Setting up your own business?  There are so many things to consider when setting up your own business that it would be churlish to offer up much in the way of generic advice. However having coached a number of people who have done so, there a few common themes worth pointing out:

  • Don’t wait months perfecting a website and all your brochures before you start talking to your Customers.  The website will be useful and will eventually bring in business, but it won’t bring much if any to your door in the first six months.
  • Learn to explain the uniqueness of your offering in no more than 20 seconds.  This is surprisingly difficult, but is worth persevering with.  It will stand you in good stead on many an occasion.
  • Don’t try and do everything. People mostly want to buy from specialists and experts not generalists.  Figure out what you can excel at and then focus on Customers who want and need exactly what you offer.
  • Cashflow, cashflow, cashflow!
  • Write down why you are setting up the business & keep reminding yourself why. It’s so easy to forget!
  • Don’t do everything yourself.  You will want to keep costs down and that’s great, but you need to make sure that you have time to deliver what your Customers need.

Avoid the temptation to get busy with things which which will come in handy at some point and focus purely on Customers.  Ask if what you are doing needs to be done until the first invoice is ready to go out.  If the answer is no, then don’t do it!

Focus on Business Development activities and get out and meet people.  Listen to them.  Understand what they want and need.  Understand their frustrations with existing Suppliers.

 

Executive Coaching will help improve your decision-making, highlighting hidden assumptions. These days, most top performers in business work with a coach.

If you would like to invest in yourself and the value of your business then call me on 07730 700258 to arrange a free introductory Coaching session.