Once you begin trading you will soon find that having a well-organised business is made far easier when using time management techniques.  

Things to remember:  

• Having a defined structure to your working life will undoubtedly reduce your overall stress
• Take advantage of the quiet period which often exists in the early days of trading to write a complete list of everything which must be done
• Begin by listing everything the business owns and what needs to be done to keep it maintained
• Next, focus on office operations that keep the business functioning e.g. ordering stationary and paying electric bills
• Consider other aspects of the business such as marketing, finance and production
• Some large tasks may need to be broken down into their component parts in order to make them easier to complete
• Write your schedule on a calendar in your workplace
• Check your progress weekly – if you are struggling to keep up then it is possible that you need to hire an employee or outsource some of your business functions
• If you are initially too busy to write a plan, instead keep a brief activity log. At some stage you can review this log and identify changes you could make that would make your business more efficient
• Always remember that ultimately your health and well-being is the number one priority during the stressful period of opening your business

This is the final part of the Small Business Start-Up Checklist. For previous stages look here  

This business is for people who are huge movie fans and have strong opinions about the latest releases. Your website will be a hub for everything movie-related and the entertainment industry. Revenue for this business will come mainly from advertising, but also through the sale of movie paraphernalia.  

Skills needed: You must be able to critically evaluate movies in your reviews using analytical skills. In addition, you need a distinct and recognisable writing style to set you apart from the multitude of other critics. Basic knowledge of online marketing techniques would be helpful.  

Business environment and set-up cost:  There is some international potential for you in other English speaking markets, but because movies have different release dates and availability worldwide then there is not a huge amount. This is not an expensive business to start-up if you already own basic computer equipment. It would be advisable for you to invest in sophisticated tracking software so you can see where the visitors to your website are coming to you from as this is useful data for potential sponsors and advertisers. You will most likely also need mailing list software in order to manage a large number of subscribers.  The overall start-up cost will range from £2,500 to £5,000 (3,000 - 6,500 EUR, 5,000-10,000 AUD/USD).  

Marketing Techniques:  

• Make sure your website is easy to find by using search engine optimisation (SEO)
• Participate in the pay-per-click schemes of the popular search engines
• Use viral marketing by encouraging readers to forward your reviews to people they know
• Pay for strategic banner advertising on related (non-competing) entertainment websites
• Have regular competitions to give away some of the free products you will be sent for review purposes
• Run an RSS feed or ‘What’s New’ page that will inform readers as soon as you post new content
• Use OnlineOffice to set up web-site, blog and online shop to promote your business online

Complimentary business ideas: Form a partnership with a newspaper or magazine to get your reviews and articles published in print form. This is worthwhile even if they do not pay you as the additional exposure will generate web traffic.  

Notes: Promoting your website and attracting sponsors is the key to the success of this business. Ensure that it is easy for potential advertisers to contact you.  

Online examples & resources:  

• Rotten Tomatoes – Probably the largest move review site
• Future Movies – A good example of this type of business

For previous SME start-up ideas, look through the archive here  

The purpose of this business is to act as a helping hand for other small businesses that might need assistance, either because they are too busy to perform some functions themselves or they do not have the required knowledge. This could involve providing advice on common legal or tax issues – information which is freely available but can be hard to find. You will also provide them with a list of all the resources available to them in their local area ranging from accountants to office stationary supplies. The opportunities for generating revenue will largely be referral based so you will have to work closely with local businesses to get them on board. 

Skills needed: You will need to have previous experience of owning a small business and an in-depth knowledge of all the processes involved. If you have knowledge of online marketing techniques it would be helpful to promote your business.

Business environment and set-up cost:  There is very little international potential for this business as it is focussed on your local area. You will need to purchase a computer, printer and software as well as paying for the design of your website. In addition, you may need powerful software to manage your mailing list and track referrals. Remember to also set aside a marketing budget, as you will need to drive traffic to your site. The overall start-up cost will range from £5,000 to £15,500 (6,000 - 20,000 EUR, 10,000-30,000 AUD/USD).

