What is the American Dream? Such a question cannot be concisely answered in full, but a small faction of that ephemeral concept is owning your own business. If you plan on starting a drink company, you will follow steps similar to those needed to start any type of small business. You need to plan extensively, secure funding and properly manage your business. Careful planning is key to a successful business venture.
Instructions
1. Decide what type of drink company you want to start. Simply saying "I want to start a drink company" is not a good start. What kind of drink company? Soft drinks? Sports drinks? Beer or wine? Narrow done your niche in the drink company market.
2. Write a business plan. A business plan is your owner's manual for your business. In your business plan, you must detail specifically every aspect of your business. Start big, with a mission statement and a goal. Describe your company and the product you want to produce. Then move in to the smaller details: daily/weekly/monthly costs of running the business, employees needed, hiring practices and where the inventory will come from.
There is no set way of writing this plan. You simply must write it clearly and concisely. It can be as long or as short as you need it to be, but it must contain all of the essential elements in your business. Think carefully, and detail your business in this document.
3. Secure funding. It takes money to start a business. Money can come from loans or your personal savings. The loans can come from banks or your friends and family. Using the cost figures you described in your business plan, determine what the minimum amount of money is needed to start your business and sustain it for a year, and then secure the funding. Take your business plan with you so that the lender can read it and understand just how passionate you are about starting this business.
4. File the appropriate papers with the secretary of state to incorporate your form of business, if needed. If you are starting a limited liability company or a corporation, you will be required to file certain forms (such certificates of incorporation) with your secretary of state. Ask a business lawyer for help in this matter. Forms can be found at your local secretary of state office or on the Web.
5. Find your business' headquarters. Whether you are going to buy or rent a location, you need to find a spot that contains all that you will need to run your business. Are you manufacturing your drinks on site? Then you need space for equipment and storage. Are you selling an existing product? Then you need space only to store the product. Use the funding you secured above to buy or lease your business' headquarters.
6. Advertise. Get the public buzzing about your drink company. What are you offering that the other drink companies are not? Are your drinks healthier and made from better ingredients? Do your drinks offer more of a kick than the competition? Whatever it is, get your name out in the open by advertising. Let your business plan guide you here as well. What did you budget for advertising? Stay within that budget. What market are you targeting: young, old, college, athletes? The older generation is more prone to older forms of advertising such as print coupons and ads. The younger generation responds more to electronic advertising and deals. Choose the vehicle of advertising that will get your product revved up and ready to go.
7. Hire employees and start managing your business. Once your name is out there, get the business up and running.
Tags: your business, business plan, drink company, your business plan, come from, secretary state, your drinks