​19 top tips for starting-up your own business

Originally posted in April 2016, with more people recently asking me about setting-up on their own, I have refreshed this post.

​Eight years ago this month, I set-up my consultancy at my kitchen table, I hope the following is of use to people who find themselves in the same exciting position...

Who would have thought that in the last month I would have spoken to a total of nine friends and ex-colleagues who have been asking me for top tips about setting up their own consultancy and starting up on their own?
 
This month, it is eight years since I started my business at my kitchen table.

That turned into a desk in our front room, and then we converted the small old wash house in our back garden for my office (photo above - I miss my apple crate shelving and long workbench!), then we moved house (just down the road and I found a long desk thanks to Peppermill Interiors) and now I have my office which is very much separate from home life which is much easier!
 
I have built-up my consultancy business to advise some wonderful clients, and I haven’t looked back - a big thank you to all past and present clients.

I tap into a brilliant network of suppliers: design & creative agencies, digital providers, printers, photographers, signage companies etc.

I’m in my office probably one to two days a week, and go out to clients on the other days.
 
I’m always so flattered to be asked for advice on starting-up on your own.
 
So I thought I would list the top things that I couldn’t live without and my top tips:

1. My Apple MacBook Pro – previously I had a MacBook Air (light for travelling to clients) but now that we're involved in more multimedia and high res images, I needed more memory and a faster operating system!
2. Dropbox Pro – my saviour! I store all my files here, securely and also have the Dropbox App which means I can access and files even if I don’t have my laptop to hand
3. 1and1 – I use this for hosting my website domains, plus my webmail - it links to my Mac Outlook. But if I ever lost my MacBook, my emails are all there, securely
4. WordPress.com or Weebly.com – best websites for hosting, designing and importantly managing my website – super templates and customer service
5. iPhone X Plus – it’s big but I need the big screen as I use this so much when I’m out and about
6. Amazon.co.uk – I buy all my office stationery through here. It’s delivered to my office and means I don’t have to lug back reams of A4 paper, or panic that I’m nearly out of printer ink!
7. Food shopping delivery – juggling family and work is great but any extra help you can get with home life is a bonus!  My weekly shop is brought to me by Ocado – a huge help and means on weekends, I’m not spending hours negotiating a busy supermarket and its car park!
8. Industry enewsletters - sign up to as many business & industry enewsletters - there's so much brilliant advice and knowledge sharing available out there that keeps you at the top of your game.  For me it's: Econsultancy, FT's Tech blog, Brand Republic, TED Talks etc
9. Equally, do get out and network - at first it's tempting to just focus on clients and your work, but you never know who you will meet whether it's in the marketing & PR industry or within your clients' sector
10. Do think about your business plan, your target clients/customers, your promise, your sectors and 'the why' - why are you doing this, what are your clients 'buying' from you?
11. Do look at your logo, colour palette, font, tone of voice – how do you wish to be perceived and what will resonate with your target audience? But be true to yourself – what's your story? Really interrogate what you’re offering and selling
12. As you start trading, you will probably find your business evolves to meet the needs of your clients, and indeed their businesses will grow and evolve, or you will be impacted by micro and marco changes. That's ok! Just be true to your clients and yourself. If you can't do it, don't. Your integrity is the most important thing you have.
13. Do set up a slick website – it’s your shop window and always amazes me the number of people who don’t make the most of this obvious, good value and so easy to create marketing tool
14. Do use social media: twitter is one of the noisiest ones out there but it gives reach and there's some coding that can be easily imbedded into your website, thus giving you a very easy and uptodate snapshot of what you’re up to. And never underestimate the power of LinkedIn – seek those client recommendations – word of mouth is key
15. Don’t be tempted to spend money on ordering reams of letterhead, with comps slips etc.  All my business correspondence is electronic so Word versions of letterhead and invoices are enough to get started. My printed stationery is just business cards and with comps postcards - all easily ordered through the brilliant moo.com
16. If consulting, you need Professional Indemnity insurance – it’s simply peace of mind for your clients and you. I use Hiscox through small business insurance specialists Policy Bee
17. Do start as a sole trader to get a feel for things, then progress to Limited when appropriate – get a great accountant, and I would say a local one to you who you trust
18. Importantly, do make sure you're representing those clients in whom you believe and where your values are shared. You will know if it feels right. 
19. And lastly, to quote the wonderful Seth Godin, work out whether you are a "freelancer" or "entrepreneur": is your business for cash flow or a future saleable asset. Read Seth's blog for more, all of which is still so true to today

 
Running your own business is brilliant.

​To quote a very wise man close to me who has run his own business for nearing 40 years: "the highs are high, and the lows are low".

​But if the last eight years are anything to go by, there are many more highs than lows and I would recommend it to anyone. What are you waiting for?