Marketing Techniques:  

• Make sure your website is easy to find by using search engine optimisation (SEO)
• Participate in the pay-per-click schemes of the popular search engines
• Get your website listed in link directories and web-rings for SMEs
• Participate on small business newsgroups and forums, linking to your website from your signature
• You could organise local SME conferences or networking events and then charge businesses a small fee if they wish to participate.
• Use OnlineOffice to set up web-site, blog and online shop to promote your business online

Complimentary business ideas: You could organise local SME conferences or networking events and then charge businesses a small fee if they wish to participate. 

Notes:  It will be essential for you to provide accurate and up-to-date information or else you will put off customers. You must have a good referral system in place to ensure you will get paid. 

Online examples & resources: 

• Inc.com – Resources for entrepreneurs
• Internal Revenue Services – A list of resources available to US businesses
• Microsoft Small Business Center – Software for SMEs

For previous SME start-up ideas, look through the archive here 

Once you are satisfied with all aspects of your preparations then it is time for you to begin trading.  

Things to remember:  

• The first day will be hard as you may open your doors after months of planning and immediately find yourself at a loose end waiting for customers
• Try to be pro-active and motivated even if business is slow to begin with. Setting clear goals will help get you started on projects and work towards completing them
• Keeping well organised is an essential skill for small business owners. This means being organised in every aspect of running your company - from submitting taxes and managing deliveries to simply keeping the office clean
• Reward yourself for completing small tasks whilst you are working towards long-term goals by purchasing treats or taking breaks to enjoy your favourite activity
• Try to visualise your own future successful completion of a task by imagining the whole process right up until the conclusion. This may seem pointless but it can really help concentrate your focus.

For the previous stages of this checklist look here 

A personalised calendar is a popular gift item which many people enjoy giving to friends, family, co-workers or even just for personal use. The calendar can have photographs that are special to you and even include personalised dates that are special to you. Calendar’s are often also used as a corporate promotional tool and can display products or advertising. With the technology available today it is relatively easy to publish your own calendars.  

Skills needed: You will need to be talented in the field of graphic design and familiar with the software that is used to create it.  

Business environment and set-up cost:  There is some international potential for you in other English speaking markets but the language barrier may prevent you from being successful all over the world. You will have to purchase a computer and scanner (if you do not already own them), as well as a high quality printing device. The correct software will also need to be purchased and some money set aside for promotional purposes. The overall start-up cost will range from £1,000 to £3,500 (1,800 - 5,000 EUR, 2,000-7,000 AUD/USD).  

Marketing Techniques:  

• Make sure your website is easy to find by using search engine optimisation (SEO)
• Participate in the pay-per-click schemes of the popular search engines
• Use viral marketing to encourage your clients to recommend your service to their friends
• Get your website listed in link directories and web-rings related to gift ideas
• Display some samples of your creations on your website
• Use OnlineOffice to set up web-site, blog and online shop to promote your business online

Complimentary business ideas: You could expand your product line to include other custom products such as mouse mats.  

Notes: You will have a lot of competition for this sort of work so you may wish to focus on one particular niche in order to make your mark. If you have a high volume of orders you may find that you need to outsource to a professional printing company.  

Online examples & resources:  

• Picture Perfect Calendars – A good example of this type of business
• ePrintable – Free printable calendars

For previous SME start-up ideas, look through the archive here  

Organising a wedding is a very stressful process that involves a lot of planning and an awful lot of purchasing. The costs can soon add up so people often try to save money by shopping online. Online stores specialising in wedding products can therefore be very lucrative businesses, particularly if they focus mainly on their local area and provide a personalised service. This could include a gift wrapping service and a gift registry section of your website from which friends and relatives can purchase presents for the happy couple.  

Skills needed: You will need to be knowledgeable about all aspects of marriage, including how other cultures and religions celebrate and have different requirements. If you have previous wedding planning experience it would be a big asset. In addition, you must have some grasp of online marketing techniques so that you are able to reach as wide of an audience as possible and also some basic web publishing skills to enable you to keep the website updated by yourself.  

