Needed to Hang Your Own Shingle

What do you really need to get started as a business?

1. Hot name, logo and, website?
2. Massive team?
3. Huge backing?
4. Bold vision?
5. Disruptive product?

I’d be willing to guess these are the minority of businesses. But I’ve not done in depth research, taken a poll, or interviewed thousands. SO maybe I am wrong.

So much written is about tech startups and internet businesses. We may forget there is other stuff that people do that’s not tech and not internet sales focused. So in fact feeling you must have what some of those businesses might need may lead one to think they can’t start until they have that list above.

Starting my company:

1. I had no company name until I had to write a proposal to get some work. And I did not want to just use my name. Revival Development Services came fairly quick knowing what I wanted to do. Some of my tag lines came as a result of actually having gotten into the weeds of the work and really trying to define a vision. Website is still a work in progress. But it does exist — went live I’d say 6 months in.

2. I’m still an Army of One. I’ve had enough success that I’ve brought on a few contractors who I like to call collaborators. I dislike the term employee and am not at this time set up to take them on. I also benefit from some great folks I partner with (other firms for example) and give me advise like by brother Bryan Wakefield (find him on LinkedIn at….). So Army of One works for now.

3. No backing. All my own cash. And I had developed opportunities to earn before I officially opened. Key was actually to retire almost all personal debt to reduce the commitments I had. Spouse with a stable gig also a huge factor and help. I have no partners, no investors, and no debt. Access to credit is a substantial help; just have not taken it down and encumbered future cash with expenses today that I don’t need.

4. Vision. Flexibility was it. Flexibility to tap some skills to earn from while I develop and hone some others that will lead to other things that will be done by the business. Vision is built, not hatched in my opinion.

5. Product. Frankly I dislike the blood thirst to disrupt and make stuff obsolete. Sure if others don’t keep up, they deserve what they get. But I did not see a need to make my mission to simply disrupt for my gain and others demise. Soft, no guts? Maybe. I do happen to have some thing in me that give me an edge; so I am using that. Where I see a good move, I make it. But I am not seeking disruption as a business model and my business does not live or die on a hot new product.

So. Don’t worry if your lacking the 5 things listed out at the beginning. Just get started on something if you are motivated to make a move. There is a way for anyone to get going if they have the desire to.