1. Establish a scope of service
You should set current boundaries. For example, are you planning to extend your services to all States?
Or, you are planning to sell only in selected States? And if you are an online seller of clothes, will you be selling all clothes for everyone? Or, are you planning to sell only women’s clothes, men’s clothes, children’s clothes, formal wear, casual wear, etc.? Of course, you may extend your scope of service in the future.
2. Make a list of external stakeholders
What are stakeholders? These are groups, organizations, firms, and individuals that your business will have a connection to during its course of operation.
These include suppliers, service providers, creditors, and others.
Before you start a business, you should make a list of your stakeholders first.
Contact them and make an agreement with them.
If you will be selling computer accessories for example, you should contact several suppliers first.
Discuss things with them. Can they supply you continuously? Are they willing to give you discounts?
You may also want to make a list of lending firms so you know where to get additional funds when you need it.
3. Establish a well-planned organizational chart
Are you going to hire people to be a part of your business? If so, you will need to make an organizational chart.
This will define the flow of command and authority among your employees (who’s on top and who’s below).
It must be clear who makes the decisions, who reports to whom, who follows who, and such. This will avoid confusion.
4. Deliberate on the requirements for each job position
Now that you have an organizational chart, the next step is to set a list of qualifications for each job position.
For example, what qualifications do you think your webpage administrator should have?
Should he be knowledgeable in Html or Wordpress? Should he have an experience in sales?
Make sure that each job position is handled by a qualified person.
This is important if you want your business to succeed.
5. Decide on modes of receiving payment
How should your customers pay you?
When choosing a mode of payment, you have to make sure that your choice is available and accessible to your target customers.
For example, it may not be feasible to offer PayPal only as a mode of payment if half of your target customers have no access to PayPal.
In which case, you may need to offer multiple payment methods.
6. Establish a business growth projection
You may want to start small in the beginning. Also, you may have set some limits in your scope of service.
However, you must also make plans for future growth.
If you are starting as a seller of adults’ clothes for example, you may want to make plans for selling children’s clothes too in the future.
Try to imagine what your business will be like after a year, after three years, after five years, and after ten years.
7. Know the law
The law has provisions on how entrepreneurs should run their business.
Make sure that you are aware of these laws. For example, you may have to register for tax returns and request for permits.
And because these laws differ from country to country, state to state, region to region, and city to city, you may need to research about your locality’s laws.
And if you will be selling products to different countries, you have to know that it is illegal to sell some items in some countries.
Make sure that you know what these countries and what these products are.
8. Plan an effective entry to the market
When you enter the market, make sure that you are noticed. Unless you are noticed, your business may not get customers.
How do you do this? In an online setting, online merchants usually use the following methods: Press Release submissions, Social Media advertisement, sponsored advertisement, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), email marketing, popups, and others.
9. Delegate tasks effectively
As the owner, it is not necessary for you to do everything.
You can delegate difficult tasks (ex. Managerial tasks) to other people.
This will allow you to do more things (ex. Focus on planning for your business’ growth).
But delegation is a two-edged sword. If done correctly, it can do your business good. If done wrongly, it can be the downfall of your business.
Make sure that you delegate tasks to the right people. Also, make sure that tasks are properly sorted among your employees. Make sure everyone knows their boundaries. This will avoid confusion as well.
10. Learn how to micro-manage your team
Although you are delegating tasks, your input is still necessary.
Do not let your managers and your employees do all the work.
Your presence is still important.
You have to supervise them every now then. This way, you will always know what is going on in your business.
You will be able to see when a problem or a potential problem presents itself. And although you do not want to doubt your employees, micro-management will prevent the possibility of human error, dishonesty and internal fraud.
Have a great day.
You should set current boundaries. For example, are you planning to extend your services to all States?
Or, you are planning to sell only in selected States? And if you are an online seller of clothes, will you be selling all clothes for everyone? Or, are you planning to sell only women’s clothes, men’s clothes, children’s clothes, formal wear, casual wear, etc.? Of course, you may extend your scope of service in the future.
2. Make a list of external stakeholders
What are stakeholders? These are groups, organizations, firms, and individuals that your business will have a connection to during its course of operation.
These include suppliers, service providers, creditors, and others.
Before you start a business, you should make a list of your stakeholders first.
Contact them and make an agreement with them.
If you will be selling computer accessories for example, you should contact several suppliers first.
Discuss things with them. Can they supply you continuously? Are they willing to give you discounts?
You may also want to make a list of lending firms so you know where to get additional funds when you need it.
3. Establish a well-planned organizational chart
Are you going to hire people to be a part of your business? If so, you will need to make an organizational chart.
This will define the flow of command and authority among your employees (who’s on top and who’s below).
It must be clear who makes the decisions, who reports to whom, who follows who, and such. This will avoid confusion.
4. Deliberate on the requirements for each job position
Now that you have an organizational chart, the next step is to set a list of qualifications for each job position.
For example, what qualifications do you think your webpage administrator should have?
Should he be knowledgeable in Html or Wordpress? Should he have an experience in sales?
Make sure that each job position is handled by a qualified person.
This is important if you want your business to succeed.
5. Decide on modes of receiving payment
How should your customers pay you?
When choosing a mode of payment, you have to make sure that your choice is available and accessible to your target customers.
For example, it may not be feasible to offer PayPal only as a mode of payment if half of your target customers have no access to PayPal.
In which case, you may need to offer multiple payment methods.
6. Establish a business growth projection
You may want to start small in the beginning. Also, you may have set some limits in your scope of service.
However, you must also make plans for future growth.
If you are starting as a seller of adults’ clothes for example, you may want to make plans for selling children’s clothes too in the future.
Try to imagine what your business will be like after a year, after three years, after five years, and after ten years.
7. Know the law
The law has provisions on how entrepreneurs should run their business.
Make sure that you are aware of these laws. For example, you may have to register for tax returns and request for permits.
And because these laws differ from country to country, state to state, region to region, and city to city, you may need to research about your locality’s laws.
And if you will be selling products to different countries, you have to know that it is illegal to sell some items in some countries.
Make sure that you know what these countries and what these products are.
8. Plan an effective entry to the market
When you enter the market, make sure that you are noticed. Unless you are noticed, your business may not get customers.
How do you do this? In an online setting, online merchants usually use the following methods: Press Release submissions, Social Media advertisement, sponsored advertisement, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), email marketing, popups, and others.
9. Delegate tasks effectively
As the owner, it is not necessary for you to do everything.
You can delegate difficult tasks (ex. Managerial tasks) to other people.
This will allow you to do more things (ex. Focus on planning for your business’ growth).
But delegation is a two-edged sword. If done correctly, it can do your business good. If done wrongly, it can be the downfall of your business.
Make sure that you delegate tasks to the right people. Also, make sure that tasks are properly sorted among your employees. Make sure everyone knows their boundaries. This will avoid confusion as well.
10. Learn how to micro-manage your team
Although you are delegating tasks, your input is still necessary.
Do not let your managers and your employees do all the work.
Your presence is still important.
You have to supervise them every now then. This way, you will always know what is going on in your business.
You will be able to see when a problem or a potential problem presents itself. And although you do not want to doubt your employees, micro-management will prevent the possibility of human error, dishonesty and internal fraud.
Have a great day.
