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Startups 101: How to Turn an Idea Into a Successful Business

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Startups 101: How to Turn an Idea Into a Successful Business

Starting a business is an extremely exciting yet quite challenging choice in life. On one hand, you’ll get to see your idea come to life. On the other hand, you’ll have to learn to manage a multitude of business, finance, marketing, liability, HR, and legal issues.

But do not get discouraged, whether you are planning on opening an online clothing store, paper writing service to help students learn better, or mobile game development company – the guidelines are usually the same. Here are the steps to take to launch your own business.

Do Market Research

You have a unique idea. It is great. Now it is time to research all about the market, possible competitors, and ways to create MVP. Here’s what to look for:

  • The problem your product solves;
  • Possible target audience;
  • The demand for such product;
  • Is it unique or are there similar products out?
  • Look it up on official patent office sites;
  • How is your idea different?

Make sure you come prepared. Look at success and fail cases of similar services/producers and note what should be done differently.

Choose Type of Business

This one depends hugely on what your idea is. But there are lots of options out there:

  • Home business;
  • Online one;
  • Import/Export, etc.

It will help you to figure out many factors needed for a solid business plan.

Protect Intellectual Property

As soon as you know that your idea/product is unique, it is time to protect IP rights. It means that you’ll be the sole holder of all rights to the product. There are several options to consider:

  • Patents;
  • Copyright;
  • Trademark;
  • Trade secrets;
  • Confidentiality agreements, etc.

Usually, patents are the strongest in protection. But the choice also depends on the type of idea you come up with.

Think About Finances

It is all about the money. The earlier you start planning your budget, the better. Maybe at this stage, you do not have all the factors to consider, but you can line down all the possible sources of financing. Luckily, there are many of them out there, so choose a couple of them for plans A, B, and C. These can be:

  • Personal funds you are willing to invest;
  • Help from friends and family;
  • Credit funds;
  • Angel investment;
  • Crowdfunding via online platforms;
  • Venture investment;
  • Bank loans.

When planning a budget, always include a safety pillow for possible risks. Going the route of equity crowdfunding is definitely an option that should be on the table.

Write a Business Plan

A strong business plan is exactly what turns a mere idea into an actionable blueprint. First of all, it is a set of guidelines for you on what to take care of and how to grow a startup. Secondly, it will be a pitch basis for future investors.

There are many formats of such a document. But generally, it has to include:

  • The business goal, mission, and vision;
  • A detailed explanation of the product or service offered;
  • Market research results – size, target audience, competition, possible growth;
  • Marketing strategy;
  • Financial analysis and forecast.

Work on Branding

It is a quite obvious but very essential step. You need to choose a perfect name for a company, service, and product. Register it, as well as your domain name.

Also work on the marketing guidelines like corporate colors, logo, and slogan. It doesn’t have to be a 100-page brand book for now, but make sure to tackle all the essentials. They are going to be needed for marketing.

Incorporation and Permits

Here comes the legal stuff. Incorporation means turning a startup into a legal entity. Never choose sole proprietorship because it means that your personal finances and assets can be used for debt and business liability. Usually, there are these options:

  • LLC (limited liability company);
  • C corporation;
  • S corporation.

They differ in taxation rules and equity compensation. Here it is best to work with a lawyer.

And determine what permits, registrations, or licenses you need to start your activity. It can be a sales tax license or a permit for home-based businesses.

Texas has become the American landmark for business opportunities and benefits thanks to the state’s welcoming attitude towards entrepreneurs looking to establish themselves in the market.

Many small and large businesses have made the move to Texas due to all of the advantages the state is providing. Starting an LLC has never been more beneficial in The Lone Star State, read here to learn how to establish an LLC in Texas so that you secure a spot in the successful business economy that is booming with endless financial possibilities.

Hire Professionals

One can choose a co-founder, which will take a lot of stress off their shoulders. It is often a great idea as one person is not enough to do everything.

And if it is applicable for your idea, hire professionals to start working on MVP, service, website, etc. Now it is time to put some work in. Make sure you follow all legal aspects, set employee records, and consider them signing confidentiality agreements.

