Summary: Discover how becoming an entrepreneur can be both challenging and exhilarating. Follow our checklist to help point you in the right direction and consider owning a digital marketing franchise.
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Entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes, and while one person’s reasons for wanting to strike out on their own may differ greatly from another’s, the same type of spirit lives within each person. You may have goals that have gone unfulfilled to this point, you may be looking ahead to retirement, you may be ready to take the reins completely, or you might be looking for purpose in your life.
Whatever your reason for making it happen in 2017, becoming an entrepreneur is both challenging and exhilarating. There is no shortage of entrepreneurial horror stories out there that could keep you sitting on your hands, but the most crucial aspect of becoming a successful entrepreneur is getting started. And once you’ve made the commitment, it’s all about taking the right steps to ensure you flourish while the others fall by the wayside.
Here is a checklist to help point you in the right direction.
1 – Follow Your Passion
One reason that many would-be entrepreneurs fall flat is getting into an industry or a niche that doesn’t spark passion. If you decide to be your own boss and you only think of the money, the potential for travel or other supposed “perks”, chances are you won’t ultimately be successful. Being an entrepreneur requires dedication and focus, and it’s just not possible to remain dedicated to something if you don’t love doing it.
2 – Determine Your Own Role
Once you know what type of business you’ll be starting, you need to figure out what you are going to do. Are you the face of the company? Will you work in the background on more technical aspects while a partner gets out to the public? If you are opening a retail business, are you going to work behind the counter to start? Knowing your role in this 2017 entrepreneurial venture is paramount to move in the right direction.
3 – Establish Concrete Goals
Even though you are at the very beginning of the journey, you need to create goals. This way, you’ll always know where you are in the process, and if you are headed in the right direction. Early on, you should figure out if you’re interested in making a great living and having a steady stream of income as your own boss, or if you want to grow into a large business with multiple locations, scores of employees and much higher revenues. There is no right or wrong answer, but knowing which category you fall into will help when planning the details.
4 – Make a Business Plan
The likelihood of you seeing any kind of entrepreneurial success in 2017 without a business plan is very slim. You need to figure out if your business will be a sole proprietorship, partnership or a franchise. Will you incorporate right from the start? Where are you getting the start-up costs? What is your projected revenue in 2017? Do you need a physical location, and if so, where will it be? All these questions and more need to be answered before you get started. A business plan is like a roadmap that will help guide you through this first year and beyond.
5 – Make a Marketing Plan
A marketing plan is another critical component that every entrepreneur must have in his or her toolkit. The type of business you own will help determine which marketing methods you use, but in the modern world, having a strong online presence is necessary regardless of what kind of business you own. A good website, pay-per-click ads, relevant blog posts and search engine optimization all contribute to an effective digital marketing campaign.
6 – Be Patient
One negative element of our exposure to the internet and social media is that many entrepreneurs mistakenly believe that money will start rolling in right away. They want to make it big yesterday, and there is little thought of sticking with it over the long term. It’s important to remember, that this is going to take time. The money will come, but you must be patient.
7 – Consider Becoming a Franchisee to Get Started
If you are having trouble figuring out exactly how to get your foot in the entrepreneurial door, you may want to consider a franchise. Piggybacking on an established brand that is already successful and has already ticked off all the other items on your 2017 checklist can provide a huge boost. Franchising allows you to be the business owner you want to be while having the backing and expertise of an established network.
At WSI, we offer franchise opportunities that feature low overhead, quick start up times andare similar to your current career. You’d be able to leverage the network you already have,
all while enjoying a flexibility that isn’t present with most franchises. If you’re ready tomake 2017 the year you finally make it happen, contact us today to get the process started.
all while enjoying a flexibility that isn’t present with most franchises. If you’re ready tomake 2017 the year you finally make it happen, contact us today to get the process started.
