Embracing the Mary Poppins approach to hand luggage is key to surviving a family day out. Without even thinking about it, you leave the house armed with enough snacks, baby wipes and toys to see you through the next week, never mind an afternoon in the park.
Being prepared for every eventuality is just a normal part of motherhood. It’s one of the reasons why mums can run such successful businesses – you get to practise entrepreneurial skills like organisation and diplomacy on a daily basis at home. That kind of experience is invaluable.If you’re in the process of opening up a shop, it’s important to apply these skills to your new venture. Plan for the best and worst outcomes at every step and you can’t fail to be successful.
With that in mind, we’re giving you a heads up to common pitfalls in the search for a business property, so that you can make the process as smooth as possible.
Start the search online
Chances are there are plenty of available shops to rent in your area, so narrowing down your search online is a great timesaver. It’ll give you a good idea of rental prices and options, all without the hassle of dragging bored and uncooperative kids along on lengthy property viewings.
Get the location right
Finding the perfect location is essential. You want to be on the high street or somewhere with a lot of foot traffic to attract passers-by, and you’ll require plenty of parking nearby for customers. Your new business location also needs to work for you, and making sure it’s close enough to home or enroute to the local school should be a priority.
Set a budget
Although it’s tempting to go overboard while looking online for inspiration, going too big or too small will prove a costly mistake. You don’t want to have to relocate in a year, so consider what the needs of your business really are and plan accordingly. Look at your finances, set a budget, and stick to it.
Get the right help
You can have it all, but you don’t have to do it all on your own. In fact, knowing when and who to ask for help is the secret behind the most successful businesses. There’s lots of funding and advice out there, a little online research to identify what options will work best for you is well worth your time.
Remember that no matter what level of preparation you put in, there will be stressful moments and hiccups along the way – it’s just part of the fun. At the very least, you can feel reassured that you’ve got the skills and attitude to handle them all.
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