Focus on Building a Product

Lots of startups fail because they take too long to launch. Of course, it is crucial to building a great product, but often an MVP is enough to attract investors and start pre-sales.

Put all your efforts into working on the product/service to make sure to bring it to customers in time and with quality.

Implement Marketing Strategy

This is another incredibly important factor in business success. You need all the marketing tools available to promote the brand and the product.

Use social media, brand website, content creation, paid promotion – whatever is in line with the strategy and goal. Work on brand recognition, audience engagement, and building an email list.

Do Not Forget About Accounting

Accounting and books are not the most exciting parts of being an entrepreneur. Yet, the earlier you take care of them, the fewer problems will come up later.

It is better to hire a professional that knows exactly how to manage all of that;

  • Financial statement;
  • Getting Tax ID;
  • Tax payments and records;
  • Invoices and contracts;
  • Bank accounts.

Remember to separate the company’s funds from personal ones. And consider insuring your startup if it is possible.

In Summary

If you have a great idea, it feels almost like a crime to not turn it into reality. So why not get into entrepreneurship? The steps might seem complicated, but the possible result is also quite fascinating. The complexity of the process will depend directly on the type of product and service you come up with. Always calculate the risks and commit to this startup.

 

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PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.

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(VOR News) – In the third quarter of this year, Pepsi’s net income was $2.93 billion, which is equivalent to $2.13 per share. This was attributed to the company.

This is in stark contrast to net income of $3.09 billion, which is equivalent to $2.24 per share, during the same period in the previous year. The company’s earnings per share were $2.31 when expenses were excluded.

Net sales decreased by 0.6%, totaling $23.32 billion. Organic sales increased by 1.3% during the quarter when the effects of acquisitions, divestitures, and currency changes are excluded.

Pepsi’s beverage sales fell this quarter.

The most recent report indicates that the beverage and food sectors of the organization experienced a 2% decline in volume. Consumers of all income levels are demonstrating a change in their purchasing habits, as indicated by CEOs’ statements from the previous quarter.

Pepsi’s entire volume was adversely affected by the lackluster demand they encountered in North America. An increasing number of Americans are becoming more frugal, reducing the number of snacks they ingest, and reducing the number of times they purchase at convenience stores.

Furthermore, Laguarta observed that the increase in sales was partially attributed to the election that occurred in Mexico during the month of June.

The most significant decrease in volume was experienced by Quaker Foods North America, which was 13%. In December, the company announced its initial recall in response to a potential salmonella infection.

Due to the probability of an illness, the recall was extended in January. Pepsi officially closed a plant that was implicated in the recalls in June, despite the fact that manufacturing had already been halted.

Jamie Caulfield, the Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi and Laguarta, has indicated that the recalls are beginning to have a lessening effect.

Frito-Lay experienced a 1.5% decline in volume in North America. The company has been striving to improve the value it offers to consumers and the accessibility of its snack line, which includes SunChips, Cheetos, and Stacy’s pita chips, in the retail establishments where it is sold.

Despite the fact that the category as a whole has slowed down in comparison to the results of previous years, the level of activity within the division is progressively increasing.

Pepsi executives issued a statement in which they stated that “Salty and savory snacks have underperformed year-to-date after outperforming packaged food categories in previous years.”

Pepsi will spend more on Doritos and Tostitos in the fall and winter before football season.

The company is currently promoting incentive packets for Tostitos and Ruffles, which contain twenty percent more chips than the standard package.

Pepsi is expanding its product line in order to more effectively target individuals who are health-conscious. The business announced its intention to acquire Siete Foods for a total of $1.2 billion approximately one week ago. The restaurant serves Mexican-American cuisine, which is typically modified to meet the dietary needs of a diverse clientele.

The beverage segment of Pepsi in North America experienced a three percent decrease in volume. Despite the fact that the demand for energy drinks, such as Pepsi’s Rockstar, has decreased as a result of consumers visiting convenience stores, the sales of well-known brands such as Gatorade and Pepsi have seen an increase throughout the quarter.

Laguarta expressed his opinion to the analysts during the company’s conference call, asserting, “I am of the opinion that it is a component of the economic cycle that we are currently experiencing, and that it will reverse itself in the future, once consumers feel better.”

