Start Up

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 1 Table of Contents ____________________________________________________________________________ Maintain Your Productivity While Working From . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Home With These 3 Simple Tips 8 5 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Do When Starting a Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 18 5 Tips to Become a Great Startup Leader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 27 Successful Startup Business: What Are the Right Steps? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 37 Why Should a Startup Consider Working With an Agency? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 49 7 Important Tips For a Successful Startup Launch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 60 5 Main Reasons why Job Seekers should Join a Startup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 6 Easy Steps to Get Funds For Your Startup Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 The Uniqueness of the Startup Culture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 3 Effective Ways To Grow Your Startup Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 6 Factors Towards A Successful Startup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Top 6 Crucial Roles of a Customer’s Voice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . in Startups’ Content Marketing Strategy 8 Common Problems of Startup Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Reasons Why Creating a Growth Roadmap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . is Essential for Startups Workplace Friction in Startups: What Causes it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and How to Solve it 8 Useful Tips To Avoid A Failed Startup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 2 5 Things To Consider Before Starting A Second Business Today . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 4 Easy Ways To Generate Leads For Startup Businesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 3 Amazing Tips To Providing The Best Customer Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 For Startups Businesses 4 Vital Benefits of Explainer Videos for Businesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 How To Make Excellent Video Content Without Breaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 The Bank For Startups

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 3 Maintain Your Productivity While Working From Home With These 3 Simple Tips During the pandemic, most people tend to prefer working at home than working in the office. The preference for a work-from-home setup is reasonable since safety and precautions are at the top of everybody’s current priorities. But while working from home may be ideal and timely amid the ongoing health crisis, it also presents specific disadvantages. For instance, the motivation to work and concentration needed to complete the task at hand is significantly affected. When it gets out of hand, it compromises the quality of deliverables expected from the staff. How is 100% productivity maintained while working remotely?

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 4 One of the best ways for employees to stay motivated while working from home is by implementing a personal reward system. By rewarding themselves for completing big or small tasks, employees can propel themselves to finish tasks and projects on time with the highest quality possible. How to start? Remote employees can start off by creating a breakdown of all their objectives along with the corresponding rewards. Keep in mind that these rewards do not have to be fancy. Finishing off their shift an hour or two earlier than usual (after hitting deadlines) for them to bond with their loved ones, watch a movie, or even play their favorite video games are a few great examples of using a personal reward system. With that in mind, here are a few more simple yet useful tips to help work-from-home employees maintain productivity through a self-reward system: Tip 1. BE ORGANIZED AT ALL TIMES Maintaining an organized, step-by-step process for completing tasks can be challenging in a work-from-home setup. Aside from the presence of more distractions, there are also additional matters that keep employees’ attention divided. These factors can range from household chores to family-related matters that significantly affect their overall work performance. As an employee, it is their job to accomplish every task delegated to them on time. An effective way for employees to stay on track with their daily tasks is to set clear goals ahead of time. It is proven that a person who organizes tasks and outlines a detailed plan on how they will reach point A to point B and so on ahead of time will less likely

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 5 experience stress. In contrast, employees who are prone to rushing work at the last minute have a higher tendency of suffering from being burnout. Tip 2. MAINTAIN A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE Most of the time, employees tend to strain their physical and mental capabilities to finish a project (especially when it is a critical one). It is common for employees with hectic schedules to drink excessive amounts of caffeinated beverages and energy drinks to stay alert and focused. Excessive caffeine levels in the body can lead to severe complications. There are certain nutritional deficiencies that can mimic physical and mental stressors and trigger depression, fatigue, and anxiety. The combination of psychological, emotional, and physical distress often leads to unhealthy coping habits and stress management practices at work. Employees should always ensure that they are mentally and physically well enough to accomplish their tasks. By eating a balanced diet, following a regular sleep cycle, and actively distancing themselves from situations and ideas that promote negative and counterproductive thought processes, they can stay healthy and fit to work. Aside from getting enough rest and maintaining a proper diet, it is also important to adopt a proactive lifestyle. Exercising regularly fuels the body and promotes hormones that aid in productivity and achieving a positive mindset. Tip 3. DON’T WAIT FOR PAYDAY (TO REWARD YOURSELF) Most of the time, workers tend to reward themselves during payday. Thus, it is not surprising to encounter “one-time billionaire” co-workers, or those who impulsively splurge their salaries in one go. The problem with employees rewarding themselves only during payday is it makes them forget how to

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 6 cherish and appreciate their daily achievements in a more appropriate manner. Indeed, rewards and incentives are effective reminders of one’s hard work and effort. However, this should not justify overspending paychecks. Budgeting one’s hard-earned money promotes better discipline and instills money-saving habits in the lifestyles of employees. MOMENTUM, LOSE NO MORE The ongoing health crisis has truly shed light on the pros and cons that come with working from home. At best, it remains to be one of the best choices for businesses to stay afloat while keeping their employees safe. It should also be noted that employees deal with different situations at home. Some are single parents, some have poor internet access. In worst-case scenarios, some employees are victims of domestic abuse (in this case, the intervention of authorities and professionals is needed). A concise checklist of all the tasks that need to be done in conjunction with an internal rewarding system can help staff pinpoint and resolve task-related issues more easily. This combination helps alleviate stress and improve productivity. There may still be several other ways that employees can stay motivated while working from home, but following the three simple steps elaborated in this article will help them concentrate and overcome the distractions and stressors that affect their performance.

