Getting Started
By Linda Hunt © copyright 2000


Getting the Support/Resources you need to start a Business

Where do I start?
This is such a big question; it can be enough to make you think- 'it's too hard, I won't bother'. If that's what you conclude from this question and you're happy with that, that's fine it's important to feel comfortable with your decision.

If you want to move on from this question and explore business ideas (you may already have an idea) then the first thing you need to do is learn. The best thing you can invest your money in is education, educate yourself, and learn everything there is to learn about business (of course this should always be an ongoing process). Make it part of your business plan and stick to it. There is literally tons of information on the net - business newsletters, e-books, e-zines, courses, business mentors, associations and so on.

You can contact your local TAFE colleges or equivalent, small business centres, local councils, you might have a regional development board in your area, government grants, taxation office, accountant, legal adviser, business adviser, government programs for unemployed people to get started in business. All these places will give you the information you need to get started- information from: licences, regulations, business plans, business structures, finances, taxation and so on the list is endless.

Don't forget your local bookstore or your local library, there's some great business books to get you started. Talk to other business people - successful business people, learn from their successes and failures, don't be frightened to ask for help and always prepare your questions.

Still ready to go? Right, one important point to remember..The main reasons a lot businesses fail is because they spend thousands of dollars on products and then try to find a market to sell them to. Research your market first and find out what they want then basically give it to them.... simple right? This can be a long process, research is very time consuming but is vital to the success of a business, it is necessary and once you have your market, look after them and they will provide you with an income for a very long time.

There are many ways to research the market...talk to people you know and people they know and so on. Develop a survey, use message and noticeboards on the net (depending on their conditions of use), letterbox drops, P.O. Box drops, you can try telephone surveys too. You need to plan this carefully and you may have to invest a small amount of money in this process of research but remember it's a process that can save you a lot frustration and disappointment.

Be creative with your research but be thorough it will pay off in the end. There is plenty of support and resources out there to help you with your business you just have to be prepared to look for it and then ask for assistance I have always found people to very obliging. Having said that you do need to be prepared to go that extra mile after all you'll only get out of it what you put in to it!

Did you know?

* There are over 500,000 home-based businesses in Australia, which employ more than 750,000 people
* 67% of small businesses are either run from or at a home base.



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