Being a business owner can be both great and stressful at the same time. After all, as your own boss, you can make your own hours and adjust your business as necessary. When running a business, there’s a lot you have to handle that you wouldn’t if you were simply an employee. Here are some things you should do if you’ve just started operating your own business.
Get Professional Photos
Quality photos are essential to promote your business and brand. If you’ve just started operating your business, develop a relationship with corporate photographers. These photographers can shoot your headshot for you and your team. They ensure you look your best when you’re promoting your company on LinkedIn and your company website. In addition to professional personal photos, a photographer can showcase your business in action with solid videos.
Let people see what you do with high-quality photos and videos. In addition to uploading them to your website, use this imagery to promote on social media. Sites like YouTube and Instagram are ideal for showcasing what you do and giving your customers and fans behind-the-scenes updates. For example, if you deal with products, people love to see how products are made. If you can provide a full demonstration of how to use something, you can increase the likelihood of sales and enhance knowledge authority as a company. As you can see, incorporating videos and images once you’ve started operating a business is essential to keeping the attention of a society that is easily distracted.
Consider a Loan
Once you start operating your business, you may realize you need more funds than you thought. After all, your company overhead involves your business structure, employees, outsourcing, promotional items, etc. If you’re serious about maintaining your company, you may want to look into your mortgage lender. After all, if you have some equity in your home, you could always borrow against that in the form of an equity loan. An equity loan is often used to reinvest in a home, business, or other emergency. If you believe your business is worth using those funds for, you can apply for refinancing. A refinanced mortgage can give you a better interest rate. As a result, it can reduce your monthly mortgage payment even though it’ll extend the time to pay off the mortgage. At least you’ll have extra funds left over that you can put into your company. On the bright side, if your company continues to thrive, you may be able to pay off your home faster than you thought and no longer need a mortgage.
You can also apply for a direct business loan if your business shows signs of profit. Expect to present a business plan in your application. Go to your bank that also handles your mortgage. If you’re in good standing with your mortgage, you increase your chances of getting a business loan. After all, a secured business loan will require some collateral, which you may be able to use your home for. You can also check out your local credit union, which often has better rates than regular banks.
Fix Any Details
After you’ve started operating your business, it’s time to see how you can improve your building. Having a comfortable space to work is essential for being productive and having a clear mind. Plus, you don’t want your equipment to be in danger as it can cost you money to replace it. From computers to your office furniture, you don’t want to spend money replacing items because you had a leaky roof that caved in. Now is the time to visit your local flooring store to view materials like carpeting, hardwood, luxury vinyl, and engineered wood. There are so many materials to choose from to update your floors.
The type of business you run can also affect your floor decision. With a high-traffic business, you may want to steer away from carpeting. Carpeting harbors more germs, allergens, and deep dirt than other floors. For example, did you know your carpet has over 4000 times more bacteria than a toilet? That can be the amount of germs on your home floor, so imagine how much may be on an office floor. If you do have commercial carpeting, make sure you invest in the right services to maintain it with daily vacuuming and regular deep cleaning to remove those lingering contaminants. Hardwood floors can last up to 100 years of proper maintenance, and luxury vinyl provides some cushion when you step on them. Therefore, it’s also less likely to be noisy. If you work in a place that has cold weather, you may want to consider engineered wood floors that can provide underfloor heating.
Make sure your roofing is on point with regular repairs and servicing. According to Bob Vila, commercial roofing should be inspected at least once a year. However, if you’re in certain climates, you may need it more periodically. After you started operating a business, have a roof inspection done and replace it if you need to. If you want a roof that you don’t have to worry about for a while, you may want to consider a metal or slate one, as those roofs can last up to 70 years and are low maintenance.
Remember Insurance
Make sure you have proper business insurance. Business insurance, like any other insurance, can protect you when something happens. Business insurance plans can vary from state to state depending on the type of industry you’re in. Therefore, do your due diligence and get several quotes before you decide on an insurer. Your business insurance can help if your products or services are sued by customers. It can protect your building in the event of a natural disaster, fire or water damage, theft, and any other issues requiring the need to get replacement items or renovations.