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START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 8 5 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Do When Starting a Business The future is filled with uncertainties, making it seem as though starting a business is filled with nothing but endless drawbacks. In truth, most of these pitfalls are commonly caused by inadequate funds and legal disputes involving the business or company. It is true that with the proper assessment, decision making, and tracking of all the factors that can possibly lead to legal disagreements and shortage of funds will help lessen the risk of both dilemmas taking place. On the other hand, this does not guarantee that it will consistently protect the business from encountering these pitfalls.

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 9 There are other elements that can still slip through the cracks and be left unnoticed. Some of these elements include small issues on production, quality of service, and even communication among the different departments of the company. When these small concerns are not duly addressed, it will pile up and eventually lead to the business’ downfall. That said, it is essential for aspiring entrepreneurs to keep an eye out on the following possible startup mistakes listed below and use it as a reference for how they will prepare and adjust their business strategy in the long run. 1. NOT KNOWING YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE IN TERMS OF PREFERENCES AND PAIN POINTS This is by far one of the most common mistakes that first-time entrepreneurs commit. They tend to overlook the value of defining and knowing the people who comprise their target market. Knowing the type of audience that the products and services served is crucial in devising cost-effective solutions to customer concerns. It is essential for both established companies and startups to consistently monitor the preferences of their target demographic. It is a must to help determine whether their products can solve or address their target market’s pain points or not. By carefully researching various customer problems, needs, and wants through surveys, entrepreneurs will be able to come up with a good strategic approach not only for their campaigns but also for the improvement of their products as a whole. 2. FAILURE TO PLAN AHEAD

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 10 Planning for a business may take a significant amount of time. Without careful planning in advance, the business becomes more likely to experience a series of pitfalls that will eventually affect its operations. Operating without a business plan is like traveling the sea without a compass. Keep in mind that without a concrete plan, the efficiency of the business will be compromised as there is no systematic or step-by-step process to use as a guide. It is best to plan ahead of time in order for the business to foresee the possible outcomes of every action and decision involved in managing the company. While the end result may be negative at times, the important part is businesses will have a more reliable point of reference for improvement. 3. LACK OF CLEAR GOALS FOR THE BUSINESS Setting up a clear objective provides directions on how the business can operate more smoothly and deliver services according to what the customers demand. Also, setting the right goal can help the business owner track how the business performs on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. As a result, it makes thinking of new ways to enhance productivity and efficiency among the staff easier. More importantly, crystal clear business objectives are instrumental in implementing the appropriate countermeasures in the instance of a dispute or complaint. 4. CHOOSING NOT TO INVEST IN INNOVATION This is the digital era, and it is the job of every business to embrace the new norm. The failure to adopt innovation means that the business is losing

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 11 several opportunities for increasing audience reach and expanding the breadth of services and products it can offer. Innovations on technology may require a significant amount of time to understand as well as additional expenses, but it is essential for opening new profitable business deals and boosting the business’ competence. At best, advancements on how support services, sales, and marketing approaches are carried out likewise help the business save more money. 5. BEING THE JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES In the first few phases of the business operations, the desire to become the jack-of-all-trades is not bad at all. However, as the business flourishes, it is best to build a team composed of well-positioned individuals to take care of the different key areas in the business. Shouldering all the integral aspects of managing the business is a no-no. The better alternative is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the business and align strategies for improvement with the existing workforce and their individual skills. The core objective of this is to help the business owner free up a considerable amount of time to focus more on the business’s development. After all, what good is being well-versed in a variety of fields, if it hinders business owners from setting a clear path for their company? THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING Launching a business entails different issues that budding entrepreneurs tend to miss. With the right knowledge on the different factors that can hamper business success, entrepreneurs can use it as a head’s up. In this manner, it becomes easier for them to devise ways on how to steer their business in the right direction.

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 12 Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Indeed, there are still tons of other possible mistakes that entrepreneurs may commit, aside from the ones listed in this blog. The key is to have a good grasp of what to avoid during the initial phase of starting the business and formulate better, more sustainable sales, marketing, and management strategies beforehand.

