Module Two: Decide on the Type of Business

Every choice you make has a result - Zig Ziglar

It is often said that entrepreneurs are the backbone of the nation. Anyone with passion and drive can become a successful entrepreneur if the planning and execution are done well. The first step to becoming an entrepreneur is choosing the ideal business. The business you select will be determined by its feasibility and your interests and expertise. 

Is It Feasible?

You may be passionate about an idea, but if it is not feasible, you will never be able to make it successful. Feasibility describes how simple it is to accomplish something. Many factors influence feasibility. For example, a dog bakery may be prevalent in a city with a high rate of dog lovers, but it would not survive at a low rate. Therefore, you must determine its feasibility before moving forward with any idea. Being feasible requires understanding the market and your customers, which we will cover in later sections. To determine if an idea is feasible, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you have the necessary funding?
• Is there a market for your product?
• What is the outlook for the market?
• Can you price competitively?
• How would you operate?
• Would you have a good customer base for long-term success?

What Are Your Interests?

Becoming an entrepreneur is not easy. If you do not enjoy what you do, you are unlikely to be successful. Therefore, before you choose your business, you must consider what you enjoy doing and think of a way to make this task profitable. Begin by listing your interests and see which ones overlap with feasible business models. For example, a love of animals could translate into a pet-sitting service, or a love of cooking could translate into a food truck business. 

Do You Have the Experience?

Experience and expertise are definite benefits to any business. Unfortunately, they are often used interchangeably, but this is a mistake. This point and the next one will help define the difference while helping you identify your own experience and expertise.

Experience is something that you gain from observation, encounters, and actions. Many jobs provide experience. For example, working as a server provides experience in the restaurant industry, but it does not necessarily provide expertise. Once you identify your experiences, you can use them to help you choose your business. Years in customer service, for example, would help prepare you for a customer service-oriented business.

Are You an Expert?

Expertise has knowledge and skills that come with education and training. This can come from work experience in specialized positions and degrees in specific fields. For example, an expert would be an accountant or a chef would be considered an expert in their field. Being an expert at a business makes you more capable of running it. If you are not an expert, there is no reason to give up on your idea. However, if you are passionate about something, take the time to become an expert. For example, you can learn the necessary skills by taking classes or interning at other businesses.

Lesson Summary

To become a successful entrepreneur, you must choose the ideal business and the right factors to determine its feasibility. Begin by asking yourself some questions to ensure the business you select is feasible. Do you have the necessary funding? Is there a market for your product? What is the outlook for the market? Can you price competitively? How would you operate? Would you have a good customer base for long-term success? Then, consider what you are passionate about and use your experiences and expertise to determine the right business for you. For example, if you are passionate about something, you can take the time to become an expert in it through classes or internships. Finally, determine if you have the experience needed to make your business profitable.