{"id":33058,"date":"2025-03-01T08:53:30","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T08:53:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogadmin.merch.vpsvc.com\/hub\/?p=33058"},"modified":"2025-03-12T16:25:40","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T16:25:40","slug":"17-things-to-know-before-starting-a-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogadmin.vpsvc.com\/hub\/17-things-to-know-before-starting-a-business\/","title":{"rendered":"17 things to know before starting a business"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>One of the best ways to learn the ropes is to heed advice from people who\u2019ve already been there and done it. Beyond registering a company name and setting up a website, you need to know some critical things when starting a business\u2014like assessing if your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.com\/hub\/small-business-ideas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">small business idea<\/a> is worth pursuing, managing finances wisely and staying focused when difficulties arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s explore key lessons from experienced entrepreneurs to help you avoid common pitfalls and build a strong foundation for success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To dive deeper into these challenges and hear directly from small business owners, check out the video below from our Real Talk series, <em>Getting Started and Funding Your Small Business<\/em>. In this episode, entrepreneurs share their early struggles and creative solutions when they were starting out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Getting started and funding your small business | Real Talk with small businesses\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6redT6bXCBg?feature=oembed&#038;rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<section style=\"background-color: #FFFFFF\" class=\"section section-vp-custom-tip\">\n    <div class=\"vp-custom-tip swan section__container\" role=\"alert\">\n        <div class=\"swan-px-8 swan-py-7 swan-display-flex span-justify-center tip-wrap\">\n            <div class=\"title swan-text-x2large swan-font-secondary\">\n                Key takeaways            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"text\">\n                <ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Starting small with what you have can help you launch your business without heavy financial risk.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Financial discipline, including budgeting and bootstrapping, is crucial for sustaining a new business.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Passion, resilience and a strong \u201cwhy\u201d will help you navigate challenges and stay motivated.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Networking, leveraging social media and surrounding yourself with the right people can accelerate growth.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Experimentation, continuous learning and maintaining a work-life balance are key to long-term success.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"savings\">1. Be prepared to use your savings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When you\u2019re launching a new business, it\u2019s not always easy to get funding or a loan, so be ready to pull from your personal savings. In a RealTalk interview conducted by VistaPrint, owners of a sustainable lifestyle brand tlali\u2022pani tell us, \u201cWe are self-funded, we continue to be a self-funded, bootstrapped small business and started really pulling from our savings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-public-id=\"ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/realtalk-interview_33070a8237\/realtalk-interview_33070a8237.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1024,h_683,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818318\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/realtalk-interview_33070a8237\/realtalk-interview_33070a8237.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"RealTalk interview with VistaPrint\" class=\"wp-post-33058 wp-image-33070\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1740818318\" data-seo=\"1\" data-responsive=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1024,h_683,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818318\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/realtalk-interview_33070a8237\/realtalk-interview_33070a8237.jpg?_i=AA 1572w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1448,h_966,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818318\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/realtalk-interview_33070a8237\/realtalk-interview_33070a8237.jpg?_i=AA 1448w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1248,h_832,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818318\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/realtalk-interview_33070a8237\/realtalk-interview_33070a8237.jpg?_i=AA 1248w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1048,h_699,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818318\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/realtalk-interview_33070a8237\/realtalk-interview_33070a8237.jpg?_i=AA 1048w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_848,h_565,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818318\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/realtalk-interview_33070a8237\/realtalk-interview_33070a8237.jpg?_i=AA 848w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_648,h_432,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818318\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/realtalk-interview_33070a8237\/realtalk-interview_33070a8237.jpg?_i=AA 648w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_448,h_298,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818318\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/realtalk-interview_33070a8237\/realtalk-interview_33070a8237.jpg?_i=AA 448w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_248,h_165,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818318\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/realtalk-interview_33070a8237\/realtalk-interview_33070a8237.jpg?