I've been thinking a lot about this lately. Have any of you own (or have owned) your own business? Zoom, you own a comic shop, right? How do you get started?
Okay, it sounds corny, but that's how mine started. And I mean, what self-respecting comic geek hasn't wanted to own a comic store?
To be dead honest, I wouldn't have my store right now without a great number of people. You have to have support. And I'm not talking financial. Though that's important too.
First thing that I got told was have a business plan. I had no idea what this was, and I still don't really. It's an outline of what your business will do and what the costs involved would be, both start-up and running. If you want I can e-mail you a copy of mine, once I've dug it back up.
I don't know how hard it is to get a business loan where you are, but for me it was easy. Go to a bank that you've dealt with for a long time, one that knows your credit history. I went in one day, and 15 minutes later came out with $25000. And I've gone back for more since. What I had pointed out to me was that if you're asking for a small loan, a bank won't even bat an eyelash. They're used to dealing in sums in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. A piddly little loan (though it seems pretty big to me) is no sweat to them. However, if you don't need to get a loan, avoid it at all costs.
After that it's really a matter of what your business is going to be. Is there a niche to be filled? Do you need a storefront? I'm not sure of what legally is involved in running an online business. In Canada, you have to register your business at the regional office, where you'll get a business license. If you're going to be dealing with wholesalers, this'll give you the number you need to give them to be exempt on some taxes. At least, that's how it works here.
If you're going to be leasing property, make sure you incorporate your business and make sure that the lease is in the corporation's name. What this means is that if you go bankrupt, it is the corporation and not you personally that will be held accountable. I'm not saying that you'll just be able to walk away, but it'll make it easier. (At least I'm hoping it will.)
So many little things. The government bullshit that I have to go through is insane. There's still forms that I'm sure I was supposed to fill out before I opened that I haven't done. My thinking is that lots of people open businesses all the time and they probably screw up like I have, if not more. So I'm not unique in having problems.
Make sure you really want to do it. It's really really hard. I haven't had an income for 8 months. We've been living off of Tara's savings and her wages, and it's not quite enough. And I don't expect that my store will be bringing in the big bucks, ever. It's a comic store. That doesn't translate to millionaire. It never will. But I love my work, and I love my store, and if it means I'll never be rich, so be it. But you have to really want it. And you have to be ready for it to fail. Chances are good that it will. I myself am sailing pretty close but it could still go either way.
Random thoughts:
-try to get a lease negotiator to go over you lease. We had a friend of the family who's one and he was invaluable.
-conscript your friends. They are cheap labour and the best support you're going to get.
-do not settle for a location. Don't get something out of the way just because it's cheap. I almost did this. The place I have now is insane in the rent department, but the plaza is busy all the time.
-get high-speed internet. I helps to kill a lot of quiet times. Which there will be when you start up, 'cause no one knows you're there.
-advertise.
-advertise.
-advertise. They say it takes three times for the average consumer to recognize a logo or store name. I've recently put out an ad and I'm really seeing results for it.
I'm sure other things will occur to me. Fortunately I have high speed at work, so I'll be able to post them. If you have specific questions, post them. I'll do my best to come up with what I did, which may or may not be the right answer.
I should point out that opening a business in the US is easier than in Canada from a government-paperwork standpoint, or so I've been told. I *think* down here, all you have to do is incorporate, and then let the business lease property, buy & sell goods, while in Canada there's all sorts of local, regional, and federal registrations to go through.
Had this discussion at work a while back with a former Quebecker.
There's a great deal of parallels and reasons behind either opening a biz or becoming self-employed. On a low level, the governments usually view them similiarly, at least in the beginning. I do design and related services and I have to say there's perks to a service job (small overhead, inventory). But then again you'll be looking for clients instead of products, etc. Can lead to some difficult weeks.
I'd rather be working for someone at this point but those options are nearly as good or available at the moment. It is a learning experience though. Plus having to do it for yourself gives you an edge as you're aware of some of the concerns that your employer has = good assets.
