Any good advice for the begining of a new business?

Answer 1

If you can start working for your self while you've still got a job, build up a client base, and then launch into the big wide world.

Take advantage of free adverts in the yellow pages, yell.com and thompson local, you'll be able to find all the details you need online.

Build yourself a website, even a basic one, and run searches on yahoo and google regularly clicking on your link will move it up the list. Get your friends and family to run the search too.

Offer a loyalty discount for repeat business or introducing a friend or relative, this will boost your custom.

Be flexible if a customer wants the work doing on a Sunday, do it on a Sunday, they remember the flexability and small gestures like sending flowers/chocolates to your first customer as these small gestures will do your reputation a world of good.

Offer a free consultation, where you go out and advise the customer on the work, let them know you understand where they are coming from and that you are professional.

Follow up free consultations, with quotes and a phone call after the work is complete to check on satisfaction.

Be 100% customer focused, they are not always right, but they always belive they are right, with your experience, you'll be able to guide them and empower them to choose you as their electrician.

After more than fours years of working for myself I'm still working more than 60 hours a week.

Being self employed is the best thing I ever did, but it is hard work, constantly adapting my services to meet my customers needs, marketing the business and the different aspects of the business to the different sectors we service, and then the paper-work and travelling time.

I hope that in four years time my business is even stronger than it is now and that my services are the first choice of a much wider audience.

Answer 2

Not knowing what the businesss is or how long you have been doing it for I can not answer fully however one thing I have learnt in running my own busines is it is not nine to five it is twenty five hours a day and eight days a week in other words never enough time in the day to do what you want and you have to be fully prepared for that time and effort.
No wages as all your money should be put back into business if you want it to succeed.
You need a good business plan.
Beware of advertisers as once you are new and you start advertising all the sharks will come out of the water to tell you theirs is the best way of selling your business. So always ask for a copy of their product first to see if it is the right place to advertise your company and a full explanation of their distribution/areas/costings/recommendations etc.
Always monitor your enquiries it is pointless advertising if you are not going to check its productivity. How will you know if the advertising you use is working? Money down the drain if you do not.
Believe in what you do as if you believe so will potential clients be positive.
Off the top of my tired head all I can think of for now however time to say good luck and welcome to the sleepless nights and eight days a week

Answer 3

I would advise seeking out a local Accountant that will give you the oppertunity and time to answer all your questions for free. I would recommend www.taxassist.co.uk as they offer this service. They would certainly be happy to help you in setting up your business and getting registered with the relevant government bodies etc..and procedures that need to be followed when in business as well as advice on the planning stages for getting a business off the ground.

If you browse the site you will find what your looking for

Answer 4

That's actually a really large question. Find your local business link offices, they will give you three hours of advice for free, take a list of questions you need to ask with you coupled with pen and paper to take notes You could also contact you local federation of small business's for advice. There is a no nonsense guide available from business link, it might do you well to research the material in there before you take advantage of and free advice.
Research, a good realistic business plan and funding for you marketing are the way to go. Only bank for you business with a bank that offer free business banking, Abbey is one of them. I really wish you the best of luck.

Answer 5

Research the following before you spend any time or money:

1) The size of the market you hope to address
2) The unique proposition you have for that market
3) The costs to setup and run your business
4) The total margin you expect to make per item/service
5) The volume you will need to make it viable

Good luck

Answer 6

Make sure you have enough to support the business for at least one year with no profit whatsoever.

You should check with your local chamber of commerce. Mine had some excellent classes on starting a small business. They were free.

Best of luck to you.

Answer 7

I would recommend a few as follows:

Can take care of Logistics like shipping & handling,inventory,Accounting,Sales taxes,licensing & other legal matters
C - Affordable investment
E- Provide Expertise at no cost
R- No Risk
T- Have more time for yourself or for your family
Can be on a spare time basis 6 to 10 hours a week.
I have more info. if you feel you want it.Email me: [e-mail]
Prakash

Answer 8

1) You need a usp (unique selling point), without one forget it.
2) Research research research.

plus Make your company a limited company not a sole trader.
(this will cost you and you will have to submit yearly reports but if your business goes **** up you will not be liable).

Answer 9

find out how much you need for 1 years trading, wages rent bills etc, and make sure youve got at least half of it in the bank... then follow everyones advice, research the market and advertise..

Answer 10

business plan
marketing plan
start up money
and or investors
legalize name or incorporate
and of course if this is website .com it
if its brick and mortar then
you'll need an office.
The list goes on.
Good luck