How to Start a Successful Online Business

There are millions of new small businesses popping up every year. It takes a lot of work and motivation to start a business from scratch but then, it’s so rewarding to see your hard work pay off! First, let me clarify that I am not a CEO. I am sharing my own experience and what I learned.

So, today I’m sharing with you some of the steps you need to have in mind if you’re thinking about starting your own business:


Figure out what you’re going to do

Ask yourself these questions:

  • What am I good at? And what I love to do?
  • What do people want or need?
  • What would people pay for?

The most important thing is picking something that interests you and that has money-making potential.


Decide what kind of business you want to start

There are two main types of businesses:

  1. Service-based business

You sell your creativity with your writing skills by producing blog posts and articles, for example. There are lots of other services you can offer as a freelancer such as editing, social media management, graphic design, photography, translation, blog management, and many others.

  1. Product-based business

Here you sell a product. It can be digital, like printables. Or it can be physical like jewelry. You can sell on Etsy or Creative Market, or you can have your own online store.

There’re some businesses involving selling other peoples’ products too.

  • If you’re starting a blog or website, you’ll need a domain name and hosting. For hosting, I suggest Siteground or AWS (Amazon Web Services).

Other things you need to start a successful business

  • You’ll also need a way to get paid. To start, I suggest a PayPal business, it’s free.
  • Then you have to think about investing in some tax software too at some point. Because if your business grows, you’ll start paying taxes. It’s totally up to you if you want to your own taxes or pay someone to do them.

Cover the legal part of starting a business

Choosing the right legal structure is a necessary part of running a business. Whether you’re just starting out, or your business is growing.

I suggest you go to your local business licensing office if you’re at all unsure what’s required to legally start your business, it should be able to tell you what you need.

Aside from that, you might need certain legal forms too. For example, for a blog, you’ll need a privacy policy and terms and conditions pages. If you’re freelancing, a standard contract when working with clients.


Now you have to create a plan

Start thinking through what products or services you would offer, what you would need to run your business, if you have a place, materials, and how to manage your time wisely. How you would actually run it. Dream big and then break it down into what you can really do now.


Create a budget

You might have to buy materials to make your products. If you’re starting a freelancing business you’ve to pay for blog hosting or something service-related.

Make sure all the money you need to spend first and then think about the price that you’ll be selling your products or services. Consider all the hours you spend creating, and all the costs to run your business. You have to make a profit.


Promote your business

How you promote depends on what your business is. For example, if you’re a freelancer, LinkedIn it’s a great choice. If you have an online store, your marketing strategy might look different. Your focus might be more on Pinterest or Instagram.

Trying to be everywhere at once doesn’t work.  Pick one or two to start promoting your business and stay active.


Hopefully, I’ve given you a good foundation for starting your own business.

Do you already run a business, or would you love to start one? Let me know in the comments 😊

 

17 Replies to “How to Start a Successful Online Business”

  1. Josepha Béeh Nyous says: Reply

    Grateful !

  2. Wow thank you , 😍😍😍😍 fantastic

  3. Thank you for the information! I started a handmade craft business in late 2019. Well, needless to say when covid hit, I stopped productivity with it. I am trying to get it back up and running though.
    I do pay for a website through shopify.
    http://www.everythangsouthern.com
    Have a blessed day!

    1. Melanie the name alone drives me to want more info. I have been a business owners for sometime, but at the end of 2019 I decided to branch out and have more product based items as well as provide event rentals . Welp we all know what happened! I did more funeral and memorial signage than ever . IT WAS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED but I had the skill to do it and I helped other women with their business by starting their social media pages. 4 proud 👏new businesses!

    2. Awesome advice!! I’d love to start selling my handmade products online but often worry that nobody will buy them. Thank you for the wonderful tips, I think they’ll be very helpful once I do decide to get started!✌️😊

  4. I wanna creat small business but i don’t have any money and effective idea can u help me please i am from ethiopia am marketing management student in aau and am 19 years old i wanna earn money but i don’t even know how to make it

    1. Poonam maida says: Reply

      Same I don’t know how to start & what???

  5. Spictacular

  6. Namaste🙂🙏💞

  7. Thank you for your kind offer to share that helpful information! I’ve been thinking bout it recently. And Lately lots of things totally pointing me in the direction of starting of Online. So your info was helpful!

  8. Nice Article. Good info you have shared. Thnx a lot.

  9. Thank you for this blog! I’m planning a business and this blog is really helpful for someone like me who likes to start. ☺️

  10. Thanks for this!!!but I don’t know how to blog for a business,how do I go about it??

    1. Julie Dougan says: Reply

      I have wanted to start my own online business for some time… and especially now that I lost my husband, I need to start making an income. We planned to open a small food truck but covid hit us all…and there is no way im comfortable being around a lot of people.. I could use some input and the possibility of picking your brain for some ideas.

  11. Bianca Orias says: Reply

    Thanks for this, I always read your blog for new ideas for lifestyle or personal al growth. Luv ya
    XOXO

  12. Thank you for this article, Reading this article I can understand how day today we do many wrong thing and because of this our enivourment affect/suffer lots. I will keep in mind this things always and try to apply from right now. Once agin thanks for awareness. Keep updating us such a
    Informative articles.

  13. Great post! I started life coaching a year ago and LOVE having my own business! Would be happy to help anyone here working up the courage to start their own business or feeling like they don’t have the time / money / support / freedom etc in their life 🙂 @AmandaPetersonLifeCoaching
    (Please delete if this isn’t allowed – just genuinely want to offer if people are looking for a coach in addition to this awesome advice 😊)

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