The 4 advanced steps to start a successful business today

by Lorena Díaz / business / 20-08-2019

There are more than 125 million small businesses in the world and the competition is increasingly high. When starting business it is of utmost importance to avoid some usual mistakes and to follow some basic guidelines to reach success. In this article divided in 2 parts, we’ll see some tips and tricks about the process of developing a business idea and these 9 steps will serve as a guide. This is part 2 of 2 articles containing the 9 basic steps to succeed in a business.

That said, let’s dive into the last 4 essential steps to start a successful business, which are some of the most basic things any entrepreneur should take into consideration when starting any kind of business regardless of the specific market he will focus on.

Would you like to start by the beginning? Read part 1 with the first 5 steps to succeed in business.

#1 Getting licenses and permits

Getting licenses and permits is a part of the process when you start your own business. You should bear in mind that the procedures to establish a company are not the same for all legal forms. In that same way, not all businesses need the same permits. It is advisable to inform yourself before everything necessary for your business if you do not want the bureaucracy to end your patience.

#2 Set up your business location

In any implementation strategy or business growth strategy, the location of a new establishment is a very important decision, in which a lot of time and energy is usually invested valuating the different options. And once again, technology can become an ally that facilitates the challenge of finding the best location in a more effective way.

Choosing a good location of the place depends on a set of factors that will also have to do with the type of product or service you offer. In addition, you will have to take into account the competition that exists in that area or even its demography depending on the target to which our product is directed.

For a shop or a company of services to individuals, the place has to be at street level and it is best to avoid stairs that are contemplated as an architectural barrier for many potential clients. Be careful with basements too, which add meters to the cost of the premises but have little real practical utility. In the case of offices or services to companies, more intermediate floors enabled as offices are of interest, but the lower floors are always more appropriate, if they are located in buildings where homes and premises are combined.

Check the visibility of your store from all possible angles and verify it at different times. Make sure there are no columns or street lamps that can hide your sign or storefront and that garbage containers have a location that does not affect your facade.

And the more free of barriers and obstacles the interior is, the easier it will be to furnish it and take full advantage of it. By the way, did you know that you can request a license to install a crosswalk near your premises or even to move it? A traffic light or a zebra crossing is always interesting for commercial stores because they involve twice the traffic of people than if it is 30 meters higher.

Got an app idea? At splashapps we can turn your idea into a reality. Tell us about it and we’ll make it happen!

#3 Getting your team ready

Getting employees is a delicate step for several reasons. For a first selection of CV, it is advisable to look closely at the latest work experiences, the type of companies in which they have worked and the tasks they performed. In the interview it will be essential to assess the attitude of the candidate, as well as their reaction with the philosophy of the company and project. These aspects will mark the difference between the candidates that meet the requirements demanded. There are several platforms that help you with the process, such as InfoJobs.

Once the candidate is selected, important issues such as the salary or the schedules must be specified. It is necessary to take into account the Statute of the Workers and the specific collective agreement of the sector, where limitations of the weekly workday, regulation of the breaks or minimum wages according to the professional category can be found.

#4 Promote your small business

You already have your business, now you need to start attracting clients and customers. Social media, Internet, newspapers, radio, television and many other channels will help you attract customers and start gaining ground in the market.

At the beginning, your marketing budget may be reduced, so you must resort to creativity and planning to develop impactful low-cost strategies. There are many cases of companies that achieved wide dissemination thanks to advertising campaigns with a high level of creativity.

However, it is curious to see businesses that expect to grow without investing a single coin, remember that the marketing function is to boost sales and increase the customers of a business. Note that investing time and money in this area, will represent a clear growth of your business.

Final thoughts

With this article we’ve learnt the last 4 advanced steps to start a successful business today. Once you are done with the previous 5 essential steps, you can get the necessary licences and permits and set up your business location. Finally, if you need a team it is always a good idea to spend time in choosing the right employees and when that is solved the last step is to promote your business and reach clients. To do that you will need marketing solutions an digital skills so we invite you to read more about these topics in our blog.

Would you like to start by the beginning? Read part 1 with the first 5 steps to succeed in business.

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