As an entrepreneur, it can feel tempting to truly strike out on your own and ignore the ned to seek validation from anyone. But the truth is that in order to run a successful enterprise, you need to make certain that your business appeals to those its services, and those it seeks to ‘join the team,’ as it were.
For this reason, considering how to better calibrate your plan can help you validate your beginning enterprise in the eyes of those who will staff it, use it, support it, or provide such an outcome with vital services. This can be easier said than done, and it’s important that no one owes you anything when you’re just starting out.
Never fear, because we believe some of the following advice can help you present your appeal with much more clarity and consistency of vision, compared to coasting through and hoping people understand:
Appealing To Investors & Funding
To begin with, determining a robust business plan, curating a worthwhile product or service (and ensuring the patents or specific registrations are in place to verify its use), can enable you to gain a loan from the local bank provided you have enough collateral for it. On top of that, accepting private investors such as by submitting your business idea to investors functions, addressing them directly or even asking for startup investment from those you know (this can be a risky strategy so be careful) will be key. Present your business with a real sense of clarity and consistency, curate your five-year plan, and your appeal will be unquestionable.
Appealing To Potential Candidates & Upcoming Staff Members
Of course, it’s also important to sell the idea of your service to those who will ultimately help you staff the ranks. This is not so easy to do as a start-up business. The risk of potential job loss is often much higher than with an established firm. However, the possible returns are much greater. Your foundational team may go on to become your executive team. We’d recommend clearly listing the full role of your full-time staff, and ensuring you sell the business idea and its concept to those you bring on. Hiring younger people more willing to take those risks and come with fresh ideas can also help you staff your company more readily.
Merchant Providers
Depending on the kind of business you run, you may need to accept longer and more costly merchant provider contracts when setting up an ecommerce system. For instance, this list of high risk businesses shows that even relatively basic firms like CBD product firms can be considered a high risk, as well as those that offer online payments only (which can raise the risk of fraud for one), which means negotiating these contracts, especially around renewal after you’ve proven mitigated risk, can be a good way to save money over time. On top of that, with essential payment providers that help you structure your humble website or operation, and convince customers to trust your data handling measures (with the right policies outlined) you’ll be in the best place for success.
Clients & Customers
Of course, it’s important to consider the clients and customers you need to build your audience. It’s not uncommon for those who trust you and your business entrepreneurialism to follow you between projects and support you, but it takes work to get there.
A good way to achieve this kind of familiarity is in selling your story. Make your business and your own personal business goals, including the problems you hope to solve, part of one another and virtually indistinguishable. Become the figurehead for your brand, and make it clear why you believe in the firm. Acting as its biggest advocate will enable you to move forward with confidence and truly project that confidence to others.
From here, you can also consider the incentives that businesses often provide when first launching. Free month trials to your service, large discounts on the first or second order, and even free packages or additions with those who give your business a try can be a good way to begin.
On top of this, you can build that momentum by encouraging reviews of your service or products. Make sure these are honest – you can use services like TrustPilot instead of hosting them on your website to show how legitimate the opinions provided to you are. Even a negative review gives you the chance to show your graceful response, a public apology, and how you’ll resolve the issue. This could inspire anyone to see you in a great light.
With this advice, you’ll be sure to pass the four tests of your entrepreneurial validation with flying colors.
