8 Places to find your Perfect Business Mentor

Running your own company can be a lonely business, even if you have higher management or a business partner it can be hard to see the wood for the trees. Finding a mentor could be the perfect solution for you, provide you with a fresh perspective and help you grow your business.
Before you go on the search have a think about what you would like from your mentor. Identify some public figures you admire in the business world, then go closer to home. Is there a particular independent business in the place you live that you like? Is there a smaller influencer on social media that provides good content? Having these things in mind you can start the process of finding a mentor(s). Keep the process as organic as possible and we would not advise asking someone to be your mentor when you first meet, unless they explicitly say they are looking for a mentee. We have outlined below some places you could find a mentor and there is no harm in introducing yourself. Keep it professional, friendly and be prepared to have some of your messages go unanswered.

1. Official mentor sites 

Some sites will be free, some have paywalls or there may be products/services you will need to purchase to gain access to their network of mentors. Depending on what you want from the relationship this could be a quick and straight-forward way to get the ball rolling.

2. Traditional Networking 

This doesn’t have to be a lot of bored looking business folk in polyester suits standing around a beige buffet, unless you want it to be. Networking in the traditional way may not suit your industry or might not be your thing. But go to events or places business owners you admire go to, you never know who you could get chatting with.

3. LinkedIn 

Make sure your profile is up to date, your photo is appropriate and you have filled out the bio section so people can understand who you are and why you are relevant to them. Send personalised messages with connection requests and follow companies and public figures. Don’t forget to join applicable groups as well!

4. Peers 

Mentors don’t necessarily have to be older and more experienced than you, or even in the same industry. Getting an outside point of view that totally refreshes your perspective or triggers a fantastic business idea can come from the most unlikely places. Talk through your issues with someone you click with and that you trust their opinion.

5. Communities 

There are a lot of online communities you can join for a monthly subscription fee that will give you access to mentor or peer directories. Try one out for a couple of months and see how it goes. These communities may be better tailored to your needs, e.g. women in business, creative businesses etc.

6. Memberships 

You can join local groups to meet other business owners, for example your areas Chamber of Commerce or National Enterprise Network.

7. Business Consultant 

This is a bit of a short cut and you will more than likely have to pay for the service as it’s a customer/service provider transaction. This could work for you if you just need to solve some issues or have an outside point of view and aren’t comfortable with building a traditional mentor/mentee relationship.

8. YouTube & Other Social Media. 

This again may be a bit of a cheat as it’s a one-way street of you consuming the business ‘gurus’ content and you probably won’t get the opportunity to ask personalised questions. When researching or strategizing watching advice channels, they can spark ideas that you can translate to your business. And you never know if you do reach out, they may become your dream mentor!
Once you’ve found someone that is happy to be your mentor and you their mentee set boundaries, be fully prepared whenever you have a meeting and don’t over run your allotted time agreed with them. You also don’t have to stick to one mentor or continue being mentored by them if you feel it’s run its course.

Resources 

Find or become a mentor with Mentors Me.
Find a mentor with Meet a Mentor.
If you get a start up loan through the British Business Bank you will gain access to their mentoring program

Registered Design FAQ’s

WHAT CAN BE A REGISTERED DESIGN? 

A registered design can be the particular look, shape, configuration or ornamentation of a product(s).

DO I NEED TO REGISTERED DESIGN? 

This depends on if you have something unique that you would like to protect. A registered design may become essential to your business in the future and save a lot of headaches down the road. If you are unsure regarding anything to do with registered designs our expert team with over 30 years’ brand protection experience are on hand to advise. Call us on 0800 069 9090 or drop us an email to mitch@start.biz to find out more.

ARE ALL REGISTERED DESIGNS REGISTERABLE? 

No, a registered design will not be accepted if it is not distinctive enough. We will advise in our report ways in which you can make your design more distinctive and help you with your application.

IS A REGISTERED DESIGN EFFECTIVE WORLDWIDE? 

No, a registered design is only effective in the country where the design is registered. However, there are several International Conventions that exist which assists clients who wish to register a design in more than one country with one single application which are more cost effective than obtaining separate national registrations.

HOW IMPORTANT ARE REGISTERED DESIGN CLEARANCE SEARCHES? 

