Published on April 2nd, 2019 | by Sunit Nandi

Are You Ready To Start Your Own Business?

For many people, there comes a time in their lives when they start to consider the benefits of starting their own business. It certainly does offer a lot more freedom, and the decisions you make are yours alone. There is no boss to answer to, and you can work in whichever field it is that you love and know the most about.

Yet you might still be wavering, even if you are sure that the pros outweigh the cons. This is only natural; starting a new business and stepping out of your comfort zone of regular employment is a big leap and not one that will suit everyone.

If you think you might be about to do it, make sure that you’re completely ready.

Here are some things you will need to check.

Do You Have The Knowledge?

Finding something interesting and thinking it would make a good business is a far different thing from having expert knowledge in an area and choosing that to base your business around. The former might be fun, but if you can’t answer questions and you don’t know how to solve the problems and challenges that you face, you won’t be a success. The latter is much more sensible.

If you want to start a business in an area that seems lucrative and would be filling a gap in the market and you don’t have the knowledge, then the first step is to get it. Engineering is a good example of a sector that is growing quickly, and in which you can do very well if you have the background knowledge. Before you launch your business, take an online electrical engineering degree in Canada and make sure you are confident in the area you will be working in. As well as this, surround yourself with staff who have the experience to help you. This way, you can tap into the right market and ensure your customers are happy with the work that you do for them.

Do You Have The Passion?

Although we have noted that simply enjoying something isn’t necessarily going to turn it into a good business, just choosing an area to work in that will make money and that people need but that you don’t enjoy won’t work for you either. You will become bored, miserable, perhaps even depressed, and your business will suffer for it.

You must have a passion for whatever you are doing, and back that up with plenty of knowledge, or knowledgeable people to help you do a good job.

Remember, it takes time to build a business, and if you are not happy with what you are doing, that time will be poorly spent. It is far better to do something you enjoy – not only will you be happier, but your customers will be able to tell that you are passionate and be more confident in your services.

Is There A Market?

Researching the market before you launch any business is a must. If you start before researching and ensuring that there really is a need for whatever it is you are selling, you might find that gaining customers is difficult and making any sales is all but impossible.

You don’t need to find something that will make many millions of dollars right from the start, but finding something that will bring you in a steady income while also giving you enough money left over to invest into the business for marketing or new products, for example, is a good start. Over time this will build, but without this solid foundation you will have a hard time growing.

Market research can be done through a third party, or you can do it yourself through customer surveys, asking in groups on social media, or even standing out on the street with a clipboard asking strangers questions as they pass by. No matter how you do it, you need to take the findings seriously; if there is no market for your product then launching your business could be a big mistake.

Who Is The Competition?

It can be scary to look at your competitors and see how well they are doing. It can cause upset and sadness, even anger. Yet this should not be the way. You cannot take what your competitors are doing too personally; you need to look at it all objectively, and you need to use the information to your advantage wherever possible.

Knowing how your competition treats its customers, what their pricing strategy is, how their website looks, what deals that have on, and – of course – what they are selling will all help to inform your decisions. You might feel, after checking out the competition, that the marketplace is too crowded and you should think of something else to base your business around. Alternatively, you might find that you can already see that you do things in a better way that customers will love, making you more confident at the start.

All of this information is useful and will help you to place your business where it needs to be ready for launch.

Do You Have The Finances In Place?

You don’t have to have a huge fortune behind you in order to start a business. Depending on what you are doing, it can be extremely inexpensive to start a new business. However, the more money you can put into it, the faster it will grow, and the sooner you will be able to enjoy a good salary and make a profit.

If you can’t afford to do this, and borrowing is out of the question, then it is wise to continue in your current main job and run your business on the side. This way, you can grow it slowly and still have money coming in to pay your bills. When the time is right and you are sure that your new venture can sustain you financially, and that you are really ready to take on the challenge of running a business full time, then you can quit your day job and start working full time in your own company.

Tags: ready, start

About the Author

Sunit Nandi I'm the leader of Techno FAQ. Also an engineering college student with immense interest in science and technology. Other interests include literature, coin collecting, gardening and photography. Always wish to live life like there's no tomorrow.