_i=AA 248w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1572px) 100vw, 1572px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bootstrap\">2. &#8220;When in doubt, bootstrap&#8221;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, using your own resources is the best way to start a business rather than convincing investors of your idea. So rather than waiting to get investments that might never come, start saving and\u2014as owners of tlali\u2022pani advise\u2014pull from those savings when the time is right. \u201cWhen in doubt, bootstrap!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"crowdfunding\">3. Take advantage of crowdfunding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Kickfurther make it possible to fund new businesses and products through small investments. Typically, crowdfunding involves some kind of payoff or reward for investors, such as a return on their initial investment or exclusive early access to your product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"grow\">4. \u201cGrow as you go\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Kanda Chocolates founder Karen Blackwell tells us, \u201cThere are so many ways to get started without having to have every single piece of infrastructure, website or labeling\u2026 You can grow as you go.\u201d Rather than wait to get started, the business owner advises entrepreneurs to take the leap early on and build their brand from there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<section style=\"background-color: #FFFFFF\" class=\"section section-vp-custom-tip\">\n    <div class=\"vp-custom-tip swan section__container\" role=\"alert\">\n        <div class=\"swan-px-8 swan-py-7 swan-display-flex span-justify-center tip-wrap\">\n            <div class=\"title swan-text-x2large swan-font-secondary\">\n                Tip            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"text\">\n                <p>Learn <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.com\/hub\/how-to-start-a-business\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">how to start a business<\/a> step by step, without feeling overwhelmed by an ever growing list of tasks, by checking out our guide.<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-public-id=\"ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/realtalk-interview-vistaprint_33072b76e9\/realtalk-interview-vistaprint_33072b76e9.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1024,h_683,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818287\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/realtalk-interview-vistaprint_33072b76e9\/realtalk-interview-vistaprint_33072b76e9.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"RealTalk interview with VistaPrint\" class=\"wp-post-33058 wp-image-33072\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1740818287\" data-seo=\"1\" data-responsive=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1024,h_683,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818287\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/realtalk-interview-vistaprint_33072b76e9\/realtalk-interview-vistaprint_33072b76e9.jpg?_i=AA 1572w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1448,h_966,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818287\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/realtalk-interview-vistaprint_33072b76e9\/realtalk-interview-vistaprint_33072b76e9.jpg?_i=AA 1448w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1248,h_832,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818287\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/realtalk-interview-vistaprint_33072b76e9\/realtalk-interview-vistaprint_33072b76e9.jpg?_i=AA 1248w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1048,h_699,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818287\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/realtalk-interview-vistaprint_33072b76e9\/realtalk-interview-vistaprint_33072b76e9.jpg?_i=AA 1048w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_848,h_565,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818287\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/realtalk-interview-vistaprint_33072b76e9\/realtalk-interview-vistaprint_33072b76e9.jpg?_i=AA 848w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_648,h_432,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818287\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/realtalk-interview-vistaprint_33072b76e9\/realtalk-interview-vistaprint_33072b76e9.jpg?_i=AA 648w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_448,h_298,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818287\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/realtalk-interview-vistaprint_33072b76e9\/realtalk-interview-vistaprint_33072b76e9.jpg?_i=AA 448w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_248,h_165,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818287\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/realtalk-interview-vistaprint_33072b76e9\/realtalk-interview-vistaprint_33072b76e9.jpg?_i=AA 248w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1572px) 100vw, 1572px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bank\">5. Don\u2019t break the bank<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t assume that borrowing lots of money can make your startup fly, says <a href=\"https:\/\/offers.hubspot.com\/inspirational-quotes-and-pieces-of-advice-for-startups-going-into-2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Time Etc. founder Barnaby Lashbrooke<\/a>. &#8220;There are many things to the business other than investors and it\u2019s possible to succeed with your startup without breaking the bank.\u201d Focus on the non-negotiables for launching and prioritize your budget for those. DIY the things you can and if there are things you can launch without, like branded packaging, save those for later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"time\">6. \u201cOne thing at a time\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It can be tempting to try to do everything all at once, but when you\u2019re launching a business, one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.com\/hub\/best-business-advice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">best business advice<\/a> pieces is to slow down and take it one step at a time. As FRUITLOOTS founder David Cruz tells us in an interview, \u201cWhat I wish I knew was that I didn\u2019t have to do everything all at once. And I really wish that I just did one thing at a time.