HOW TO START A SMALL (SME) BUSINESS IN 2023.

Are you thinking about starting a small business?
2023 just might be the perfect year to do it. With so much opportunity and support available, there’s no reason not to give it a shot! If you’ve ever dreamed of being your own boss, there’s no time like the present to make it happen.

Starting a business is one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences you can have. But where do you begin? There are many ways to approach creating a business, with many important considerations.

Technology has also made starting a business easier and more affordable than ever before, and consumers are increasingly supportive of small businesses.
Only 67% of small businesses survive after the first two years, 50% after five years, and 33% after 10 years.

Consumers are also becoming increasingly aware of the importance of supporting small businesses, especially local businesses. In fact, according to research, 88% of consumers say they would be more likely to shop at a small business if they knew it supported other local businesses or contributed to the local community.

But before you go into that business, get in the right mindset first. Focus on your business journey and don’t measure your success against someone else’s.

Also remember that “Consistency Is Key”. New business owners tend to feed off their motivation initially but get frustrated when that motivation wanes. This is why it’s essential to create habits and follow routines that power you through when motivation goes away.

Always take the next step in all you do. Some business owners dive into business head first without looking and make things up as they go along. Then, there are business owners who stay stuck in analysis paralysis and never start. The best way to accomplish any business or personal goal is to write out every possible step it takes to achieve the goal. Then, order those steps by what needs to happen first. Some steps may take minutes while others take a long time. The point is to always take the next step and keep moving forward.

Here are some few important steps to take for you to start that business of your dream this year, 2023;

1. CHOOSE YOUR BUSINESS IDEA
   Most business advice tells you to monetize what you love, but it needs to be profitable and something you’re good at. For example, maybe you love cooking and want to open a restaurant in your small town that already has three close by, it won’t be easy to corner the market when you’re creating the same product as other nearby restaurants. If you don’t have a firm idea of what your business will entail, ask yourself the following questions:
   What do you love to do?
   What do you hate to do?
   Can you think of something that would make those things easier?
   What are you good at?

2. RESEARCH YOUR COMPETITORS AND MARKET
   Most entrepreneurs spend more time on their products than they do getting to know the competition.
   If market analysis indicates your product or service is saturated in your area, see if you can think of a different approach. Also take restaurant business for example, rather than opening a restaurant, you can decide to cook home made food, promote yourself and make people make orders of freshly made food from you.

3. RESEARCH YOUR PRODUCT AND AUDIENCE
   Upfront research is necessary to determine whether there’s an audience for your business or product idea. See what people think about the product you want to introduce to them.
   Will they like it?
   Will it satisfy their needs?

4. CREATE YOUR BUSINESS PLAN
   A business plan helps you get clear on how to manage key aspects of the business. It includes everything from your executive summary to your financials.
   This document makes it simple for potential investors, financial institutions and company management to understand and absorb. Even if you intend to self-finance, a business plan can help you flesh out your idea and spot potential problems.

5. MAKE OR SOURCE PRODUCTS
   If your product is a handmade item, you can choose an appropriate space in your home to carry out its production. If it’s designed to be manufactured in a factory, you’ll likely need to find a supply partner.

6. CHOOSE YOUR BUSINESS NAME
   Make it memorable but not too difficult. Choose the same domain name, if available, to establish your internet presence. A business name cannot be the same as another registered company in your state.
   
7. REGISTER YOUR BUSINESS AND GET LICENSES
   Unsure you get appropriate licenses and permits. Also, legal requirements are determined by your industry and jurisdiction. Most businesses need a mixture of local, state and federal licenses to operate. Check with your local government office for licensing information fashioned to your area.
   
8. OPEN A BUSINESS BANK ACCOUNT
   Getting a grip on finances is important for streamlining your business operations. This involves everything from opening a business bank account to choosing accounting software.
   Keep your business and personal finances separate.
   
9. DEVELOP A BRAND
   A strong brand is crucial for building trust with customers and the wider audience.
   Your business name and logo should be unique because your brand is how people perceive you whenever they interact with your business.
   
10. MARKET YOUR BUSINESS
    Marketing is essential to launching a successful business. It’s how you can get products in front of your target audience.
    
11. GET THE RIGHT BUSINESS TOOLS
    Business tools can help make your life easier and make your business run more smoothly. The right tools can help you save time, automate tasks and make better decisions.

12. CREATE A WEBSITE
    A website lets you introduce your business to the world, and it’s easy to create one.
    A web presence is essential. You can make a standard informational website or an e-commerce site where you sell products online. If you sell products or services offline, include a page on your site where customers can find your locations.
    
13. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA WORLD.
    Your potential customers are using social media every day. Post content that’s interesting and relevant to your audience. Use social media paid adverts to drive traffic back to your website where customers can learn more about what you do and buy your products or services.Make your presence strong and unforgettable.
    
    Go for companies that can help you place adverts to increase your visibility and create huge leads for you that will turn to potential customers.
    
14. CREATE RELEVANT CONTENT
    Provide quality digital content on your site that makes it easy for customers to find the correct answers to their questions. Content marketing ideas include videos, customer testimonials, blog posts and demos.
    If you find it difficult to do, approach a Social media Management company, to help you out.
    
15. GROW YOUR CUSTOMER BASE AND REVENUE.
    This can be done by expanding your marketing efforts, improving your product or service, collaborating with other creators or adding new products or services that complement what you already offer.

16. THINK OF PARTNERSHIP.
    As time goes on you might also consider partnering with other businesses in your industry. For example, if you’re a web designer, you could partner with a digital marketing agency.
    You can also search for businesses that serve the same target market as you but offer different products or services.

IN CONCLUSION

Starting a small business takes time, effort and endurance. But if you’re willing to put in the work, it can be a great way to achieve your dreams and goals. Be sure to do your research, create a solid business plan, and pivot along the way. Once you’re active, don’t forget to stay focused and organized so you can continue to grow your business.