STACE Business
By
Josephine
April 25, 2022
Proven Strategies for Launching Small and Medium Businesses

Proven Strategies for Launching Small and Medium Businesses

Hundreds of small and medium businesses fail because they refuse to implement the right strategies before launching.

Launching an SMB can be a lot of work. As a rookie, you find yourself researching the best tips for starting a business. Of course, the internet is always at your disposal; there are a lot of websites with thousands of checklists to remind you of the things you haven't done.

While I agree that these checklists could come in handy, they are often mere to-do lists. They tell you what to do, but they are not actionable strategies for a successful business lunch. You might think it’s just a small business. While this is true, there’s no small success. Before you launch, you need the right strategies to prepare you for the intensity of running a business.

As one who has launched successful businesses, I can tell you from experience that you cannot achieve business success by completing tasks. You may have a killer idea for your business, but that doesn’t guarantee success either.

Having the right strategies in place before you launch a business is one way to guarantee success. Here are some proven strategies:

Mindset is Everything

We hear of overnight successes often because they make for good sensational stories for journalists and business influencers. It is never that simple. While the media talks about successes, we may never get to know of the sleepless nights of scheming, strategizing, positioning, and building before the big break.

Therefore you have to stay focused on your goals. Stick to your guts, regardless of the struggles, without attempting to use someone else’s success as a yardstick for measuring yours. Although it’s possible to build a multi-million-dollar restaurant, you need to start small and stay consistent. McDonald’s didn’t start with 100 branches. Always remember.

Know your Target Market and Competitors

You need an idea of the market dynamics of your niche. You should also know your competitors. What are the successful brands in your niche? Want to start a top-class dry-cleaning business? Who are those already at the top of the radar in this business? What are they doing well that makes them a favorite? What can you do differently? This is fundamental research before launching, regardless of your business type.

SWOT Analysis

Strength- Weaknesses- Opportunities- Threats (SWOT). This analysis will tell you the future of your product or service. It’ll tell you how your product/service might perform when it gets to the market. This will help you to decide on the direction of your business idea.

If you’re starting a coffee shop, for instance, your strength will be the things that make your shop stand out. It could be the sitting arrangement or brewed coffee, etc. Consider your weaknesses and opportunities, and of course, your threats which may be your competitors, social norms, or government policies.

A Detailed Business Plan

This is one of the most essential steps for launching a new business. Develop a plan that details how you will carry on the challenges ahead. From your SWOT analysis, indicate the opportunities in your plan. What is your mission, and who are your targets? This plan should also include measurable goals with milestones and deadlines for every step of the journey.

As an SMB, this is very important to measure your growth and success. Keep it flexible enough to adjust when necessary.

Think of your Finances

Even as an SMB, you need capital to launch your business. Saving up for your business is one way to go. Approaching lenders is another way to go. There should always be a financial backup plan. Getting investors or lenders to finance your new business wouldn't come easy, especially as a small business, so you need to have an excellent financial plan before launching.

Don’t Do it Alone

Like everything in life, you need a support system for your business. This may be your family or friend that you can always run your ideas by. Your support system listens and gives valuable feedback. Have them try out your recipes, your products, or your services. If you’re opening a barbershop, you might want to give your friends a haircut to get their honest reviews.

Having someone to rant to when you run into a start-up crisis. Join business communities on social media, especially LinkedIn, and follow opinion leaders in your field. It may be more valuable to get a mentor or, if possible, enroll in a business start-up program. Experienced guidance is the best support system for your SMB.

These business tips will help you launch your SMB easily without too much stress. It will also contribute to your business success in the long run.