Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Business Selection for Aspiring Entrepreneurs




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Small business ownership is more popular than ever, but the road to owning a business that fits your personality and goals can be fraught with pitfalls if you're not fully prepared.

It's crucial not to underestimate the importance of choosing the right business. Imagine trying to run a marathon wearing running shoes that are three sizes too small. That's what it's like to operate the wrong business. Your efforts will likely be doomed from the start simply because you chose a business that doesn't match your interests.

As long as you keep in mind some key points when choosing a business, there's no reason to be discouraged. Thousands of aspiring business owners turn their entrepreneurial dreams into a reality every year. There are a variety of factors that go into the business selection process and, believe it or not, most of them are unrelated to the amount of capital you are able to invest in the business.


Choosing the Right Type of Business

The intangibles involved in selecting an appropriate industry and type of business can have an impact that lasts far beyond your first day on the job. Personal interest and passion are non negotiable elements in a successful business venture.

When the initial excitement of becoming a business owner wears off, you'll be left with the task of actually doing the work, day in and day out, for as long as you own the business. If the kind of work your business does isn't very interesting to you, you're setting yourself up for disappointment and frustration down the road.

A lot of new business owners begin the process by conducting an honest assessment of their interests. In fact, the most successful businesses often begin as a hobby which eventually inspires the business buyer to transition into ownership.



Another intangible has to do with the owner's skill set. Theoretically, it's possible to buy into a business in which you have absolutely no skills or experience. The problem is that the business may not be able to endure a lengthy learning curve. For example, if someone with no previous skills in the salon industry buys an existing hair salon with the intention of getting trained and certified along the way, a major issue would be how the business would survive while the owner learns the ropes. Would other employees fill the gaps, or is it a better idea to work alongside someone else before jumping into business ownership?

As you assess your interests, be realistic about your skill level. If your chosen field or industry requires training, factor it into your business plan from the start and make allowances to compensate for your gradual integration into daily operations.



Identifying the Right Business Opportunity

After you have determined the type of business that appeals to you and that you would be truly happy owning, the next step is to look for specific businesses that fit the bill in your price range. Unless you have a large amount of cash at your disposal, you will need to finance a good share of the purchase price, so a visit to your banker or other financing professional is a prerequisite to beginning your search. The goal should be to understand how much you can afford to pay for a business, factoring in the amount you may be able to borrow from a bank, friends and family, or the business seller.




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