For many people, the idea of starting in business can bring excitement akin to nirvana. The idea of being able to choose your own hours, call the shots and control the direction and destiny of a firm can indeed be electrifying, but before you launch headlong into opening your fledgling firm and welcoming the masses, there are some sensible steps you should take to help protect your investment of both time and money.
The risks facing small businesses
While, in most cases, starting a new business should be relatively simple, risks still exist – particularly for Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in their early days. To give you the greatest peace of mind and protection against potential pitfalls, be sure to address the following considerations.
Select the business formation best suited to what you intend to do
Businesses come in many different shapes and forms – everything from a simple one-person-band trader structure up to limited liability firms and partnerships. The type of company formation you should choose will likely be dictated by what you intend to sell – plus how and where you intend to operate. You should also think of the management and staff structure to work out the best option. Rather than taking chances, seek advice if you’re in any doubt about which is best for your particular company.
Make sure you have a legal advisor
While you might not think you need legal help as you startup, if you find yourself caught short on litigious affairs further down the line, you’ll be very glad of having a trusted advisor to call on. Also, a lawyer will be able to advise on the point above regarding which type of company is best for you.
Hire an accountant
Looking after accounts is easier than ever these days with a huge range of specialist business accounting apps and software now widely available that will largely automate the process of your day-to-day finances. However, thinking about the bigger picture, you should still ensure you hire an accountant in the early days of your business. An accountant will not only be able to offer advice on your start-up options and tax affairs, they will also be on hand to help you with larger financial decisions.
Ensure you have adequate business insurance
In your normal life, you likely already have comprehensive insurance covering everything from your home and contents to your car and high-value goods – so why should your business be any different? In many countries and states, business insurance is a legal requirement for all companies – but regardless of whether you are obliged to take out insurance, you should still ensure you have adequate business cover. There are many different types of insurance for businesses, so be sure to consult a specialist firm like kbdinsurance.com to find out what cover you need.
Protect your data by partnering with a cloud services company
Many industry analysts now suggest data is the world’s most valuable commodity – worth more even than traditional Goliaths like gold and oil – and, when it comes to business, your company data likely forms the lifeblood of your firm. Moreover, you will also likely hold sensitive client data – all of which needs to be protected from malicious attackers. Rather than struggling with networks, storage and security on your own, you should outsource all your IT resources to a dedicated cloud computing company.
