Entrepreneurship has always been synonymous with big investments and that is why many people are afraid to start their own business.

However, with the emergence of the infinite possibilities of digital media, today it is possible to start a business with very low investment, but be ready to invest something even more valuable: your time and willingness.

The models of digital enterprises allow you to work autonomously and using the equipment you already have, dispensing with the need for very high initial expenses such as opening a store, for example.

If you identify with this business model and want to create a successful online company, here are some tips that can help you start your digital business from scratch.

Why start an online business

The migration of companies to the digital sector, as well as the emergence of new businesses that already start on this platform, is not only due to the ease of working via the Internet.

It is a fact that the consumer is more and more digitally engaged and consuming the most varied types of products through this platform.

To stand out in the digital environment, taking all necessary care with your service is essential because once the customer has had a bad experience with your business will hardly consume from you again.

If on the other hand, you captivate your audience, besides gaining a loyal clientele, it will be responsible for spreading your brand throughout the network, expanding your business.

How to get the initial idea of an online business

First, you need to decide the niche in which you intend to act, this choice becomes easier when there is something you know in-depth, either by your professional path or by affinity.

Based on this knowledge, make a survey of the possibilities of your choice, for example, if you are passionate about travel, or have worked in this environment, you can open a travel agency, a tour guide service, or even become a creator of travel-related content.

Possibilities in the digital world

Marketplaces

Buying and selling sites can be the perfect platform for your business if your product is physical, such as an online pet store.

Within these platforms, you can create your own store without the need to hire professionals to develop an exclusive site for your products, besides having the advantage of being found by consumers looking for your niche.

The only thing that can be a disadvantage in this business model is that you will need to take into account the conditions that sites impose to allow your store to operate on their platforms.

They will probably charge a commission on your sales and may still impose certain forms of payment and shipping of products on your customers.

Online Store

Betting on e-commerce is a way to make a more professional business, having an online space dedicated to your company and your products and, therefore, is the most used by major brands.

Although this platform is used by consolidated companies, nothing prevents it from being chosen by you for a new business, after all, this is an excellent way to start your sales on the Internet.

To start your virtual store, which can be from the most varied segments, it is ideal that you choose a platform, there are some that offer free layouts and e-commerce systems and others with open source for those who can hire a developer.

Affiliate programs

The sales representative profession has also changed significantly with the expansion of digital media, now this work is done online and many people choose to employ their efforts selling products already consolidated in the market via the Internet.

Participating in an affiliate program for free and online is completely possible, thanks to the flexibility that this work provides.

To draw up your sales plan and attract your customers you can follow several paths, from creating a website, using social networks, or making videos for youtube.

The profit made from this activity will depend on the number of sales you make. Stay aware of the value of your commission and prepare yourself by studying a lot about digital marketing to get more and more customers.

Content Production

Every Internet user is in search of content, be it in the form of text, video, audio, photos or games, and all this is done by companies that operate online.

How you create content for the Internet will depend on your skills acquired throughout your career, whether as a writer, designer, programmer or video editor.

If you believe in your potential, and master something, becoming a YouTuber or Instagrammer may be another option within the universe of content creators.

Once you’ve gained an expressive number of followers, you can start monetizing by advertising for brands that relate to your niche.

There are many possibilities to work online, surely one of them will fit your profile as an entrepreneur.

If you have already started your business online and intend to expand your possibilities, consider using the services of a collective space, certainly working in a coworking will help you take off.

Until a few years ago many people had never heard of Startup in recent times, however, this term has spread at an extremely fast speed and wherever you go you only talk about the famous StartupS.

Can you define exactly what a Startup is? To help you once and for all understand the topic and find out if this business model is for you, let’s explain each of the features of a Startup.

What is a Startup?

The term Startup refers to starting something, that is, getting things to work, but how does that apply to the entrepreneurship market?

This term, linked to the business world, appeared simultaneously to the “dot-com” bubble of companies between 1996 and 2001. This speculative movement increased considerably the actions aimed at information and communication technology companies associated with the Internet universe.

A group of people who work for an innovative cause with high growth potential is the first step for a business to be defined as a Startup, but it is not limited to that.

To gain Startup status the business needs to follow a business model with HIGH POWER OF GROWTH, with capacity to be REPEATIBLE and SCALABLE, besides having as challenge solutions to be developed and all this in a CLEAR OF INCERTLES, let’s explain each one of these terms below.

What is the business model of a Startup?

The business model is the way the company works in search of generating value, transforming work into money from the fulfillment of the following mission: solve the problem, or the pain, of the client.

One of the biggest challenges of a Startup is to create a business model that is innovative, since the focus is not only on the product, but on its value, and from there it is possible to measure how much your company satisfies your customer. People will only be willing to pay for products and services that they trust and believe will solve their problems.

What is the definition of Repeatable and Scalable?

For a company to be considered a Startup it is necessary to be repeatable, that is, to have the capacity to deliver its product unlimitedly, for this the model cannot require that each customer needs adaptations and customizations in order for the service to serve them.

Meeting this requirement depends on whether the product or service is always available regardless of demand or whether the same product can be sold multiple times to different customers.

Another need for a Startup is to be scalable, that is, to have the potential to grow more and more without interfering with your business model. Maintenance costs need to stay the same, or have little variation, while revenues need to grow more and more, generating high results.

Why work in an Uncertainty Scenario?

The uncertainty that revolves around a start-up is the risk you need to take, questions like who is my customer? how much to charge for my service? how to deliver my product? will be frequent, but if you are well prepared and equipped with all the necessary information, growth will be a consequence.

It is important to understand that the risks of the initial phase need to be measured, the little return can last some time, but you must know how to diagnose when the company is not generating the expected result and have the responsibility to close its activities and start from scratch, otherwise you are just being wrong.

Because of these risks, the entrepreneur who proposes to follow the Startup model must be prepared to remain in the period of low financial return of his new business and, above all, be realistic when defining the future of the company.

Are Startups just internet companies?

It is a fact that the Internet is one of the Startups’ major allies, because this business model needs high reach power both to win over its customers and to serve them as quickly as possible, and for this the Internet is a very efficient tool.

However, to say that a Startup is limited to this is wrong, your company can act in several branches and still be within this business model.

Examples of Startups

There are many ways we can segment the types of StartupS, however, the market follows the following model:

Small-Business Startups: They are managed by entrepreneurs with little experience and very limited vision. They control their own business, which is often familiar, and they don’t have much interest in growing. However, in the local market, it generates movement.

Scalable Startups: Refers to a business model has great potential for growth but needs investment to take off. In that case, it is most likely that at that stage the venture will be sold to investors.

Lifestyle Startups: This model is driven by the dream of its creators, it aims to generate income, but without failing to meet the personal tastes of its managers.

Buyable Startups: It is an innovative idea, but one that requires risky investments to be made to realize it and move forward with the business model.

Social Startups: This business model aims to make a difference in the world, helping other people or businesses to generate results that impact society. In this case, it may be a non-profit company, but not exclusively.

Large-company Startups: In the case of companies that are already in the market and need innovation to reinvent themselves, trying to adapt from new models such as StartupS can be a way out.

If we stop to think about it, many companies, which today are large, have emerged as a Startup, that is, in a scenario of uncertainty, with little or no investment and innovative ideas.

In the current market, it is possible to predict an increase in the emergence of new innovative business models, and thus the need for adaptation and increased competitiveness will be decisive factors for the success of an enterprise.