Here is the checklist that will give you a list of factors to consider before starting a business.

1. 9 Indispensable Factors
to Consider Before
Starting a Business
https://www.litmusbranding.com

2. About this template
9 Indispensable Factors to Consider Before Starting
a Business
Almost every individual dreams about starting his own business. Yet only 4% of the newly started
businesses manage to reach the 10 year mark.
In fact over 50% of the small businesses don’t even make it to the fifth year. Most people have no idea
about the various things to consider when starting a new business.
It is just a desire to be on top of things that motivates many to start businesses. They have no idea
about the money that is required, the hard work that they have to put in, the knowledge and the
experience that they have to gain, and the kind of patience they need to have, until their business
reaches up to a certain level for them to break even or make profits.
Well begun is half done’ is what they say. So if you want to start your business, you have to get all the
things needed to start a business.
2

3. 9 Indispensable Factors to Consider Before Starting
a Business
◉ Here is a checklist that will give you a list of factors to consider before starting a
business:
◉ A Business Idea
◉ Knowledge or Expertise
◉ Market or Demand
◉ Start-up Costs
◉ Capital and Finance
◉ Competition
◉ Location
◉ Staff
◉ Technology
3

4. 1. A Business Idea
4

5. About this template
9 Indispensable Factors to Consider Before Starting
a Business
Every business starts with an idea – a super duper idea that actually works. If you want your business
to stand out, you will need to offer something that no one else has offered till date
5

6. About this template
9 Indispensable Factors to Consider Before Starting
a Business
That said not everyone can come up with a unique business idea. There might be hundreds of
businesses just like the one you are going to start. Yet you can make it better by answering the
following questions:
What do I need to do to make this better?
What is it that I can do better than what the other guys are doing?
Will I be able to grab some market share in this category?
You may have a great business idea; but unless it solves someone’s problem it is not going to work.
So start by listening to frustrations – both of yours as well as others (your family members, your
neighbors, your friends, and your associates).
Once you have understood these, here is what you can do:
See what best you can do to address these frustrations.
Identify the skills in you that will help you offer the right solution.
Find out if you are actually passionate about offering that solution.
And Voila! You have your business idea.
6

7. 2. Knowledge or
Expertise
7

8. About this template
9 Indispensable Factors to Consider Before Starting
a Business
Once you know what business you want to start, you will have to start gaining the required knowledge
and expertise to start that business.
This might take a lot of research and planning; but at the end all these efforts will ensure that you have
everything in place to get your business idea off the ground.
8

9. About this template
9 Indispensable Factors to Consider Before Starting
a Business
Having a business plan can be highly advantageous at this stage. It will tell you whether your business
has a place in the market and if the idea is worth or profitable enough to go ahead with.
If you have the knowledge you can construct one, all by yourself. If not, you can always hire a
professional business consultant to do it for you.
Meanwhile you will have to continue with your research to keep your knowledge up-to-date.
Recommended: Never Compare Your Beginning To Someone Else’s Middle
9

10. 3. Market or Demand
10

11. About this template
9 Indispensable Factors to Consider Before Starting
a Business
Once you are sure of starting your business, your next step would be to explore the market or the
demand for your product or service.
Start by answering the question, who are your customers. If you are selling your product or service
locally, you may have to assess the demand for it. In case you are taking up on an international level,
you may have to understand the rules and regulations of dealing internationally.
A market survey should reveal all the details that you may need about the market for your product or
service. Basically you are looking for:
 The current size of the market (the approximate number of potential buyers)
 Its growth potential (whether it is likely to grow in size or contract)
 The market share that you can expect to take
 The buying habits of the target audience (and how to exploit them)
 The different segments of the market
 The kind of margins that you can expect from the market
Thankfully social media has made it possible to reach out to target audience, anywhere in the world,
without having to put in too much of efforts.
11

12. 4. Start-up Costs
12

13. About this template
9 Indispensable Factors to Consider Before Starting
a Business
Estimating your start-up costs is one of the very important things to consider when starting a new
business. You will have to assess the total cost that is required to set up and run your business
successfully.
13

14. About this template
9 Indispensable Factors to Consider Before Starting
a Business
If you are thinking of starting a manufacturing plant, your start-up costs could be very high. You may
have to think about the cost of the land or building, setting up the plant, buying the equipment and
machinery, investing in furniture and office equipment, and various other things.
In case of a retail business, you may still need to think of the cost of the store as well as the furniture
required to decorate it. An office can be started with relatively lower cost since all you may have to
invest would be in furniture and office equipment.
Once your business is set up, you will have to think about the working capital needed to run your
business.
You will have to take into account the inventory that you need to maintain, the credit that you can
extend to your customers and the supplier’s credit that you can get.
In not all cases can you expect credit to be given by the suppliers, especially if you are a new name in
the market.
14