\u201d There will always be time to work down your checklist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-public-id=\"ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-vistaprint_33068e5cd1\/interview-vistaprint_33068e5cd1.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1024,h_683,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818346\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-vistaprint_33068e5cd1\/interview-vistaprint_33068e5cd1.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"RealTalk interview with VistaPrint\" class=\"wp-post-33058 wp-image-33068\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1740818346\" data-seo=\"1\" data-responsive=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1024,h_683,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818346\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-vistaprint_33068e5cd1\/interview-vistaprint_33068e5cd1.jpg?_i=AA 1572w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1448,h_966,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818346\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-vistaprint_33068e5cd1\/interview-vistaprint_33068e5cd1.jpg?_i=AA 1448w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1248,h_832,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818346\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-vistaprint_33068e5cd1\/interview-vistaprint_33068e5cd1.jpg?_i=AA 1248w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1048,h_699,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818346\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-vistaprint_33068e5cd1\/interview-vistaprint_33068e5cd1.jpg?_i=AA 1048w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_848,h_565,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818346\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-vistaprint_33068e5cd1\/interview-vistaprint_33068e5cd1.jpg?_i=AA 848w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_648,h_432,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818346\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-vistaprint_33068e5cd1\/interview-vistaprint_33068e5cd1.jpg?_i=AA 648w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_448,h_298,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818346\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-vistaprint_33068e5cd1\/interview-vistaprint_33068e5cd1.jpg?_i=AA 448w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_248,h_165,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818346\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-vistaprint_33068e5cd1\/interview-vistaprint_33068e5cd1.jpg?_i=AA 248w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1572px) 100vw, 1572px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"surround\">7. Surround yourself with inspirational people<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalbusinesscapital.com\/blog\/quotes-from-top-business-leaders\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn<\/a>, was starting out in business, he wished he knew that \u201cThe fastest way to change yourself is to hang out with people who are already the way you want to be.\u201d This is great advice for budding entrepreneurs\u2014that the people you surround yourself with greatly impact the speed of your development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bigger\">8. It\u2019s bigger than you<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>WildFlora co-founder Alexandra Scholtz explains how she set out to make the company \u201cnot just about us and what we have to offer, but giving jobs to people.\u201d It\u2019s important to remember that, even if you\u2019re embarking on the entrepreneurial journey alone, your business touches people\u2019s lives\u2014perhaps more than you realize. Keep this in mind with every business decision you make, especially during the hiring process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"personally\">9. Don\u2019t take things personally<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In a <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2017\/04\/21\/business\/leila-janah-samasource-lxmi.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New York Times<\/a><\/em> article, Leila Janah, founder of Samasource and LXMI, says, \u201cYou have to get good at ceding control and not taking things personally&#8230;Even seasoned entrepreneurs have struggled with that. I think it\u2019s about not taking failures personally and also not taking successes personally.\u201d Your business may be your passion project, but it\u2019s important to maintain a separate identity from the business. Give it room to grow and come into its own\u2014and don\u2019t blame yourself for your business&#8217;s challenges. Every business faces hurdles!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"keep\">10. Keep experimenting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a big experiment,\u201d small business owner Karen Blackwell says. \u201cGoing into business is experimenting with everything and being willing to experiment.\u201d One year from launch, your business will be very different from how it was on day one. Five years from launch, it may be unrecognizable from that original vision. Be willing to experiment because this is how you find what really works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"key\">11. Communication is key<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOne really important thing for growing the business is communication, internally and externally,\u201d says Mike Scholtz, co-founder of WildFlora. Building and running a business is a team effort, even if you run it alone. You need to communicate with your customers, vendors, partners and fellow entrepreneurs effectively because this is how your needs and theirs get met.