Additionally, it has been noted that the food and beverage markets of South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa have experienced a decline in sales volume. The company cut its forecast for organic revenue for the entire year on Tuesday due to the business’s second consecutive quarter of lower-than-anticipated sales.

The company’s performance during the quarter was adversely affected by the Quaker Foods North America recalls, the decrease in demand in the United States, and the interruptions that occurred in specific international markets, as per the statements made by Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta.

Pepsi has revised its forecast for organic sales in 2024, shifting from a 4% growth rate to a low single-digit growth rate. The company reiterated its expectation that the core constant currency profitability per share will increase by a minimum of 8% in comparison to the previous year.

The company’s shares declined by less than one percent during premarket trading. The following discrepancies between the company’s report and the projections of Wall Street were identified by LSEG in a survey of analysts:

SOURCE: CNBC

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Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

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Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

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Infosys

(VOR News) – Old National Bank, a commercial bank with its headquarters in the Midwest, and Infosys, a firm that specializes in information technology, have recently entered into a strategic expansion of their link, which has been in place for the past four years.

This expansion is more likely to take place sooner rather than later, with the likelihood being higher.

For the purpose of making it possible for Old National Bank to make use of the services, solutions, and platforms that are offered by Infosys, the objective of this expansion is to make it possible for the bank to transform its operations and processes through the application of automation and GenAI, as well as to change significant business areas.

This lets the bank leverage Infosys’ services, solutions, and platforms.

Old National Bank Chairman and CEO Jim Ryan said, “At Old National, we are committed to creating exceptional experiences for both our customers and our fellow employees.”

This statement is applicable to Old National Bank. Infosys is carefully managing the business process innovations that it is putting us through, putting a strong emphasis on efficiency and value growth throughout the process to ensure that it is carried out efficiently.

This is a routine occurrence throughout the entire operation. Because of Infosys’ dedication to our development and success, we are incredibly appreciative of the assistance they have provided.

Old National has been receiving assistance from Infosys in the process of updating its digital environment since the year 2020, according to the aforementioned company.

Ever since that time, the company has been providing assistance. The provision of this assistance has been accomplished through the utilization of a model that is not only powerful but also capable of functioning on its own power.

Infosys currently ranks Old National thirty-first out of the top thirty US banks.

This ranking is based on the fact that Old National is the nation’s largest banking corporation.

It is estimated that the total value of the company’s assets is approximately fifty-three billion dollars, while the assets that are currently being managed by the organization are valued at thirty billion dollars.

Dennis Gada, the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services, stated that “Old National Bank and Infosys possess a robust cultural and strategic alignment in the development, management, and enhancement of enterprise-scale solutions to transform the bank’s operations and facilitate growth.”

This remark referenced the exceptional cultural and strategic synergy between the two organizations. Dennis Gada is the one who asserted this claim. This was articulated explicitly concerning the exceptional cultural congruence and strategy alignment of the two organizations.

We are pleased to announce that the implementation of Infosys Topaz will substantially expedite the transformation of Old National Bank’s business processes and customer service protocols. We are exceedingly enthusiastic about this matter. We are quite thrilled about this specific component of the scenario.

Medium-sized banks operating regionally will continue to benefit from our substantial expertise in the sector, technology, and operations. This specific market segment of Infosys will persist in benefiting from our extensive experience. This phenomenon will enable this market sector to sustain substantial growth and efficiency benefits.

SOURCE: THBL

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American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

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water

The largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States stated Monday that it had been the target of a cyberattack, forcing the company to halt invoicing to consumers.

water

American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

American Water, based in New Jersey and serving over 14 million people in 14 states and 18 military facilities, said it learned of the unauthorized activity on Thursday and quickly took precautions, including shutting down certain systems. The business does not believe the attack had an impact on its facilities or operations and said employees were working “around the clock” to determine the origin and scale of the attack.

water

The corporation stated that it has alerted legal enforcement and is cooperating with them. It also stated that consumers will not be charged late fees while its systems are unavailable.

According to their website, American Water operates over 500 water and wastewater systems in around 1,700 communities across California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

SOURCE | AP

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