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 13 5 Tips to Become a Great Startup Leader Every establishment needs a leader to rely on at all times. Everybody can be a leader, but most of them do not truly have what it takes to be one. It is important to have the right person to lead the whole crew on how to navigate through the ups and downs of a business’s operation as this helps achieve success and long-term stability. A true and great leader must be equipped with the right mindset and a vast arsenal of knowledge and skills. For aspiring individuals that aim to become “the” leader that a business needs, there are specific qualities that must be considered. These qualities are often exhibited by excellent and reliable leaders and serve as the foundation of a healthy and positive working relationship among co-workers.

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 14 A leader’s work ethics are reflected in the team or staff they are handling. If a supervisor is able to take the reins and promote efficiency among their staff, it will inevitably show through the team’s performance and cooperation at work. That said, here is a list of the core factors that can help aspiring individuals become a great leader in their respective teams: 1. STAY POSITIVE AT ALL TIMES One of the requirements for becoming a good leader is to have a positive and confident mindset. It is true that exuding and embodying a confident aura at all times is so contagious that it empowers the workforce and eventually renders the whole team to be more passionate and motivated to work. Positivity also includes being passionate about the nature of the work involved in the company where a leader is employed. Showing and sharing a healthy attitude among the team can leave a positive impact on the work lifestyle of each subordinate. 2. BE A TACTICIAN A good leader must know the meaning of the word “plan”. It is important to have a clear vision of all objectives for a particular project or task, along with its entailing consequences. They should be able to set clear goals carefully and in advance with corresponding contingencies to enable the whole team to work smoothly. Since contingency plans are included, the chances of being slowed and disrupted will be lessened.

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 15 3. MAINTAIN A RESPECTFUL AND OPEN COMMUNICATION AMONG THE TEAM A great leader should always be a good communicator as well as a good listener. It is a core element that can help the whole team accomplish its goals. Fostering open communication within the workplace is a very effective way to improve not only the efficiency of the business but also the rapport among employees. A leader should always welcome positive and constructive feedback and viewpoints from other members of the team, rather than sticking with the “me” mentality. This way, the leader will easily understand and pinpoint every problem associated with each concern. It will also enable the leader to get familiarized with the potentials of each of their staff. Generally, possessing good communication skills that transcends difference in rank, background, and work experience make a great leader that employees will follow wholeheartedly. 4. WORK WITH ENOUGH RESOURCES Another responsibility and important quality of a leader is to provide the resources required in order for their employees to work accordingly. This is especially true when the team is delegated with a task that entails a specific type of resource in order to complete the project. This can be in the form of either money, equipment, or an additional set of skills. On the other hand, leaders should ensure that they are working harmoniously with resource management and should always keep track of the expenses. 5. KNOW YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 16 This is by far the most important factor to consider if an individual wants to lead effectively. Be responsible. It is important for leaders to always show their personal integrity, intricate decision making, selfless action, all while providing insightful and constructive feedback before putting plans and strategies into action. It is important for leaders to show their team that they are worth following. DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A GREAT LEADER? Being a leader does not mean to carry all the burden inside the workplace. Rather, to be a great and efficient leader means possessing the capability to use challenges and hurdles to leverage the team. Excellent leaders do not break under pressure. They systematically devise ways to foster teamwork among the entire crew. More importantly, a true leader is not just someone who gives out orders or commands all the time. They work hand-in-hand with their staff while keeping them motivated. A leader is the one who learns from their members while nurturing the strengths of their members. With the pointers listed above, even newly assigned supervisors and team managers can prepare themselves more adequately as they continue working towards becoming one of the finest leaders that their company could ever have.

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START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 18 Successful Startup Business: What Are The Right Steps? “Success is not final; failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.” ̶ ̶ Winston Churchill Aspiring entrepreneurs often feel the excitement whenever they visualize having many customers purchasing their products upon launching their business. However, their excitement instantly dies down once they realize that their expectations turn out differently in reality. For instance, they may not have enough sales to cover their expenses during the first week. Low sales can, indeed, be frustrating and disappointing; thus,

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 19 triggering startup owners, particularly young entrepreneurs to consider halting their operations. What they should understand is that generating sales may not come easy in the beginning. It involves hard work and a concrete gameplan. Even with huge capital and investments at their disposal, new and your entrepreneurs should not get carried away immediately as they open their business. There are crucial factors that must be considered in order to ensure the success of your business upon its opening day. Read: 7 Important Tips for a Successful Startup Launch 1. Provide a Solution Passion is important. But, it is not enough if entrepreneurs wish to truly succeed. There are a lot of customers searching for products that could help them ease their burden, and this should be the main focus of launching and advertising the brand. It is crucial to brainstorm business ideas, as this induces new concepts. It is likewise necessary to ask the question, “How can these ideas help others?” Analyzing the impact of the ideas once they are implemented will be beneficial when choosing the right product for the target audience. This step enables having a solid customer base when the needs of target customers are met. 2. Listen to Feedback Before starting a business, conduct surveys and interviews. Present a plan to ideal customers, and ask questions such as “What additional features should the product have?” and “How would you rate the product on a scale of 1-10, and why?” If money is not an issue, it would be ideal for entrepreneurs to create product samples and send them to those who would be interested in

