“Ideas must work through the brains and arms of men, or they are no better than dreams” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
So you’ve decided it’s time to spread your wings and start your own company. Good for you! What’s next?
Does this sound similar to your business plan?
Step 1: Come up with a great idea
Step 2: ?????
Step 3: Profit!
It’s not uncommon to think that if you create a product or service that’s needed, it will automatically translate to profits. And while recognizing and fulfilling a need is a good first step when it comes to creating a sustainable business, it is really no more than the beginning. Building a company that’s profitable takes a lot more than simply having something other people may want (Step 1).
I’ve been mostly self-employed since before I was considered a legal adult and I’ve had a lot of business experiences; several of which might fall under the category of “epic failure.”
As a member of the WordPress Community for some time now and witnessing the pain points for many small business owners, whether they are one-person freelance shops or multi-person agencies, I’ve found that the challenges are largely the same. They may have a great concept, but no real idea of monetization (they discover that simply, “if you build it they will come” doesn’t exactly make for a healthy bottom line), and learn that as a result, the end game is not attainable.
This presentation will cover not only many of the mistakes that are so common when building a business, but some practical advice on how to build the foundation, roadmap and a company that makes it to step three (PROFIT!).