So, you’re itching to start a small business and you also want to start an online business. You’ve binge-watched entrepreneurial YouTubers, bought a fancy notebook, and even Googled “best coffee for late-night hustling.” Congratulations! You’re one step closer to realizing your dreams—or crashing them gloriously into the ground.
Here’s how to make sure your journey from that great product idea to your golden launch goes as smoothly as a square wheel.
Step 1: Ask What You Actually Want and Ignore the Answer
First of all, what is it that you want?
If your answer is “money,” “freedom,” or “to prove Carol from HR wrong,” you’re off to a rocky start. Starting a small business, including an online business, requires clarity. Yet, most of us skip this step, plunging straight into building websites and brainstorming quirky domain names.
Mistake: Waffling about your goals or picking one you think sounds impressive. Forget buzzwords; go for honesty. Otherwise, your small business will become your full-time therapy session.
ATTENTION SPOILER!
“I want freedom” is incompatible with entrepreneurship. To receive, you have to give something.
Although freedom is used limitlessly – and admittedly so, I do it myself- there is always a deeper emotion that pushes us into the entrepreneurial journey. We must make sure that we channel our emotions positively and not act on negative feelings such as regret, hostility, ego. We must ensure that we channel our emotions to a form of contribution to ripe the results.
I did this mistake myself and I have now realised that the deeper goal I want behind the word “freedom” is living my life at my own terms. Be the hero of my own destiny. And I am now shaping my destiny by supporting the STEM entrepreneur community with my skills and experience. This is for me freedom. And this is my contribution.
We all have different goals and deeper driving emotions. You must find yours to set yourself up for success when starting your own business. You need to define your goals and your vision, as a compass guiding you throughout your journey.
Find out more in our article “Long Visions, Short Plans: Your Strategy is your compass”.
Step 2: Find What You’re Good At (or Pretend You’re Good at Everything)
Secondly, what is it that you are good at?
Here’s the kicker— “everything” is not the answer. Neither is “nothing,” unless you want your small business to be a heartfelt case study on failure. The sweet spot? Your actual skills combined with market demand. You bake? Sell cakes. You’re funny? Sell jokes (or social media management; same thing).
Mistake: Ignoring your strengths and trying to wing it. No one’s buying vegan dog treats from someone who doesn’t know a whisk from a wiener dog.
ATTENTION ANOTHER SPOILER!
You do not need to be the smartest or have highest titles to start your own business, including an online business, but you need to find your strengths and passions and channel them to fix a problem in the market.
Find out more in our article “Inglorious Bastards – The New Entrepreneurs Definition”
Step 3: Identify Your Inner Saboteur
Third, what’s stopping you? Fear of failure or looking stupid on LinkedIn? Fear of success because then you’d have to work?
Starting a small business and surviving means tackling these roadblocks head-on. Sure, confidence issues are real. But so is your credit card bill.
Mistake: Letting fear run the show. Fear isn’t your friend—it’s the weird neighbour who keeps stealing your Amazon parcels.
Common Pitfalls and Hilarious Missteps
- Confusion/Lack of Clarity: Thinking “online business” means slapping a PayPal button on your Instagram and calling it a day. Your audience isn’t psychic; they need a clear offer.
- Confidence Issues: Spending weeks perfecting your logo instead of launching. Newsflash: No one cares about your font choice.
- Lack of Money: Complaining about startup costs while spending £4 daily on oat-milk lattes. Prioritize, darling.
- Lack of Time: Netflix didn’t hold you hostage; your schedule did. Trade one episode of The Crown for actual business planning.
Starting Your Business Right
If you genuinely want to start a small business, weather an online business or not, you need a few key ingredients strategically mixed: a goal, a vision, passion, skills, a problem to solve and a roadmap.
Ask yourself. What do you want? What are you good at? How can you package your skills and passion in a product? Who’s your audience? How will you market it?
These are your holy grail questions. Skip them, and you’ll be three months in with no sales and an unhealthy attachment to Canva templates.
Final Thoughts
To start a small business means getting real with yourself. This means knowing what you want, embracing what you’re good at, and getting out of your own way. Keep focused on what matters and don’t let small distractions hold you back. Ultimately, success comes from making smart decisions and moving forward, no matter the obstacles.
Therefore, do you want to launch your business but somehow you are stuck in the process?
If you are an entrepreneur in the STEM field and struggling to build a marketable product, email me at info@engineeringsuccess.co.uk. Tell me your biggest challenge and I will be happy to help you.
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And of course, keep reading our articles!
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