Plan of action for starting a business in Calgary
- Create a business plan – this will give you a clear understanding of the areas you need to address and tackle. More importantly, it will make you focus on the main areas for starting a business.
- Register your business – whether it be a sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation, make sure you register with the proper body.
- Brand yourself – whatever you do, make sure people know the company that is doing it. As a basis, you should have a unique name and a logo that people will remember.
- Get an invoicing system to help you keep track of sales and expenses – waveapps.com is a great free tool you can use that helps incredibly well with this.
- Advertise your business. You can do this in many ways such as Kijiji, Google ads, Facebook/social media ads, flyers, and more.
- Get a website – it’s 2015, a website will help your business by giving it an online presence, a place for people to see your work, and provide you with credibility.
- Have some capital set aside for budgets needed to run a business. These typically include:
- Marketing and advertising
- Equipment / products
- Office items / rent
The do’s and don’ts when starting a business
Starting a business has many pitfalls – be aware of these. Here are a few:
- Keep your costs to a minimum. Don’t buy anything until you absolutely need it. Run on a lean budget, even if it means working from home. When you have built up a base of cash flow, budget for items you need
- Avoid working with friends. This might sound tough, but unless you are 100% sure your buddy will go to the end of the world for your company, you might end up picking up most of the work
- Get a mentor – surround yourself with winners. It is important to have people in your network that can support you.
- Stay motivated – this is extremely important! Do not get discouraged, read success books, success blogs, and whatever you can to give you the motivation you need.
How GrowME can assist you in starting a business
GrowME helps businesses grow through web design, social media marketing, search engine optimization and online advertising. We will happily consult with you and give you advice on your business prospect. We can help you grow sales and attract the right customers.
Questions or comments? Contact Grow ME for more information, your Calgary Marketing Company with the tools your business needs for GROWTH! Local: (403) 547-6963 | Toll Free: 1 (855) 547-6963 | [email protected]
