Can You Build a Business Alone?
When you decide to go it alone in business, you take on a whole new burden. You’re the only one to make the decisions, which means it’s your fault when they go wrong. You’re the person who has to hire employees, which means it’s your fault if they don’t fit. And it’s up to you to keep your product line moving, which means, and you guessed it, it’s your fault when it breaks down!
But seeing as a whole host of benefits come with being a sole proprietor, or even forming a limited liability company of your own, it’s still a popular choice for millions of people worldwide. So when you decide to throw all in and choose yourself over anyone else in the career world, what should you do to smooth the road? Here are some tips.
Start as Small as Possible
If you go small from day one, you’ll find it easier to juggle your current life responsibilities and any work you’re still currently employed in. It’s why so many people start a side hustle before diving into the deep end. They get to test the waters, find out what they’re capable of handling, and have time to get used to running a company before taking it seriously.
If this means starting with just one product, or obtaining just one client, so be it! Take your time to feel out the field you want to be a part of, get used to being in charge, and you’re far more likely to succeed as someone running a business alone.
Automate Your Most Time-Consuming Tasks
When you’ve only got yourself to rely on, you’re going to need to get rid of the most annoying tasks ASAP. That means automating them out of your schedule. For someone setting up a sole contractor company, downloading something like BuildOps hvac software to coordinate your customer data would make the most sense here.
However, any software that helps you send emails and messages quickly, or allows you to keep track of project progress and what client has commissioned you, will be your new best friend here. Take some time to research your tech options; you may want to start paying premium prices to get full access to the tools you need.
Outsourcing is a Clever Use of Resources
While it doesn’t strictly count as doing everything yourself, outsourcing is a great way to keep things moving when you’re trying to establish a one-person business. You’re not really hiring anyone to work for you, and you’re still the one who has to make use of the resources you get sent back from a freelancer.
And seeing as you’ve got a good fund building up, you deserve to get elements like your logo and your website copy done to a professional standard. Otherwise, you’ll have to learn to do all of these things yourself, and often that isn’t the most efficient use of your time! You’ve got a lot of admin to finish, you need to find suitable office premises, and your website is in need of a security update – who has the time for graphic design?
You Should Still Aim to Network
Networking is important to everyone, no matter how you want to work or where you’ve come from. If you don’t have those connections that work in the right places, you’re unlikely to ever go anywhere. And you want to get your face out there, above all else, so people start getting to know your name.
If you want to be the next big thing in your industry, you lay the foundation now with a few connection requests! This could be something as simple as reaching out on LinkedIn with a kind word, but it could also be directly emailing someone to ask them to meet you for coffee. Be sure to keep chats casual and cool, and never immediately ask for a favor. You’re looking to impress here, and make a friend or two – that doesn’t mean a transaction needs to occur!
If you want to be a sole business owner, it could be the challenge of your life. And if you want to make a success out of your new company, you’re going to need an adaptable plan on your side. Use tips like these to refine your next moves; the more you can focus on acquisition at this sensitive time, the easier it’ll be to get set up without putting yourself on the back foot.
