By Mashum Mollah
Many of us are tired of working 9-6 in an office where the good snacks are always snapped up straight away and there is always that one person who doesn’t need caffeine in the morning (and those are just the small things!). But realistically, it is unsurprising that most of us want to jump ship and become our own captain. Employment rates are chaotic, globally we have faced a very real “life is short” wakeup call, and we all know that one boss who doesn’t think COVID-19 is that important. Suppress an eye roll here.
We’re in a workspace that we shouldn’t really be in, scrolling our phones secretly in the toilets and seeing a person younger than us on Instagram selling handmade earrings from home while they have the heating turned right up.
That could be you, this piece will show you how.
Find Your Niche
The first thing you need is a profitable idea or product. If you don’t have an idea in mind, then don’t worry – do your research and see where it takes you. Inspiration comes in the weirdest of places, like your office toilet.
Think about the things you really love and think about if other people might love them too – then go out and see if they exist.
Also, think about what you are good at. What skills do you have? What can you offer to others that either they cannot do themselves or might not want to?
Make a mind map of all of these ideas and don’t leave anything out – you never know what will start to form!
Think About the ‘Little’ Big Things
Product viability is the next important step, as these can make or break your business. Factors such as shipping, an SKU system, product storage, etc, will all have to be factored into the cost of selling the item to determine if it is viable. You will want to be able to keep a respectable profit margin in the long term and at least break even in the short term as there will be upfront costs. How much will depend on what product you are offering and what essential equipment you have already?
Costs
Once you have a good idea about what you would like to be selling and what systems you will need in place, it is now time to look at the most daunting part – the costs. Add up absolutely everything you think you will need to spend and for what, and then add extra on for good measure, as unexpected things always pop up. You might find that you will have to take out a small loan to get started, which is not as daunting as it sounds. Fast Money Car Title Loans can help get you set up with a quick injection of cash if you only need something for the short term!
Research Your Target Audience
This is where you have to get stuck in your research much deeper. You want to know exactly who your target audience is, how they think, what they like, how they shop, and anything else you can possibly find out. This will help you determine which e-commerce platform and social media to use for your product. Bonus points for actively speaking to your target audience and listening to the words they use and what is most important to them.
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