Starting a new business is always tough. You have spent hours and hours putting your Business Plan together, sorting out the financing, arranging your office and buying equipment. And the big day arrives you have to get out there and secure your first customer. It all looked so easy when you were planning, but now this is real and doesnt seem as effortless as you thought.
What practical steps can you take to ensure your business gets off to a flying start?
Put a Plan in Place
If you didnt write a Business Plan (tut tut!) then putting pen to paper is your first step. You have to careful plan what you want to achieve and what you are trying to do. A Plan will help crystalise your thoughts and ideas and act as a spring board for creative thought.
It also will be a useful boost when you come to review your progress against what you set out to achieve a cause for celebration or a kick up the backside!
The key element in your Plan is to spell out exactly who your typical customer is going to be. Are they young or old? Well off, or on the look out for bargains? Single or married?
Once you have clearly defined who you are after then...