Not every business can be bootstrapped sometimes you need money to get started so let’s talk funding. A scary process I know but don’t worry in this chapter I’ll talk you through what’s available and where to find it.

It’s time to talk about starting a business on a shoestring. There’s one thing you don’t need to worry about and that’s not having the money to start up a business because you can do it quite cheaply. We’ve touched on working to a budget in previous chapters when looking at getting online and market research, so now you need to think about starting small and lean, which will allow you to build up a profitable business in the long run.

It’s time to start thinking about your business plan!

This is a crucial step for any new business, it will show what the business is all about, where it is heading and how you are going to get there.

Now you’ve your domain name sorted and you’re on the road to building your website let’s take some time to talk about business support.

Needing support, knowing what is available and also where to find it can be difficult and I know it sounds like a scary process but don’t worry we want to make life a little bit easier for you.

The next step is getting online, which is usually with a website so why don’t we take a look at the things you need to consider and why you need to get your business online.

We all know that first impressions count and it’s the same with a business. Every business, no matter how small, needs its own brand identity. You need to stand out in a crowd!

You might be wondering what a brand actually is. It’s more than just your name and logo, it’s the character of your business and how you control the way your business is perceived. If you don’t work on your brand, you risk leaving your image and reputation to chance.

In this episode we’re going to be discussing market research. I know entrepreneurs will use their gut instinct from time to time but most successful businesses are built on customer research, market analysis, measurement and testing. Market research is important so don’t rule it out because it can provide you with valuable information.

Now we’ve come up with the idea we need to take the next step and turn it into a reality. You might be thinking ‘what happens next?’ What should I do?’

You’ve probably got a lot more questions than answers right now and that’s fine, to move forward there are lots of thins you’ll need to find out and a few decisions to make along the way.

In this episode we’ll be talking about how to come up with a business idea.

Not every business starts with a ‘eureka’ moment, the truth is the most successful businesses are not based on amazing inventions or radical new ideas – they are just better versions of what’s already out there.

I wonder how many of you have you got a good idea or want to start you own business and are asking the question ‘can I do it?’ you are not alone. Lots of young people dream of becoming their own boss and have ideas for their own business, with many starting the journey right now.