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 20 their product. When customers have real experience with the product, they are able to provide constructive feedback, which contributes to improving the characteristics of what a startup plans to introduce to the market. 3. Create a Business Plan A great business plan should contain lists of what the business’ goals are. The plan must also elaborate on the methods that will be carried out to attain each step. It helps businesses stay on track with their goals as well as their future decision-making processes. Generally, a well-summarized business plan is about 30-40 pages long. It should include the name of your business and its description, the problem aims to solve and its corresponding solutions, the target market and the marketing strategies that will be implemented to reach the intended audience, as well as the goals for the company’s operations and management. As startup owners go about their business, they need to update the business plan continuously with every change they encounter with the initial plan. These changes will include both unfulfilled objectives, goals that were achieved, and new goals set for the business. Read: 8 Reasons Why Creating a Growth Roadmap is Essential for Startups 4. Produce the Product Developing a product entails finding an engineer for technical products or a manufacturer for mass production. If manpower is an issue, outsourcing part of the operations to a company that provides great service helps guarantee that the product is created with the highest quality. During the development or manufacturing of the product, it is essential to hire developers or manufacturers who have extensive experience in the same industry. Make it a point to receive updates from the developer or manufacturer regularly to ensure product accuracy, and have a trustworthy person supervise the quality of the product.

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 21 5. Invest in Marketing Make marketing a priority when starting a business. It is not enough to make target customers aware of the product. Informing them about the benefits and importance of using the product is just as essential. Customers need to gain a clear understanding of how it can make their life better before they decide to spend their money on what a business offers to them. Ideally, entrepreneurs should concentrate on social media marketing and content marketing, both of which can be outsourced to a reliable service provider to keep customers informed and to increase brand awareness and visibility, Read: 5 Key Reasons Why Digital Marketing is Important for Startups Final Thoughts Being a business owner requires the utmost attention to the strengths and weaknesses of the business. This means scrutinizing everything, from the biggest part down to the smallest details. Through constant monitoring, startup owners and young entrepreneurs will be able to identify areas in their brand that need improvement along with the appropriate solutions for each. As a business leader, it is likewise crucial to keep pace with new trends or methods that can be adapted for product innovation as customer preference may change over time. Always lend an open ear and an open mind to feedback and suggestions to achieve business growth. Are you looking for a service provider that only delivers high-quality output? Virtual Assistant Supplier has talented and dedicated remote employees who will help grow and expand your business. Message us now to get a quote!

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 22 Why Should a Startup Consider Working With an Agency? Startups, as a business venture, are in an unstable position in terms of the assurance of thriving and making it big in the industry. With limited resources, startups have a high risk of failure compared to other established businesses. Thus, owners are expected to do everything in their power for their company to strive. During a worldwide health emergency like the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus, for instance, small companies are the first to be affected. They are at a high risk of facing bankruptcy as the economy. Seeking assistance from a reliable outsourcing company is a tried-and-tested option that startups should consider. It is an excellent option that addresses constraints brought by a finite number of resources and manpower. Outsourcing agencies help startups meet increased demands for productivity

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 23 While it cannot be helped for small companies, limited manpower can often lead to employees extending their shifts and performing extra tasks just to achieve the daily goals of the enterprise. Even business owners will have to do extra non-administrative or non-managerial duties to assist their team. By teaming up with an agency offering outsourcing services, startups get to distribute the workload more evenly and diminish the pressure on their staff. After all, unmotivated and mentally exhausted staff can further lead to a dramatic decrease in the team’s overall efficiency. Regardless if there is an ongoing widespread health crisis or not, the solutions offered by outsourcing agencies are very timely and suitable for startups. Below are the two main factors that often pose pressing issues for new and small companies that outsourcing companies help address: WORKFORCE The need for additional workers is a common problem for small businesses, yet many still cannot afford to hire additional employees to work for their company. The options for business owners are narrowed down to either letting their company suffer from a slow-paced development or find a solution to deal with the problem. Outsourcing some of the tasks is a viable and wise option. Startup employees are often faced with the dilemma of taking on multiple roles aside from the job title that they originally applied for. This kind of setup diminishes the quality of work delivered by the staff. Delegating some of the tasks to an outsourcing company will leave in-house employees with more time to focus on their field of expertise. It effectively brings out the potential and skills of the workers as their attention and efforts are no longer divided between fulfilling their assigned roles and taking on additional responsibilities in the company.

