Business is Business
I
know first hand how hard it is trying to juggle life's priorities with a
million and one dreams in a notebook and zero to little funds in the
bank. So, let's start by narrowing that goal from a million to one; the most important one.
First of all, let's remove the word "can't" from our vocabulary starting from today.
Secondly, which one of them would make the most impact? To your community,
to your spiritual and mental health? Which one could you see yourself
doing for about a year with no pay or recognition but you would still be
satisfied doing it because at you're at peace when you're in that
atmosphere? Got it? Awesome!
Next, what's your plan? Will you need a team or is this something you can start with on your own? Are you going to be mobile or virtual? Do you need a location, studio or can you use your house for now? Will you need products, a website, a logo? What are the tools that you need? How much will start-up cost? A lot? Probably not! The one reason why a lot of people fail in life is that they never really STARTED. So, here are some tips to just help you get started! Grab a pen and a notebook!
1. RESEARCH AND UNDERSTAND YOUR MARKET
4. MONEY CANNOT BE YOUR ONLY MOTIVE
Anyone that is an entrepreneur knows that it is an up and down road, one week your skyrocketing in sales and then the following week you've made $0. If you're only intent is to make money then you're most likely going to give up. Whatever it is that you are starting up, it has to be a passion of yours, there has to be a purpose behind it. A lot of motivational speakers will ask, "what is your why?" What/who is the reason that you're doing what you're doing? Because the days where there's a shortage of customers/clients, your why will keep you going. What is your why?
ENTREPRENEURIAL TIPS FROM ENTREPRENEURS THEMSELVES:
"It's
imperative that you do your research. Know your 'business' in and outs
before you even begin and even after you start, never stop researching."
- Julie St. Fleur, CEO of Newly You
https://www.newlyyou.us/
"Starting a business isn't easy; it requires a lot of time, work and dedication. My tip to new entrepreneurs is to stay consistent, even if you don't get the support that you hope for from your family and friends. Always believe in your brand even if no one else does." - Arlene Davilmar BSW, CEO of Misfit Collection
www.misfitcollections.com
"Patience and research! Patience because if you don't have a large following like Beyonce or Kanye West 'start up' will take some time. You want to make sure that you have your target audience and a problem to solve and a clear solution. There were so many times I wanted to give up but, thank God I didn't. Thank God He sent friends and family to hold me accountable. Research because without it I would've been so lost. Research about the area of business you want to start up and sign up for webinars. You can never learn too much."- Queen Liburd, Creator & Owner of Sweet Oasis Counseling, LLC queenliburd.com
"If you want to start a business you have to be dedicated. You have to work hard and smart and be passionate about whatever it is that you are doing."- T'Keyah Black, Owner & CEO of Elegant Minks & Pretty Woman Closet
https://elegantminks.com/
https://www.prettywomancloset.com/
"As a young entrepreneur it's so important to protect your God said word. Outside noises don't need to know what God shared with you privately."- Ludy Saintil, Founder of Heart2Heart
www.ludysaintil.com
https://heart2heartcollections.com/collections/all
Next, what's your plan? Will you need a team or is this something you can start with on your own? Are you going to be mobile or virtual? Do you need a location, studio or can you use your house for now? Will you need products, a website, a logo? What are the tools that you need? How much will start-up cost? A lot? Probably not! The one reason why a lot of people fail in life is that they never really STARTED. So, here are some tips to just help you get started! Grab a pen and a notebook!
1. RESEARCH AND UNDERSTAND YOUR MARKET
- This is key, create a business plan. I silently researched, sampled and contacted numerous of vendors, spoke with different business owners for a year and a half until I had enough knowledge to launch a successful clothing business for my daughters. I know in a generation where it feels like everyone is becoming an entrepreneur and it just seems like the thing to be, take your time and do market research. Never be in a rush to be seen that you are the reason for your business' downfall. What's for you will always be for you. What is it that your clients need? For example, if you're wanting to open a cleaning business; what's the cost for supplies, who are your competitors and what are their prices? What is it that you can provide that another cleaning company cannot? No matter how lucrative a business might be, there's always something that you provide that the other doesn't. Whether it be customer service, product or pricing.
- Once you've written down your business plan, legalize your business! Don't go posting on social media without having legal rights to your business and your business' name. Remember, never be in a rush to be seen that you are the reason for your business' downfall. If you are not familiar with the formalities of legalizing your brand then consult with someone. It is important to also get an EIN for your business, this is FREE! So, don't sleep on it! It's like the social security number for your business. It allows you to open a business bank account, get a business license, etc. Do your research!
- "Branding, by definition, is a marketing practice in which a company creates a name, symbol or design that is easily identifiable as belonging to the company... There are many areas that are used to develop a brand including advertising, customer service, promotional merchandise, reputation, and logo." To me, this is probably one of the most important aspects of business. Who are you and what do people know you or your business for? Do you have great customer service? Are you known for the quality of your service/products?
