Starting any kind of home business is a big undertaking. You’ll be taking the matter of earning a living into your own hands, and you’ll sink or swim according to your own abilities, luck and hard work. You may end up far better off than if you were working for somebody else, but you may also find yourself struggling at times. Despite the difficulties, however, there can be many positive and rewarding aspects to running a home business, and starting one with friends can make it easier and more enjoyable.
Is working with friends a good idea?
Many people might caution you against going into business with your friends. They may tell you that doing this could ruin your friendships, or conversely that being friends will distract you from having the clear-sighted focus that running a business needs. Your enthusiasm may run away with you when you really need to be realistic and ruthless.
This need not be the case, however. Working with friends means that you probably already have a shared interest or passion on which to base your business. You already trust each other, which is the most important thing in any business. You will support each other when times are tough, and going into business with friends will give you the confidence to succeed that you might not have had if you were going it alone.
Which friends should I work with?
You’ll need to choose carefully which friends to go into business with. Basing your decision on common ground is a good thing, but you should also consider that, in a successful business, each partner should be able to bring different skills and experiences to the table. Think about your own strengths and weaknesses; if you’re good at making things but aren’t confident at setting up a website to sell them, maybe you should go in with a friend who has a talent for web design and marketing.
When you have your team together, you will all need to have clearly defined roles and stick to them. Yes, you’re all in this together, but it’s important that everyone knows their responsibilities from day one. That way you can be sure all aspects of the business are taken care of, and the levels of stress are reduced by being shared out evenly.
How can we make our business a success?
Of course, once your business is established then you need to get out there and promote it. Give some thought to branding, and make sure that you use a professional-looking business card template. There are many suitable template options, so select the one that best represents your business to the world. Then get out into your local area and network! Join small business groups, attend functions and openings, and tell everyone you meet about your business. Networking online is just as important, and it goes without saying that you should make full use of all available social media platforms.
Starting a home business and making it successful is hard work, but doing it with friends can make it more rewarding. So why not develop your shared interests into a moneymaking venture?
