By Olivia Parkinson
If you have a business idea and want to make it a reality, there are a few people – experts in various industries – you should talk to first. When it comes to being a small company startup, seeking guidance from professionals is sure to save you a lot of money and misery while putting you on the correct course. [A legal marketing expert is certainly one to consider for your team.] You can still make adjustments at this point of planning, so now is the time to contact those who can assist you before it's too late to make the modifications that might be required to be successful and make the profits you want to make. So, who should you talk to before starting your own business? Read on to find out.
A Lawyer
When you establish a company, you want to get it off to a good start. What you don't want is to discover that you've made legal errors, which can be costly both financially and in terms of your reputation. If you're uncertain, talk to a lawyer about what you need to do when starting a company.
It is absolutely vital to complete this conversation before you begin trading; otherwise, all of your hard work in launching and building your firm might be undone by one unchecked box or unsigned form. A lawyer can also help you establish strong business partnerships by writing contracts that keep everyone pleased and ensure lucrative deals. This will reduce the likelihood of future disagreements.
An IT Expert
It is just not feasible to run a small business without using IT technology in the twenty-first century. Although you may be happy to deal with some aspects of IT yourself, if you want to be professional and have a slick operation, including a great, user-friendly, intuitive website, programs and systems that work the first time and every time, you'll need to speak with an IT professional. From the get-go, this will make the running of your business much easier. In fact, employing an IT specialist to work on your team on a part-time basis is something that many small companies discover they can't do without. Only recruit personnel who really understand what they're doing since a slow-running, difficult-to-manage IT system may cost you clients.
An Accountant
Accounts for businesses will be tricky. You may be able to handle day-to-day bookkeeping, but you'll need to consult with a professional when it comes to taxes and more challenging accounting. Not only that, but an expert accountant will be able to look through your business plan and analyze it from the beginning, letting you know if it is going to work financially or not (and by extension, whether your business will be profitable or not). It may be more comfortable not to know, but it will also cost you a lot of money, so seeking counsel early on is critical; it will allow you time to turn things around before investors, for example, start demanding their money back.
A Business Coach
It's also a good idea to get guidance from someone in the business field. Whether you're starting your first or fifth firm, chatting with someone who can provide you with objective business advice can help a lot. Hiring a dedicated business coach can give you plenty of help in all the right areas. As a business owner, you will want someone familiar with your industry and company, as well as someone independent enough to keep the goal grounded in reality.
Ideally, this expert will be able to provide you with advice for many years to come, not only as you develop your company but also as it expands. From the very beginning, when you need to ask how do I get a unique taxpayer reference for my limited company, to the moment you realize your most important goals and choose to sell your business, they can be by your side, guiding you all the way.
A Banker
Entrepreneurs can acquire at least some of their funding via a standard bank loan. If you want to borrow money, you should choose a reputable banker to assist you with the application procedure. You can ask your business coach to recommend a banker, or you could get recommendations from other business associates. You can also find plenty of advice if you search online and read reviews and testimonials.
You'll need to open a business checking account, so start researching what various banks and credit unions have to offer. A genuine connection with a bank might be advantageous if you ever need to apply for that loan or line of credit. Starting a firm with as much knowledge as possible is the sensible way to go.
Recruiters
If you've decided you want to hire people but aren't sure where to begin, try speaking to expert recruiters. This may not be something you need to do right at the start of launching a business, but it’s always worth having the information in mind for when you do realize it’s time to take on your first employee, whether that’s in a month or many years after you start trading. [For help with recruiting, consider talking with a Talent Advisory professional.]
After all, deciding to hire someone is not a decision to be taken lightly; it is costly, and you will be trusting someone else – perhaps several other people – with the business that you started from nothing. It’s not an easy decision to make.
Additionally, you might be unsure about the sort of employee your business requires. How much education and experience do they need to have? What qualifications are required for the position? Discuss your company's requirements with an expert recruiter in your field.
A recruiter can help you create a precise job description that will attract the appropriate candidates. They can also help throughout the recruiting process by sourcing and screening candidates. Make sure the recruiter is there when you interview applicants. You can then seek their expert advice on who would be the best match for your company.
Other Business Owners
We naturally look up to people who reflect what we desire to be. Therefore it makes sense to learn from seasoned company entrepreneurs who have already done everything you are doing now. They are aware of what you are going through and what you must do to succeed and grow your business. Business entrepreneurs offer a unique viewpoint compared to the other professional mentors.
Ask if any company entrepreneurs that specialize in the same area as your startup have any advice. Accountants, attorneys, and recruiters in your market are likely to know of those who might be a good match for your requirements, but using networking sites such as LinkedIn can also be extremely fruitful.
Something that a lot of business owners won’t do, whether they are new or more experienced, is to make contact with rival companies. It might be that you can create a mutually beneficial connection with rivals if you market yourself as a friendly competitor. As a startup, building ties with your rivals might provide you with the assistance you need.
Other business owners in your area can teach you the ins and outs of operating a company. They can tell you about problems they've had with the local economy, provide you with marketing advice, and tell you what the busiest seasons are.
When you network with other company owners, you create a network of mentors. Their knowledge is priceless, particularly for a startup.
Marketing Expert
No matter what it is you're selling or what service it is you're providing, every business will need good marketing. Therefore a marketing expert is the ideal place to start when you are launching a business and don’t know how to market it in the best light to attract customers right from the outset.
A good marketing expert will develop a plan tailored to your company's needs, with an emphasis on delivering a return on investment from all marketing expenditures. Trying to do this by yourself when you have so many other things to do and you don’t have the expertise needed to market your business in the way it needs to be marketed will lead to mistakes and false starts, neither of which is something a startup can afford to have.
Your Romantic Partner
Although they probably won’t be an expert in your business – even if they may well have some expertise in other sectors – it’s still important to speak to your spouse or romantic partner before starting a business.
This would seem to be a no-brainer, but some entrepreneurs get so engrossed in their company ideas that they fail to have a genuine sit-down discussion about how the business would affect their relationship, money, and leisure time.
Starting a new company can be all-consuming, and the support of your spouse and family will make all the difference. It’s vital to determine whether or not your family is prepared for the dedication and time required to establish a successful company. This is especially true if there is no outside funding and you need to pay for it yourself – when you have a family, you must discuss large purchases if they are going to affect everyone’s standard of living (or have the potential to).