10 ways to kickstart your business

Setting good goals (and achieving them) doesn't come easy to everyone, but there's plenty you can do to set yourself up for success. To give you a strong start, we've put together a list of 10 simple ways to kickstart your business idea.

1. Set objectives

Take stock of what you've achieved so far and look at how you can build on those successes. If there are goals you have yet to achieve, think about why you haven't achieved them. Reflecting on this can give you a solid starting point. From here, you can adjust your current goals, or set new ones. Be sure to follow this up by taking note of annual, quarterly – even monthly – objectives, so that you can build a plan to make them happen!

2. Power up your productivity

Maximising productivity doesn't necessarily mean dedicating more time to a task. Instead, it's about using your time efficiently. A solid business plan is a great place to start, ensuring you're prioritising the right things. There are also loads of tools out there to help keep you track. We've put together a round up of the best project management software, to get you started.

3. A change of scene

A change of scene can boost your creativity and productivity, giving you time to think, away from your usual place of work. Just taking a midday stroll in the park can be enough to give you that boost and perspective you needed to power through the rest of the day.

4. Tidy your digital space

Creating an clutter-free and visually appealing working environment that works for you can be helpful, but so is organising your digital space. If it takes you more than a few seconds to locate a certain file, or your desktop is a complete headache to look at, dedicate some time to sorting this out! Not to mention, if you're keeping any customer data or sending out marketing emails, you'll want to do an audit to ensure that you're following data protection regulations such as the GDPR.

5. Think agile

Agile teams are celebrated for their ability to bring products to market quickly and efficiently, through a focus on teamwork and regular testing. Could this approach work for you? Here are 10 tips on how to get your agile team started.

6. Find inspiration in books

When asked about the key to success, Warren Buffet once said: "Read 500 pages every day. That's how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will do it." There are thousands of business books out there, containing insights that may help you. Here are a few business books that aren't business books to get you going.

7. Find a mentor

Research has shown that startups who meet regularly with a mentor are more likely to be top performers, than those without mentor support. It will help you plug gaps in your knowledge and learn from the experience of somebody who has been there before. Not sure how to go about it? Check out our advice on where to look.

8. Check your marketing strategy

The right marketing strategy and execution is vital to making a success of your business, so building a well-considered but flexible marketing plan, which you can review and reiterate on a regular basis, should be a top priority. Some promotional activities can be done for free, but on the whole, you're going to need some investment, so set aside as much as you can for those areas that are likely to drive the greatest return on investment. Not sure where to start? Here are our marketing tips for budget-conscious startups.

9. Get on top of your finances

Many entrepreneurs find it a challenge, it's crucial to success. This means setting financial targets, tracking your cash flow and being ready to source funds when you need them. Our small business accounting formulas will help you get set.

10. Invest in your team

It's never a mistake to invest in motivating and engaging your employees. Everybody works better when they feel valued and rewarded, plus with a happy team around you, you'll find it easier to attract new staff and keep hold of the ones you have. Rewarding employees doesn't need to cost the earth. Here are employee rewards you might consider for your team.

... And last but not least, don't forget to review your business insurance. While it's easy to forget about, things change. Whether this is your set-up, the overall business environment and risks you face (hello, cyber threats), it's important to review your cover on a regular basis and to make adjustments as and when needed.