15. 5. Capital and Finance
15

16. About this template
9 Indispensable Factors to Consider Before Starting
a Business
No business in this world can run without money. Depending on the type of business you are starting
and the initial costs that you will have to pay up for, you will know what kind of capital you would need
to start your business.
Whatever steps you take, to finance your business, you will have to make sure you have the required
funds to take you through the startup phase.
The financing pattern is one of the most important factors to consider before starting a business. This
generally includes the capital that you can introduce from your savings as well as the funds that you
can borrow.
Personal savings are what 77 percent of the small businesses rely upon while gathering their initial
funds. But you can’t really go over the board if you cannot fund your entire business.
Funds can be borrowed for business, either through short-term or long-term loans. Nevertheless, you
may have to keep in mind the terms and conditions of borrowing such funds including the cost of
borrowing, the rate of interest, the repayment terms, and the security that is required. Approach a few
banks and private lenders, get a few quotes, and compare them to identify the most beneficial type of
funding.
It would be ideal to go for long-term funds only if you have to purchase any fixed assets. For working
capital requirement short-term funds would be sufficient. This way you can make sure they are paid
back once your business starts progressing.
16

17. 6. Competition
17

18. About this template
9 Indispensable Factors to Consider Before Starting
a Business
Unless you know who your competitors are and what they are doing, you will not be able to survive in
the market for long.
If your product is a monopoly competition will not matter. Else, you will have to come up with an
excellent strategy to fill in the demand and supply gap.
Gaining a market share should be on top of your mind if you are about to start a business. If there is a
huge demand for your product, this shouldn’t be too difficult. If not you may have to strengthen the
position of your business to gain an entry into the competitive market.
Analyzing competition includes getting to know your competitors, figuring out how they have
positioned themselves, identifying their pricing and marketing strategies, and evaluating their strengths
and weaknesses.
Once you have all the information it is all about conveying your unique selling point to your target
audience. If you can do this well you will survive no matter how tough the competition is.
18

19. 7. Location
19

20. About this template
9 Indispensable Factors to Consider Before Starting
a Business
One of the most important things needed to start a business is a good location.
If yours is a retail business you will have to look for a well-populated area that is easily accessible.
20

21. About this template
9 Indispensable Factors to Consider Before Starting
a Business
If it is a manufacturing unit you can choose a location that can let you save money on electricity, water,
taxes, and transportation. Look for a place where manpower is easily available and raw materials can
be sourced easily. You can even look for a location that can get you rebates and subsidies from the
government.
If yours is a niche product or a service, you may have to look for a single location where all your
competitors are. For instance, if it is a software company you want to start, you may have to look for a
software belt where all other software companies have set their shops. Similarly, the ideal location for
a gold vendor / jeweler would be a gold mart that has housed many such shops.
Offices can be set up in any place that is accessible and offers good facilities such as parking spaces,
refreshments, transportation, and so on.
Make sure the location fits well within your budget and offers scope for expansion. An ideal location
would be one that complements your business in the best possible way.
21

22. 8. Staff
22

23. About this template
9 Indispensable Factors to Consider Before Starting
a Business
Your staff members are the ones that can make or break your business.
Without efficient manpower no business can ever succeed. That said an efficient staffing strategy
needs to be in place if you want to reduce your staff replacement expenses.
You can hire a recruitment agency or use various recruitment tools to fill in your positions with the right
talent.
There are also a number of websites that make it easy to find the exact kind of people you are looking
for. Signing up for a couple of these can make your job, both easy and cost-effective.
Apart from hiring the right staff there is also the training that you need to think of. This will ensure your
staff members will be in a better position to handle their responsibilities and meet the expectations you
have set for them.
Finally you will also need to think about paying their salaries and perks to keep them motivated
enough at work.
23

24. 9. Technology
24

25. About this template
9 Indispensable Factors to Consider Before Starting
a Business
Technology is one thing you can never compromise on when it comes to starting a new business in
today’s world.
Whether it is office equipment, plant and machinery, or the software required to monitor your business,
you will have to make sure it helps your business to perform well in the long-run.
Here are a few steps you can follow, while choosing the right technology for your business:
Assess the requirements of your business
Make sure the technology you choose helps in making things run smoothly
Consider leasing technological equipment if you want to stay up-to-date
Always have a backup plan
Make sure you have the required support for installing, upgrading, and troubleshooting the
technology that you choose
Invest in training so that you can make maximum use of the technology
25

26. Bonus Factor:
A ‘Can-Do’ Attitude
26

27. About this template
9 Indispensable Factors to Consider Before Starting
a Business
When trying to start a new business you may see a lot of doors getting slammed in your face, a lot of
people trying to shut you down, and a zillion cant’s and don’ts from all over; but with a ‘Can Do
Attitude’ you can rise above all of it.
27

28. About this template
9 Indispensable Factors to Consider Before Starting
a Business
Dreaming big is not the only thing needed to start a business. You will also need to believe in that
dream and work towards achieving it with an excellent business strategy.
Apart from the above factors to consider before starting a business, there is another one that seems to
be very important – web presence.
In fact every business can benefit from web presence, whether it is a website, a social media page, or
an online brochure.
Today there are many websites that offer all the tools and templates that you would need to create
your own site within minutes.
But if you have the funds, it can be extremely beneficial to get a professional web designing company
to do up your website for you. For all you know they may also have an SEO expert who can help you
save a lot of money on marketing your business.
28

29. Thank You!
https://www.litmusbranding.com
29