Starting a small business: things you NEED to know
Truth: I’m not here to sell you the secret to your next million-dollar month or flaunt a life of luxury on Instagram. I’m not a 25-year-old driving a Porsche or cashing in millions on OnlyFans. And I certainly don’t claim to have all the answers.
Becoming a millionaire has never been my dream. My goal has always been to live comfortably and ethically with my family, minimising our impact on the planet and driving positive change wherever I can. While I look at all the manifestation babes dreaming of massive houses, an inflated bank account and private jets; living in excess has zero appeal for me. I dream of continuing to be my own boss and leading a relaxed life that allows me to be in charge of my own income while also being a present and available mum. This is where I am at right now and where I love being.
I may not have made it to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, but I recently realised that I’ve been running businesses in one form or another for 14 years. I’ve been able to create a super comfortable and chill life for myself and generate a decent income which has allowed me to have x2 children and be around for them rather than working 24/7, I’ve managed to buy a house in Sydney as well as saving for retirement. I don’t lead a lavish life – nor do I want to – but I do have a lot to offer young business owners, especially those just starting out.
My partner doesn’t bankroll my business, nor do I have wealthy parents who can back me and fund the business. TDO is my 3rd business and I have built each one from the ground up; each and every time.
I’m committed to sharing the lessons I’ve learned along the way to help those of you just starting out in this tough world of business. My goal is to set you up for success because I genuinely believe that when we all do better, we all thrive. It’s about seeing the glass half full, not half empty.
I know time is tight, so I’ve made this easy to read—maybe even as a checklist you can quickly refer to.
Getting started:
Remember it’s not going to happen overnight – for most businesses it will be a slow burn and it will take time to establish yourself in the market place and gain clients. Be realistic about this while managing finances moving forward. If it is one of those rare quick to riches, you also need to be mindful to build the right infrastructure to maintain your growth – this comes from proper planning & strong processes implemented from get go
Brand Strategy – ok yes we are a bit biased here but if you can work this out BEFORE you start it will make things SO much easier and clearer as you move forward. Make sure you are clear on – your mission and values, what your service is and who it is for, and also what makes you different from everyone else. While working with an agency or brand designer on this is a great benefit we get it that you might not have thousands to drop on this, but this is something you can also do yourself. We have a handy guide you can use to get you started with this Download our Free Brand Strategy Workbook here >
Visual Brand elements – once you have confirmed the above it’s important to get some visual brand elements together – think logo, fonts and a colour palette at a minimum. Once you have confirmed these, make sure you’re consistent with them and resist the urge to change everything around. Consistency is key when it comes to your visual brand.
Get clarity on why you are doing this. Running a small biz can be tough and it is great to remind yourself when things are tough; WHY you started this to help motivate you to continue
Getting your back end set up
Legalities: waivers, liability, terms + conditions and service agreement – TM Solicitor is our go to that we recommend to all our clients for this
Software: figure out the basics of what you need to get cracking to get your back end in a place that it will support you on the front end
Service structure: what services will you be providing? Be sure to streamline their process.
Website: if you are a service based business and want to look like a professional entity you need a website. Another thing you can DIY if the need arises. We recommend looking at Squarespace to make your first site. They make it as easy as a-b-c.
Making things work like a charm for you
Don’t copy other businesses – just because someone else is doing it doesn’t mean you should do it, and it doesn’t mean that it is right. Stay in your own lane.
Find your super power
Fail fast & learn from it
Outsource all of the things you either hate doing or you’re no good at
Ask for feedback from clients as you go – not only does this serve as a great chance to get those golden nuggets of testimonial points but it allows you to constantly evolve & improve your game
Starting and growing a business is no small feat, but with the right strategies, tools and mindset, you can set yourself up for success. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to refine your approach, we’re here to help. If you have a project in mind or just want to chat about how to move forward, let’s connect. Book a call with us today, and let’s bring your vision to life.
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