Setting your own deadlines, not having to answer to anyone except for yourself, and having your own space to think up ideas to make progress better sounds like such a dream. To a person tied to a corporate job to make ends meet, being the spearhead of a company doesn’t seem feasible even if the thought is years away.
However, some people built their dreams from starting at the lowest step of the corporate ladder and made their way up with skills, grit, and the desire to achieve their goals. The situation is similar for the aspiring entrepreneur.
Accepting that you’d more likely than not to start at the bottom is a good way to train yourself to work hard and stay on top of your game until you’re at the level of the businesses and individuals that inspired your life as an entrepreneur.
Here are ways you can get into business:
1. Start as an independent seller for an established brand.
The rule of thumb for real estate and insurance agents when it comes to starting a business the easy way is selling the products of an already operational brand. When you ask them about the available options to invest your money and grow them, these agents will tell you to become a retailer.
More into being an independent seller for a brand, you can start by opening your own office once you’ve gained enough momentum to rent a strategically placed store. As a brand’s independent seller, you can create your own schedule, work for yourself, all while being associated with a brand that is already known to consumers.
Entering business this way wouldn’t require you to spend months dwelling on creating a business model and finding the right suppliers. You can start as soon as you finalize the paperwork with the brand you want to sell for.
2. Consider freelancing and consulting.
Another way to enter the world of business is to start selling what you know. To do this, you can begin working as a freelancer or a consultant to different companies and individuals. Freelancers work on their own time, with their own equipment, and most of the time, direct how much they’ll earn.
Freelancing and consultation work is mostly remote. This means you can work from home and any part of the world. Allowing you to travel and choose the people you want to sell your skills to.
Freelancing jobs range from writing, virtual assisting, customer service, accounting, graphic design, programming, and many more. You can practically turn any skill into something that can make you money.
3. Be a franchisee.
Another way of entering into a business similar to independently selling for an established brand is becoming a franchisee. Most recognized brands are open for the franchise, but most come with hefty prices. If you’re looking for the stability of household brands, you must be prepared for the capital opening a franchise under their name requires.
However, along with the price is the assistance of the established brand regarding advertising, staffing, training, and management. They won’t leave you on your own after finalizing the paperwork because the business will be under their name, which they don’t want to be tainted by an underperforming franchise.
In the United States, the typical restaurant franchise cost starts at $35,000. Higher if the brand boasts a big following and is recognized around the globe.
As a franchisee, you’d still be working as your own boss because you’re overseeing the operations of one or more franchised restaurants. Even if most franchisors are involved in management, more influence would still come from you as a franchisee.
4. Open a business in your community.
In starting a business, you don’t have to look too far. You can snoop around your neighborhood for what they’re looking for or want to see as consumers. Community-oriented businesses such as daycare, tutoring, dog walking, and other household services will turn fruitful when established in the right place and time.
Asking your neighbors through surveys is the best way to gain insight directly from your target consumer base, which will help you decide what type of business to start and how you can effectively sell your goods and services.
Will working be required?
Even if you’re technically a boss, you’d still be required to put in the work required to keep a business operational and growing. The last thing you want is to waste your time, money, and effort to end up quitting.
As with anything that you want to turn out good, you have to work to make a business successful.