Many people dream of starting their own business, and in the UK alone over half a million people do so each year. But what holds the other would-be entrepreneurs back? Is there ever, really, a reason not to follow your dreams?

Over the years I have spoken to many people who have business ideas and goals they would love to achieve. Numerous reasons are listed as practicalities that are holding them back. I believe, however, that for most problems there is a solution, and that starting a business does not have to be a major hurdle people need to jump over.

I want to help people to overcome perceived problems and fulfill their dreams. Here I will discuss some of the most common obstacles I hear about, but if there is a different obstacle holding you back, tell me about it in the comments section of this blog post.

Here are the most common obstacles I come across, and the ways I think that business start-ups can overcome these and move their business forward.

“I need to support my family, I can’t give up my day job!”

Don’t! Starting and running your own business should be about providing you and your family with the lifestyle you want. To risk jeopardizing you family’s happiness in order to start your business seems counter intuitive and is inadvisable.

When you are getting your business off the ground use your spare time, evenings, weekends and annual leave to get your business off the ground, build a customer base and ensure that your business plan is sound.

As your business grows look at the option of working part-time and spending more time on your business, until you feel confident enough to make the transition to full-time self-employment.

Some people feel happy jumping in to their own business feet first, and that is great, but for those who are unsure the gradual process described above may be tiring and hard work, but should build up the confidence necessary to take that leap!

“I don’t have any capital to invest in my business idea – and business loans are hard to come by.”

My advice would always be to minimise investment in your business start up. Don’t invest unnecessarily large amounts on surplus gadgetry and equipment for your fledgling company.

Instead, bootstrap your business, by only using money made by your business to fund growth. Not only does this negate the need for large investments and borrowing, it also minimizes the financial risk to you and your family, reducing the financial burden and pressure placed on you.

“I’m scared of failure!”

Don’t be! Nothing can guarantee business success but even if your start up doesn’t succeed, a failure under your belt will give you lessons in business that you can’t learn from a book or a blog. These lessons will equip you with skills and experience for you to take forward in your business journey.

If you have bootstrapped your business sufficiently, and not taken unnecessary risks, then what you may initially perceive as business failure will not lead to devastation and financial ruin. What is there to be scared of?

“I don’t have a good support network.”

Find one! There are plenty of other business start ups that are looking to connect with other people in the same position. There are also many experienced business people, like myself, who are always looking to help those who are just starting out. Connect with like minded people on Twitter, or use networking groups to get advice and support from others that are in the same situation.

These are the most common reasons I hear for people being reluctant to start their own business. If you have a stumbling block I haven’t covered, I would love to hear from you; either leave a comment or connect with me on the WinWeb Facebook page.

Entrepreneurship and small business have been making news recently; with banks being tackled to lend more to small businesses, and television shows such as Dragons’ Den dividing the nation over the way small businesses are portrayed and helped. My views on such television programmes are one for another day, but for now all this has highlighted a real sense of enterprising throughout the UK.

In a time when unemployment is high, and job security seems like a long lost friend, it is easy to see why over half a million people are starting their own businesses every year. But what is the best way to start a business? Quit the day job and take the plunge, or build up steadily until you have the security you need to enter fully in to the world of the self-employed?

This is a question that is very much based on individual circumstance; I, for example, started my first business whilst at university and have been doing so ever since! But, at the same time there are many successful entrepreneurs out there who have worked in a job all their lives and at some point turned around and said “enough!” and have started out on their own well in to their working life. If this describes you, I would love to hear from you.

There is no ‘right’ way to start out in business. You can buy all the books, and read all the blogs, but starting your own business is something that has to be driven by you; your drive, enthusiasm and vision for you business. Of course, there are external pressures on us all, and mortgages to pay and families to support have to play a major role in how we develop our businesses.

That is why I will always say there is no iron-clad correct way for a business start-up to progress. A business has to grow in accordance not only with demand, but also in line with how the business owner wants it to develop. For some, diving in feet first and spending every waking hour on their business, building and expanding and constantly reaching for the next goal, is the only way to do business. I guess these people would fall in to the 9-5 camp, in that their business is their day job, but I know from experience 9-5 is a mere fraction of a small business owners’ day!

Other small business owners, for various reasons, take a gentler approach and test the water, building up their customer base alongside their current job or while looking after children and running the family home. These people are the 5-9ers. Although, yet again, that time frame does a disservice to these people as a lot of business owners I know are more 5-12ers! For some, this is a way to build their business to a point where they can launch and go it alone; but for others this is how they want their business to be. Something that can fit in with their lives, not run it, and provide enough of an income to make them comfortable, not rich.

People start their own business for many reasons, and it is not always to work every hour under the sun (and through the night!) to build a hugely successful business. There are many different businesses, and many different types of entrepreneur. Each deserves as much respect, help and admiration as the other, whether they work 9-5, 5-9 or anywhere in between on their business.

