How to Tackle those first steps of launching a business

How to Tackle the Unexciting Parts of Launching a Business: 3 Tips for Women

Approximately 13 million American businesses are owned by women — and for good reason! Not only do women make fantastic entrepreneurs and business owners, but the advantages of business ownership are vast — especially for those who are looking to pursue their passions, create jobs for other women in the workforce, and lead a life they truly love.

A great deal of time, money, and energy goes into launching a business — and the startup process isn’t as exciting as one might think. Courtesy of LindaHandley.com, the following tips can help female entrepreneurs tackle the less-than-exciting parts of launching a business.

1. Utilize Online Resources

As exciting as it is to start your own business, several not-so-fun tasks need to be completed along the way, like forming a legal entity, applying for funding, and obtaining necessary business licenses and permits. Fortunately, various online resources can help you nearly every step of the way. A few online resources for female entrepreneurs include:

●     Business formation services. Forming a limited liability company (LLC) has a number of benefits including liability protection, management flexibility, tax advantages, and less paperwork. Regulations differ depending on the state you’re operating in, so check the rules in your state before moving forward. If forming an LLC is too much legwork for you, avoid hefty attorney fees by using a formation service. With online formation services, a small business owner can quickly and affordably form an LLC.

●     Going corporate. Check into your other options, such as launching a corporation, which has its own benefits depending on the type of corporation: C, S or B corp. These formation laws also vary by state, so it's important to review these regulations before filing your articles of incorporation or organization.

●     Small business loans and grants. As a woman in business, grants and loans are worth looking into if you need small business financing. According to Rebecca Safier of Student Loan Hero, these grants are available through the Eileen Fisher program, Amber Foundation, InnovateHER Challenge, and Open Meadows Foundation. If you don’t qualify, however, loans and other financing options are also available.

●     Local websites. Depending on your profession, you may need to apply for one or more licenses and permits when launching your business. The Small Business Administration (SBA) can help you obtain federal licenses and permits, but you’ll need to visit your state’s official website to learn more about your local requirements.

 Utilize Online Resources:

• Finding a web hosting provider. High-quality web hosting is something that every website needs today. Whether you are starting a brand new site from scratch or you want to migrate an existing site to a new hosting company, choosing the right provider is essential. Digital.com spent over 40 hours researching dozens of different web hosting companies to see how each one excelled. Take some time to read through the best web hosting companies for each category so you can choose a web hosting provider that will meet your needs. Check out this great resource.

●     Online schools. If you want to brush up on your business skills before you kick off your endeavor, you can go back to school via an online university. So, if you’ve been eyeing your MBA but don’t have time to go back to a traditional school, an online university can help you set up a schedule that’s more in line with your work schedule.

In addition to utilizing these online resources, you can check out professional organizations to connect with other female business owners near you. These include the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and the American Business Women’s Association.

2. Set Up Your Accounting System

 Once you’ve chosen a business structure, applied for funding, and obtained any required licenses or permits, you’ll need to handle another less-than-exciting task: setting up your small business accounting system.

According to a 2015 study, bookkeeping and taxes were found to be some of the worst parts about running a business — largely due to the costs and time involved. However, the Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance (AFWA) can help you to find an experienced accounting professional in your area and select the best bookkeeping software for your small business.

3. Create a Visibility Plan

 As you prepare for your business launch, you’ll also need to create a visibility plan in order to attract new clients and ensure that they’ll keep them coming back for more. If you don’t create and follow a visibility plan right from the beginning, you’ll struggle to define your target market, land clients, connect with your audience, and keep your business relevant as time goes on.

Starting a business is hard work, but there’s no reason to go at it alone! You can start your own business on the right foot by leaving a few less-than-exciting tasks up to the professionals. Want other great resources - check out - www.mylifeboost.com.