How to Start a Business: 10 Steps for New Entrepreneurs (2024)

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), only 50% of startups succeed beyond five years of operation. This statistic shows starting a business requires a level of preparation and organization many people don’t consider before they open their doors.

In order for business success, an owner must first create a sustainable framework for their company. This article guides those who are new to entrepreneurship on how to start a business through 10 simple, but essential steps.

Step One – Research the Market

When starting a new business and deciding upon a business concept, entrepreneurs must understand the market they’re entering. Market research fine-tunes the idea of the company by providing insight into people’s needs. In essence, this important first step in starting a business zeros in on the target audience and morphs the company’s positioning. Market research also helps business owners understand who their customers are and how they can best relate to them.

Use Primary and Secondary Resources

When gathering data on an industry’s market, use primary and secondary research methods. Direct source gathering is considered primary research.This includes things like conducting surveys, interviews, experiments, and focus groups. On the other hand, secondary resources are sources of information others have previously produced or collected. For example, this includes books, articles, reviews, and bibliographies.

Step Two – Pinpoint the Target Audience

The next step in learning how to start your own business is identifying the company’s target audience. “By clearly identifying target audiences, it becomes easier to capture someone’s attention because their needs and goals are front and center . . . it provides valuable insight into the needs and motivations of potential customers,” says startup expert Mark Evans in an article for Forbes.

While there will be adjustments here and there, a company should gather as much information as possible around the target audience before pitching products and services to them. Successful marketing strategies require casting a smaller, more tight-knit net.

Include factors like:

• The audience’s buying personas
• What motivates them
• Problems the target market struggles with
• How to emotionally resonate with them

Step Three – Find Holes

Finding a niche is key in order to stand out in a sea of startups and existing companies. First, ask, “Where is there a need?” Next, think about what the company offers that others within the market can’t or won’t. This means looking at where the industry is failing in terms of serving customers. In short, this helps new entrepreneurs find problems customers want solved. In addition, these answers shed light on the development of a new organization’s business plan.

Step Four – Create a Business Plan

When you start a business, a business plan serves as a company’s guiding light. From opening day to scaling for growth, there isn’t a stone it leaves unturned. Creating a business plan means thinking through the inner workings of a company: how to structure it, manage it, and prepare for success.

Business plans aren’t just for business owners, though. They are a key component in attracting other people to the new endeavor. “Business plans can help you get funding or bring on new business partners. Investors want to feel confident they’ll see a return on their investment,” explains the SBA in an article about how to develop a business plan.

The Structure of a Traditional Business Plan

When presenting a business idea to experienced investors and potential partners, deviating from the standard structure isn’t wise. Instead, stick to the key elements which include:

• An executive summary
• Company description
• Services and products
• Market research and analysis
• Organization, management, and team
• Marketing and operations strategy
• Financial plans and projections
• Funding requests

Step Five – Back-Up Claims with Facts and Evidence

Compile statistics, facts, and projections and use them when communicating your business idea. These assets prove a new entrepreneur conducted serious, extensive research on their company. When the business plan goes under review by someone like a banker or investor, these resources provide credibility and demonstrate strong evidence of success or the potential of it. “By their very nature, business plans are full of assumptions . . . The best business plans highlight critical assumptions and provide some sort of rationalization for them,” says CEO Andrew Clark in an article for Entrepreneur.

Step Six – Get Feedback

Let mentors, business coaches, trusted confidants, or partners help out with business ideas. Listen to their feedback and make any needed adjustments. In addition to this, have a professional writer or copy editor review the business plan for errors and mistakes. Also, another way to get more tips on how to start a business and develop business ideas is by listening to business podcasts. They can help guide new entrepreneurs through this process, too.

Step Seven – Document Everything

When starting a small business, owners must know how much money is coming in and going out. If expenses aren’t tracked, entrepreneurs quickly lose sight of the costs and the numbers needed for generating a profit. One way to do this yourself is through business apps like Quickbooks or InDinero. If this isn’t an area of expertise or takes too much time away from working on the business, find an accountant to manage this duty.

Capturing costs and profits and forecasting the future helps entrepreneurs understand the business’s financial needs for success. “Put together a spreadsheet that estimates the one-time startup costs for your business . . . as well as what you anticipate you will need to keep your business running for at least 12 months,” says entrepreneur Alyssa Gregory for The Balance Small Business in an article on starting your own company.

Step Eight – Organize Funding

The following step in starting a business is determining the finances and budget needed for operation. Creativity is crucial for those beginning on a shoestring budget. For example, new entrepreneurs can seek investors, organize crowdfunding campaigns, get a business loan, look for a partner who is more established, or trade equity and profit-sharing opportunities when thinking outside the box for funding.

When working with a bank, increase chances for loan approval by:

• Providing clear and financially transparent documentation
• Showing a business plan
• Maintaining good credit and building personal relationships with smaller banks

Step Nine – Take Care of Legal Duties

Before opening the doors to a new company, entrepreneurs must first fulfill the necessary measures for legal business operations. Unlawfully running a business could result in a myriad of problems for entrepreneurs. For example, this includes criminal penalties and punishments, business closure, and damage to a company’s reputation. Requirements and standards vary and are industry-dependent. When making sure if a business qualifies for legal operation, always consult with an attorney.

Obtain All Required Licenses and Permits

In an article for LegalZoom, David Singer, Director of Compliance Research and Acquisition at Business Licenses, explains, “The single most important concept to remember is the word proactive. Whether you apply for the proper licenses and permits on your own or through a licensing service, you want to take these steps before you open the doors.”

This process is one of the most extensive parts of legally opening a company. Licenses and permits are dependent upon industry, state, and location. For more information on common licenses, visit this article.

Register the Business

Before starting a small business, make sure the company name doesn’t already exist. After this, register the company with local and state governments. In addition, apply for an employer identification number (EIN). Most banks require this number when setting up a business banking account. This excludes people who conduct business using their legal name. For more information on how to properly register a business, click here.

Another part of registration includes patents or trademarks used by the company—apply for them before conducting business. To enforce copyright protection, file with the U.S. Copyright Office.

Step Ten – Choose the Structure, Location, and Bank

The last step before opening is determining the company’s structure. The most common business structures are sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies, cooperatives, and corporations. For more information, read more about the various business structures, here.

In addition to this, think about the location of the business and opening a separate bank account for the company. Location determines the types of licenses and permits required by law while having a business bank account helps keep track of an organization’s finances.

Finding a Business Structure

One final thing entrepreneurs opening small businesses will need to do is determine whether their company will be a sole proprietorship, nonprofit, LLC, or corporation. It’s important to review all of the necessary guidelines for start each type of business because each one operates in a different manner. After taking care of the measures of learning how to start a small business, you should be on your way to opening the doors of your company.

Being a successful business owner requires diligence and hard work, but these tips ready those interested in entrepreneurship for the road ahead. Envisioning, planning, and preparing for the success of a company is crucial before becoming a business owner. Addressing and adhering to these requirements helps people open businesses with strong, grounded foundations.

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