It all starts with your idea. This can come from one of your hobbies, a subject you enjoy or maybe you've a solution to a problem. Whatever the idea is, let it motivate you, as this idea will form the basis of your business.

Don't panic if you don't have a concrete idea yet, plenty of business ideas need developing - the next step can help with this.

The next step is all about research. Knowing the facts early will save you time, money, and stress later. To develop your idea, focus on the following three questions...

1. Who is your target market? These are the people most likely to buy your product. Find out who they are, where they spend time and how you can reach them

2. Who is your competition? This includes any business selling something similar.
Research them to learn what they do well, what they struggle with and what you can do differently

3. How will you deliver your product? Think about how your product will reach customers. Ask yourself will you make it yourself or use suppliers? Do you need transport, a website, or packaging? Will you need money upfront, like a bank loan?

When you can confidently answer these three questions, you’re ready to plan your business properly.

Now that you have a clear idea of what you want to do, it's time for a business plan. This will be a clear guide for your business going forward, and will likely include a mission statement, cashflow projections and a business structure.

This is the stage we commonly see individuals reach out to our team here at Ards Business Hub with questions, as a business plan can seem quite daunting.

This is the stage you address complicated issues, such as your tax and insurance obligations, or registering with HMRC. Don't forget, our team is here to help you handle any tricky stumbling blocks you may have at this stage!

Alternatively, we highly recommend GOV.UK's business plan guide and templates, available here.

Customers need to know about your business before they can buy from you. By now, your research should have helped you understand who your customers are and where to reach them, such as on social media, at local events, or through direct contact.

This stage is about testing what works. Try different ways of promoting and selling your product or service, and use customer feedback to make improvements.

Make it easy for customers to buy from you, whether that’s online, in person, or through social media. Many new businesses also benefit from test trading, allowing them to sell on a small scale, learn from customers, and refine their approach before fully launching.

By the end of this step, you should understand how customers find you, how they buy from you, and what needs improving.

Whether it happens immediately, during your test trading, or takes a bit of time and further work, when your first sale comes it'll have all been worth it!

Take a moment to enjoy it, cause this is only the start of it. It may sound cliché, but your business is a journey, and you'll need to plan for it to grow and change. Maybe you'll expand your team, or purchase premises, or expand your portfolio or products and services.

By now you'll be confident in your product and know what steps you want to take next and, if you need a bit of help, our team is just a phone call away!