You’ve got an idea. Now what?
Look, we get it. Branching out to start your own business seems scary. Good thing that part is only in your head. You can DO this. We here at REV are rooting for you. Why? Because we believe small businesses are the fabric of a vibrant community. REV’s Business Growth team offers workshops, coaching and resources for passionate people to more easily start and grow their entrepreneurial dreams. One of those resources is a helpful, 20-step checklist to assist you with making your idea a reality. Check out a few of our tips:
-
Identify your WHY
Consider why you’re starting this business and how your customers will feel about your product. The keyword here is “feel.” People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it. Your personal why is an important piece of building a worthy product, a company and a brand.
-
Solidify your company’s core values.
What do you value and how will your company be a reflection of that? Think about how you’ll build trust with your customers. People buy from companies that share their values and beliefs. Write them down and let them guide you along the way. This will be your north star as you navigate the often treacherous path of entrepreneurs. When you find yourself at a fork in the road, reflect on your core values and then decide.
-
Draft your message, starting with WHY.
Your brand story should start with why. What do you believe and how does your product or service reflect that? What are you selling and how are you selling it? Practice your pitch until it feels super comfortable and then be prepared to test it during the early stages of your business to see what resonates with your customers.
-
Determine your Minimum Viable Product.
Your vision may be huge, but everyone has to start somewhere. Determine the simplest product requiring the least investment and create a plan for getting to your first sale to begin gaining customer feedback quickly.
-
Start with the numbers.
Draft a startup budget to clearly see what it will take to get your small business dream off the ground. Consider your startup expenses first and where you’ll find the resources to get started.
These are just a few tips that our team compiled to get you on track. Want the whole list? Click the button below for access to the rest:
Related News
-
Season 2 of Magic City Match is ready to help Black entrepreneurs grow
Filed Under: Business-Proving, Downtown Birmingham, Events, Filling Vacant Spaces, Front Page, Get Involved, Magic City Match, Potential-Proving, Small Business
Magic City Match is a program that transforms lives and opens doors for Black entrepreneurs and business owners. Led by REV Birmingham and powered by Prosper, this initiative aims to create opportunities for Black-owned businesses by matching them with brick-and-mortar spaces where they can thrive. After a successful pilot program in 2022, Magic City Match is back in action and ready to empower a new wave of entrepreneurs.
-
Unveiling the history of Woodlawn
Filed Under: Front Page, Historic Preservation, Small Business, Uncategorized, Woodlawn
One of the most legendary and storied neighborhoods of Birmingham is Woodlawn. It is a community, anchored by one of the great public high schools of Birmingham, that has produced many citizens who contributed to the life of our city and has had an impact beyond the neighborhood itself. In a short post like this true justice cannot be done to the rich heritage and legacy of Woodlawn. However, we hope that this narrative brings together many of the diverse threads that make up the fabric of the community’s historic arc in a concise piece.
-
Why your pup wants you to move to Downtown Birmingham
Filed Under: Downtown Birmingham, Family Friendly, Front Page, Why BHM
Woof, woof! I’ve been having an absolute blast visiting my sister in Downtown Birmingham. I can hardly wait to share all the details with you once you return from your vacation. In the meantime, I wanted to put paw to paper and tell you all about it, with the hope of convincing you that moving Downtown could be the most wonderful decision ever.