start up your own business
DESCRIPTION
http://www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/computer/the-tech-pro-series-start-up-your-own-business-2013/TRANSCRIPT
◆ Build a business from your own home
◆ Be a great boss – or your own boss
◆ Market your company and make an impact
CBN45 2013 PRINTED IN THE UK £9.99
the TechPro series
Manage money
Raise cash and keep it flowing with our
guide to profits
Take control
Learn everything you need to know
to start a legal, protected business
They did it!
Learn the secret of success from the
world's top startups
start u
p you
r ow
n bu
siness
go
from
tiny id
ea to
ma
ssive pro
fit!
4
Get startedRaise capital ................................................................ 8 Need a little operating float? It’s easy to generate cash
Stay legal online ......................................................... 14 Making money online is tempting but legally frought
Start up for free .......................................................... 16 A little ingenuity and cunning can get you off your feet
Get rich ....................................................................... 26 Want to make serious money? Check out these avenues
Find great staff .......................................................... 34 Don’t think you’re in this alone. You’re not
EssentialsFrom idea to business ............................................... 38 Turning your dreams into reality one step at a time
Launch an official business ....................................... 50 Do it by the books now, and you’ll thank yourself later
Manage your money ................................................... 64 Keep track of your finances if you want to succeed
Contents
contents
5
The perfect environmentFocus your workflow .................................................. 80 Stay on task and get things done efficiently
Build your team .......................................................... 88 Profile, interview, and select the best team
Practise proper ergonomics .................................... 100 Sit right and protect your health while working
Go freelance today .................................................... 106 Wave goodbye to The Man: you’re in charge now
Make a great working environment ...................... 122 Stay happy in the ultimate workspace
Stories of their successUrban Coffee Company ............................................ 126 From bean to cup to apps and beyond
Free Geek .................................................................... 130 Making money from old kit, and supplying those in need
App millionaires ........................................................ 134 A simple bit of software can make you rich
Top 20 startups .......................................................... 140 The best and brightest, profiled. Get inspired
Imagine it, make it,
sell it
38
From a bean of an idea to a cup full of product, you can turn your hobbies and desires into a nice little sideline
S etting out on your own is equal parts dream and nightmare. You’ll shed the bonds of The Man and become your own person, but you’ll also have to bear the burden of responsibility – if you want to be a success, you are going to have to make yourself a success. That’s
what this feature is all about. You may have heard the cheesy adage “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail,” but it’s been bouncing around for a century for good reason.
Whether you’re quitting your job to take on a new self-generated career on a whim (and let us say now, please don’t do that, it’s a bad idea) or supplementing your income by doing the best you can with hobbyist skills, we’ll give you the advice you need to get started, get producing, and get your products out there in the easiest way possible. Anyone with the drive can become a brand, and given time and effort your brand might just rival the big names. And if it doesn’t, we’ll help you make sure that your best efforts won’t leave you in the gutter. All you need is your internet connected computer, determination, and an idea...
imagine, make, sell
39
Money
matters
The issue of money management fills
many who start out on their own with
dread. But there’s no escaping it – the
business-savvy get ahead. In between the fun,
excitement and occasional sheer terror of
running your own gig, you have to face up to
the reality that it’s a business – and must be
managed like one if it’s going to succeed.
Cash flow is key. You need the right pricing
structure in place and a few tricks of the trade
to speed up the payment process. Crucially,
you’ll also need to know what’s coming in and
going out at all times. So let’s get cracking –
from balancing the books to planning ahead,
this section brings you a plethora of practical
business tips for managing your bottom line.
64
The issue of money management fills
many who start out on their own with
dread. But there’s no escaping it – the
business-savvy get ahead. In between the fun,
excitement and occasional sheer terror of
running your own gig, you have to face up to
the reality that it’s a business – and must be
managed like one if it’s going to succeed.
Cash flow is key. You need the right pricing
structure in place and a few tricks of the trade
to speed up the payment process. Crucially,
you’ll also need to know what’s coming in and
going out at all times. So let’s get cracking –
from balancing the books to planning ahead,
this section brings you a plethora of practical
business tips for managing your bottom line.
65
MONEY MattErs