Registered design novelty searches are particularly important as they are the first step to determining whether the design you wish to use, and register is available to do so. We strongly recommend that, to avoid any potential conflict between your proposed design and any existing confusingly similar designs, that you instruct us to carry out a comprehensive registered design search on your behalf.

CAN I AMEND MY REGISTERED DESIGN AFTER SUBMISSION? 

No, once an application has been submitted it cannot be altered except for the owner’s name and address. It is important your application is as accurate as possible.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO OBTAIN A DESIGN REGISTERED IN THE UK? 

The initial registration process takes around 2-3 months to complete.

HOW LONG DOES A DESIGN REGISTRATION LAST? 

A registered design is renewable every 5 years for a maximum registration period of 25 years.

HOW MUCH DOES A REGISTERED DESIGN COST? 

The application fee is dependent on the number of designs included in one application. For example, it is possible to file a multi-design application in the United Kingdom. A UK design application containing one design costs £300; a UK multi-design application containing up to 10 designs costs £550 and UK multi-design application containing up to 20 designs costs £750.

5 Top Tips for Small Businesses at Christmas Markets

As the nights draw in and we start to swap our chilled Savvie B for toasty mulled wine, small business owners are gearing up for their busiest time of the year. Christmas markets and pop-ups can provide a seasonal cash generating ‘bricks and mortar’ opportunity for many online businesses. Not to mention they are a fantastic way to feel more part of the indie business community, reach new audiences and meet customers face-to-face. Festive pop-ups can be great however they don’t come without their challenges. We sat down with bespoke online jewellery brand owner, Esme Rogers Evans to get her top tips to maximise sales during the most wonderful time of the year.

1. Pick the right market. 

‘I’ve done fantastic pop-ups in central London which were amazing for social media content and PR, but we didn’t see the sales we would have liked,’ Esme explains. ‘Think about whether the market and location is right for your particular product and target audience. Also consider if you’re happy to take a risk for the PR, or if you need to save cash only sign up for the markets you’ll definitely make sales at.’
Many events use marketing buzzwords such as ‘sustainable brands’, ‘independent’ and ‘ethically sourced’ in their promotions. This may all be true, but this doesn’t mean it will automatically bring buyers to your fantastic indie business. Do some research and find out who else is going to be there.
Considerations should include:
● Price points – are you similar, way above or way below other brands with a stall?
● Would your customers usually go to this or a similar location?
● How long is the market there for, how well known is it and what reputation does it have?

2. Cash isn’t king. 

Have some sort of digital payment system set up, especially if you have higher ticket items. Esme recommends Sum Up as it is easy to pair with your phone, straightforward to use and cost effective. If your items are priced at the lower end of the spectrum it may be worth simplifying or rounding up your prices to limit the amount of change, you’ll need to take with you.
It is also worth noting here that you may want to take a portable phone charger with you. You won’t always be positioned near a power point. In the quieter moments of the market, it’s a great time to catch up on emails or make content, both will drain your phone’s battery and might leave you in a pickle during the busier times.

3. Presentation. 

‘Don’t spend lots of money on plinths or fancy display units when you’re just starting out,’ advises Esmé, ‘I recently invested in some lighting for my stalls, the reflection highlights the jewellery beautifully and the glow from the table draws people in’.
It’s essential to do a test run of how you will set your stall up. Think about creative (and inexpensive) ways to display your products. Lighting is a fantastic and simple way to make you stand out. Remember about your plug sockets though and consider using battery powered lights.

4. Parking. 

‘If your event is relatively close, I would always advise doing a parking reccy beforehand’, says Esmé. Many locations won’t have parking directly outside so consider how to transport your goods to the venue once you get there as well.

