Is Starting A Business For Me? What To Consider Before Starting A Business

Do you have the right temperament?

Starting a small business is one of the most serious decisions that a person can take in life. Positively, it often results in higher income levels than one could achieve as an employee together with the unique buzz of being your own boss but conversely it also can be stressful, will demand longer working hours and will probably reduce your ability to take long holidays.

Do you have a definite business idea?

The desire to be your own boss is not enough to succeed. Empirical evidence clearly shows that those who do best normally have previous work experience in their chosen business field or have conducted thorough research.

Research, Research, Research!

Before committing to setting up a new business carry out as much research as possible, perhaps contacting any representative and professional bodies for their input and advice. In addition, it is important to note local market conditions as, unless you have a unique selling point, it is very difficult to succeed where a local market is saturated with established competitors. In addition, it is always wise buy a few pertinent general business books as most will encapsulate the basics of creating a successful business - The formula being remarkably consistent from sector to sector.

Hope for the best but expect the worst!

By definition most entrepreneurs are positive but ironically such optimism can often be their worst enemy, so always leave a sufficient financial safety blanket.

Keep non-essential costs to a minimum.

Many new business people overspend on hardware, expensive computers, printing etc. If your business does not require people physically coming to a shop or office do not waste money on office rental or even employing a secretary. In many cases, a serviced or virtual office will create the right impression at a fraction of the cost of having your own office.

Get Expert Advice

Today many government bodies and banks offer free business start up advice. In general such advice may not be all encompassing and may have certain vested interests but by seeking such advice from a number of different suppliers you should end up with a fair understanding of how to develop your new business.

Consider a Franchise.

The risks of establishing your own business are considerably reduced by buying a well known and established franchise. In many cases, the franchisor can often help with finance, computer software and business methodology. The downside is that if you really are aiming for the heavens then becoming a franchisee is unlikely to result in untold riches!

About The Author

Austen Osborne

www.startingmybusiness.biz is dedicated to helping small businesses that are starting up or are looking to grow. They offer everything from company formation to accountancy, via business books and virtual offices.

Call now on 0845 1300 060 to get started.

---

Five Sure Fire Way to Secure Your Financial Future

"You can be poor when you're young, but you can't be poor when you're old." That was the tag line used some years ago in a financial services television commercial.Truer words were never... Read More

How To Find An Investment Advisor

Do you think you need an Investment Advisor? Hold on before you answer because this is sort of a trick question. Also, I am definitely biased because I am an Investment Advisor. Nonetheless,... Read More

The Difference Between Investing and Trading

Investing and Trading are not the same thing. The returns you seek, the length of time it takes to achieve those returns, the amount of risk one is prepared to take, and the... Read More

Dumb Money

Many people have, at one time or another, taken some of their hard-earned funds, and decided to put them in the stock market. These well-meaning individuals either acted on a tip they saw... Read More

Keeping It Interesting

Some lines from a movie never leave your mind; I don't remember the context always, but I do recall the dialog. "The Big Chill" is one of the few movies I own (VHS).... Read More

Preholiday Trading

The Light Crude Continuous Contract closed at $66.13 a barrel Friday, after hitting an all-time high at $67.95 a barrel earlier in the day. A week from Monday is Labor Day, which marks... Read More

Success Trading: Some Basic Terminology for New Traders

The world of trading can get very complex because the financial markets are complex. There thousands and thousands of successful traders out there today. The amazing thing is that they all have carved... Read More

Forex market offers opportunity and information

The forex market is what is called an international exchange currency market, where currencies are exchanged on a daily basis. There are five forex market centers around the world ? New York, London,... Read More

Help with My Annuity

The cries are heard from the distance, "I need help with my annuities." Nothing has changed...just a lonely senior who can't trust anybody with her annuity because every time she asks for advice,... Read More

The Economys Greatest Depression Downturn Ever Is Now Just A Few Years Away

What really controls the economy? Forget interest rates, forget deficits, forget the Fed, forget IRAQ, forget which party is in office. In fact, forget just about everything that permeates the news. The greatest... Read More

