The grind is hard. Early mornings, late nights, sleepless nights! Long hours, longer meetings, crunching the numbers to make things work. Running your own business is a dream for many but it takes a lot of hard work, dedication and sacrifice. You might start your business from a thrown-together desk in the corner of your living room, but with the right plan and set-up, small businesses have the ability to become medium sizes businesses and even international powerhouses. Every business started in the same way, with an idea and a passion to succeed. Let’s look at how far you can take your business. This post is in collaboration with Twill, but the words are my own.
Selling In The International Market
If you are anything like me, you start small. I’ve set up numerous ventures and had some great success. I’ve worked locally, had projects across the country and worked with clients internationally too. With every step, I have worked hard and had the same amount of dedication, from that local Christmas fair to figuring out international time differences. It is crucial to utilise the tools available to help with every aspect of your business. There is a right way to do stuff and a wrong way, and if you start doing it wrong, it can create issues further down the line. For international assistance, take a look at the Twill ‘Go Global Guide’ Campaign which will give you the knowledge required, including Customs Clearance information
Working across borders can be so exciting and when you get emails from people wanting your products or services, your heart does flutter somewhat. You set this up, this is your baby, you did that! However, different countries have different rules ad regulations. On top of that, there have been changes to how we operate internationally since the whole Brexit decision. At a time when there are perhaps most obstacles to overcome than ever before, don’t be put off. Equip yourself with everything you need to go internationally properly and take your business to where you want it to be.
Figure Out The Finances
Do you know how your business finances are looking? So many of us run a business but didn’t set it up to become experts in business finance. We do, however, need to have one eye on the numbers and make sure things add up. Your cash flow is so important to the health of the business. It is the lifeblood of the company. When you consider that 20% of businesses fail in the first year and 60% go bust within the first three years, you need to ensure the money side of things is taken care of. If you don’t have the confidence, get someone else involved.
Bookkeepers are professionally trained and can do the financial side of things a lot quicker than you can. Paying someone to do this properly means mistakes won’t be made. You can then utilise your time to do the things you are best at. Without the money-in-the-bank information, you cannot make well-rounded decisions now, or plan for the short and long term of the business. Don’t overlook the importance of finances when planning where to take your business.
Pave Your Own Story
Many of us work for someone else ur entire lives. That is fine for some, they get on with it and enjoy things. However other people want a little bit more. They want to push forward with their own dreams, being the master of their own destiny. Whilst working for someone else is seen as having stability, your own handle on the future is a great way to work. Imagine having a business idea and taking it all the way from the kitchen worktop to the mighty heights of international markets. There is pride in that. From my first-hand experience of setting up businesses and working across multiple platforms, there is nothing quite like it. It’s exhilarating and game-changing, with just enough nervous energy to keep you on your toes. You won’t regret pushing that door.
If you are considering starting your own business, using that spark of an idea to light up the world, you need to get everything properly in place from the ground up. Start how you mean to carry on and that journey of scaling up can be easier than you might think.