5. Creature comforts. 

Markets can be long days, they can also be outside, and we all know how reliable the Great British weather is, especially in winter.
‘My top tip is to take cardboard to stand on. It may sound silly, but when you’re outside all day on your feet it can be kinder on your soles, and it gives you that little bit of extra insulation from the cold floor which will provide much needed warmth’.
Other top tips for the day from Esmé include:
● Take your favourite warm drink in a flask for the colder hours at the end of the day.
● Stay hydrated with water but don’t drink too much. You don’t want to miss customers because of frequent bathroom trips.
● Wear layers.
● Make friends! Talk to your fellow stall holders, this can be an informal way to build new connections and you can have someone look after your stall whilst you pop to the loo.
● Have a fold down chair.
● Take a craft with you. If you can make your product on the stall, that’s fantastic. Alternatively if this doesn’t apply, take a hobby project with you. It will keep you occupied during the quieter moments and will showcase how amazingly creative you are!
● And if you use interesting tools when making your work, consider displaying them alongside your products in an interesting way. People want to know how things are made and it’s a fantastic way of sparking a conversation that isn’t directly about selling your products.
Find out more about Duxford Studios here and follow them here.
Want to see Duxford Studios in real life? Catch them this Christmas at:
Cardiff Indie Collective’s Christmas Market at Big Moose Café, Cardiff on the 2nd December. For more info, head to their site here or visit their Instagram @cardiffindiecollective.
Seekd Christmas Pop Up at One New Change, London, EC4M 9AF from the 6th December – 24th December. Seekd is the marketplace for unique, chic, eco-friendly jewellery & accessories that give back to people and the planet. Visit their website here and follow them on Instagram @seekdfashion

Questions to Ask Yourself when Writing a Business Plan

A considered business plan will not only help you get organised and crystalise your vision, it is also essential if you are seeking outside funding.

1. What should be at the beginning of my business plan? 

The executive summary, this should be 6 short paragraphs on the following subjects to give an overview of your business. This is your big opening number so keep it concise, professionally presented and attention grabbing!
What the name and function of the business is.
What makes you unique within your industry.
How you are going to become known to your target audience.
How you will structure your business.
Top line finance facts outlining when you expect to break even, potential revenue and profit projections. Have detailed reports to back up these attention-grabbing figures. Note you will have chance to go into more depth in your analysis section (see point 2).
State how much money you are asking for and what the investor(s) will get in return.

2. What analysis should I do? 

After your executive summary should come your analysis section full of facts to make your potential investor realise this is their one-way ticket to private island ownership!
There are many areas and types of analysis you can carry out either before starting your business or prior to writing your business plan. It is good to decide which you think are necessary/most helpful, consider if it is possible for you to gather useful/accurate data for the report and how long to spend on the process. Add attractive headline statistics from your findings to your business plan and have the in-depth reports to back your figures up if questions are asked.
SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis. This is usually presented in a grid format on one page with bullet points. This kind of breakdown can be applied to many different areas of your business as well as your competitors and the industry as a whole.
Quantitative data and qualitative findings. It is best to have a mix of these within your business plan, ignoring either can leave serious blind spots in your presentation and business strategies.
Financial projections. You may need a professionals help with this one but if you are asking for any fiscal input, investors will need to see that their contribution will eventually yield a return. Be honest, adjust your plans inline with the numbers and be certain you can achieve what you say.

3. Have you thought about the day-to-day running of your business? 

You may have already started your business and are writing a business plan when looking for investment. If this is the case explaining the operational factors behind your business will be easier, but this is a good chance to review them and see how you could improve them. Do this and add it after the analysis section of your business plan.
Alternatively, if you are writing your business plan pre-start up or during the beginning of your journey to going full-time with your venture, this is where you get into the inner workings of your business to help investors visualise the dream. This part is relatively straight forward but demonstrates you have considered the practicalities of your operation.
Staffing, team members, contractors, freelancers, mentors, outside advisors. It is good to have these laid out in a hierarchical flow chart and to briefly outline what each person’s experience will bring to the business.
Premises. Even if you are an online business you will need to state where stock will be stored and shipping will be done from.
Record keeping. Explain how the administration of the business will be kept up to date. Include details of your accountant here.
And hey presto, you have your business plan! We would always advise putting this together pre-start up, even if you are not looking for outside investment just yet. It does not have to be super slick or go into minutia detail if you are not presenting to people outside your business, it can be a great opportunity to take a step back and see the bigger picture to ensure you are on the right track and have not missed anything.

IT Equipment for Small Businesses

Every business, no matter how big or small, will need some form of equipment or technology for their day-to-day running. As part of your planning, you should consider what technologies you need to get up and running and what equipment/software would be good to have in the future to help you grow or streamline operations. In this article we will run the basics for most businesses.

1. Hardware – Computers, Laptops, Phones. 

It is likely you will need at least one computer to run your business. Some companies have a BYO technology policy, this may work for you however consider cost to the employee and security issues that may arise. If you do need to buy a device for a member of staff shop around, consider their needs (remote working, going to meetings with clients) and the software that they will need to ensure you get the right one for the best price. If you or an employee needs a phone you can put this on a business plan which will be cheaper than personal plans. Also don’t forget to put purchases for technology through your books to enable you to claim tax back (if you are VAT registered).