Business environment and set-up cost:  This is very much a regional business as the cost-saving factor of using the Internet would be lost if the products had to be shipped internationally. The set-up costs are low for this business, especially if you already own the equipment (computer, scanner, printer and digital camera). You will need to pay for the website design and hosting as well as an inventory of the products you will be selling. The overall start-up cost will range from £2,500 to £10,000 (3,000 - 12,000 EUR, 5,000-20,000 AUD/USD).  

Marketing Techniques:  

• Make sure your website is easy to find by using search engine optimisation (SEO)
• Participate in the pay-per-click schemes of the popular search engines
• Use viral marketing to encourage your clients to recommend your service to their friends
• Get your website listed in link directories and web-rings related to weddings
• Pay for strategic banner advertising on non-competing wedding related websites
• Run an affiliate program to generate referrals from partners
• Put competitions on in association with your suppliers to give wedding products as prizes
• Develop (or pay someone to develop) a wedding registry for your website
• Use OnlineOffice to set up web-site, blog and online shop to promote your business online

Complimentary business ideas: By forming partnerships with local firms (e.g. caterers or DJs) you could earn referral fees. 

Notes: Your business will only be successful if you are able to generate a high volume of traffic. The website will have to be constantly updated in order to show the professionalism of your business.  

Online examples & resources:  

• The Knot – A large wedding supplier
• Discount Wedding Supplies – A good example of this type of business

For previous SME start-up ideas, look through the archive here

Although many small businesses are run by an individual it can sometimes be necessary for them to employ staff, especially if there are commercial premises like a shop involved. However, making the decision to hire employees inevitably leads to a lot of unavoidable bureaucracy and paperwork that you should be aware of.  

Things to remember:  

• Hiring & Firing – You have a number of options regarding where you source your workforce from. It may be easier for you to hire temporary agency staff if you only need assistance at certain times. If you are looking for permanent employees then you will need to undergo the entire recruitment process from advertising the position right through to selecting the right candidate. You must be aware of equal opportunities legislation and how this relates to your selection. It is important that you make the right choice as dismissal of employees can in certain cases be even more complicated than the hiring process.
• Training – All new employees will need orientation and an initial phase of training so that they can undertake the tasks they will be set. In the long-term it is beneficial for your company and the individual if you provide additional training which will help them develop new skills. You can identify what training is needed from a Training Needs Analysis.
• Procedures – There are many procedures that must be followed by law such as health and safety standards. In addition, you may wish to set standards regarding dress code and behaviour. Other important areas are complaint handling procedures, working hours and union relations.
• Recordkeeping – There are numerous records which must be kept regarding labour laws, but the smaller your business is the lower the amount of paperwork you will be required to do.
• Wages – There is legislation regarding compensation (minimum wage etc.) and taxation.

For the previous stages of this checklist look here

Although MP3 technology has completely changed the music industry, there are still niche areas that could provide you with great business opportunities.  It is up to you what you wish to sell, but it could be CDs / digital downloads, musical instruments or collectibles and paraphernalia. The key is to have a well-designed website and build a strong community around it that your customers feel a part of. This will keep them coming back on a regular basis.  

Skills needed: It is essential that you must be very knowledgeable about the musical niche you are focussing on. It will be your responsibility to provide content for the website and play a ‘guru’ role in regards to the community you establish.  

Business environment and set-up cost:  There is some international potential for this business but postal charges for the items you are selling will discourage this to some degree. The set-up costs are quite low for this business if you already own the equipment (computer, printer, scanner & digital camera). You will need to pay for the website design and hosting as well as an inventory of the products you will be selling. The overall start-up cost will range from £2,500 to £10,000 (3,000 - 12,000 EUR, 5,000-20,000 AUD/USD).  

