How To Become An Entrepreneur

An entrepreneur is someone with the ability to take calculated risks to increase his wealth. Ability to adapt new ideas to a relevant marketplace is the key aspect. Hard work, smart choices, common sense, the right approach and gut instinct are factors that lead to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Being your own boss is an exciting idea and a key factor for many to explore this idea.

Globalization, maturing products and competition are creating an imperative need for entrepreneurs and their creativity. UK Entrepreneurship is amongst the top agenda of the British government and reduced entry barriers have thus paved the path. Conferences, webzines, exhibitions, franchising are popularizing this concept. This article will guide the individual how to become an entrepreneur.

Advantages Of Becoming An Entrepreneur

There are many advantages to becoming an entrepreneur which is listed below

Answerable only to self
Exciting opportunity
Endless challenges
Increased profits and gain in wealth
Involvement in the entire business operation
Gain in status by being the person in charge
Opportunity to build equity

Main disadvantages of becoming an entrepreneur

High financial risks
Long working hours
Sincere and continuous commitment to the project

Critical Questions You Must Ask Before Becoming An Entrepreneur

Analysing the strengths and weaknesses will help you to plan and prepare your project. Before becoming an entrepreneur, the key questions that you should be asking are:

Initiative to plan and follow up on it
Networking with people from different backgrounds
Ability to make the right decisions quickly
Physical and emotional stamina required
Strong financial background to manage the difficulties that arise
Planning, organizing and motivating skills
Passion to excel

Skills Required To Become An Entrepreneur

To become an entrepreneur, one must gain market knowledge. Understand customer desires, purchasing and shifting trends. Analyze legal and economic conditions that may have an impact on the product.

Be resilient in the pursuit of the business objective. Self-reliance, confidence, passion, hard working and flexible strategist are the qualities of successful entrepreneurs.

Be financially astute and focussed on the bottom line. The skilful entrepreneur must be able to cut costs, increase productivity, negotiate better and plan for future investment.

To become a successful entrepreneur, delegate responsibility and adapt accordingly.

To become a successful entrepreneur, be socially responsible and undertake activities to aid the environment whenever possible.

The following steps will guide how to become an entrepreneur. It will help you plan better and minimize your risks.

To be an entrepreneur, evaluate your idea in terms of cost, manufacturing time and need. Market survey will help you assess your idea in a relevant market condition. Estimate local, national and global market trends. Analyze the demographic shifts for a better perspective. Reduce the levels of inherent risk, by branching out from your own level of expertise.

To be an entrepreneur, define your goal, mission statement and objectives clearly

Make a thorough business plan to become an entrepreneur. A good business plan will include:
- Key aspects of the product in detail regarding its manufacturing, purchase and display
- Conservative and realistic demand of the product
- Target market
- Strengths of the competitors
- Marketing strategy of the product
- Distribution of the product
- Cost analysis
- Projected financial statement for 3-5 years
- Capital required

Create a small team and clearly define roles and responsibilities,

Keep it legal. Obtain the business licenses and permits required to become an entrepreneur

Choose the right accountant to handle your finances efficiently

To become a successful entrepreneur, network with other entrepreneurs, vendors, bank managers and suppliers

To become an entrepreneur understand and keep yourself updated on the market condition

Treat it as a serious venture and commit sincerely

Meet funding requirements to be an entrepreneur. Some of the sources of funding are:
- Selling personal assets or using them as collateral
- Friends and family members and angel investors
- Government grants and loans
- Banks

Options For Becoming An Entrepreneur

Select among any of the following methods to becoming an entrepreneur.

Start your own venture from scratch for becoming an entrepreneur. This is a highly challenging and time-consuming option. Realizing profits could take considerable time.

Acquire an existing business for becoming an entrepreneur. Research the industry sector and the geographic location of your interest and evaluate the market players. Find undervalued businesses with strong growth potential. Valuate objectively and set the value for the business. Assess the current financial position and its future capabilities. Websites like Trendwatching and Springwise help to become an entrepreneur.

Franchising provides the entire package for an investor. This is highly advantageous to an individual untrained in running a business for becoming an entrepreneur. The franchisor offers continuous assistance on a predetermined basis. The British Franchisee Association can guide regarding the benefits and options of franchising.