Deciding On a New Business


Are you someone who likes to do things yourself and set your own schedule? If so, you might be interested in starting your own business. Being the boss is a great fit for most independent people because they get to choose how things work, when to do them, and who to hire to get them done. Anyone who’s looked into starting a business knows it’s not as easy as it sounds, though. There are a lot of steps to starting your own enterprise, but the first, and sometimes most difficult, is securing your business idea. There are so many options and so many needs to be met, you might be overwhelmed with ideas and looking to pick the right path. Alternately, you might know you have the business savvy to create a startup, but are lacking that one great idea that will put you on the map. Whichever sounds more like you, the steps to picking a business idea are the same. There are tons of aspects you can consider to find the brand new business that will work for and with you for years to come!

Follow Your Passion

There are some major companies that were founded simply because someone followed their passion and turned it into a business. Take rawlingsOpens in a new tab., for example. It was founded in a small town in Missouri, where baseball is the favorite sport and is now the leading brand in baseball equipment. Everyone has a hobby or idea they’re passionate about and could easily spend all day doing, so don’t be afraid to turn that into your new business. One thing that frequently stops people from going this route is that they don’t feel their idea is original. There are plenty of freelance writers, gaming bloggers, and small finance startups, so how would your passion stand out from the pack? The key to making it stand out is to forget about it being original. Make your company great based on your energy for your products or services and it will stand out to consumers that way. If you demonstrate you love what you do, then customers will work with you.

Solve Problems

One of the main reasons people buy products is to solve their problems. Even simple things like grease splattering on the stove; whoever invented the splatter guard makes money every time someone decides they’re tired of wiping bacon grease off the oven range. Think of what skills you have and how those can benefit others. If you’re great at writing marketing copy, you could start a company that allows other businesses to outsource their writing needs to you. Maybe you’re great at programming computer software. You could create an online course to teach novices the skill. There’s no limit to how your existing skills can help you create a product or service that solves universal problems.

One Step Further

Another way to make powerful change in the world with your idea is to ask the simple question: “What’s next?” This is a way for you to take stock of things you use every day or systems you keep track of and find a way to make them better. Find a way to take the next step and bring them up to the next level. Think about Facebook, for example. MySpace was already on the scene and incredibly popular before Facebook quickly took over the market. The creators saw something that was solving a problem and people enjoyed and took it one step further. They added a more interactive interface, more options for sharing, and have continually developed it to keep up with the changing market.

You can also tackle things that bug you personally by taking the next step to making them easier. Maybe you get annoyed every morning because your coffee cup doesn’t fit in your cupholders and you end up spilling coffee on your shirt on the way to work. You could take standard cupholders to the next level by devising an apparatus people can easily stick in their cars to hold large cups or mugs. This solves your problem, takes an existing invention into future needs, and could help commuters everywhere have a smoother drive in the morning.

Engage With Consumers

The whole point of starting a business is to serve customers who want to use your product, and the best way to find out what people want is to talk to them. Run your ideas by your friends and family and see what kind of feedback they give you. Pitch your business or product to strangers or post it on your social media to see if people seem receptive to the idea. This tactic will give you a good indication of whether or not the market will be generally accepting of your business. It can also help to provide you with constructive criticism or suggestions on how to make it better so even more people will be interested when you launch. Lastly, but not least, it puts your brand out there before you even launch. It lets people know you’re working on ways to solve their problems, and they’ll be on the lookout for you when you finally open to the public. There’s nothing better than free advertising!

Find Your Niche

Finding a nicheOpens in a new tab. for your business is another important aspect of starting something new because it helps you to focus your efforts on a target audience. This part can be the easiest part of coming up with a good idea because it’s based on what you like to do. Consider that passion we talked about earlier; what industry does it align best with? Or the problem you’re looking to solve; what type of business would help people most? All of the considerations already discussed in this article contribute to the niche you’ll choose for your business. From there, you can choose effective marketing techniques, logo design, brand colors, and any other supplemental material you might need.

Having a niche is also nice because you can use other businesses in your area to model yourself after. Without stealing anyone’s ideas, you can see how the most successful enterprises are structured, priced, and presented to consumers. This can give you a kind of template to create your own website and services in a way people in your market are used to seeing. It makes you seem familiar and secure even before they make a purchase.

Starting a new business is a great idea for people who want to be their own boss. It gives you the freedom to run your work life with just as much control as your personal life. If you’re struggling to find good ideas for a business, consider what you’re passionate about. Your favorite hobbies or activities could be modified into a way to make money. Also think about what problems you face daily that others might deal with as well. Finding ways to solve common problems is the fastest path to entrepreneurial success. You could even take existing inventions or services one step further to keep up with the changing world or technological developments. Finally, be sure to engage with the people who might buy your product to ensure you’re moving the idea in the right direction.

Steve Todd

Steve Todd, founder of Open Sourced Workplace and is a recognized thought leader in workplace strategy and the future of work. With a passion for work from anywhere, Steve has successfully implemented transformative strategies that enhance productivity and employee satisfaction. Through Open Sourced Workplace, he fosters collaboration among HR, facilities management, technology, and real estate professionals, providing valuable insights and resources. As a speaker and contributor to various publications, Steve remains dedicated to staying at the forefront of workplace innovation, helping organizations thrive in today's dynamic work environment.

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