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 24 Outsourcing agencies often have a lineup of virtual assistants with a broad range of skills and experiences. The sheer number of additional workforce and expertise that can supplement a startup’s limited operations makes the outsourcing setup very practical and flexible for small companies. TASK DELEGATION It is almost impossible for a small business to have a complete set of employees to fulfill each and every task needed to continue the company’s operations. More often than not, the management is left with no choice but to divide additional tasks among the staff. Some might say that taking on multiple roles is a common scenario in startup companies. Still, that does not make it a true sign of efficiency and well preparedness for long-term goals. There will still be tasks that are way beyond the normal capacity of anyone in the group such as content writing, video production, and social media marketing, for instance. These are specialized tasks that require sufficient work experience, knowledge, and familiarity with the tools or software needed for it to be carried out. Rather than forcing somebody to do something that they are not familiar with, it will be a better choice to outsource tasks and responsibilities that entail a certain level of expertise to agencies highly knowledgeable in the field. It will guarantee superb outputs that are instrumental in marketing the company and reaching more potential customers. Along the way, employees will also be able to learn new techniques and strategies from the outsourcing agencies they have partnered with. Most of the time, radical ideas are difficult to find within the company since all of the members are leaning towards the identity of their business. Agencies, however, will lead them to new doors and perspectives. There will be continuous learning and improvement for everybody.

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 25 THE TAKEAWAY It is not yet too late for startups to realize the benefits that they can get from availing the assistance of outsourcing companies. The most important aspect for a startup to survive is sustainability. Startups must have a realistic business strategy that will help them get by even through challenging times. Small business owners must think of every possible way they can use to help their firm and employees in the least costly method available. Emergency situations that limit operations and interaction with customers pose big challenges for small businesses. Fortunately, outsourcing continues to save several startups by allowing them to continue production despite the community restrictions implemented in many cities and countries.

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START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 27 7 Important Tips For a Successful Startup Launch For business-minded people, new business ideas are never-ending. If someone’s passion is in the craft that they do, then they will always find a way to display it to the world. But venturing is not an easy task, and A common question is always “when is the right time to start a business?” This is crucial as there is really no perfect time, business is all about risk-taking. A person may be financially, physically, and emotionally ready but if they are not willing to take the risk then they will not be able to establish their own startup. Among the most important things to do before starting a business is researching and business planning. An aspiring entrepreneur must know their target market, competitors, and have a feasible business strategy at the very

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 28 least. This can be helpful especially in unanticipated situations where things do not go as planned as the business will be able to strive. After securing the initial steps, here are some other important tips for business owners to successfully launch and grow their startup: 1. Proper investment An extremely small percentage of business owners are able to start their business big, but most of the time, startup owners begin with nothing but passion and determination. There is nothing wrong with starting small, as long as it is done with utmost care. When starting a business, it is the owner’s responsibility to decide on the initial movements of the business, and it can be quite overwhelming and confusing. Primarily, they must know their priorities. Regularly consulting on the business plan can be helpful in determining the decisions that can be helpful for the company and those that can be set aside for the meantime. Before investing, owners must be assured that it will add to the growth of their business. Not everything that is offered should be grabbed. They must keep in mind that they are at an intricate stage of business venture, one wrong move and the business may fall. 2. Be realistic Business owners always want the best for their business, but keep in mind that perfection is not realistic. Businesses are delicate and there will be a lot of challenges and mistakes along the way. What is important is how a company will overcome such challenges.

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 29 It is imperative to dream big, but make sure to veer away from the impracticable. It is better to take little steps slowly but surely. Make it your mindset that there is always room for improvement, then from there, owners can grow their business securely. 3. Never neglect the importance of marketing Marketing can come in many forms. Owners must first determine the suitable marketing strategy for their business, then formulate a plan to execute it. Creating content for marketing and promotion takes a big part in business success. Many do not consider it, but hiring professionals for marketing tasks is just as important as hiring employees to do other office tasks. It requires marketing skills and an understanding of the business for a favorable outcome. 4. Long term perspective A person starting a business needs to have long term plans and goals for the company. If not, then the initial effort and investment will be wasted. All business decisions will have a lasting effect on the company. Having such a mindset also allows for more time to grow the skills of the employees of the company. It will give everyone a chance to improve in their own craft and learn new ideas and techniques to help the business in the long run. 5. Building local presence For startups, it is important to create a community base. Before they are able to expand their business, they must first have a strong foundation in their own

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 30 community. Building a support system can be helpful and beneficial for business owners. Initially, the community around a startup is its target market. For that reason, they must make sure that these people know and recognize the business. Joining associations and participating in various local activities can be a good start in introducing the company. Building relationships with people around them is the best way to create loyal customers. It may not be visible at first, but eventually, owners will see the result of having support from the community. During tough times, the community will be there to catch them. 6. Maintain customer relationship Customers keep the business alive, they are the most important source of leads and sales of a company. A business’s main goal is always to attract and maintain customers. For startups, the most effective way is to create relationships with their customers. Customer satisfaction is very important in retaining loyal consumers. It can be attained by establishing personal relationships with them. Do not make them feel as if they are just a number in your business, but rather, owners should treat them as friends. Using informal, simple, and friendly conversations can be an effective tool. Also occasionally giving promos and discounts can attract people to a company. Furthermore, it is also a good idea to accept feedback from customers, as this gives the company room for improvement. Despite the terrifying stories of failing businesses, creating a startup is still worth it. With proper planning and decision making, business owners will surely meet success. It can be risky and challenging, but if an entrepreneur

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 31 has determination and passion (and understands the above tips) they will not have a fear of failure.