Owning your own business is about creating a life that is right for you and those around you. 9-5 or 5-9? It makes no difference at all – success is in the eye of the achiever.

It is my belief that in order to succeed, businesses should have a distinct online presence. Being online enables small businesses to sell to customers across the country, even around the world, not limiting their customer base to those just around their chimneybreast.

I have spoken before about small businesses that want to stay small, and know that growth isn’t necessarily the measurement of success for small business owners. However, having a business website is not necessarily just about growth; it can be about maximizing your potential as a small business, no matter if your business is you selling cupcakes from you kitchen, or running an office with 10 staff.

People often say to me that their small business doesn’t have a website as it’s too complicated, takes up too much time or is too expensive. None of these problems have to be true; with the importance that websites hold for small businesses in mind, WinWeb.com have designed a range of one page websites, fully designed and populated with content, and that can be online in 30 minutes. All you as a small business owner is to do is choose your design, and provide details of your business.

Your business being online is about more that having a website though; having an online presence includes activities such as blogging, social networking and having active discussions with people within your arena. Increasing awareness of your business this way costs nothing but time, and can actually be fun!

As I have mentioned previously, I am looking to help small businesses to hold conversations, engage with each other and learn from what is happening in the big business world. It is for these reasons that when I was asked to contribute on Nasdaq.com I eagerly accepted; knowing that there is much that small businesses can learn from the big businesses on the Nasdaq.

My articles on the Nasdaq will focus on commentary and comparisons between how big businesses are acting and performing and the ramifications and lessons that are in these activities for small businesses. I hope you will join in the discussion; I hope to see you there!

For the latest information about SME Technology, follow me on Twitter or become a fan of WinWeb on Facebook. I look forward to connecting with you!

Starting your own business can be a daunting time; even for the most seasoned business person. No matter how much corporate or retail experience you have of working in other organisations nothing can prepare you for the challenges, and exuberating feeling, of starting your own business.

Before you take the plunge it is a good idea to research, research, research the market in which you are looking to start a business. A large amount of start-ups fail due to lack of research about the marketplace they are about to enter. It might take time, but you will learn a great deal about how to, and how not to, do things!

Another vital action when starting a business is to network – you can begin to do this by using the power of the web to find relevant social media sites for your niche, and then branch in to face-to-face networking. Networking not only allows you to meet potential clients but you will also learn valuable lessons from people who are more experienced in the business world. Striking up the right relationships, and listening to peoples’ experiences, could not only build your customer base, but also stop you from making a lot of business mistakes!

There are a lot of places you can go for business advice; both in person and on the web. Larger businesses and organisations are becoming increasingly aware of the power that small business have; and the importance that the growth of small business holds for the future of our economy. This leads to initiatives like the one that has recently been launched by T-Mobile to find out about what small businesses need, and how perceptions of small business influence the way business is carried out. The aim of this initiative is to help business start-ups to find their feet and make their own path in their business journey. Have you got opinions on small business issues? Make your voice heard by visiting the site.

When starting a business it is also important to enlist the support of your family and friends. Chances are that running your business will not only take up your time physically, but to begin with you may also find yourself emotionally drained, and during stressful periods this can place huge emotional pressure on relationships. Make sure your family are fully behind you, and then you will know you can rely on their support whatever the future may bring.

Finding your feet in the business world can seem intimidating and daunting, but with the right support from people who have been there before, and from family and friends, can certainly give you the tools to take your business forward at the right pace, for you.

For the latest information about SME Technology, follow me on Twitter or become a fan of WinWeb on Facebook. I look forward to connecting with you!

Starting a small business can be a worrying and daunting time for would-be entrepreneurs. With four out of five small business start-ups ending up in failure the statistics are stacked against small business owners. But knowing why small businesses fail could just be the key to making sure yours doesn’t!

Knowing the pitfalls that other small business start ups have made can stop you making the same mistakes. I believe there are six fundamental issues that cause small businesses to fail:

- Lack of planning – I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, starting a business without planning where you want to go is like starting a car journey with no idea of your final destination; you’re bound to get lost. To avoid this mistake set a clear goal of where you want to be, and how you are going to get there.

- Inability to delegate – Within every business someone needs to keep an eye on the bigger picture; and have an overview of everything happening internally and externally around the company. That person should be you and if you have your head buried in the accounts you won’t. So delegate and outsource all the tasks that can be done by others and free yourself to focus on the bigger picture.

- Unwillingness to change – As a small business you cannot afford to remain motionless as your market and the world around you drives forward. Adapt and develop your small business so it is forward thinking and innovative, not behind with the times.

- Forgetting that cash is king! – A small business needs to keep its eye firmly focused on cashflow, as soon as a business loses sight of this then they are prone to failure. Plot and analyse your incomings and outgoings to make sure your small business stays on the right track. Don’t expect massive profits from the outset, but don’t accept a loss.

- Lack of objective targets – Not measuring the success of campaigns, products or services can be disastrous for a small business. Is that PR campaign your running really worth the money? Does Twitter really bring traffic to your website? Know what to measure and you’ll know how successful you are.

