It has become clear that the world of work has changed dramatically in the last year alone. The 2020 pandemic has caused increased unemployment and uncertainty about business success. While this rise in unemployment is a daunting realization, many people have found creative ways to use their resources and time away from their work to start businesses and side hustles to create multiple streams of income for themselves, and some have even managed to turn it into a full-time job. For some, the pandemic had inadvertently become a breeding ground for entrepreneurs and sparked a creative show.

Who Is an Entrepreneur?

An entrepreneur is someone who creates value in exchange for profit. And for a person to qualify as an entrepreneur, he must bear the risks associated with his business and also enjoy the profits of the business. Entrepreneurship is an interesting field for many people. Many people want to be entrepreneurs, but don’t know how to get started. In this article, we share a step-by-step guide on how to become an entrepreneur.

Come Up with a Good Idea.

Most businesses start with one great idea, whether it’s a service people need, a product that makes life easier, or something that combines the two. The business world is full of great ideas. What sets you apart is if you can carve out a niche for yourself. You don’t necessarily have to do something extraordinary or completely novel to be successful. You just have to be able to do something better than the competition. You will likely have more success doing something you know and love. Starting to program computers can make your business very marketable, but if your heart isn’t in it, you won’t have the energy to keep going. If you’re having trouble coming up with an idea, make a list of things about your target market, such as where they shop and things they buy. Narrow the list down to about three items, considering cost, production time, and popularity. Find the simplest and most realistic product you can offer.

Identify a Problem

After developing your big ideas, such as a restaurant concept, a delivery service, a coaching specialty, or a new application, you can start creating your business plan. You have often found a concept or a process that makes life easier for consumers. For example, after watching the news, an entrepreneur realizes that his city lacks nurseries for the working population. Through further investigation, the entrepreneur may discover that surrounding countries have the same problem.

Study Your Market.

The key to starting a business is knowing if there is a demand for your product or service. Is what offering something that isn’t done as well as it could be? Is it a need that is in short supply to meet the demand? There are many sources of free industry information. Research industry and trade associations in your target market online and read the articles and press releases posted there. You can also get valuable demographic information from census data.

The US Small Business Administration has a website with great advice on generating business ideas, conducting market research, writing a business plan, and recruiting investors. It is an invaluable source of reliable information when starting a business.

Expand Your Formal and Informal Education

Education is essential for a business career. This can be a college degree, an apprenticeship, or a variety of work experience. You need to learn the basics of business, increase your vocabulary, and have strong business acumen. Problems are common when starting a business and knowing how to overcome them is vital for the business to thrive. Before you begin, you may want to review a variety of successes, and even failures, of specific entrepreneurs. This will likely help you understand what it takes to make the seemingly impossible possible.

Build Your Network

Starting a business can be difficult, but you can make it easier with the help of other professionals or mentors. Those who take the time to network and build new relationships can reap valuable benefits. Contacts can offer helpful initial credit, relevant advice, or new and better opportunities. Find entrepreneurs among family, friends, neighbors, or alumni networks and contact them for information sessions. Think of yourself as an investigative journalist and try to learn a couple of things about entrepreneurship from each of them. Take lots of notes.

Achieve Financial Stability

Although it is possible to raise additional capital, experts advise new entrepreneurs to have reasonable savings, as they may lose money on their first venture. Feel free to work with a financial expert on what your P&L (profit and loss) spreadsheet might look like in one year, two years, and three years. Many entrepreneurs find that they start making a profit in three to five years, and a lot can change in the market during that time. Having extra income, support, or an extra cash reserve can make it easier to manage the transition to a new business and help you raise your expectations.

Raise Capital

It’s nice to have some savings to fall back on, but the entrepreneur may need a lot more to start their business. There are three main ways to raise capital:

Bootstrap: This term refers to starting a business without help. This can be done through savings or using your own money.

Apply For a Loan: A common method of raising capital is to apply for a bank loan. It may not be possible to apply for a small business loan so soon. However, people can apply for general loans to cover start-up costs.

Find An Investor: Networking helps find those who can provide financial assistance. Presenting a business plan to an angel investor is a great option. Otherwise, the person may need to contact a venture capital firm. These companies require entrepreneurs and their businesses to meet certain requirements to apply.

If you would like to gain more insight into how to turn that big idea into a money-spinning venture, Reb0und is here to provide all the financial advice and guidance you need to get started while supporting you all the way. Contact us today, and one of our counsellors will be happy to provide all the help you need. Call us on 800 852 5049, send us an email on contact@reboundfromdebt.com, or fill a contact form here with www.reboundfromdebt.com/schedule-a-call/