It’s never been simpler to start a business from your basement, but the reality for aspiring entrepreneurs is that an estimated 90% of start-ups fail. While this scary statistic can be attributed to a variety of causes and external factors, one of the major hurdles facing any hopeful business owner is the cost of founding, launching, marketing, and maintaining a sustainable operation.
Luckily, there are loads of ways that can help you save money when bootstrapping your start up.
Get Educated
One of the best things about the Internet is that it’s packed full of free learning resources that can help you learn the ins and outs of the business world.
Start-ups are built on small teams and that means everyone is going to have to become adept at an array of skills. Before you open your doors, decide who needs to learn what, and get to it.
Developing your understanding of market conditions, basic marketing, your competition, and best practice will put you ahead of competitors who are making things up as you go along.
Just remember to keep learning and broaden your skills as much as possible to maintain a healthy business edge.
Work Remotely
Many business owners jump into location and office rentals before they’ve built the client base needed to pay long-term occupational rent.
It’s far simpler to let your team work remotely, with regular check-ins run via Skype or Instant Messaging platforms like Slack.
If you have multiple locations, or your team is spread across a city, then invest in a good modem router combo or two and set up hubs at convenient locations, so that your teams can work together without needing a central office.
Outsource Tasks
Even though you may have become an expert at a range of essential business skills, you may need to look elsewhere for custom services such as web design, copywriting, or a voice over for your next YouTube video.
You can spend a fortune getting an advertising agency to give you what you need, or you could outsource to a freelancer.
There are often students with the skills you need who are looking for extra income, and with services like Fiverr, you can find and pay someone to do just about anything that your business may need.
It’s better to find a cheaper resource to get the job done than throw money into outdated establishments.
Stay Connected
It sounds simple, but visiting a site like Catalyst for Business regularly can make all the difference when it comes to saving as a start-up.
Watching trends and changes within your industry can help you cash in, or avoid disaster. In a space as competitive as yours, you need to do everything you can to ensure you don’t make the same mistakes as everyone else.
Save And Stay Ahead
While you’re never guaranteed success in the start-up game, saving money is the first step in maintaining a competitive service. Leverage what you’ve got, don’t stop learning, and hopefully, your business will fall into the 10% that make it.