2. Software 

This will vary greatly depending on your business and we will go into some essential ones further on in this article. The Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc) will be the most common and can be purchased on a business plan. If you need creative software, like Photoshop, Illustrator etc., this may affect the choice of computer or laptop you decide to buy. Mac’s are great for design software however come at a premium and can cause compatibility issues if other employees are working on PC’s. The Abode Suite including these programs charges a monthly fee of around £40 per user so if you are planning on only using these programs to make marketing material & social media content consider using online template platforms such as Canva which are easy to use and a lot cheaper.

3. Network 

You will need to set up a network if you have several employees working together that need to share documents or use printers. What kind of network you’ll need will depend on how many devices you need connected. For 5 or less users you can set up a simple network, bigger businesses may need multiple routers and large organisations will need to build their network around a server.

4. Accounting System 

Setting up accounting software for your business is essential. It will mean you can easily and quickly keep all your transactions in order making your accountant love you and ensuring you don’t fall foul of the taxman! Accounting software is simple to set up and can be done online in minutes. Quickbooks, Xero and Sage are all designed with small business owners in mind and are great options to get you set up. Larger firms may want more developed software which you can integrate into your systems and customise to your needs.

5. Payroll Software 

There are free versions of this all, alternatively the above mentioned accounting software brands offer payroll software as well. If numbers aren’t your thing, you have many employees or are time-poor having this software can be of great benefit to you. It makes difficult calculations, carries out repetitive tasks and gives you peace of mind when it comes to getting your workforce paid correctly and on-time.

6. Inventory Control System 

As your business grows or if you have lots of stock to manage an inventory control system can help keep you organised. Again, most of the companies that offer accounting software have inventory management systems that can be easily integrated into your business.

7. CRM (Customer Relationship Management) 

This is a system where a business administrates interactions with customers and potential customers. MondayCRM, Pipedrive and Freshworks CRM are some examples of software that can help you build customer relationships, analyse data, and manage client information. As your business grows these systems will become increasingly useful and can be a vital tool when scaling. Some training for staff will be necessary but this will be offset by increased efficiency and streamlined customer interactions.

8. Cloud Working 

Traditionally software such as Office programs would be downloaded individually to each an employee’s computer however now you have the option of having all your company’s documents on the cloud. This is particularly useful for remote working (each person has a log in to access documents from any device), sharing files, reducing initial spend on software and saving space taken up by lots of documents being saved down onto computers.

9. Payment Options for Customers 

Online integrations 

Along with other benefits of having a website, setting your business up so customers can purchase online can add revenue streams, enable you to reach customers all over the globe and allow purchases out of your regular ‘opening hours’. PayPal, Worldpay and Opayo (previously Sage Pay) are some popular examples; some of these can be integrated into your current website and some will need you to build a website with that provider. If you offer a subscription service consider setting up a Direct Debt option for customers, this will stop you from having to bill people constantly and make it easier for customers as their payment goes to you automatically.

Card machines at point of sale 

If you run a shop, restaurant, mobile salon or stall you may want to purchase a card reader. There are many options to choose from; check out details on the most popular ones here.
Plans are different for each one, some have one off payments and some are rental arrangements. Most have a small fee they charge, sometimes it’s based on the transaction amount, number of transactions or overall monthly revenue that goes through the device.

In summary … 

You may not always have a large amount of spare cash to spend on IT equipment and technology when you start your business so build up as you go, shop around for deals and consider finance/leasing as alternatives. Using technology to make it as easy as possible for customers to purchase your product is the priority. Having computers fast enough with enough memory for your employees to carry out their duties effectively is also a must. There are a lot of free or low-cost software’s available to help you run your business more efficiently from accounting systems to social media design and scheduling tools. One last thing to remember when it comes to your businesses data is – have a back-up! Ensure important information & documents are secure and backed-up devices are regularly updated just in case you have a system failure.

How to Find a Premises for your Business

You’ve decided you do want to have a bricks and mortar location but you’re not sure where to start. We’ve outlined the foundation for your business property.

