Starting a business is a piece of cake...

... as long as it's a bakery!

Sorry about that, blame it on the AI generator!

In our last post we gave you our checklist for starting a new business. Let's chat about the first point - Get Your Idea Straight.

We are living in a time (especially since the dreaded Covid-19) when you can do just about anything and find a way to make money from it. I think the fact that "influencer" is a career now kind of proves that! But how do you decide what your thing should be? Here are a few things to consider and ways to make it your own.

1. What "sparks joy" for you? Marie Kondo had it right when she came up with this concept about decluttering and it works for this too. So many people are in jobs they hate or at least don't enjoy, so why be one of them when you have complete control over it? If you don't love working with numbers then there is no point in becoming an accountant or bookkeeper (fortunately I love them). Is there a job you've had in the past that you loved and could do freelance? Is there a hobby you really want to share with other people and turn into a full time income? This is an exciting time for you so you might as well make the most of it!

2. Is it something you're actually good at? I have long dreamed of being a pilot but since I have exactly zero hours of flight time logged, I shouldn't consider starting a small private airline for the rich and famous (sigh). When I say "good at" you might immediately think of a skill or something you have done a lot of training for, but it can equally be a natural talent or quality you have. Are you Edinburgh's new "Dog Whisperer" ready to take a pack up the Royal Mile? Or maybe you just love decluttering and organising (like our pal Marie) and you could help others who find themselves struggling with that either in their personal or work lives? If you're not sure about this, ask someone! Ask your friends, family and co-workers what they think your best assets are (careful!).

3. Finally, what makes it (yo)unique? You can certainly go for a traditional approach of offering a better or cheaper service/product but let's think outside the box a little. Is there a way of doing this that is different from other businesses? Maybe your art style is unusual and no-ne has ever thought about using it for a children's book illustration. Or maybe you want to start a chippy in Aberdeen where 10% of your profits go to feeding the seagulls (this is 100% a joke and please do not come for me if you are Aberdonian). Think about what will make consumers/clients come to you instead of the next business. Think about how you might pitch this new business on Dragon's Den - that's sure to get the ideas flowing!
   

That's a little something to help you get started. OK, so once you have your idea, we will take a look at the next thing on the checklist - "Scope Out The Scene" in a future post.