Creating a startup, online or not, is an effective solution to getting started in a business with high growth potential.
The realization of this project goes through a few steps:
- Search for a startup idea
- Establishment of a business model, a business plan, etc.
- Choice of legal form and funding
- Completion of business creation procedures
- Startup and development of activities
In this guide, we will discuss the basic stages you have to go through and also provide you with recommendations that can help you dive into business easily.
Reminder: What is a startup?
A startup is quite simply a young company created to develop an innovative activity with high development potential. Before launching into its creation, it is advisable to study this type of structure, the possible legal statutes, and their registration or stakes.
A startup can also be described as a temporary organization in search of an industrialized and profitable business model allowing growth.
The activities of a startup are often concentrated in:
- Digital sector
- New technologies
- Fintech
- Biotech
- Cleantech
- Collaborative economy
Some startups sometimes choose to exploit an already existing idea to create a unique and relevant offer.
How does Startup Differ from All Your Previous Entrepreneurial Projects?
A startup is distinguished by its “high growth potential.” Its creation is accompanied by real prospects for rapid and large-scale development. Creating a startup, therefore, differs from other entrepreneurial projects by its foundation, its objectives, and its implementation.
Create a Startup: Objectives
The creation of a startup is based on an ambitious project whose keyword is “growth.” That is why it is exciting to work with a startup. Its objective is mainly focused on its rapid development towards a more ambitious form.
To do so, the establishment of a business model or a sustainable economic model is required.
To successfully carry out the project, the entrepreneur must put in place an effective strategy, where the main objectives are:
- Maintain a position as an innovative player with finely studied communication means.
- Ensure that you have carried out a relevant customer segmentation.
- Guarantee the added value of its commercial offer compared to its competitors.
- Achieve sufficient profitability to ensure the development of the business.
Growth is the main challenge for a startup. To achieve this objective, certain conditions must be met. It is also necessary to set up a strategy for the activity and its development.
Why Create a Startup?
Creating a startup makes it possible to implement an ambitious and innovative project. This type of structure can guarantee the success of activity with high development potential at local, national, and international levels.
Also, creating a startup is relatively simple, given the many resources put in place to encourage entrepreneurs.
How to Launch a Startup?
The creation of a startup goes through several stages from the preparation phase to the concretization phase of the project. The first step is to find an idea for a startup and the last — is to create the company.
1. Find a Startup Idea
The first step in creating a startup is looking for an idea. During this phase, you must make sure that it is relevant, unique, and new. To do this, it may be practical to carry out a “benchmark,” in other words, a comparative study and a market study.
It is also necessary to check whether the idea of a startup corresponds to:
- Your aim
- Your skills
- Your qualifications
When choosing the idea for a startup, you also have to think about the corresponding target.
For example, if you want to create an academic platform like Buy Cheap Essay, your main audience would consist of high school, college, and university students.
It is important not to restrict the scope too much to guarantee the development of your business. The startup must make sure that the idea can ultimately be profitable. Testing the market may then be necessary to adjust the services or products of your startup.
2. Set Up Your Project and Formalize It
Once the concept of your startup has been determined and evaluated, the next step is to set up the project and formalize it. This phase assesses the feasibility of the project and its growth potential. It involves the establishment of several elements, in particular:
- The business plan with the presentation of the project and its financial aspects;
- The executive summary — a document summarizing the main principles of the business plan;
- The “ business model,” or economic model;
- The pitch — a speech that allows the project to be presented and promoted;
All these elements will allow investors to assess the startup, its usefulness, and its profitability.
3. Seek Funding: Once the project is formalized, the entrepreneur can seek financing. The various established elements must constitute the file to convince the investors and the banks.
4. Crowdfunding: To finance the creation of a startup, startups can bet on crowdfunding. This type of financing can be provided in the form of a loan, donation, or equal participation.
Note: to attract donors in a limited time, a significant initial investment is necessary.
5. Bank Loan: One of the classic financing solutions is to take a bank loan. In this case, the manager must act on his own for the surety of proper debt management.
6. Fundraising: Another solution is to raise funds. To attract business “angels” and encourage them to participate in your project, the project must be presented convincingly.
7. Create Startups
The last step is to create the startup itself. It brings together the steps relating to the creation of a company. It includes several phases from the choice of legal status to the registration of the startup. There are the formalities to be completed depending on the legal form chosen:
- The writing of the statutes of the startup
- The filing and registration of statutes
- The declaration of the company’s activities
- The publication of the startup constitution
- The registration of the startup.
Now, when we’re done with the formal part, let’s go through some recommendations.
Our Advice to Create Your Startup
The creation of a startup requires a certain knowledge of the market in which the entrepreneur wishes to start their business. It is also essential to master the various aspects relating to the creation of a business in a particular country.
Consider hiring an international SEO consultant Rossk to advise you on a marketing strategy for your startup.
To implement your project and succeed, it is advisable to:
- Be accompanied by experts
- Gather a competent team sharing the same ambition
- Build a solid file for the funding request.
Also, the creation of a site dedicated to the startup is an essential step to developing business internationally.
Before the Launch
To promote the startup, remember to organize your communication plan even before the launch of your product or concept. For that:
- Identify influencers who may be interested in your project or who can spread information: bloggers, journalists, or influencers from different social networks.
- Ensure that the launch doesn’t go unnoticed: provide an attractive landing page, include CTA (subscription to a newsletter, links to social networks), communicate through the online questionnaire to reach a maximum of potential customers, etc.
- Build a strong brand: bet on a logo, symbols, a mascot, and attractive colors. Focus on storytelling to attract clients.
When the solid ground is ready, it’s time to launch your project and work on it diligently.
During the Launch
During the launch, also remember to take care of your communication to guarantee the visibility of your startup and increase your reputation.
- Use social media to launch your product or service. Pay particular attention to the choice of social network(s) that must be adapted to the target audience and their expectations.
- Run a blog. Attract the clients by publishing original content highlighting your activity. Based on inbound marketing, this method is recognized for its effectiveness.
- Use e-mails to retain and revive customers. Think of one-to-one communication to develop relationships with customers.
- Organize events to make yourself known and be closer to the clients.
So, everything is working well, but is there something to look after?
After the Launch
Once your startup has been launched, continue to communicate on it to maintain your visibility. You can, in particular:
- Continue blogging actions by communicating, for example, your results and achievements.
- Participate in events organized around startups: trade fairs, competitions, conferences… That will allow you to make your business known, share your experiences, or even expand your network.
- Establish partnerships with companies whose activity is close to yours.
We hope this definitive guide will help you enter business easily and launch a successful startup without worries.