1. Make a specification for your ideal premises considering internal and external factors. 

You may not find a location/building that ticks all the boxes but aiming for as close as possible is the best place to start. This will also make it clear for you what is non-negotiable and what can be compromised on or worked towards in the future. Factors to include in your specification should be
Location. Evaluate this not only in terms of your customers but also employees and suppliers.
Transport & parking facilities. Again, this should be considered in terms of customer access and employee.
Requirements of the building to carry out business. Depending on the nature of your business you will need the building to work in different ways, think very practically about the space, power points, equipment, ventilation etc when making this list.
Legal issues. If the building already has permissions for your businesses ‘user class’ moving in and alterations you may want to make in the future will be less complicated.
Type of tenure. Your options are license, lease or buy. We will go into further detail on these below.
As you would when looking for a place to live, set you maximum price, including taxes and fees and stick to it.

2. Should I license, lease or buy my work premises? 

As with everything this very much depends on the nature of your business and your plans for the future.
Licenses are short-term contracts (usually 2 years), can be in serviced buildings, have subsides from local authorities to encourage small businesses to set up and have no legal fees. However, you may have to share your space or be asked to leave at short notice by the landlord. Also these spaces will probably not be suitable for a food or manufacturing business. If you just need office space and you’re just starting out this is a good place to start.
Leases are longer term commitments (3-25 years), more freedom to adapt the space, the landlord is liable for external building repairs and more types of properties on the market to choose from. You may want to build break clauses into the contract just in case and agree with the landlord on alterations you want to make before signing on the dotted line. You may also be required to return the property to its original state on vacating, e.g. removing equipment, putting walls back in if removed etc.
Buy freehold. Owning your own premises is more unusual but can be a great asset and mean you have a permanent location under your control. This is a more expensive option though with most commercial property mortgages requiring a 30% deposit.

3. Where do I look for commercial premises? 

You can go the traditional route and get an estate agent that specialises in commercial property however it may be wise to consider some alternatives. Use your personal contacts in an area and business advisors/mentors to find out about potential venues. Also check with your local authority, they will rent business space as well as domestic housing. With this same idea approach local organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce in your area who may be able to advise and help you find the perfect location. Finally, you can engage a chartered surveyor to carry out the search for you. Unlike estate agents who operate on the landlords’ behalf, a chartered surveyor will have your best interests as the priority. They will know the market well, present a short-list to save time and be experienced negotiators.

Resources for finding the perfect property 

Search for a surveyor at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) here.
Get thinking about the future, find out more at the Planning Portal about planning permission here.
Contact your local authority about the type of property you need and see what financial help is available to you.

How to Create a Business Strategy

At the beginning and throughout the life of your business you will have to create strategies to give your self the best chance of success. These can be as formal or informal, whichever works for you but should never be underestimated or ignored. Your business strategy will feed into your business plan, will be a ‘working’ document and can be focused on the whole or certain areas of your business.

1. What is a business strategy? 

Your business strategy is the plan outlining how you will achieve your business goals. To begin with these can be informal and in a format that works for you – a long form written documents, excel checklist, flow diagram etc. Set objectives and work backwards to detail how you can achieve these goals. If you are writing a business plan you will use your business strategy as part of this.

2. How do I write a business strategy? 

Carrying out a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis is a great place to start. This can be focused on your industry as a whole, your individual business or your competitors. There’s a thousand different ways to cut the cake with this one so stay top line to start with and discover where you need to focus in on.

3. What areas of my business should I have a strategy for? 

The short answer is all of them! These are the main ones to focus on when starting out.
Overall business high-level strategy. This will include elements of each of the following and set out what your USP’s (unique selling points) are and how you’ll use them to get ahead. Set goals for your first 12 – 18 months to refer to when things get busy and you are bogged down in the day-to-day running of your business.
Marketing strategy. Figure out how to communicate your message to the outside world. See our Marketing basics advice here.
Pricing strategy. Trying to under cut the competition may get you a quick win however it is a dangerous game to start playing as you will create an environment that the only way is down. Competitors may find a way to provide good/services even cheaper and there is no way as a small/independent business you will be able to get prices lower than large multi-national conglomerates within your field. Using a low price point teamed with differentiation or niche targeting may be a wiser way to go.
Social media strategy. This will fall under your marketing strategy but given the power of social media it is wise to have a separate section so you can really plan out how you will utilise social media to maximise its potential for your small business.

