By Johanny Tapia Quezada
- Make sure your idea makes sense:
A meaningful business idea should improve people's quality of life by solving problems your competition hasn't. Therefore, it's important to research, investigate, observe, empathize with others, understand their difficulties, and listen to them to determine if your idea truly makes sense. Often, we start businesses based on our own needs, but this isn't enough. What worries us might indicate a need, a problem that can be solved, but it's not sufficient. That's why we must verify the idea with those who will actually pay for our goods or services.
- Define your business model:
Your business model, simply put, is how you will make money.
You've probably read and heard a lot about starting a business out of passion so you don't have to work a single day in your life, and passion is certainly very important. However, no matter how passionate you are, when payments come due and cash flow is insufficient, worries and demotivation will inevitably set in. In some cases, what you started with all the love in the world ends up exhausting you and even causing you to abandon the project you began with such passion.
Always remember, “man does not live by bread alone.”.
Some of the questions you should ask yourself to find out if you already have a business model:
1. What problem does the company solve?
2. What goods or services does it clearly and specifically offer?
3. Who is willing to pay for your goods or services?
- You must put your idea into action (take the plunge)
We often spend so much time defining strategies, creating a detailed business plan, revising, and perfecting it that we end up doing nothing. While planning is important, we should only do what's necessary and then take immediate action by creating a prototype of our products or services and testing it in the market.
Yes, just as you read, go from plan to action.
For example, if your business idea is a bakery, start by preparing small batches and selling them at the market. Give away small portions for free samples. Approach cafes, restaurants, and similar businesses and ask them to accept small dessert packages with a return policy if they sell them. Create an Instagram and Facebook account, build your website, and start showcasing your products. The goal is to make it easy for the end consumer to try your product.
- Pay attention to the feedback and don't try to impose your opinion:
Developing the ability to listen without speaking is the best thing you can do if you truly want to solve the problems of your target audience.
If you've already launched your product or service, it's important to let the customer highlight your product and take the opportunity to make the necessary adjustments for when you present the final version. It doesn't matter how much you promote that your product is the best and that there's no competition if the person who's going to pay for it thinks otherwise.
- Release the final version
If you've finally confirmed that your products have the expected level of acceptance, launch the final version—congratulations! You can now say you have a business model. Finally, you can create your business plan, set your goals, and open a physical location if that's what you want.
Co-founder of @FTANEGOCIOS
Bachelor's degree in accounting with 15 years of experience in the financial area
Master's degree in comprehensive auditing and management control
University lecturer
Speaker
Passionate about teaching and personal growth
johannyt9@gmail.com
