Starting a business is a complicated thing to do. For one, there are many things to get in order. What should the name be? Should I hire workers? What type of business should I file for? How do I file? Etc. This all is why this list exists, to give you some tips for when you\’re just starting your business. Let\’s start with:

#1 Figure Out What Problem You\’re Solving

It\’s easy to get lost in what you\’re making. How it works, what it looks like, how expensive it is to make, etc. But it\’s important to not look over the reason the product or service exists in the first place. Focus on the issue that you can solve. Having your business be centric on problem-solving can help you see gaps or niches in a market that you can target. This also allows you to build a brand early as the \”X fixer,\” which will pay off in the long run.

#2 Be Aware Of Your Limitations

Now, it seems like a fairly basic idea, but so many businesses fail because they try to act outside of their scope too early. Start small and simple. Have a good idea that costs more than you can comfortably afford? Wait until you have the funds for this endeavor. Your financial situation isn\’t the only limitation you need to be conscious of. Starting a business means that you are counted on for a lot of things. Take a moment to seriously consider if this is something you are motivated and driven enough to undertake. Putting time and money into something only to realize it isn\’t for you is a large sink of resources for likely no returns.

#3 Work While You Make Your Business

Again, pretty basic. Regardless, it still bears mentioning. While being passionate about your idea is a good thing; you don\’t want to throw everything you have into something that might fail. Keep your day job to pay the bills and save money for your business. Spend your time on the weekends working on your business.

#4 Learn What You Can About Digital Marketing

The average person is exposed to 6,000 to 10,000 ads per day. As things are, there isn\’t a ton of room for you to get your business out there. This is why it\’s vital to know as much as you can about how to market your business online. Traditional marketing like billboards and commercial spots still have their uses, but they are usually expensive and won\’t be as effective as digital marketing is for free. Read some articles online, watch some videos, talk to other business owners about how they market their business to get started. From there, pay attention to what gets attention online and pivot to do what you see.

#5 Make Friends With Other Business Owners

Starting solely on your own is a hard path to follow, especially if you don\’t have experience starting a business. This is why friends with their own businesses are a valuable asset to have. They are excellent fonts of information you can pull from, or maybe even another way to market your business by word of mouth through them. If you don\’t know any business owner friends, look into small business development programs that can help you network.