I’m going to be honest – I had no idea what I was doing when it came to starting my own journey from employee to entrepreneur. I’ve never done anything like it before, but now that I have, I know that the possibilities are endless.
So, this blog is about starting a new business which is an ever-changing experiment. As I am working down my path to success, I am writing a guide to help you through the same process in hopes it makes the change from employee to entrepreneur a little easier.
The Web Search Rabbit Hole
I have been an RN for about 8 years. I love being a nurse but just like everything else, after doing the same thing over and over for a while, the passion for it fades a bit. It becomes a repetitive cycle that no longer gives you that rush of a challenge.
No doubt COVID played into this burnout. Let’s just say the past few years have been an interesting journey professionally and personally as I am sure is true for you.
I knew I wanted to look for a new challenge that did not include going back to formal school. I wanted to do something outside of my comfort zone.
So the web search ensued. I needed to find something I could do on my own time and from home. After hours of digging through web pages, I eventually found the Savvy System which introduced me to the virtual assistant world.
And, I am so glad it did.
What is a Virtual Assistant??
Good question! It took me a second to figure that out as well.
According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a virtual assistant is an individual who provides administrative services to clients while working from a remote location.
I provide support services to a business from t remote location. The actual support rendered can look different for every business. I can help with administrative tasks, social media services, and copywriting depending on the business need.
I fell in love with the broad meaning of this niche in the entrepreneur world. Becoming a virtual assistant gave me the challenge of learning a whole new realm while working from home.
So, I found my dream online business. What now?
How do I start my own business?
Is it hard to do? It must be or everyone would do it, right?
Take a Moment
The first thing to do is BREATHE.
It’s easy to let your mind run away with all the maybes and what ifs but by taking a deep breath and coming up with a great plan, anything is possible.
Whether you choose to pay to get help setting up your business with a company like LegalZoom.com or you opt for the “do it yourself” method there are a TON of resources online to help.
Where is the Need??
RESEARCH is going to be your best friend.
The first part of your research should be about yourself. What do you enjoy doing? How can you turn that into money? What skills do you want to utilize daily to help your business grow?
Then, find out if there is a want or a need for the services you want to offer.
Still, coming up with a blank? Here are some places that can help you come up with business ideas.
23 Great Small Business Ideas to Start in 2022
Plan and Structure
You have figured out what you want to do. That’s great!
Now, it’s time to make it legit.
Writing a business plan is essential to getting your new business off the ground. Depending on the type of business and if you need help with funding, this plan could be more formal with lots of details. Or it could be a simple list of how you want to do things.
Here are templates for both types of plans:
Once you have your plan in place, you have to decide how you want your business structure to be set up legally. The best option for this depends again on the type of business you are starting.
Your Name and Your Brand
The name of your business is essentially the face of your brand. You want to make sure that it makes sense for your business. It’s important that your name gives some insight into what your company does. You also do not want to limit your business with your name. You have to walk the line between being general and specific at the same time.
I know it’s a little daunting. But here are some really good tips to consider when coming up with a name.
12 Tips For Naming Your Startup Business
Branding is coming up with your logo, tagline (if you want one), colors, and fonts.
This was one of my favorite parts of building my business. It allowed my personality to be added to my business and really made it feel like it was my own.
If you have never used Canva, this is a great time to start working with it. They have great preset color and font combinations, as well as easy-to-work-with logo templates.
You also always have to option of hiring someone to set up your branding for you.
All About the Money
Once you have the business set up, it’s time to focus on how you will get paid. Of course, that also means you have to think about the dreaded taxes.
With that in mind, you need to get the EIN number for your business. This will allow you to set up your business bank account and file taxes.
You can set up your EIN online with the IRS at EIN Assistant.
Once you obtain your EIN number it’s time to open your business bank account. Do not skip this step and use your personal account. You will regret it later.
There are many online banking options or you could choose to use a local bank. Again, this requires a little research on which type of institution will work best for your business with the best rates.
Why You Need a Business Bank Account, and How to Choose One
Time to Show Off
Now that you are officially a small business owner, it is time to get yourself out there and begin marketing what you are selling.
The scary part, I know.
Start by telling friends and family (if they do not already know). Word-of-mouth is a powerful marketing tool. Use it if you can.
Next would be social media. Start a business page on the platforms you already are comfortable with. Each platform is a little different so make sure you look up and understand the rules for business and marketing before you get started on this.
Social Media Marketing Guide: From Definitions to Challenges – All You Need to Know
I feel that word of mouth and social media are the two marketing strategies every business needs to start with. Once you are established and ready to grow, there are a lot of other marketing strategies that you can look into. See what would be most profitable for your business and work in those areas. Local marketing with ads, signs and radio, a custom website, and partnering with other businesses are just a few of the many ways to expand your marketing strategies.
21 of the Best Marketing Ideas to Grow Your Small Business Now
Look towards the future.
Building a business is hard. If it were easy, everyone would do it.
The goal of my business is to help other small businesses grow and flourish. I want everyone that sets out on this journey to have that same feeling I did when I landed my first client.
Accomplished!
Empowered!
Thankful! (Honestly, this might be the most important feeling. It gave me the encouragement not to give up.)
I hope that if you are starting out in your entrepreneurship journey you do not give up either. The feeling you have when you accomplish your first big goal is worth everything it takes to get started.
Don’t give up!
So tell me, what is your first big goal in your business??