Quick ways to get funding for your startup

Beginning a business may be a daunting experience when you don’t know where to start but it doesn’t have to be. Yes, it will take a lot of dedication and hard work but in the end you will have a business which could be your legacy. Here are thirteen points to starting your own business.

Have a great business idea

The first step is to have a business idea. You need to know what product or service you wish to make or do. What do you want to invent? Or what service or product do you believe is missing from people’s lives?

Do market research

It is important to check if your business has value for your target market. Will they be willing to depart with their hard earned cash to buy your product? You need to identify if the business idea is a suitable fit for you because you will be working on this business for a long time.

Define your Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

It is important to identify the minimum amount of product you need to produce to break even. You will also need to look at your pricing. How much would it cost to produce the item and what are your competitors selling a similar item for? Can your market accept a different price? How will your product be perceived by the consumers at your proposed price?

Find a name

It is important to carefully consider what you would like to name your start-up. This will be the brand with which you market your business. You need to make sure it will be well received else your business may fail.

Create a business plan

It is crucial to work on a business plan for your enterprise. You need to know the route you will take and it will also help you to evaluate what works and what doesn’t. You will revise your business plan many times while you work on your start-up. It will also be important when you look for funding for your business.

Register your company

You need to decide the type of company you wish to have. Will it be a sole proprietorship, company, partnership, non-profit or a franchise? When you have decided which type of company you would like you can register it at the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission in South Africa.

Protect your intellectual property

You will need to register any trademarks, patents, copyrights, confidentiality agreements, and your domain name. You can register your domain at a local hosting company. The other registrations may need the assistance of a lawyer.

Find the equipment you need

You will be required to identify what equipment you will need to run your business. If it is an online business do you have a laptop and internet access? If it is a retail business do you have a cash register? It is important to identify the minimum amount of equipment you will need for your business to run.

Get funding

It is critical to identify how you will fund your business. Will you use your own funds or do you need to approach a lender? You can bootstrap your business or approach an angel investor or look to crowdfunding for your new venture.

Find a mentor or small business community

When you start your business you may feel lonely, it is therefore important to find a small business community or mentor to assist you when you are unsure. They will be available to give you advice and guide you on your business journey.

Build a good team

If your business requires staff, it is important to hire good people. You will also have to ensure you have great perks and culture to keep your staff around. People nowadays are more concerned about the challenge and culture of the job then they are about the salary they receive.

Market your business

Review the various ways there are to market and brand your company. You can look at digital marketing methods as well as traditional methods depending on who your key audience is.

Get in a routine

When you have launched your business you can work on creating a routine. Many of the above tasks are once off but there are some which you will need to do on a continued basis:

• Review your business plan
• Test your marketing
• Refine your targeting
• Carry on your research

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