Economic Survival in the 21st Century - the Three Key Questions to Ask

In this "special report", I want to pose a few important "philosophical questions" to my readers. Firstly -- our Federal Reserve Chairman, Alan Greenspan, addressed the effects and implications of our aging population... Read More

The Biggest Oil Opportunity in the World ? And How You Can Profit From It

Where is the second biggest deposit of oil reserves in the world?In the oil sands region of Alberta, Canada. Oil sands are a thick, viscid mixture of bitumen, sand, clay, and water. Alberta's... Read More

Getting Started In Investing

Are you ready to open your pathway to financial independence?Well you should be. The sooner the better. But, how do you get started?There is so much to know about investing and the truth... Read More

Stock Market Leaders and Laggards

Leaders are stocks that breakout immediately when the market confirms a new rally. In the first several weeks, strong stocks with leadership ability will breakout on volume above their 50-day average. Some of... Read More

The Myth of the Earnings Yield

AbstractA very slim minority of firms distribute dividends. This truism has revolutionary implications. In the absence of dividends, the foundation of most - if not all - of the financial theories we employ... Read More

Index Trading Weekly Update

Here is a sample of the last newsletter:SP500 Last Signal Comment We just had a new sell signal last friday on june 10th 2005. As expected we faced strong resistance at 1200... Read More

Bearish or Bullish?

If you are interested in stock investing and the stock market, you may have plenty of questions. Even if you have already started investing, you may still have many questions about the details... Read More

Investment Rowing

You have rowed a boat at some time haven't you? Yes, put the oars in the water and pull. Of course, you don't know where you are going because you are sitting backwards.... Read More

Building The Foundation For Wealth

You wouldn't build your home on anything less than a solid foundation. Similarly, you can't build wealth and financial independence without first having sound foundational principles to build upon.I have found that many... Read More

The Key Ingredient To Increase Preconstruction Profits By Over $20,000

One of the greatest preconstruction investing issues that I hear from individual investors is that they can't get access to what they believe are good projects. Regardless if the preconstruction project is a... Read More

Value Investing

By definition, value investing is the process of selecting stocks that trade for less than their intrinsic value. A value investor typically selects stocks with lower than average price-to-book or price-to-earning ratios. Of... Read More

Raising Capital in Today?s ?New Economy?

We've helped a number of clients develop business plans and raise capital from "angel" investors, corporate entities and venture capitalists during the last 6-8 years. It's always a daunting process that can be... Read More

Looking For a Safe Investment? Try a Certificate of Deposit

If you are looking for a safe investment and you have between $100 -$1,000 to invest, you should consider a certificate of deposit or CD. When purchased through a bank, CD's are federally... Read More

Just what is Arbitrage Investment?

In the simplest of terms, Arbitrage means to exploit price differential.Usually it meant looking at differing sources of an investment, and if there was a price difference between Source A and Source B... Read More

Stock Market Money Management Skills

Let's start by saying: You can't be afraid to take a loss. The investors that are the most successful in the stock market are the people who are willing to lose money.Having a... Read More

Investing As A Sport?

I said last week that money doesn't generally buy happiness, but the lack of it can buy absolute misery. This, by the way, is not just my personal observation. It is the conclusion... Read More

Landlording 101, Tricks of The Trade

Looking Inside Your Tenant's Mind Basic Mind-Reading Report 101 for LandlordsIt goes without saying but I will say it anyway. The better you understand your tenants and their personal situation, the better you... Read More

Buying Florida Investment Properties and Where Its Hot

Relaxing in Style: Florida Investment PropertiesIn Florida, relaxing in the sun and sand is a way of life. There's no better way to experience a slice of Florida living than buying your own... Read More

Rules of Simple IRA Your Business Needs to Know

A Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees plan, better known as a SIMPLE plan, is an IRA-based retirement plan available to employers with fewer than 100 employees.Under a SIMPLE IRA plan, an employee... Read More