Marketing Techniques:  

• Make your website easy to find via the major search engines by optimising it with keywords
• Participate in the pay-per-click schemes of the popular search engines
• Use viral marketing to encourage your clients to recommend your service to their friends
• Get your website listed in link directories and web-rings related to music
• Pay for banner advertising on non-competing music websites
• Run an affiliate program to generate referrals from partners
• Have a featured artist or product section of your website.  This could focus on a specific artist for a period of time – for example a local band that needs exposure. You could even interview them or get them to record an exclusive session
• Establish a weekly newsletter and discussion forum to create a community surrounding your chosen music in which you can provide information and help
• Use OnlineOffice to set up web-site, blog and online shop to promote your business online

Complimentary business ideas: There are numerous ways you can expand if you begin with a minimal product line and become successful e.g. selling gig tickets or organising events.  

Notes: It is important to remember that you will be unable to compete on a large scale with the main retailers but if you focus on one area you know well then you can still be successful.  

Online examples & resources:  

• Sonic Garden – An online community for independent musicians
• CTG Music Community – Excellent example of a niche music centre
• Music Centre UK – An instrument seller

For previous SME start-up ideas, look through the archive here  

If you are interested in human history or even just the history of a particular area then online genealogy research could be a good part-time business for you. You will receive a fee for undertaking the research on someone else’s behalf.  

Skills needed: You will need very good (dissertation level) research skills and a keen interest in genealogy. It would be helpful if you also had basic web publishing skills so you can easily maintain your website. If you have specialised knowledge about an area or community it will help differentiate you from the competition.  

Business environment and set-up cost:  There are no barriers to this business trading internationally. It is extremely likely that you will receive many international research requests from people who want to trace their roots to your local area. If you already own a computer, printer and scanner then your only start-up cost will be website design and maintenance. The overall start-up cost will range from £1,500 to £2,500 (2,000 - 3,500 EUR, 3,000-5,000 AUD/USD).  

Marketing Techniques:  

• Make your website easy to find via the major search engines by optimising it with keywords
• Participate in the pay-per-click schemes of the popular search engines
• Use viral marketing to encourage your clients to recommend your service to their friends
• Get your website listed in link directories and web-rings related to family tree research
• Pay for banner advertising on websites your target market may visit e.g. historical landmarks in your local area
• Become involved in online discussions on mailing lists and forums related to genealogy to demonstrate your expertise, using a clickable banner as a signature that links to your website
• Run a mailing list to keep subscribers informed about new discoveries you make and wish to share
• Use OnlineOffice to set up web-site, blog and online shop to promote your business online

Complimentary business ideas: You could become a re-seller of family history research software or provide consulting services to teach people techniques on how to research.  

Notes:  Clients will need to see documentation that proves your findings – if this is not available online then you may have to track some down in person and make copies. You will most likely charge per hour of your time spent researching – make sure you are upfront about your fees beforehand by making them easily available on your website.  

Online examples & resources:  

• Meet the Family – A good example of this type of business
• 1901 Census – A useful resource for researchers
• Start Your Genealogy Research – A useful guide for people beginning to research online

For previous SME start-up ideas, look through the archive here  

The marketing plan is effectively the roadmap for your start-up journey – it stops you from wandering too far off-course and getting side-tracked. A marketing plan is also used for benchmarking purposes so that you can evaluate your success in achieving various objectives and is an important component of the business plan. Marketing is always closely linked to business objectives and how you plan on achieving them.  

Things to remember:  

• Your plan needs to revolve around the product or services you will provide
• It should focus on ways of stressing the benefits they would provide to potential customers
• It should describe your current situation including the location of the business, any assets you own and the overall business environment
• Identify the target market you are hoping to reach and provide a complete profile of the key demographics and their buying habits
• Examine your competition in detail with a competitor analysis – this will help you uncover your competitive advantage and identify the things that your rivals are doing right or wrong
• All objectives you establish must be clear, measurable and achieved within a set period of time
• Consider the Marketing Mix – otherwise known as the ‘Four P’s’ - Product, Price, Promotion and Place (distribution)
• Devise a detailed Action Plan that will examine how the objectives will be met
• Ensure that all of this is very carefully budgeted
• Measure how successfully your plan is working at regular intervals (usually every quarter)
• Completely re-examine your marketing plan annually and update or alter it to reflect changing market conditions

For the previous stages of this checklist look here