How to Start Your Own Independent Business (and Not Die Trying)

When you go to buy a cup of coffee, the transaction is usually simple: you place your order, pay, and wait for it to be served—easy as that! However, if you’re the business owner, the final result of that process is far more complex than the customer experience.

It involves many factors, from purchasing the coffee beans to the employee who prepares the drink, the cup it’s served in, and more—each element coming from a different place and coming together as the result of a well-thought-out plan. And this is just a snapshot, as they say.

Before selling your first cup of coffee (so to speak), there is an entire world of planning that must take place before your business can get up and running. Whether you’re just starting to build your website or are already in the middle of turning your business idea into reality, we’ve created a comprehensive guide with all the tasks you need to complete before launching your venture.

Take note of the 14 steps to successfully start your own business:

01. Define your goals and objectives

Like any project, your business begins with an initial idea that evolves into action. The first question you should ask yourself is: “What do I want to achieve?” Defining your objectives from the very beginning—and reviewing them often—is essential, as remembering your original goals halfway through the journey can help you re-center if you lose direction.

It’s also important to be creative and ambitious while maintaining a practical and realistic overall vision. Does that sound tough? Well, it is. Too often, small businesses set lofty, unrealistic goals that lead to failure, disappointed investors, or both. Keeping perspective is crucial to understanding that some great but unrealistic goals may need to be set aside in order to move forward. Focus on reasonable, achievable goals that will give you a solid and successful starting point.

02. Conduct a market analysis

Researching your target market is a fundamental requirement when starting a business. While it may sound boring, you likely have a genuine interest in your market, which can make the analysis process far more engaging and educational than you expect. Learn everything you can about the industry before taking action. Take courses, read books, listen to interviews, or attend talks by influential figures. Make this your priority. The more you know about your target market, the more confident you’ll feel about your business’s potential.

Once you understand your market, the next—and perhaps even more important—step is getting to know your customer. At this point, you should already have an idea of your target audience, but now it’s time to dive deeper and understand who they are and how they behave. From general consumer behavior analysis to more specific market research, there’s a lot you can learn about the people you’ll be interacting with—even before your official launch.

We don’t want to be pessimistic, but unless your business idea is truly unique, someone somewhere is probably already doing something very similar. The key is to understand your competition and how they operate. If you’re offering an apparently identical service, customers may be inclined to choose the more established option. However, being new can work in your favor: it’s often easier to adapt to market changes and new trends, offering more updated and flexible services than competitors who are set in their ways.

03. Talk about it (a lot)

You’ll have to do a lot of talking when you start your business—and that’s a good thing. Even before launching, you should start talking about what’s coming. Saying your plans out loud not only makes them more real, but it also helps motivate you to stop procrastinating on urgent tasks. It’s also a great learning opportunity. By sharing your ideas with others, you’ll receive valuable feedback on details you may have overlooked. You’d be surprised at how many hidden business opportunities reveal themselves simply by talking about your idea with friends, colleagues, or family.

Talking also means being prepared. Two elements are crucial at this stage. The first is your business plan. Once you’ve set your goals and visualized what you want to achieve, you’ll need to put together a business plan that brings everything together. The second is perfecting the famous elevator pitch. You should be able to sell your brand in a short, smart, and engaging speech—as if you had only one minute in an elevator ride from the ground floor to the third floor.

04. Test your idea

No entrepreneur launches a business without testing it first. A small mistake can make the difference between a stellar launch and a disastrous one—and it’s your responsibility to avoid the latter. Whether you’re offering a service or a product, test it with friends and acquaintances to get a sense of what the customer experience will be like. Take notes, ask for feedback, and use it to improve your offering and create a more enjoyable experience.

05. Get up to date with administrative formalities

This is the least fun part…

When starting a business, legal matters must be taken seriously. You need to understand what is legal—and what isn’t—in the industry you want to enter. Patents and other legal restrictions can shut down even the most ambitious ideas, so do your homework. Seek help from a legal advisor and an accountant to find the tax structure that best suits your business. Don’t forget to apply for all the necessary licenses required to operate legally. The number and type of licenses will depend on where you live and the type of business you’re starting.

06. Make sure you have enough money in your pocket

Unless you can turn dreams into gold, you’ll need money to fund your business. This funding can come from various sources, and you might be surprised by how many options are available. Financing may come from banks, investment funds, government or international institutions, and more. Before walking into a bank to ask for a loan, make sure you’re well prepared and know what documentation is required. Another option is to seek investors, who will contribute capital to your business—usually in exchange for a percentage of future profits.

