subject: Starting A Business - What Should I Do First? [print this page] Being in the design of the logo and brand in the field, we come across a lot of people who are starting a small business and the need to create promotional items (business cards, brochures, website, etc.) a lot of time, can be confusing to know exactly what to do start-ups to the right.
Here are some tips to ensure you get everything set up right. This is by no means a complete list, or a sequential list, but only a set of recommendations based on common problems we run into with clients, and some lessons we have learned our own experience:
1) Be prepared to spend money
It true that you have the money to make money . You may be tempted to go for the cheap way, but if you want your
business to succeed, I noticed that we do it right the first time is worth the cost in advance. If you try to bargain, cannot be real happy with the results. To obtain a loan and pay for these expenses later on, when you have money coming in. At least you know that you put your right foot and not sabotage your companys success on a relatively
small amount of money must be used to develop the front a good image for your business.
2) Choose a good name
It sounds simple, but it can be one of the most difficult tasks you face. You want a name which reflects the services or products you offer, but you also want to be catchy. Its tough. A lawyer brand of good will help you in this process and this lead to a very precious: Trademark your company name! This is a painful (and sometimes expensive) process, but a good idea because it keeps another company to take you to court on your behalf, and shall keep other companies from stealing the glory from you by that looks like your business. If you have a small shop bait & tackle on the edge of a lake in the middle of nowhere, a brand of your
business is not so important, but we are not all so. err. lucky.
There are two main ways to brand your business:
Text logo these only Stylized graphics are necessary to protect the name and logo. Trademark of the text intended to make sure that does not look or sound like any other trademarks. Especially other companies that are similar to yours, what
services or products offered. Mark takes account of the stylized font, colors and other graphic elements in your logo. You cannot change these things after the installation without having to resubmit another application, so make sure you get it right the first time! It will cost about 325 dollars a trademark right of each method. Mark attorney to help you find a clear name and logo, documents and files on your behalf, but will charge weary more than $ 325 each. You can search for trademarks online U.S. Patent and Trademark website here. Then you can send your application here.
NOTE: You can take a year to see if your brand has been approved and you have to pay the filing fee, regardless of whether you get the mark or not.
At this point, you may need to obtain a tax identification number for federal government business, or EIN. You also need to submit to the local Secretary of State to register your business name. You may also need to obtain a business license / permit. This is a good website for people in North Carolina. You need to understand if you want to do
business as a sole proprietor, LLC, S-Corp, etc too. Your accountant can help with that and you can do it online or get a lawyer to help you. Then you can get a bank account as a DBA or Doing Business As if you are a sole proprietor or a bank account on behalf of your company if they are incorporated. Usually need to do business for about two years before a bank will allow you to open a bank account of the company. DBA is immediately available to you if. Also note that if you enroll later will have to get another tax ID number and your bank account was closed and reopened with the new identifier. Fun!
3) Get your logo and brand Done
This step goes hand in hand with the second stage. Finding a graphic design company logos, corporate identity and brand image and logo that you really like and think your company is good . It should work with your attorney to make sure your logo is not in conflict with a logo that is already trademarked. This is the point of construction of all marketing materials. To have a consistent corporate identity, you want your logo on everything you put out there: business cards, letterheads, website, etc. Why corporate identity is important? Why not just put generic
marketing materials? Well you can, but studies show that people need to see (or hear) your company up to seven times before the recognition of the company involved. With consistent branding helps build credibility and people will help you remember. Remember that golden arches or the swoosh. Nike
4) to get your business
Whether you are a marketing agency or do it yourself, you must determine how you will sell your new business. Believe it or not, just to get some business cards and a website will probably not make a mass exodus of customers knocking on your door. You must get the word out. There are many ways to do so, such as press releases, ads directory, online ads
, television and radio ads, etc. A marketing firm can help you determine where your money is better spent to get the best return on your investment. Your marketing agency will work with your designer to develop
good marketing materials like postcards, flyers, brochures, etc. They can also help you find where the postcard should be sent and where you can send an e-mail campaigns get the best answer. Note: Marketing companies, despite what they tell you is not always best placed to design your marketing materials.
Some marketing companies with a team of well-designed house or contract with agencies to design well, but you can often run into things quite daunting if you do not get a designer in question.
There are also many other things you can do to get the word out that connects your local chamber of commerce, participate in trade shows, networking etc. in this way can be very valuable, and it is quite cheap.
5) Manage your business
Well, duh! If you do not do a good job of managing your business, all the above is for nothing? Of course, you will make some mistakes along the way, but do not prevent you from advancing. Make sure you get a good attorney to take care of all legal issues, get insurance for your business and you may want to look at disability and health insurance while youre there. Your accountant can help advice on the establishment of a retirement account, too. Better safe than sorry!
One of the keys to running a successful business is to provide friendly customer service and fast. So the way to deal with the establishment of progress is important. Phone Systems impersonal, busy signals and voice messages are usually going to send a message to your customers cold. People are food for good customer service these days and most people do not mind spending a little more money to know that they are treated well.