- Not asking the right questions – When you are a small business start-up knowing which questions to ask, and to who, is difficult. I aim to answer as many as I can here on my blog, but a new website, Advicely, offers tailor made answers to your small business questions.

Whilst avoiding these pitfalls won’t necessarily guarantee your small business success, knowing what not-to-do can help you to focus on the things that you should do. I know that small businesses are going to be the making of this country – lets pull together reduce that horrific statistic.

See more small business interviews @ winweb.tv

Starting a small business from an office or home is a great way to earn some extra money or make into your full-time occupation.

As we all know there are many things to consider and the take into consideration. WinWeb has compiled a great list of 100 tips to help you to check out your business idea. Have a read and find out how well you are prepared.

100 Small Business Start-Up Tips @ WinWeb Business Blog.

I was reading one of my friends blog post about a “cool” small business resource launched by AT&T (NYSE: T – AT&T, Inc.). It sounded great and I was intrigued to find out more about it.

As most of you know, I usually don’t write “negative” articles, but after 30 years being a small business guy, this website really got my back up.

As it turns out this is a very bad example of a large corporate trying to offer something in the micro-business market, without really understanding what a small business is and what its needs may be.

The part that really got me, was the “Tips & Tools” section!

Absolutely no content apart from product information and the usual sales spiel. Under the subsection of “Productivity” you will find one(1) – yes no typo, that is one .pdf file – of in my oppinion no more informational value for small business, than putting “collaboration tools” into google and reading the first page headlines only. OK – sorry – that comparison would probably be unkind to Google.

Under the subsection “Starting Up” you will find zero, nothing or in other words no content what so ever. But I have to admit, AT&T is so old and so big, what could they possibly know about starting a business!

To go on with the rest of the website would be a waste of your and my time and an insult. The site was launched allegedly on July 16th, no content – these guys are not even trying? The server was unbelievably slow BTW, but all the sales & product related content was there, surprise, surprise!

I understand that the micro-business and home business sector is the only sector with growth potential left for these big corporations, but they still have a long way to go before they understand how to engage with small business. I don’t think insulting your future customers with these attempts to “pretend small business interest”, other than selling ones product and services, is really a good way to go about it.

If you’re just interested in selling your products and have no interest – IMO as in this case – in being part of the community, then be honest and say so. This would be a better approach for both parties.

Suffice to say, if you are large corporate reading this, have a look at the site as it is a perfect example of how not to do it. – ST.

The thought of starting a business can be a daunting prospect for anyone, regardless of experience and financial situation.

Breaking down the early stages into manageable steps will help you see it’s not as complicated as you might think. This brief overview will cover a few things you should consider if you are looking to become your own boss and how to go about it.

Read on @ winweb.com

So far we have provided tools, like our OnlineOffice, to help our clients to solve their small business problems, now we actually solve these problems for our clients in an integrated way, leaving them to explore their entrepreneurial vision and look after their business, not their admin and IT.

I am very happy to announce that WinWeb is releasing ‘BusinessServices’ – a new business services offering for the freelancer, home business and small office market. This is another world-wide first for WinWeb and every business service includes free access to WinWeb’s OnlineOffice as a bonus.

These services include bookkeeping, call & fax management, business address, mail hold & forwarding, web site design and maintenance, SEO – search engine optimization, payroll, graphic design, export services, online marketing and PR services, online presenters, online shop setup and maintenance and as before many Pay-As-You-Go services like parcel service, translation service and many more.

We have been training a large number of virtual assistants in all aspects of our service offerings for months and we are very confident we can provide a professional and extremely cost-effective service to all our clients. These services will be available in the following regions, the UK, Ireland, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, but may vary from region to region.

As an example, Bookkeeping will start at £9.85 per month plus VAT – at these kind of prices even the smallest of businesses can afford to outsource their bookkeeping. In addition to the low price, our OnlineOffice will be free for the duration of the service allowing you to keep your cost even lower, by using the invoicing software and online shop to further reduce your bookkeeping cost, since any of these transactions will automatically be processed in the system.  

Any receipts can be uploaded by fax, scanned via email or sent to our processing centre and will be processed within 72 hours of receipt.

This is just one service aimed at making you focus on your business and not on your admin. I will talk about the other services in due cause on this blog, but you can always go and have a look at them on the WinWeb website now.

Especially during these times it is essential for freelancers, home business and small business owners to focus on revenue, sales and marketing their services and products and free up as much time a possible by outsourcing non-essential admin services.

All of our services come with a best price guarantee, we will match any comparable price in the relevant regions. Almost 100% of services are provided in local markets by local personnel and not outsourced to far eastern countries – showing our commitment to the regions in which we work.

Using OnlineOffice you can save over 75% on IT cost, now with BusinessServices you can save over 90% of admin hassle and additional cost savings, making it the ideal combination for your business success – have a look today! –ST.