07. Choose the right partner—or go solo

Your venture can follow two paths. Are you more like Indiana Jones, who only needs a whip and a machete, or more like The Goonies, exploring the world with your best companions? The choice is yours. Regardless of the path you choose, there are advantages and disadvantages. If you go solo, you won’t have to answer to anyone and you’ll maintain full control of your business. The downside? Loneliness. Don’t be afraid to invest some money in outsourcing tasks that would take you too much time to learn or do yourself. Efficiency is key.

With a business partner, you’ll have someone to exchange ideas with and support you along the road to success. Look for a partner whose skills complement yours. Like a romantic relationship, things can go wrong—but in business, you can’t simply “break up.” There’s a contract involved, and conflicts must be resolved mutually or legally. Make sure you and your partner share the same mindset. The last thing you want is a lazy partner who leaves all the hard work to you.

08. Create your logo and corporate materials

Your logo will be one of the most memorable elements of your business, so make sure you get it right. You can hire a professional for this. Ensure that all your corporate materials follow a consistent visual style. Your slogan, color palette, website, and business cards should all align with your brand identity. Elements like colors and fonts can communicate far more than words alone, so choose typefaces you can consistently use across your website, social media channels, and marketing materials.

09. Keep stakeholders informed through your website

As you officially launch your business, you’ll need to keep all stakeholders updated—and the best way to do that is through a website. This will form the foundation of your online presence and help spread your message. You need a website that is just as professional and appealing as you are.

At this early stage, it’s recommended to start building a database of potential clients. A must-have tool on your website is a subscription form that allows interested parties to leave their email addresses and receive newsletters whenever you share updates. You should also include a contact form, as potential business partners may want to reach out. The cherry on top: make sure your website is optimized! Organic search rankings take time and effort to grow—so be patient.

10. Spread the word online

Naturally, you want your business to make an immediate impact on your target market. However, commercial success doesn’t always equal visibility, so you may need alternative ways to achieve it. Demonstrate your expertise by starting a blog on your website.

Write about your industry and position yourself as an expert in your field. Blogging regularly can help drive traffic to your website and improve your SEO. Keep your subscribers informed with newsletters about your business. Whether you’re announcing an opening party, a product launch, or a new blog post, email marketing is an incredibly powerful tool for attracting and retaining your audience’s attention.

11. Go social to build buzz around your business

Ready to draw public attention to your business? It’s time to harness the power of social media. Create business profiles on different platforms and start interacting with your growing network. It’s also a good idea to follow people you’ve met at networking events. Over time, you’ll build a community of industry peers and people interested in your business. Remember, being active on social media is a bit more complex than posting a dancing cat GIF. Here are some tips for the main platforms:

• Facebook: The largest social network in the world—period. Stream live events to grab attention and give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at your business. With countless features to boost your brand, Facebook should be your first stop for building a social presence.

• Twitter: A great place to connect with people in real time. Create your own hashtag so followers can stay updated on every move and announcement from your business.

• Instagram: With over 25 million active businesses, Instagram is a must for any company. It allows you to tell your story visually and truly show rather than tell. With new features constantly emerging to help businesses grow, there’s no reason not to take advantage of this powerful tool.

12. List your business in directories

While it may seem terribly “analog,” listing your business in local directories can be extremely useful. Adding your company to business directories is crucial for local SEO and helps generate backlinks to your website.

Don’t overthink this step—look for the most popular online directories, as that’s where most people will search first. Of course, if you find directories specific to your industry, prioritize those.

13. Think long term

It’s easy to get stuck in the business creation phase, but thinking long term is essential. There’s a famous quote from a musician that says it’s better to burn out than to fade away.

When it comes to your business, you naturally want it to succeed—but success should be sustainable. It’s better to be a steady, hardworking turtle than a shooting star that burns out too soon. Extra tip: focus on gradual growth rather than getting rich quickly. That way, you won’t have to worry about burning out.

14. Grow your business

In line with everything we’ve discussed, both you and your business must remain flexible. There will be times when it’s wise to revisit your original business plan and redefine your goals to adapt to environmental changes.

What once was just an idea has now materialized and requires review. When setting new objectives, make sure they align with each other. If the changes are significant, it may be time to refresh your website, logo, and other visual materials.+

Don’t be afraid to experiment and make mistakes. If you’ve played it safe all this time, you probably got bored long before considering change. If you fail, treat it as a learning experience—not a defeat. Many successful entrepreneurs failed multiple times before reaching where they are today. It’s all part of the journey.

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