Make Your Office Home
A quality office is essential for any entrepreneur. After all, there are always business matters that you should be aware of, from your taxes to your insurance and other issues that will always be prevalent once you start operating your own business. Therefore, you need a comfortable and professional space to handle all your business matters effectively. Call local painters to revamp the walls in a color people can stare at for several hours. Colors like grays and blues are known for being neutral and providing concentration in an office space. However, if you know you need more energy, you may want brighter color walls that feature a red accent wall or shades of yellow. You may also want to use your company brand colors throughout the walls and furniture choices.
Always invest in quality office furniture. After all, you don’t want to give yourself lower back pain or carpal tunnel syndrome. Start with finding a commercial office desk that’s comfortable to sit on and work out for several hours. Buy ergonomic chairs that are comfortable and adjustable for anyone’s height. You should also have standing desks that allow people to stand up and get the blood circulating while working.
Get Marketing
Once you’ve started operating a business, let people know who you are, what you do, and where you’re located. They should have an easy way to contact you online and in person. That’s why it’s time to create custom business cards. The business cards should feature the company name, logo, and your best contact information, such as your email or company phone.
Of course, your business cards aren’t the only way to advertise yourself. Hire a marketing team who can handle your website and social media platforms. They can help you create content or create it for you so that you can promote your business well on your websites. They know the right keywords to look for concerning your business. By using keyword searches, you can create content around what people are you looking for that’s relevant to your industry. As a result, you can quickly gain a following of potential customers.
With so many social media sites out there, from LinkedIn to TikTok to Facebook, you may not have time to handle all the sites on your own. That’s why it’s essential to let the professionals do so for you. They can take content from your website and repurpose it for use on social media platforms. For example, if you produce a long-form video showcasing a demonstration of a product, they can edit it down to a shorter video to place on TikTok or Instagram. They know all the relevant hashtags that need to be incorporated within the social media posts. In some cases, your social media site may even become more popular than your company website. With the right branding and marketers on your side, you effectively get off to a good start once you started operating a business.
Prepare for Customers
Once you get things going, you need to make sure that customers feel comfortable approaching your business. One of the best ways to do so is by ensuring that you have a safe, clear, and beautiful parking lot for people to park and walk in. If your existing space has many cracks and uneven levels, it’s time to call a local parking lot repair company to assist you. They can handle the repaving of cement or asphalt. Asphalt pavement is great when you live in a cold area as the material absorbs heat from the sun, which melts snow and ice. It can also beautifully reflect sunlight, which adds to your curb appeal. Cement can last much longer but takes longer to cure. Cement pavement also allows you to customize it and showcase your business more. For example, cement contractors can add color before it dries as well as enhance the design with stamping. If you want your business logo or name stamped on your pavement walkway, they can do so.
You should do parking lot line striping so staff and visitors know where to find parking spaces. One of the issues that arise in a parking lot is when people can’t tell whether they can park in the space. Painting designated parking spaces can prevent arguments and accidents. You also must set aside designated spaces for assessability needs and spaces for emergency vehicles.
If your business has an entryway or a waiting room, make people feel as comfortable as possible with comfortable seating. You can have a TV and tables with magazines. Why not have a coffee and water machine and other light refreshments like granola bars, chips, or dried fruit? Add plants for fresh air and a touch of nature.
Make Yourself Known
Even with effective social media and business card marketing, you should never underestimate the value of a good sign. Start locating good sign companies that can create a custom sign to place over your door. They can also create a sign to use over your parking space. A parking lot sign may be effective when you’re in an area where you’re sharing a building with other businesses. That way, you can ensure people find your specific location. Sign companies can provide cost-effective advertising as you only have to pay them once. Unlike social media or TV ads that require constant payment, a sign only requires payment when you buy it. You can keep reusing your sign as long as you have it up over your business property. A quality sign can last decades, especially when it’s made from a material like metal. Enhance it with neon lights that people can see from a distance or at night. Working with local sign companies is a great way to ensure people know who you are once you’ve started operating a business.
Running a business can be a huge step in your life. After all, you may have finally decided to make use of a skill or create a business you’ve been wanting to do for many years. While enjoying the freedom of being your own boss, make sure you’re familiar with the steps involved with operating and maintaining a thriving company. Now that you have these tips for running your own business, good luck with making your company thrive in 2024.
