Launching a business doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t need to have a lot of money or a college degree, but you do need to have a plan. Here are 3 questions to ask yourself before launching your own business.
1. How can my interests help others?
One important thing to consider when starting a business is your interests. What do you enjoy doing? What could you talk about for hours? What do you like learning about? When you run a business, you’ll spend a lot of time doing the work, telling others about your business, and learning about ways to make your business better. So you want to make sure you’re really interested in the work you do.
It’s important to connect your interests with a service or product that others need.
For example, riding a bike is an interest, but not a business. Bike repair or riding your bike to deliver groceries or other products is a business!
You might be interested in pets and animals and would love to spend more time with them. You could start a pet walking or pet photography business.
If you like talking about food and trying new recipes, your business could be baking cookies or meal planning service.
2. What am I already good at?
You also need to know your strengths. This helps you create a business that fits you. It also lets you get the support you need.
For example, if you’re a strong leader, you can create a business that allows you to motivate and inspire, such as sharing your knowledge on a blog or being a motivational speaker. You might need support managing details like your schedule or email.
If you’re creative, you can start a business that uses that creativity such as creating custom art or jewelry. If math isn’t your favorite subject, you can find a bookkeeper or accountant to make sure your business remains profitable.
If you love computers, you can start a business doing computer repair or recycling computer parts. If you are a bit shy, you can look for support in marketing or networking to get your business in front of new customers.
3. What’s the best environment for me?
This is one of the best parts about being self-employed. You can set up a work environment that suits you. Understanding your work setting preferences helps you build a business that works best for you.
Knowing how you like to work is something everyone needs to know. What is a good pace of work for you? Are you really motivated by deadlines or do you want something more laid back?
Consider how you feel about structure and predictability. Do you like having a consistent schedule and tasks, or do you prefer having a variety of new things to do? With your own business, you can create a routine that fits you best.
Connection is another important part of work-life. If you enjoy meeting new people, you can build a business that lets you interact with lots of clients or customers. You can also consider joining a co-working space or finding an online group of entrepreneurs.
Do you like being in an office or workplace, or would you prefer to run your business from your couch? When you run your own business, you can choose what’s best for you.
We hope this list gave you some things to think about! Launching your own business is a great option for employment. If you want to learn more about starting your own business, sign up for Spark 101!