Author: beth@pieheartstudio.co.uk

There are over 5 million small businesses in the UK and for many people, starting a small business from home is a dream come true. If you’re looking to go self-employed and start a business of your own, then here are 8 steps to getting started.

1. Decide what your business will offer

There is a lot to think about when starting a business from home, but the first step is to decide what your business will offer. If you are offering services to your clients (such as dog walking, writing, or social media management) it can be beneficial to gain some experience before starting out.

If you will be making products (such as food items, crafts or clothing) it’s vital that you think of the space you will need and what upfront costs you will have (like materials or tools).

Once you have decided exactly what your business will offer you’ll then need to think about the price you will charge your clients. Make sure you consider any running costs, staffing, rent or other supplies.

2. Research your target market

People will often start a business without considering the needs of their target audience, or really understanding who their target market is.

If you will be offering dog walking services in your local area, for example, it is important to consider how many dog owners live nearby. Also, would they would be willing to pay for your services? If there are already many dog walkers in your area then how will you stand out?

It is a good idea to imagine your target market and consider the kind of problems or challenges that they face and how your business can solve these.

Researching your target market will help shape your business and win sales.

3. Registering your business

Before you start invoicing clients or earning money it is important to consider whether you would like to start a limited company or register as a sole trader. Read more on the different options here.

If you are registering a limited company you will need to have a name for your business and a registered company address.

4. Winning clients or work

For many businesses owners, the prospect of finding customers or winning work is the most daunting task when it comes to running a business from home. Without sales and marketing experience it can be difficult to know where to start and how to find the right clients.

Before launching your business it is important to think about this and how you will approach your sales and marketing.

Whether it’s emailing, social media, calling, or working off referrals, having a strategy for finding clients is essential for long term success. As an online sales coach I help my clients to find ways of selling that not only work, but work for them – essential for long term success.

5. Starting a small business at home

While the prospect of working from home is appealing, it can cause lifestyle challenges for many business owners. Without a routine and structure to the day it can be easy to work very long hours or feel overwhelmed as you take on many new tasks.

Loneliness can be a major challenge for people working from home and it’s important to consider how you will feel spending time alone.

Many new business owners join communities to work with other freelancers or entrepreneurs where they can not only learn business skills and network, but also socialise and connect with other like-minded people.

6. Creating a financial plan 

If you have dependants or bills to pay it’s essential to create a financial plan so that you know how much you will need to earn in your business.

If you’re not sure how to go about this, a good start is to build an understanding of all your personal spending (e.g. each month). You will then know the minimum amount you will need to earn to pay your bills.

Remember that getting money into a new business can take time. Finding clients, payment terms, and becoming established can make the first few months as a business owner quite rocky.

7. Personal development

As a new business owner you will need to make sure you are investing in yourself and learning all aspects of your business (unless you intend to immediately start hiring staff or outsourcing).

Whether that’s learning the ropes of social media marketing or qualifications in food preparation, you’ll need to ensure that you have the time (and budget) to complete any training courses or qualifications.

8. Mindset

Running a business can be mentally gruelling and being prepared for this will help you grow your business.

People will often start out with lots of ideas, passion and excitement. But after several months of long hours and often failed attempts at winning work, it can become very tough to maintain a positive outlook.

To help overcome this it’s a good idea to find a buddy or mentor that can be a sounding board for advice. It should be someone you can work through problems and challenges as they arise.

Many business owners work with a coach to help them stay motivated and accountable. Check out my business coaching if you would like some one-to-one support.

You’ve probably heard this before, but when it comes to building a business and attracting clients, trust really does matter. People buy from brands, businesses and people that they trust – and personal branding is a highly effective way of building trust.  So what is personal branding and why is it important?

What is personal branding?

Simply put, is the process of creating a brand identity for yourself or your business. It isn’t about marketing your business, but about marketing yourself as the leader or owner and becoming known for your expertise, values and insights.

Many refer to Tom Peters as ‘the father of personal branding’ following his article in 1977 called ‘The brand Called You’.

 The phrase ‘personal branding’ can sound vain. When I first heard it, I had a mental image of endless self-promotion or vanity posts. However, that isn’t necessarily the case (see below!).

 Done effectively, it can be highly powerful when it comes to attracting and retaining clients.

 People buy from people they know and trust, and having people feel as though they know you and your business, will deepen your connection.

Standing out from the crowd

With the rise of social media, digital content and online content, it is harder than ever for a business to cut through the noise and be found by the right people.

 But I have witnessed how business owners have the power to build personal relationships, gain followers and attract clients, all through having a strong personal brand.

 How you can build a personal brand

Before you start, it’s important to think about who you are as a person and the kind of clients and audiences that you want to attract. Then you can create content that is authentic and genuine.

 A good place to start is creating social media accounts and posting consistent content as well as engaging with your audience.

 Putting yourself forward to speak at events or on podcasts will also help you to raise your profile and become trusted.

Having a personal website, a newsletter in your name or a YouTube channel are all great platforms for building a loyal audience of people interested in you and your content.

 It is important to stay consistent in your tone of voice and topics so that people feel they get to know you over time.

What to avoid when it comes to personal branding

If you’re at a party and always talking and never listening, people will quickly switch off.

 The same applies in personal branding.

 Many assume it’s all about talking the loudest, promoting their latest achievements and being an expert all of the time.

 In reality, personal branding is about building connections with an audience, becoming known and being trusted. That means asking questions and getting involved in discussions. It also means asking others for advice and ideas all play a part in personal branding.

 If you’re building a personal brand, try to avoid relentless self-promotion and instead focus on genuinely useful content and engaging with those who follow and respect you.