4. Are strategies really worth the time taken away from my business? 

“Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” – Mike Tyson
This quote may perfectly sum up how you feel when trying to come up with strategies during the early days. Remember strategies are made to be constantly evolving and reviewed continually. Set a strategy day in the diary every month to begin with – and make yourself show up for it! It’ll give you the reset you need and you’ll be able to identify problems and correct plans accordingly. We would leave some space on this day dedicated to research. For example, if your social media isn’t getting much traction put aside time to breakdown and research what competitors are doing, what business gurus advise and what the all mighty google thinks you should do. Also, within this day add thinking time by going for a walk without headphones in to think about the issue. It is very easy to not give yourself space to breath and consider your actions because you are too busy doing them!

How to Start an Online Business in the UK

With changing habits and lifestyles, people have become more aware of how they utilise their time. Online shopping has become increasingly popular over the past few years but never more so than in recent months where physical shops were forced to close their doors and selling and buying online was the only option.
Starting an online business will have some similarities to that of starting a traditional brick and mortar business and in addition there will be other factors to consider. The initial setting up of your business will depend on the type of business you intend to run, where you will be working and whether you will take on people to help.

Get your online business idea 

The first step would be to decide what kind of business you wish to set up. There are a number of websites available that you can use to help determine what kind of market you wish to operate in should you not already know. However, if you are thinking of setting up your own online business, more often than not you usually already have some kind of idea as to what you want to do.
Once you believe you have a viable business idea and have decided on your chosen product(s) or service, it is essential that you carry out market research extensively. By researching and testing out the market you will be able to determine whether your business idea has the potential to be successful or not. Market research can also help you plan your next steps and map out how to set up your business, giving you an idea of start-up costs and any kind of funding that may be available to you as well as helping to define your target audience, pricings you should set and of course who your competitors are.

Create a business plan 

After you have carried out your market research and feel you have a sufficient amount to be beneficial, you’ll need to create a business plan. This is a great way to pull together all that information you have collated and visualise how you see your business in one form of documentation. This will be your working document that you will be able to refer to and add or change over the course of its time. This is also paramount when you are trying to get funding for your business.
Also consider your social media and marketing plan, a presence online is very important and gets your brand out there to potential customers.
For more on how to create a business plan read our advice here and to learn more about how to put a business strategy together read more here.

Choose your online business model 

As you have now established what kind of online business you are going to set up, you need to ensure your online business model suits your plan and gives you a structure to work with. The two main options which tend to be the most popular are ‘sole trader’ or ‘limited company’.
A sole trader tends to be the best option for those people who are looking to start up a small business. You and your company are seen as one entity and therefore any profit or loss will affect your personal finances.
A Limited company will offer you protection as your company is seen as a separate entity giving you limited liability.
If for example you are intending on starting an online shop or selling a product(s), you’ll be operating on an ecommerce business model making revenue from sales.
There are various models that you can choose from but it’s important to pick the one that suits your and your business best.

Decide your business name and register 

Before you register your business, you’ll need to come up with a name. It’s important that you remember to make sure that both your business name and domain for your website are available. It will be much easier for customers to find your website if these match, if they are different, this can lead to confusion and even loss of business as your potential customers can be directed elsewhere.
You can easily check if your business name and domain name are available when National Business Registers search here. Learn more about registering and protecting your business name here.

Prepare for the costs of setting up an online business 

These will vary dramatically depending on the size of your start up business as well as the type of business that is being started. However, some of the costs that will need to be considered are:
How much it will cost to build an inventory of the products you will be selling.
The equipment you would need to use, for example, technical equipment.
The cost of building a website.
Marketing costs and possible outsourcing of this.
Company formation costs, if you decide to go with a limited company structure.
Domain cost, there is usually an annual fee behind this.

Build your website 

Whether you decide to do this yourself or outsource, the website you create should reflect your business and ensure you align your vision with the web developers. Consider the user experience (UX), this should be easy to navigate and use. The aesthetics and logo, ensure your site is appealing and organised and finally ensure your site is mobile friendly, a vast majority of people use their devices to access sites and this is only getting more popular.
If you will be selling goods, consider payment methods and how you will be charging your customers and what online payment system you will be integrating into your website.
There are many elements to consider when starting your own online business using this simple guide to get started can make all the difference and give you that added confidence boost you may need.