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"770\" data-public-id=\"ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-2-vistaprint_33064307d6\/interview-2-vistaprint_33064307d6.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1024,h_770,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818400\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-2-vistaprint_33064307d6\/interview-2-vistaprint_33064307d6.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"RealTalk interview with VistaPrint\" class=\"wp-post-33058 wp-image-33064\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1740818400\" data-seo=\"1\" data-responsive=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1024,h_770,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818400\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-2-vistaprint_33064307d6\/interview-2-vistaprint_33064307d6.jpg?_i=AA 1572w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1448,h_1088,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818400\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-2-vistaprint_33064307d6\/interview-2-vistaprint_33064307d6.jpg?_i=AA 1448w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1248,h_938,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818400\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-2-vistaprint_33064307d6\/interview-2-vistaprint_33064307d6.jpg?_i=AA 1248w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1048,h_788,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818400\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-2-vistaprint_33064307d6\/interview-2-vistaprint_33064307d6.jpg?_i=AA 1048w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_848,h_637,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818400\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-2-vistaprint_33064307d6\/interview-2-vistaprint_33064307d6.jpg?_i=AA 848w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_648,h_487,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818400\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-2-vistaprint_33064307d6\/interview-2-vistaprint_33064307d6.jpg?_i=AA 648w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_448,h_336,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818400\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-2-vistaprint_33064307d6\/interview-2-vistaprint_33064307d6.jpg?_i=AA 448w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_248,h_186,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818400\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-2-vistaprint_33064307d6\/interview-2-vistaprint_33064307d6.jpg?_i=AA 248w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1572px) 100vw, 1572px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<section style=\"background-color: #FFFFFF\" class=\"section section-vp-custom-tip\">\n    <div class=\"vp-custom-tip swan section__container\" role=\"alert\">\n        <div class=\"swan-px-8 swan-py-7 swan-display-flex span-justify-center tip-wrap\">\n            <div class=\"title swan-text-x2large swan-font-secondary\">\n                Tip            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"text\">\n                <p>Discover <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.com\/hub\/how-to-grow-a-small-business\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">how to grow a small business<\/a>\u00a0in our ultimate guide to business growth.<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"passion\">12. Be passionate, creative and resilient<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You need to love what you do. No matter how passionate you are, though, there will always be days you don\u2019t love the daily grind. But if you love what you\u2019re doing, you\u2019ll be equipped to power through those days and follow your dreams. As Mike Scholtz, co-founder of WildFlora, told us:\u00a0\u201cWhat makes a good idea for a business is really something that you live, eat, breathe, sleep and you believe in.&#8221; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"slowly\">13. De-risk by growing slowly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The amount of risk involved in starting a business can feel scary. \u201cWe did not want to take a massive risk, so we de-risked our plan and are growing, but very slowly,\u201d Sabith Khan of tlali\u2022pani says. \u201cThat\u2019s part of the deliberate strategy to really figure out, \u2018Okay, is this what we want to dedicate the rest, maybe a decade or more, of our lives to?\u2019\u201d So, if you also want to minimize risk, follow in Khan\u2019s footsteps and ask yourself if you are willing to grow slower in exchange for putting less on the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<section style=\"background-color: #FFFFFF\" class=\"section section-vp-custom-tip\">\n    <div class=\"vp-custom-tip swan section__container\" role=\"alert\">\n        <div class=\"swan-px-8 swan-py-7 swan-display-flex span-justify-center tip-wrap\">\n            <div class=\"title swan-text-x2large swan-font-secondary\">\n                Tip            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"text\">\n                <p>Check out the most effective (and risk-free) small <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.com\/hub\/business-growth-strategies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">business growth strategies<\/a> in our article.<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"risk\">14. Take a risk for opportunity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Taking risks is essential to progress. As Ashley Addison, founder of amarieacreates tells us about her journey, &#8220;I took the leap and asked who I live with if I could get rid of the couch, get a desk, and have a full-blown mini office.&#8221; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So when you quit your day job and plunge into your savings, remember that it\u2019s all part of the messy, risky journey that is starting your own business. &#8220;People don&#8217;t start a business because they assume it&#8217;s an impossible task. My advice to anybody who&#8217;s thinking of starting or has an idea is to take the first step,&#8221; says Sabith Khan, co-founder of tlali\u2022pani.