AN ADVICE TO UNCLE WHO OWN A SMALL BUSINESS

 

 AN ADVICE TO UNCLE WHO OWN A SMALL BUSINESS

If you're a small business owner and want advice for it, then you should think of what that might mean to you, because it's been said that advice is what you ask for when you already know the answer but wish you didn't.

As a small business owner you must participate in so many activities and other things like the utilities of the business

You can benefit from a thoughtfully-written business plan to help you boost your business. Here are some key points to consider:

• Analyze your market. How many people in your area might use a pet sitting service, and how many pet sitters are already in business in your area?
• Define your company. What will you do, specifically? If you'll need to think about how and what you can actually do more. What are the key benefits of your company, and what needs will it satisfy?
• Build a better mousetrap. What will make your company better than the competition? On-call pet pickup? Individual service? A name within the community, maybe with animal charities or shelters that gives you some credentials? What makes your business special?
• Develop a marketing campaign. How will you get the word out, and entice people to call you? Marketing yourself effectively is key to making your business successful, if your a pet sitter or an accountant! Given two identical companies, one with average marketing, and one with excellent marketing, the one with excellent marketing will virtually always win.
• Don't forget sales! Marketing is what makes people aware of your company. Sales is what brings them in the door. Don't neglect that part.
• Define your workflow. How will you fill your day with pet sitting, and how will you handle the inevitable emergency job, or the 2-hour-late pickup? How will you hire? What is the threshold for new employees?
• Develop a backup plan to cover all sits should you have an emergency that prevents you from taking care of the animals.
• What do you need to get started? Leashes? Cages? A big yard? Lots of kibbles and bits? You may not need a lot of cash to get started, but you will need some to gather supplies and pay for sales and marketing efforts.
• Where will you get funding? This might be from your savings, or an interested friend. It could be from the local shelter, or from your Uncle Moneybags.
• Show them the numbers. Before you take any funding—even from yourself—know what you will do with it, and how much is enough.
• Put your best foot forward. Describe your qualifications, and include anything that might be relevant to people trusting you with their pets. You might be a dog whisperer, or voted person most likely to herd cats. Make that known!