Starting a business is no minor feat. Every company must start somewhere, and small beginnings are necessary for you to really flourish your firm’s purpose and identity. However, 2016 saw four in ten small companies fail within five years, leaving much to be desired for almost half of the start up pool. It’s overwhelming and intimidating, as the responsibilities rack up for the small business owner. So, what can you do?
Smart Hiring
The prospect of working alone for even a short period of time is enough to fill anyone with dread, but it’s important to not let any sense of desperation spark rash action. Remember, your first few hires will be filling vital positions of your core team, setting up your company’s future in a big way. When hiring, take your time to pinpoint some raw talent in your candidates, and don’t be too keen to simply fill seats. Otherwise, you risk a bevy of bad hires of employees not up to the job.Â
Learning Legislation
It is vital that you familiarise yourself with law and legislation so that you can avoid accidents, law suits and business closure. For example, abiding by The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 will help you protect both your employees and customers in the workspace. After all, many assume a start-up isn’t quite a ‘proper business’ yet and that they can afford to cut corners, but as soon as your business opens it is fully qualified as such. Ultimately, make sure all the proper precautions are in place so that you’re not dodging legal actions, bad press and compensation pay-outs in the future.
Clear Communication
Nothing stunts and stalls progress like poor communication. Whether it’s a lack of contact information or a poor internet connection, the lack of a back and forth dialogue can seriously hamper running your start up. To get anywhere, everyone involved in every business decision must be on the same page. Equip your premises with phones and computers immediately, so that you can at least streamline your communications, and make sure no queries or ideas get lost forever. Â
Help in Administration
Granted, computers can’t do everything for you, but in some places, they can certainly lighten the workload. For example, you can instruct workplace messaging programs such as Slack to leave automated messages and reminders. Additionally, you can outsource some of the admin responsibilities and acquire expert advice and help. Ultimately, the sooner you can get to the stage where your company appears to run itself, the better.Â
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