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"juggle\">15. Learn to juggle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One thing that many entrepreneurs struggle with is their work-life balance. As Ashley Addison, founder of amarieacreates recalls, \u201cJuggling my business from home with two littles is not an easy task. I\u2019ve learned to incorporate them into my business as much as possible, whether it\u2019s letting them print things for me with a printer or cutting my packaging paper.\u201d So take a leaf out of her book and get creative\u2014enlist family members and combine the two where possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"learning\">16. Keep learning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not enough to round up what to know before starting a business at the beginning of your entrepreneurial path and call it a day. Start with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.com\/hub\/checklist-starting-business\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">business startup checklist<\/a>, but don\u2019t stop there. Every day is an opportunity to learn new things and deepen your knowledge of effective small business marketing strategies and growth hacks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Go into business with a growth mindset because every day brings a new lesson (or multiple lessons!) that can make you a better and more resilient entrepreneur. As co-founder of FRUITLOOTS, David Cruz tells us, &#8220;The motivation is still here. And, you know, it is just like a child; you know, it is an investment that we&#8217;re happy to make as it grows.&#8221; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"consume\">17. Don\u2019t let it consume you<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>However, as you embark on your entrepreneurial journey, be cautious not to let your business take over your life. \u201cYou just have to truly be careful to not let it consume you and get so burnt out that it\u2019s no longer your passion anymore,\u201d warns Ashley Addison of amarieacreates. So take heed of this advice as you plough through and never lose sight of why you started your own business in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"770\" data-public-id=\"ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-3-vistaprint_33066eb728\/interview-3-vistaprint_33066eb728.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1024,h_770,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818374\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-3-vistaprint_33066eb728\/interview-3-vistaprint_33066eb728.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"RealTalk interview with VistaPrint\" class=\"wp-post-33058 wp-image-33066\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1740818374\" data-seo=\"1\" data-responsive=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1024,h_770,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818374\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-3-vistaprint_33066eb728\/interview-3-vistaprint_33066eb728.jpg?_i=AA 1572w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1448,h_1088,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818374\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-3-vistaprint_33066eb728\/interview-3-vistaprint_33066eb728.jpg?_i=AA 1448w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1248,h_938,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818374\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-3-vistaprint_33066eb728\/interview-3-vistaprint_33066eb728.jpg?_i=AA 1248w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1048,h_788,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818374\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-3-vistaprint_33066eb728\/interview-3-vistaprint_33066eb728.jpg?_i=AA 1048w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_848,h_637,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818374\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-3-vistaprint_33066eb728\/interview-3-vistaprint_33066eb728.jpg?_i=AA 848w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_648,h_487,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818374\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-3-vistaprint_33066eb728\/interview-3-vistaprint_33066eb728.jpg?_i=AA 648w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_448,h_336,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818374\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-3-vistaprint_33066eb728\/interview-3-vistaprint_33066eb728.jpg?_i=AA 448w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_248,h_186,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1740818374\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/interview-3-vistaprint_33066eb728\/interview-3-vistaprint_33066eb728.jpg?_i=AA 248w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1572px) 100vw, 1572px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading vp_toc_exclude\" id=\"launch\">Branding is key to a successful business launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As you continue to build your business plan and get ready to launch\u2014or if you\u2019ve already launched and you\u2019re working on growing your brand\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.com\/hub\/what-is-branding\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">great branding<\/a> is one of the most important investments to make if you want to see continuing returns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Branding is a lot of things, from brand colors and voice to website design and packaging choices. But above all of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.com\/hub\/list-of-things-needed-to-start-a-business\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">things to know before starting a business<\/a>, you need a well-designed logo. Your logo is the face of your business, so it needs to be recognizable and effectively communicate who you are and what you offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<section style=\"background-color: #FFFFFF\" class=\"section section-vp-custom-design-cta-block\">\n    <div class=\"vp-custom-design-cta-block swan swan-custom-cta-block px-6 swan-py-4 section__container\" role=\"alert\">\n        <div class=\"swan-px-8 swan-py-3 swan-display-flex span-justify-center\">\n            <div class=\"swan-mr-4\">\n                <div class=\"swan-text-x3large swan-text-black swan-font-secondary swan-mb-5\">\n                    Ready to start building your business?                <\/div>\n\n                <div class=\"swan-text-black swan-text-xm1 text-description\">\n                    Take the first step and design a custom logo with our Logomaker.                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n\n                            <div class=\"vp-custom-design-cta-block-button\">\n                    \n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.com\/logomaker\"\n   title=\"Design a custom logo!\"\n   target=\"_blank\"\n   class=\"swan-button swan-button-skin-primary\"\n    data-tracking-event=\"Navigation Clicked\" data-tracking-event-detail=\"\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33058;https:\/\/www.vistaprint.com\/logomaker;Content:Text Link;Design a custom logo!\" data-tracking-navigation-detail=\"Design a custom logo!\">\n    Design a custom logo!<\/a>\n                <\/div>\n                                <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faq\">FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What do you need to know before starting a business?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before starting a business, key things to know include managing finances wisely, validating your idea, understanding your target audience and preparing for the long haul. It\u2019s not just about launching\u2014it\u2019s about staying in the game. Make sure you\u2019re ready to pivot, problem-solve and keep learning as you go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are the 4 things to start a business?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At the core, you need four things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A solid business idea: Make sure there\u2019s a demand for it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A business plan: Outline your goals, budget, and strategy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Funding: Whether it&#8217;s savings, loans or crowdfunding, know how you\u2019ll finance it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Marketing &amp; branding: Visibility from your logo to your social media is key.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The things to know when starting a business go beyond just these four, but nailing these early sets you up for success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the easiest business to start?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The easiest business to start depends on your skills and resources. Service-based businesses like freelancing, consulting or social media management require little upfront investment. E-commerce (dropshipping or print-on-demand) is another low-cost option. The trick is to start small, validate demand and grow from there. When considering what you need to know when starting a business, focus on keeping startup costs low and testing your market early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How hard is it to start a business?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s as hard as you make it! The logistics\u2014registering your business, setting up a website\u2014are relatively simple. The real challenge is staying consistent, handling setbacks and adapting to changes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the biggest things to know before starting a business is that persistence and resilience matter more than perfection. If you\u2019re ready to learn, iterate, and keep going, you\u2019ll be ahead of the curve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What does a business need first?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The first thing a business needs is clarity\u2014on what you\u2019re offering, who you\u2019re serving and how you\u2019ll make money.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you get caught up in branding or paperwork, make sure you have a clear value proposition. Among the things you need to know when starting a business, the most important is ensuring your idea solves a real problem for a real audience. If you get that right, everything else will follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the best ways to learn the ropes is to heed advice from people who\u2019ve already been there and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":184,"featured_media":33062,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Things to Know Before Starting a Business | VistaPrint US","_seopress_titles_desc":"Thinking of launching a business? Learn key things to know before starting a business from real entrepreneurs and avoid common pitfalls!","_seopress_robots_index":"","_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":{"vp_publishing_settings_post_modified":false},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogadmin.vpsvc.com\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogadmin.vpsvc.com\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogadmin.vpsvc.com\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogadmin.vpsvc.com\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/184"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogadmin.vpsvc.com\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33058"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogadmin.vpsvc.com\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33058\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33431,"href":"https:\/\/blogadmin.vpsvc.com\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33058\/revisions\/33431"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogadmin.vpsvc.com\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33062"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogadmin.vpsvc.com\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogadmin.vpsvc.com\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogadmin.vpsvc.com\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}