- Do you need a website or logo? Canva is a great app for making logos, business cards, flyers, etc., you won't get anything top-notched but it will definitely get you started. For some more top notched work, I highly recommend Canva Pro. If you're not too creative on your own, then I recommend looking into Fiverr. Below is a business card I made for myself using Canva. My daughters' business logo was made by a creator on Fiverr and costed less than $30.
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| Created using Canva |
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| Created by a creator on Fiverr |
 |
| Created using Canva |
- Hiring someone to build your website for you is crazy expensive! So if you don't have the funds right now you can build your website yourself, you can use site domains like GoDaddy, Wix, Weebly and so much more. For e-commerce products, I recommend Shopify for many reasons. Again, if you are not creative, hire someone you know or someone on Fiverr to create your website.
- Use social media to your advantage, post, post, post until people see you on their timeline every single time they get on their phones. Don't worry about being "annoying," you're promoting yourself until you no longer have to do it yourself! Try to remain relevant.
- Networking is also a part of branding your brand. Network with people that are and aren't doing the same thing that you're doing. "Everyone knows someone that knows someone" and you can never have too many connections. Don't be intimidated by people that are in the same business as you. Burger King and McDonald's collaborate all the time; if you have an eye for business you will see that based on their social media "pettiness." Their competition strategy only causes customers to taste one or the other, which in turn gets them BOTH sales. If you're an introvert like me, at first it might be really difficult to get out of your shell and approach people but start small, send them an email, send a direct message and don't be afraid to ASK for help. The worst they can say is "no" and even that is okay. Keep going! If you are truly lost and don't know where to begin, find a mentor in your field that is a few years ahead of you mentally, financially and spiritually; someone that can direct you with love and correction. I am also a Certified Life Coach if you need direction and I also provide mentorship.
4. MONEY CANNOT BE YOUR ONLY MOTIVE
Anyone that is an entrepreneur knows that it is an up and down road, one week your skyrocketing in sales and then the following week you've made $0. If you're only intent is to make money then you're most likely going to give up. Whatever it is that you are starting up, it has to be a passion of yours, there has to be a purpose behind it. A lot of motivational speakers will ask, "what is your why?" What/who is the reason that you're doing what you're doing? Because the days where there's a shortage of customers/clients, your why will keep you going. What is your why?
- One thing I've learned while deciding to create my own lane for a better future is that this entrepreneurship life requires a lot of sacrifices. You have to live a life apart from your peers to get to your destination, which means that if you are just starting up, saving and living a life below your budget is key! I am already a frugal spender but this year I decided to focus solely on my goals and not only dream about them but actually invest in them financially. I had to ask myself, "what can I cut out that I don't need? Where can I save?" So, I sacrificed a few things that were really unnecessary at the moment. I cancelled out Apple Music ($9.99/mth= $119.88+/year). I didn't eat out as much, so I tried my best to eat only home cooked meals.We also cancelled our cable bill and invested in a Firestick and only WiFi. Once we did that, we realized how much we were able to save every month. At first these might seem like small expenses but trust me, they'll make a huge difference in the long run. Based on your budget, determine what is a want and not a necessity and remove it for now. We're being intentional all year, sis!
- Create a bank account specifically for your business; an account where you are constantly depositing into it until you've reached your startup goal. If you have a steady paycheck coming in, use that to your advantage! I recommend saving at least 10-30% of your income.
- Look into grants! The internet will become your best friend once you decide to go down this path. Grants were put in place for small business owners that might not have the full start up cost, do your research and find out which ones you qualify for.
ENTREPRENEURIAL TIPS FROM ENTREPRENEURS THEMSELVES:
"It's
imperative that you do your research. Know your 'business' in and outs
before you even begin and even after you start, never stop researching."
- Julie St. Fleur, CEO of Newly Youhttps://www.newlyyou.us/
"Starting a business isn't easy; it requires a lot of time, work and dedication. My tip to new entrepreneurs is to stay consistent, even if you don't get the support that you hope for from your family and friends. Always believe in your brand even if no one else does." - Arlene Davilmar BSW, CEO of Misfit Collection www.misfitcollections.com
"Patience and research! Patience because if you don't have a large following like Beyonce or Kanye West 'start up' will take some time. You want to make sure that you have your target audience and a problem to solve and a clear solution. There were so many times I wanted to give up but, thank God I didn't. Thank God He sent friends and family to hold me accountable. Research because without it I would've been so lost. Research about the area of business you want to start up and sign up for webinars. You can never learn too much."- Queen Liburd, Creator & Owner of Sweet Oasis Counseling, LLC queenliburd.com
"If you want to start a business you have to be dedicated. You have to work hard and smart and be passionate about whatever it is that you are doing."- T'Keyah Black, Owner & CEO of Elegant Minks & Pretty Woman Closethttps://elegantminks.com/
https://www.prettywomancloset.com/
"As a young entrepreneur it's so important to protect your God said word. Outside noises don't need to know what God shared with you privately."- Ludy Saintil, Founder of Heart2Heartwww.ludysaintil.com
https://heart2heartcollections.com/collections/all
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