The Simple Approach

I have heard rumblings for a while now that as the economy continues to cut people loose from their usual jobs more are considering the path of entrepreneurship. While I am in full support of small business and striking out on your own I have also seen people get so wrapped up in the excitement of the idea that they overlook the effort required to make it work. From my vantage point, the people who have taken the simple approach while steadily working to achieve their business goals are the ones who tend to stick around the longest. Those who spend the majority of their time concerned about the style of the stationary rather than the number of customers tends to experience a shorter version of entrepreneurship.

With that said, for someone just getting started there are so many things to consider and many more pieces of paper to fill out, file and organize. Trying to also juggle the details of marketing pieces like logo design, business products and accounting can make the process a bit overwhelming. How can you make this process simpler? The first thought that comes to my mind is – delegate! Be aware of your budget constraints, but also remember that no one is an expert at everything. If graphic design is not your thing, find someone who can design your logo and letter head for you. The time you save wrestling with the software and cursing your non-artistic genes will allow you to focus on other areas and focus on the making money part of things. Of course, this theory also holds true for accounting and marketing efforts.A big part of entrepreneurship is wearing a lot of different hats, but no one ever said you have to wear the expert version of each hat. As things begin to come together for your business venture, consider where your talents lie and where you could best use someone else’s talents to keep your company growing. Leverage your time with the skills you can afford to outsource and then reach for the stars!

With respect to office supplies – I might suggest starting simple and upgrading later when you have the funds and the need. If accounting makes you a bit uncomfortable, consider a one-write system to help you keep track of your check writing. When your needs outgrow this tool you can upgrade to a software program or an employee to handle the new level of need. In the time between you will keep money in the company coffers while still meeting your immediate needs. When purchasing business checks and envelopes, look for a supplier that offers inclusive pricing – and perhaps free shipping! If adding your logo is an additional cost and you don’t absolutely need it for credibility, save the money and get the basic version to get you started. Your forms will still look professional and you can upgrade later when the money is flowing a bit more freely.

Advertising and marketing is always a tricky thing when you are getting started. You need to allocate funds to address both needs, but working on a tight budget you can be forced to get a bit creative. Check out networking sites like Biznik and LinkedIn that allow you a free sign up and access to connecting with other people experiencing similar situations. Make those connections and gather some sage advice to get you started. You can also check out sites like Merchant Circle that allow you to establish an on line presence for your company at little or no charge. They also offer opportunities for advertising and, in some cases, allow for a single ad to be run at no cost just for setting up your account. The other thing to consider is the Social Media craze. I won’t get into the full scope of pro’s and con’s, but investigate it to see if it might be a good fit for your business. Twitter and Facebook are free to use and both offer a chance to get your company name out to the general public in another way. When you have more money to spend on advertising, you can run ads through Facebook and other spots like Google, Bing, Business.com, etc.

There is a lot to consider when striking out on your own. It can be immensely rewarding, but a lot of hard work. If you stick with it and use as many of the free tools available to build your presence it can be a little less expensive!