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 32 5 Main Reasons why Job Seekers should Join a Startup It is every job seeker’s dream to find a company that will provide them with countless opportunities to showcase and enhance their skills while providing them with compensation that is suitable to their experiences and expectations. With dozens of job opportunities awaiting, a common trend among job applicants is to choose a company that is more established and well-known. As a result, a huge chunk of aspiring applicants become skeptical about joining a startup company. Indeed, there are certain risks and disadvantages coupled with opting to work for a startup. However, not all startups are bad. Startups can also be very

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 33 beneficial for job hunters, and it also has the capacity to provide a meaningful work experience that its employees will happily include in their resume for future references. Below are the five main reasons why joining a startup can be advantageous for a job seeker and employee: 1. Startups Develop New Skills in Employees In large organizations, employees have specific job descriptions; thus, their responsibilities are limited. Meanwhile, in small organizations, employees may be required to perform different tasks as the company expands. They will be increasingly involved in generating innovative ideas that would greatly contribute to the success of the company. Pushing employees to go beyond the initial lineup of tasks assigned to them drives them to develop additional skills that make them more adept at a wider range of expertise. While it is true that the budgetary allocation of startups is limited, skill-building is the opposite. It is significantly a more worthwhile experience because once leaders in the company notice an employee’s potential, they can assign bigger projects to the employee which will all the more enhance the skills of their staff. The ups and downs of working in a startup that welcomes ideas and suggestions, while supporting employee growth usually generate a positive learning experience. 2. Startup Employees Have the Opportunity to Advance Their Career A startup company that has a clear vision and mission is the one that achieves success in the business industry over time. As the company advances, its employees also advance. Being in a young company, employees who have massively contributed to the achievements of the company can

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 34 easily attract the attention of managers. As such, employees who stay loyal and have made an impact will be given a major breakthrough in their careers. When there are available higher positions that fit the qualifications of a deserving employee, there is a tendency that managers will offer the said employee the position. 3. Startup Employees Create a Stronger Bond Being in a smaller environment enables employees to work closely with one another; hence, it is only natural to develop trust and a closer relationship with colleagues from different levels of superiority. The increased chances of getting to know the strengths and interests of one another in the company leads to camaraderie. Other than that, this paves the way for employees to work closely with company leaders and even with the CEO themselves. It creates an atmosphere where both staff and superiors get to share different yet effective strategies to solve a problem. For this reason, startup leaders can directly mentor an employee directly, and in turn, the employee will be able to adapt the leaders’ mindset. In the long run, the employee develops the mindset and skills that will make them capable to handle bigger responsibilities independently. 4. Startup Employees Can Compose a Compelling Career Summary Employees who have been with the company have certainly been asked to engage with different roles as startups prefer to appoint individuals with experience in the industry to achieve greater results and reduce hiring and training costs. The contributions of these employees are critical to the positive results achieved by the company.

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 35 It is therefore not surprising that employees entrusted with different roles in the company are likely to contribute and achieve more when compared to employees fulfilling a single job role in a larger corporation. For instance, a startup employee can be honed to become an effective HR Manager, while also handling sales-related tasks. These experiences are incredible information and experiences that can be shared with future employers if one decides to embark on a different journey career-wise. 5. Startup Employees Learn How to Be an Entrepreneur Some employees may hope to avoid the 9-6 rat race in the future and the solution to that is for employees to build their own business. Starting a business can be terrifying, but with the knowledge and skills learned by observing or watching how colleagues and leaders solve problems in the company, run a business, and innovate products or services, employees will little by little adapt the expertise needed to run their own business in the future.

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START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 37 6 Easy Steps to Get Funds For Your Startup Business Getting funds for your business is a roller coaster ride as there are rises, falls, twists and turns. Have you ever experienced that situation where countless of your brain is clouded with innovative ideas that it makes you want to jump and start that business in a snap? You may be prepared to take the next step, but your amazing ideas are hampered by the inefficiency of funds that you currently have. Seeking for funds to start a business is obviously a difficult path. Investors who lack familiarity with a certain business may hesitate to shell out money for a relatively new venture. Due to inefficient funding, there are young and

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 38 brilliant aspiring entrepreneurs who experienced rejection from potential investors. Whether you like it or not, money is a huge part of the equation between starting a business and attracting the right investors and business partners. Thankfully, there are feasible solutions for newbie entrepreneurs like you who are struggling to get enough funding for their startup. Here’s how: 1. Seek Help from Local Banks One of the tried-and-tested ways to generate funds for a startup is to approach loan officers in your local bank of choice. It would be best to choose a bank that you are currently using for your personal banking needs. Set an appointment with a loan officer. When setting an appointment, first impressions can influence how well your business proposal will go. Remember to look neat and professional. Do be mindful of the following tips as well: ● Choose your clothing. Do not wear your tattered jeans or your Hawaiian shirt. A business casual attire should do the trick. ● Prepare your business plan. Your business plan should be a breeze to read. It must also enumerate your startup’s forecast of future revenues and expenses. During your appointment, make it a point to explain the reason behind the amount that you intend to loan. If possible, explain in detail how you intend to use the full percentage of the money you wish to borrow.

