Should You Start a Small Business?

These days, with a volatile job market and unemployment rates going through the roof, more and more Americans are considering the entrepreneurial route as a great way to move their careers forwards. Whereas in the past, being your own boss has been considered the best way to ensure a lack of job stability, this is no longer so. Whether you're a hairstylist or a shower door installer, professionals around the United States are obtaining business licenses and heading to social media to sell their wares and services.

It's true, running your own business can be incredibly exciting. That being said, it also takes a lot of elbow grease to get your own business off the ground. It's not all glitz, glamour, and high-profile clients posting on your Facebook page and paying large commissions. If you're considering striking out on your own, whether you're a wellness advocate or a salon owner, read on for some things to keep an eye on.

Do you have your licenses in order?

Before you get started as a business owner, you should be aware that you'll need to be fully licensed for whatever you look to do. For example, it takes a lot more than a passion for cosmetology to become a hair stylist. Just because your friends from high school all look to you as their home "salon" pro doesn't mean that you can open a professional salon without going to beauty school. Even if you have literally years of experience as a stylist, you still need to complete a cosmetology program and get licensed as a cosmetologist before your snip the first lock at your own business. Otherwise, you'll have the government on you like a ton of bricks. Don't let this deter you, though! There are plenty of beauty schools with great cosmetology classes that you can take, and it shouldn't take long to get your paperwork taken care of. If you have your high school diploma or GED, it's even easier to just enroll as a student at cosmetology school and get started on your stylish journey.

Social media management can be harder than it looks.

Maybe you have tons of experience on social networks like Facebook, Instagram, and Tik-Tok, but that doesn't mean that you're ready to take on the complex realm of social media advertisers. Running a personal account and running a Facebook page for a small business are two very different things. For example, did you know that a Facebook political page needs to go through a whole other authorization process before it can post or boost any political content or political ads? Any political ads that you see as you scroll through your newsfeed are tracked by Facebook, and the author of those political ads is under extreme scrutiny.

When you're advertising your small business, there are also plenty of regulations you may not be aware of, which is why it makes sense to get some input from professional advertisers before taking on the social media marketplace. This is especially true if it's your first time trying to use targeted social media ads to make conversions from viewers to customers.

Are you into wellness? Essential oils are in.

Whatever your niche is, make sure you do plenty of market research before you start a new business. For instance, you may be really into wellness and think you're ready to take on the wellness marketplace, but the first thing your business plan should address is existing trends. These may surprise you, and, if that's the case, let yourself be surprised.

Even if you think you should be focusing only on meditation practices or nutritional supplements if your research shows that it's worth your while to pay attention to essential oils, go for it. The additional information you gain when finding out if 2021 is the year of essential oils or the year of home massage techniques is the first step to designing a custom package that will enamor potential customers. This doesn't mean that you need to pivot all the way to starting an essential oil business, but your business model needs to take the marketplace needs into account. By doing sufficient market research, you can be a more successful wellness advocate, customer service provider, or hairdresser. The field is less important than the idea of recognizing a great opportunity when you see one.

Consider publishing buying guides and blog posts.

While there's no right way to boost sales, one way to your customers' hearts is to provide useful information to them. This may mean hiring a blogger to write blog posts about your industry, whether that's installing new shower doors for homeowners or beginner yoga classes. Customers appreciate the generosity and usefulness that these blog posts provide, and they also spend more time on your website. The next step (getting them to buy your products or services) is a lot easier to manage if they're already on your site or Facebook page reading an informative post or a buying guide for frameless shower screens. Provide accurate information about the beauty industry, or about bathtub tiles and shower doors—it doesn't matter; the point is that you're creating a personal connection with potential clients by providing great content.

Whatever type of new business you end up launching, the bottom line is basic: be responsible about licensing and training, get advice where necessary, do your market research, and provide great content and customer service. Your clientele will soon be streaming through your doors, and you'll be glad you took the plunge.