When you are focusing your efforts on developing a fast growth company from the ground up it can be easy to put great customer service on the back burner. With things like fundraising, partnerships, product launches and finances all demanding attention, it can be a challenge to prioritise customer service.
market research
Dr. Mona Alyedreessy has set up a small business called Azara Beautique. Based on her experience of setting up this business she has given Company Bug her tips for other women setting up a business, in order to help and inspire women who too have great business ideas.
[continue reading…]
It’s no secret that the survival of small business can be challenging for entrepreneurs in the UK — only four in ten businesses survive past the five year mark of running the business. Businesses fail from making continuous mistakes which lead to the collapse of their business, so knowing the causes of business failure is key to eluding those factors and focusing on success. A plan to survive should therefore be accompanied by short and long term goals and objectives to keep you on track.
When it comes to running a business, you should always be striving to grow and improve, and there will normally come a point when your business is ready to expand. This will usually occur when your business has been up and running for some time and you are making a steady increase in the business profits. At this point in your business venture you will need to look ahead and shift your focus on expanding your business. A profitable business should not remain stagnant as this can cause problems and can even lead to failure, therefore always strive to do more and expand your horizons.
It may seem a bit obvious, but targeted marketing is vital to ensuring that every pound you reserve for marketing is well-spent. Being able to identify exactly who is likely to buy your product, will help you to attract them. But it can be difficult for small businesses to effectively determine their target market.
Starting a cleaning business could be the business idea that could make you an entrepreneurial success. A cleaning business can be set up with fairly low startup costs and it is usually pretty simple and easy to set up. Therefore, you could have your business up and running in a matter of days. The cleaning business industry in the UK is worth around £10 billion and employs approximately 82,000 people. Although, cleaning market may be crowded, you can definitely make a success of it with a unique idea.
You’ve come up with that bullet-proof business idea. Numerous micro-pitches have been made over drinks. You’ve planned, plotted, dreamt, and now what? How do you translate your concept to money in the bank? Or, more importantly, how do you do it successfully? Informi give you an insight on how to get started and get prepared to climb the entrepreneurial ladder.
Perhaps the greatest challenge facing any young tech company trying to grow its business, is to ensure that the enterprise is operating to the best of its ability – efficient, dynamic and prepared to make the most of market opportunities.
As a small business owner you will always be pitching. From pitching to investors to get funding to pitching at networking events to seek out potential partners, pitching will be an essential part of your role as a small business owner. Therefore, you need to take time to how to perfect your pitch. Not being able to communicate your ideas and plans because you haven’t learnt how to deliver a good pitch can be detrimental.
Starting a small business can be a challenge, and finding the finances to fund your business is perhaps the most challenging part of it. You may struggle to attract investors, whether these are Angel investors or banks. However, if you follow certain steps it will help you attract the appropriate investor for your small business idea.
[continue reading…]
Product development is an essential part of any business. Big businesses normally have dedicated teams for product development, whereas small businesses won’t often have the funds for this. However it is essential that small businesses still invest in product development as it will help the business grow and expand.
[continue reading…]
Pricing your products and services may seem pretty simple and straightforward, however you have to put in research and time in order to get it right. You will need to make sure that your product and service are priced at an optimum level, in order to get the best profit. There needs to be a balance of quality and affordability in what you are selling to attract the right customers.
[continue reading…]
Forecasting sales is essential, from the very beginning of your business venture. You will need to forecast sales at the stages of when you are putting together your business plan. Any potential investors will need to see the sales forecasts to see how well a business is predicted to perform.
[continue reading…]
In our latest success story, we talk to Temi Alanamy co-founder of a nutrition based app called Whatsinit?. She talks about the biggest lessons learnt and how having a partner can challenge you to do better.
[continue reading…]
Market research is the key to understanding your market. Carrying out market research is essential for every business endeavour, from the inception of the business to the expansion of it. Understanding your market in terms of customers and competitors will shape your business. Knowing your customers will allow you to provide the best service. Analysing your competitors will enable you to be better and have a competitive edge over your competitors.
[continue reading…]
There are many reasons as to why you have decided to sell your franchise, from a retirement to wanting to invest in another business opportunity. Selling and buying an existing franchise is also known as a ‘re-sale’. You have to prepare for your re-sale from the very beginning of your franchise career if it is possible. These simple steps will help you get organised and prepared for the re-sale.
[continue reading…]
Are you a budding entrepreneur who is ready to take on the next step of starting your own business? Are you stuck for ideas as to what is available to you? Then you have come to the right place, in this article you will find ways of deciding on your ideal business choice.
[continue reading…]
A business plan is a vital part of any business, it describes your entire business on paper. The business plan should cover objectives, strategies, sales, marketing and financial forecasts. These will help you make a great business plan, which can be used for internal use or to attract investors.
[continue reading…]
