Tips & Advice for Starting a Business.

It’s important to maximise your chances of success when starting a new business. To help your business succeed, follow these top business tips and advice.

1) Put your passion into everything you do

A business doesn’t have to be loved (and probably shouldn’t be), but it should be passionate. Regardless of whether you run fishing charters, create pottery, or provide financial advice, you must enjoy what you do in order to build a successful business.

2) Get started while you’re still working

What is the average person’s ability to live without money? Quite soon. Your new business may not earn any profits for a long time. While you’re starting a business, being employed provides you with income.

3) Don’t do it on your own

Getting started in business (and afterward) requires a support system. You will find it invaluable to have a family member or friend with whom you can bounce ideas and who will listen sympathetically to your latest business start-up crisis. A business start-up program might be able to help you. If you qualify, you can also find a mentor. Young entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 39 can access financing, mentoring, and support tools through Futurpreneur Canada.

4) Line up customers or clients

Line them up before you start your business, because your company cannot survive without them. Become a networker. Contacts need to be made. Offer your products or services for sale or even for free. The sooner you start marketing, the better.

5) Develop a business plan

When you’re thinking about starting a business, doing a business plan first can help you avoid wasting time and money trying to start a business that won’t succeed.

6) Research your topic

Writing a business plan requires a lot of research, but that’s just the beginning. You need to become an expert on your industry, products, and services when starting a business. It is a good idea to join industry or professional associations before starting your business.

7) Consult a professional

You don’t need to be an expert on everything just because you’re starting a business. You should hire a bookkeeper or accountant if you are not an accountant. You should hire a lawyer if you need to draft a contract. Doing things yourself that you are not qualified to do will waste more time and money in the long run.

8) Ensure there is enough money

Don’t be afraid to save up. Make contact with potential investors and lenders. Prepare a fallback plan for your finances. Getting money from the bank won’t happen if you start a business. A traditional lender isn’t interested in new ideas or businesses that haven’t proven themselves.

9) Always act professionally

You should present yourself as a professional who runs a serious business through everything you do. You should obtain professional business cards, a business phone, and a business email address, as well as treat people professionally and courteously.

10) Correct any legal or tax issues as soon as possible

Cleaning up a mess afterward is much more time consuming and costly. Is it necessary to register your business? How much GST or PST will you have to charge? Do you have to deal with payroll taxes or Workers’ Compensation insurance? Is there an impact on your income tax situation based on the form of business ownership you choose? Prior to starting your business, make sure you know what your legal and tax responsibilities are.