Often the business idea is the one that requires the most thought of all the steps in this guide. Especially if your plans are of the grander variety. But regardless of whether you plan to take over the world with your business idea or if you’re just going to do the same thing you’re already doing on your own for example by starting a construction company or starting a consulting company, there is a universal truth that applies to all companies. If you have thought of being able to make a living from your business, you must have the prerequisite to generate enough income from the start to cover the costs – and generate a profit.
To achieve this, your company must find an opening in the market you will be in. Either by stealing customers from competitors, or by finding a completely new target group. Maybe you already have a business idea and have come a long way in thinking about it? Good. Then it’s time to try writing a business plan to see if your idea fits the bill. A selection of important questions that you must answer.
The type of business you want to start determines how the start will look. Maybe it’s the case that your idea requires your full attention from the start in order for the company to fly – which makes it difficult to manage a job as an employee at the same time. When you decide to invest full-time in your new business, a little more buffer is also often required, as you cannot count on the business generating income from day one. Make sure you have money saved that you can live on in the beginning. More on buffer and starting capital later.
Another possibility is to start your business alongside your regular job. This is possible if, for example, you plan to start a small business that can be managed entirely from home. The advantage of this type of stealth start is that you still have your source of income during the start-up phase, and that you don’t have to feel stressed to be able to draw a salary from the company. However, keep in mind that the workload can be high during this period. Not everyone can manage to start a business while having a full-time job.
One alternative is to reduce working hours. You free up more time to work on your business and reduce the risk of overload. The disadvantage of this arrangement is, of course, that you may receive a lower income. A good example of this type of stealth start is a company that was started as a hobby from the start. However, there are guidelines regarding what can count as a hobby, such as that there must not be a clear profit motive, for example.