreaming of starting your own business, and are ready to put your plan into action, then we’ve got advice for you. Read on for the first steps any would-be entrepreneur needs to take in order to launch his or her own business.
1. Choose your product or service
Most self-starters have a good idea about the product or service they will offer the public, or other businesses. If you’re still undecided about yours, look at your hobbies, interests or talents for inspiration. Or search online for businesses that are currently available for resale or franchising, or for a product you’d like to sell. At the same time, try to imagine the customer who might be interested—or not—in the product or service.
2. Know your customers—and your competitors
Knowing your potential clientele, and what they value, is as important as knowing which other companies want their business. The saying “for every customer there’s a dozen competitors” may not apply in your field, or at least not yet. But do gather information about your customers and any potential competitors you may have to face, and figure out what will make your product or service unique and valuable. Make this research an ongoing practice as your business develops.
3. Plan your marketing strategy
Check out how and where your competitors market their products, and plan a strategy that will work best for you: will you advertise online, in newspapers or flyers, on the radio or television, or simply rely on word-of-mouth? Next, register or incorporate a company name; you can now create business cards, a website, and other promotional materials without worrying that someone else is using the same name. If marketing isn’t your strong suit, consider hiring a marketing consultant. The Canadian Marketing Association is a good place to start your search.
4. A healthy bottom line
Success in business is not just about money, but we won’t deny it is important. Before you invest your own, or seek outside financial help, try to gain a sense of whether or not your business can make money, and if so, how much and how soon? You will need to write a business plan to define your business and provide the roadmap to making money. The business plan describes your company in detail: product, management style, marketing strategy, and financial plan. There are many online tools available to help you along. If you need outside funds to make your dream a reality, then take your business plan to the bank and apply for a small business loan.
Start Your Dream Business - To learn more about this author, visit Marvin Garellek's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 | |
 |
No article feedback found. |
| |
Leave Your Feedback |
 | |
| |||
Staging DivaDebra Gould, aka The Staging Diva®, is President of Six Elements Inc., an internationally recognized home staging company. Inspired by many requests from aspiring home stagers wanting to start similar businesses, Gould created the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program. Gould has trained over 1000 Staging Diva Graduates worldwide to start staging businesses. Buying decorating and selling six of her own homes in four years lead to an interest in real estate staging which she turned into a career with the launch of sixelements.com in 2002. Since then she has staged hundreds of homes in addition to teaching home staging training. Gould is the author of several home staging resources including a series of popular ebooks made up of a Design Guide, Color Guide and Portfolio Guide. For more information about Debra Gould visit stagingdiva.com. - Visit Staging Diva's Website |
|||
Jeff FosterWebBizIdeas.com is a Minneapolis website design company founded to help people start an internet business by providing them with website, business, and internet resources that help foster the growth of successful online businesses and develop innovative Internet business ideas. We specialize in internet consulting & internet marketing. - Visit Jeff Foster's Website |
|||
Stephanie RobeyStephanie Robey is President and CoFounder of Pivot Positive, LLC - an Internet marketing business focused on helping people start work at home ventures. Previously, she was employed at The Search Agency with over 20 years experience in graphic design and 10 years experience in online marketing. She was responsible for launching the Conversion Path Optimization (CPO) unit where she and her team have conducted hundreds of optimization tests for online companies across multiple verticals. She is a successful entrepreneur having started and sold 2 companies and remains on the board of directors of the third, PhotoSpin.com Stephanie began her career in the direct marketing realm creating and producing direct mail for many of the major cable television companies and directly attributes her understanding of Internet marketing to those early offline experiences. Stephanie is a graduate of San Diego State University with a BFA in Graphic Arts and also holds an Executive MBA from the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University. Read Steph's Blog Meet Steph and Dave Sign up for our Free 7-Day BootCamp: Self Employed & Rich - Visit Stephanie Robey's Website |
|||
Joe DagerJoe Dager is President of Business901, a progressive coaching company providing no-nonsense direction in areas such as Lean Six Sigma Marketing and organized referral marketing. What others say: In the past 20 years, Joe and I have collaborated on many difficult issues. Joe’s ability to combine his expertise with “out of the box” thinking is unsurpassed. He has always delivered quickly, cost effectively and with ingenuity. A brilliant mind that is always a pleasure to work with.” - James R. If you want to learn more about Business901, start a conversation with us. We can be found @ Web/Blog: Business901.com Web/Blog: FundingYourNonprofit.com LinkedIn Profile Follow me on Twitter - Visit Joe Dager's Website |
|||
Linda RichardsonLinda Richardson is the Founder and Executive Chairwoman of Richardson, a global sales training and performance improvement company. As a recognized leader in the industry, she has won the coveted Stevie Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sales Excellence and she was identified by Training Industry, Inc. as one of the “Top 20 Most Influential Training Professionals.” Ms. Richardson is credited with the movement to Consultative Selling and is the author of ten books on selling and sales management, including Sales Coaching — Making the Great Leap from Sales Manager to Sales Coach, and Stop Telling, Start Selling. She teaches sales and management at the Wharton Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton Executive Development Center. Linda is a frequent speaker at industry and client conferences, has been published extensively in industry and training journals, and has been featured in numerous publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Nation’s Business, Selling Power, Success, and The Conference Board Magazine. Learn more about Richardson's sales training and performance improvement solutions at http://www.richardson.com web - Visit Linda Richardson's Website |
|||
David BarrDavid Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website |
|||
Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
|||
Casey GollanCasey Gollan, Business Coaching & Mentoring Programs. Add $1 Million to $10 Million in the next 1 to 3 years. Since 1996 Casey has to added hundreds of millions of dollars to businesses. Watch a free video see client results Business Coaching website. - Visit Casey Gollan's Website |
|||
|
To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us. | |||
 | |
|  |
Subscribe to Marvin's articles
 | |
|
|  |
 | |
|
| |
 | |||||||
|
 | ||
|
||
|
||
 |
||
|
| ||
 |
| Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details. |
|
|
 |
| Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media |
|
|
 |
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"
Click Here To Learn More |
|
|
|
|
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
|
|
|
 Make Attitude Your Ally Relationships and Referrals Business Financing Instant Flyers Ideal Client |
|
 | ||
 |
Top 50 Blogs For Startups
Top Blogs To Watch In 2008 | |
 |
Top 50 SEO Posts - 2008
Top SEO Posts of the Year | |
| ||
 | ||||
| ||||
|
| ||||
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
|
|
|
| ||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||