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 39 2. Seek Help from Venture Capitalists A venture capitalist (VC) is an investor that provides capital to companies that have a strong potential to thrive amongst a sea of competitors in the industry. Venture capitalists are willing to take risks since they know that the money they will be investing will yield them massive return especially if these companies will flourish successfully. Normally, VCs prefer investing in businesses that belong in the software and technology industry. Still, there is no harm in trying. 3. Seek Help from Angel Investors Angel Investors, or more commonly known as private investors, seed investors or angel funders, are a bit different from venture capitalists. While venture capitalists get funds from investment companies, large corporations, and pension funds, angel investors use their own money. Before an individual or company can be considered as an angel investor, they must first meet the minimum qualifications. Among these qualifications include earning at least $200, 000 in their yearly income and possessing at least $1 million as their net worth. Angel Investors can also act as your mentors and decision-makers in terms of running your business. This is a role that not all VCs take on. If you’re lucky, angel investors can also introduce lawyers, accountants, and banks who can serve as viable connections in growing and gearing your business for long-term success. 4. Seek Help from Friends and Family It can be pretty tricky to borrow money from family and friends. Stick to people who you feel and know will support you through thick and thin. Try seeking financial backing from your parents or siblings or even your closest

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 40 friends and spouse. You can also offer them a partnership deal if you deem them suitable for running a company or business. It would also be best to approach friends and family members who are well-off and are free from any outstanding debt. 5. Seek Help from People Through Crowdfunding Crowdfunding is the process of raising funds online with the help of family, friends, customers and individual investors. This approach is possible through social media and crowdfunding platforms such as Kickstarter, CircleUp, CrowdFunder, and Fundable. You can showcase your resources to a large number of interested investors and other individuals. When crowdsourcing, encourage your audience to interact with and share your fundraising campaign. Doing so will boost the likelihood of reaching potential funders. 6. Seek Help from a Business Partner Having a business partner who is trustworthy and has the same ideology as yours will make your business thrive in the years to come. That said, if you can look for a strategic partner who has enough funds to support your business, then the more likely that you can position your business for positive growth. Around 85% of companies claim that working with a business partner is fundamental to their company’s long-term growth. The Bottom Line Venturing into a new business is a smart and bold idea, especially if your soul wants to escape the 9-5 rat race. On the other hand, becoming a business owner is not always a milk-and-honey kind of scenario. There are a number of

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 41 significant factors that need careful consideration, from funding and building your business from the ground up to hiring the right individuals for your team. As long as you have a solid business plan and you carefully choose the funding option that best suits your business’ needs, then you will likely increase the possibility of scoring more than enough to support your very own startup.

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 42 The Uniqueness of the Startup Culture Each year, the trends and cultures of the working society undergoes constant change. Unknowingly, its changes have always been fashioned to keep up with people’s needs and preferences. An emerging trend among these changes in business ventures is the choice of putting up a startup. Basically, a startup is a business venture that literally starts from nothing. Mainly, it risks a high failing rate and a low ROI. There are a number of startups wherein owners were unable to sustain their business; making it a requirement to have a thorough business plan and a flexible yet solid strategy to survive. Startups are a very attractive choice for millenials. Tagged as a “rebellious generation”, individuals who belong to this generation are actively rejecting traditional norms in both in their career choices and in the businesses that they wish to establish. They are no longer limiting themselves into the usual

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 43 opportunities such as work involving the corporate world. Most of them take a fresher alternative path that is more liberated and creative in nature. What is so unique about startups that people are choosing it over opportunities based in corporate settings? Startups are booming because its owners are passionate about the products, services and core message that their startup business promotes. Another factor vital to the success of a startup business is its unique company culture. It is what makes a particular company standout among other startups. Startup owners are the ones who develop and create the internal culture for their business. It is pivotal for the loyalty, motivation, efficiency, and positive attitude that employees or staff will develop and foster as they become part of the company. A startup’s culture can also be based on the niche where it belongs. Choosing a specific niche for a startup requires self-evaluation. Self-evaluation helps aspiring entrepreneurs determine which types of businesses would fit their personality and interests the best. To help explore in more detail the distinctive flair that the culture of almost every startup possesses, below are 6 of the most common elements that one can find in a small business setup: 1. Ingrained Company Value Company values are the standards of behavior implemented in the entire startup. Company values should be the stepping ladder towards attaining the startup’s core goal. Every member must know and understand it well for them to cope and get along well with fellow employees. Company values should be a reflection of the main essence and identity that a startup embodies. The best way to present and embed a clear set of company values is by making employees and workers feel involved in the organizational

