America is known as the land of opportunity. Anyone with a vision can start a business. What’s required to open one? Put simply, just a business license from your local government. Opening a successful business, however, takes more. Here are a few things to consider as you prepare to launch:
- Business license. This is authorization from your local government to do business in your area. In Knoxville, see Knox County’s information on business licenses and business tax.
- Business plan. This is a written statement of your objectives, mission, market analysis, costs and more. Be clear on what the venture will cost, its earning potential, who your ideal client is, who needs your product or service, and what makes you better than the competition. Answering these questions gets you off to the right start. The U.S. Small Business Administration has a helpful guide to writing your business plan.
- Logo. A well-designed logo has a major impact on how people perceive your brand. Pay attention to size, color, style and typography. What’s your company name? Will you feature a mascot or icon? Do you have a slogan? What do your competitors’ logos look like? Are you conveying a traditional or modern mood? This 99designs guide will help. Pioneer Media also has talented logo designers available; see one of our custom logos at JTMStucco.com.
- Domain name. This is your .com (or one of the many newer domain endings). Ideally it’s your-company-name.com. If that’s taken, get creative: add your target area, such as “TN” for Tennessee, or use a descriptive ending, like KristinGracy.Realtor. We can help you brainstorm, register and host the right domain for your start-up. (Read where to register your domain name.)
- Website. We love this step! A professional website is crucial to your start-up’s success. Potential customers will research your brand before doing business with you, and having no website undermines their confidence. A successful website needs:
- Accuracy: all content should be current and correct. Phone numbers, email addresses, prices and services must be accurate to avoid confusion.
- Beauty: ugly websites turn people away; beautiful ones draw them in. Your website should be something you’re proud to share. (See is it time for a website refresh?)
- Quality: photos should be high-resolution and showcase your best work, not all of it. Videos should be at least 1080p HD, ideally 4K. Copy should have a clear, thoughtful message, and your logo should be better than a $5 marketplace design.
- Simplicity: keep your message clear and your contact information easy to find. Don’t frustrate visitors with confusing navigation, and make sure your website is mobile-friendly.
- Speed: aim for a page that loads in under about 3 seconds, or visitors may leave before it finishes. Compressed images, caching and quality hosting all help.
- Trust: an SSL certificate gives your website the https:// address and the browser’s secure padlock. Positive reviews and social media followers add social proof. As a start-up you may not have reviews yet, and that’s okay: start now by asking every satisfied customer to leave a Google review.
Starting a business is exciting, but get your ducks in a row before launch. Doing your research and hiring a quality website designer go a long way toward launching a successful brand.
About the author
Leighton Smith is Pioneer Media’s website designer, web developer and webmaster, based in East Tennessee. As a solopreneur, he is each client’s one point of contact and has built hundreds of websites since learning to code in 2006.
