Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

Personal tools
Sections
You are here: Home Focus Five questions you need to ask yourself when starting a small business

Five questions you need to ask yourself when starting a small business

22 April 2021, 22:20 CET

Starting a small business can seem like a daunting but exciting thing to do but if you take it in small chunks isn't as scary as you might first think it to be.

Once you have decided upon an idea and you have done your research making sure that there is a market out there for it and that it is cost-effective and will be a good earner, you then have to look at the more mundane topics such as:

Where to locate your business?

Choosing the right location for your business is essential, although, with the widespread use of the internet today, you may not think that this matters at all. It all depends on whether you want your business to have more local connections or wish it to appear more global. This will affect the type of customer you are looking to connect with and the impression you want to give of your company

Office-based team or remote workers?

Do you wish to have a purpose-based office, or would you be happy with your workers working remotely to save rental costs? Be aware that your 'company' will still need a trading address even if it isn't an address from which all employees have to travel to work.

Which tech do you need or your new business?

Even if your staff are working remotely, it is a good idea to provide them with the right technology to carry out their duties. This will include mobile phones, whether you want them to have that sleek Lenovo laptop or a Dell desktop, and maybe even a printer, which you should specify for business use only in any documentation you wish your remote employees to sign for.

What furniture do you need (if you need it at all)?

Good quality office furniture is a must for your worker's posture if you have an office to put it in, though if your employees are working remotely, you may not need to supply them with this. It may be a nice gesture to offer them a percentage of the cost of getting the right equipment for them as it could save your company paying sick time for poor posture-related injuries.

Looking at tables, desks, and chairs, ones whose height can be adjusted are the best with the chairs that also have adjustable backrests, height, and tilt, with plenty of padding on both seat and backrest. There are now available on the market office tables which you can adjust easily so the user can sit down to work for a while and then comfortably stand and work, this is very good for the workers back, legs and circulation.

What software do you need?

Having the right software which can show all work in progress, completed or waiting to be started at a glance, is very handy. Such as Gantt charts or similar. Accessible by all workers regardless of which location they are working from. Each one can be easily modified and personalised. You can also have areas on the charts to show employee sickness or holidays to see how a project progresses and if your team will finish it on time.

Document Actions
Weekly Diary

The Week Ahead no. 623
Waste framework directive - microplastic pollution - agriculture situation and Ukraine - Multilateral Investment Court

→ EUbusiness Week archive

Subscription options