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 44 management and the attainment of the startup’s goals. It gives workers the reason to enjoy and continue working. Employees who carry with them the core values of a startup will also influence other workmates or colleagues with a positive attitude. With a properly integrated company culture, employees will not be lost with what they do even after the company’s growth and expansion. 2. Willful Productivity Every startup begins with literally nothing and this is why it becomes twice more challenging to run one. It takes time for a startup to establish a fixed identity, routine, rules and regulations. Each and every employee has an impact on their co-workers’ work habits, as well as on the company’s environment, growth and failure. Since traditional rules are out of the question in a startup setting, it is often assumed that employees are free to work at their own pacing for as long as it does not affect the business negatively. Increasing the team’s productivity is a struggle for corporate owners due to the sheer number of staff that needs to be managed and monitored. As such, encouraging other people to work harder and step up their game can be frustrating most of the time. Problems in an employee’s performance can be traced back to the existing company culture and environment. There is a simple math in the company’s productivity; and it includes variable of happiness, fear, and productivity. It goes like this: Happiness = increased productivity If employees are happy in what they do and in their workplace, it increases individual productivity and eventually, the team’s total output. But fear can always ruin growth. If terror is what owners implement in the office, people will

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 45 likely opt to leave. It also decreases productivity. A positive vibe and atmosphere in a startup can likewise foster collaboration and teamwork. If people feel that they belong to a group or that they are friends with their team members, they build connections with one another and easily communicate with each other. Startups have a relatively small team. Smaller group sizes make it less of a hassle for staff to speak for themselves and spark creativity and innovation. Small workspaces tend to foster a higher level of flexibility and involvement among staff members. Young team members and newbies will likely have the chance to share their ideas and suggestions while fresh points of view are encouraged. Fear = decreased productivity 3. Enforced Flexibility Flexibility is also a unique selling point in a startup business compared to the corporate world. Startups are less formal and rigid in terms of its internal operations. There is bigger room available for creativity, imagination, and originality. Since it is only a small group, members will share a closer bond and express their goals, ideas, and space with each other. While the workload may be doubled, teamwork is relatively practiced more readily and happily among employees. Also an advantage of having a small staff to work with is that startups have the ability to adapt to different situations and circumstances thrown at them. Startup employees are taught to do work outside of their actual work description. 4. Open Communication and Teamwork

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 46 It is common in every business for multiple employees to work on one project. In order to generate favorable results for a specific project or goal, communication within the team must be transparent and unbounded. Otherwise, projects will not be able to push through smoothly without clear and open communication within the team. Often times, a startup is likened to a family where everyone is affected by each other’s failures and achievements. Diversity is a selling point because it opens doors for more ideas and suggestions for the betterment of the products and even the company itself. Startup employees are more comfortable expressing their ideas; a trait that fosters a healthier office environment. Transparency also becomes more apparent especially if a distinct nature of communication is developed within the company. This is an advantage that startups have over their big-time competitors. 5. Fearless Risk-taking For business owners who opt to open a startup, the first thing they need to consider is their willingness to take risks. They must first be knowledgeable that a startup has a high risk of failing. As a venturer, once they make the decision to push through with their business plan, they must be ready to make sacrifices. But it is not all the time that startups actually fail. A successful startup is usually backed by innovation and creativity comes in. Startup owners should be able to think of ways on how to handle different situations in a creative and practical way. Nevertheless, no businessman has ever succeeded without even trying to face the uncertainties that come with their company’s journey. 6. Unrivaled Passion

START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 47 The most important among all the elements that segregate startups from established companies and corporate giants, is the exhibition of overflowing passion. Passion in a startup setup not only refers to that of the owners’, but also that of their employees. Before entering a startup, they must first love what they do and be committed to what their products and services have to offer. Aside from the salary, everyone must enjoy the experience of being in a startup business so much that they are willing to stay and do extra effort for the company to succeed. The structure and culture of a startup is relatively different and unique. Its informal and compact environment can be used to the advantage of its owner and the staff employed under it.

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START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 49 3 Effective Ways To Grow Your Startup Business Every business’ aim and dream, whether it is a startup or an established firm, is for their company to grow and gain huge profit. Owners will do every move possible to achieve their goal. Achieving growth is particularly a problem for startup companies. These enterprises will do everything to gain profit using their initial capital, all while competing with other businesses around their market. Some business owners get overwhelmed by the stress and disorder entailed by building a startup. It has too many rooms for improvement, innovation, expansion and marketing that businessmen sometimes feel uncertain over which steps are appropriate for them to take.