If you’re an entrepreneur thinking of starting your first business then there’s no better place to be than London. London attracts the brightest and best across all industries and sectors and is the number one destination for talented graduates.
To succeed in business in London you will need to be prepared for the realities of working and operating in London and make sure you do your research. Here are a few of the most important things you will need to be successful in London.
Get To Know London
This is vitally important if you have never lived or worked in London. It is a city unlike any other so make sure that you do your research and learn as much as you can about the area you will be setting up your business in. Consider asking for advice from friends and family who have lived and worked in London to see what kind of areas you should be looking at.
Once you’ve narrowed down to an area then look into the properties available there within your budget. You will need to be sure that your choices are going to be in line with the needs of your business. For instance, if you are opening a boutique you will need a location that customers can find easily and has good access.
Have A Clear Business Plan
This is important no matter where you are starting a business but particularly in London. For you to succeed you will need to plan and prepare as much as possible – it is important not to wing it or plan as you go. You will want to arrive in London with a clear view of your goals.
Your business plan should be flexible and adaptable. As any entrepreneur will know even the best laid plans sometimes go differently from your expectations. This could be good or bad but you will want to be prepared to amend and adjust as necessary. Having a dynamic business plan is an absolute must.
IT Support
Good IT support is vital for any business. When choosing between IT companies in London it is important to ensure that you keep in mind what you will need in terms of support.
A good rule of thumb is to choose a company that is based in London. That is after all where you will be operating your business so you will be sure that you will always receive support when you need it.
A good IT company will provide 24/7 support to ensure that you have the help you need whenever you may need it. Choosing a local, award-winning company like Totality Services will be vital to your business success. Using the very best IT support service will give you the peace of mind that is invaluable when starting a new business.
Choose Your Name Wisely
The name you give to your business will be key to your success. It will be the cornerstone that your business is built around so it is important to give it serious thought.
Make sure to choose something that is memorable as well as being clear and concise. You will build your brand around your business name so avoid any names that are overly complicated or might be difficult to pronounce. Ideally, your business name will be easy to pronounce, nice to look at, and simple to write.
Market Your Business
London is a great place for tapping into tourism as well as the thriving population of London itself. Making use of the advertising opportunities on the London Underground can be a great way to promote your brand awareness and visibility.
You should also remember the importance of social media in generating hype and growth for any business. Try to have a solid presence on a few different platforms and consider running competitions or giveaways to drum up interest in your business.
Having a competition or contest among followers can be a great way to generate user content which is a great low-cost way of having a greater reach to a wider audience.
Know Your Competition
Competition is fierce in London so knowing about your competitors can really help you on your way to success. Look into other businesses to get an idea of where you can improve on their practices.
Looking at your competitors will also help you to gain valuable insight into any areas of the market that are going underserved. Having a niche as a business is a great way to be successful so keep an eye out for any areas that you can improve on.
You can also use this practice to gain an understanding of what it takes to be successful in London – and to learn from the mistakes of those that have gone before you.