Leon Rod & Steel Business: Once you’ve decided you want to start a small business.
Formulated your business plan, lined up financing.
And secured a site, the time will finally come to actually open up shop.
While planning a business may present challenges.
The actual act of opening a business and bringing the business concept to fruition has its own set of difficulties.
To have a better chance of long-term success, you need to get your business off to a good start.
Here are a few tips on how to legally establish your business.
Hire your first employees, spreading the word, and organizing a grand opening.
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Leon Rod & Steel Business
1. Get the business craw
The range of products o f various steel materials, including carbon steel, stainless steel and alloy steel.
Leon’s shop Towel Rail,Stainless Steel Round Rod Tube Bath Room Storage Round Household Toilet Fixed, b Double Rod 60cm
The steel products consist of flat products such as coils, plates, sheets, welded tubes and pipes, sections.
Such as welded rectangular and square sections.
And long products such as bars (such as round, square, flat and hexagon bars).
Rods, shaft, sections (such as rolled Ibeams), angles and channels.
Such as rolled angle bars and lip channels and seamless tubes and pipes.
- Made of high quality stainless steel, durable, corrosion and rust proof
- Punch installation, firm and stable without loosening
- Easy to clean, just wipe with a soft, damp cloth to remove dust.
- Suitable for bedrooms, bathrooms and closets
- Easy to install, complete accessories
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2. Leon Rod & Steel Business
In addition to trading, the business is supported by in-house facilities.
To process steel products of various types of materials.
Including carbon steel, stainless steel and alloy steel.
You will have the capabilities to process steel products including cutting of long products, levelling, shearing, profiling.
And bending of flat products, finishing in terms of surface polishing and production of expanded metal.
A variety of steel materials for your trading operations such as steel coils, plates, sheets, bars, rods and shafts are also used as materials for your processing operations.
The diversity in your product range also provides you with considerable synergies for cross selling.
As we will be able to provide our existing and new customers with a range of trading and processing products.
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3. Economies of scale
You should be able to obtain economies of scale.
Due to the quantity of orders of steel products in your trading and processing business.
You will buy in bulk to obtain volume discounts.
Where you will subsequently break bulk to sell in smaller quantities to other end-users, wholesalers and retailers. You will also break bulk and add value by processing some of your purchases.
Through shearing, cutting or profiling before selling to end-users as well as wholesalers and retailers.
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4. Get business process
Your plants are equipped with an extensive range of cutting, levelling, shearing, profiling.
Bending, finishing and expanded metal machinery including the CNC oxy-gas and plasma.
Cutting machine, oxy-gas cutting machine with optical tracer, CNC oxy-gas cutting machines.
CNC laser cutting machines, CNC waterjet cutting machine, CNC plasma cutting machines.
Portable plasma cutting machine, portable oxy-gas cutting machines.
Bandsaw machines, high precision CNC press brake machine.
Expanded metal machines, shearing machines.
Surface grinding machine as well as coil levelling machines.
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Leon Rod & Steel Business
5. Write your business description.
Describe your business more specifically, and how it fits into the market in general.
If you are a corporation, LLC, or sole proprietorship, state that, and why you chose to go that route.
Describe your product, its big features, and why people will want it.
6. Answer the following questions:
- Who are potential customers? Once you understand who they are and what they want, come up with a marketing strategy.
- What price are they willing to pay for your product or service? Why would they pay for your product or service over your competitor’s?
- Who are your competitors? Do a competitive analysis to identify key competitors. Find out who is doing something similar to what you are planning, and how have they been successful. Just as important is to find the failures, and what made their venture fall apart.
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Leon Rod & Steel Business
7. Ensure you have a business plan.
A business plan is critical to the success of a business and can be seen as a plan that describes your business, products/services, market.
And describes how your business will go about expanding for the next three to five years.
8. Write an operational plan.
This will describe how you will produce or deliver your product or service and all costs.
- How will you create your product? Is it a service that you are offering, or if it’s more complex— software, a physical product like a toy or a toaster — how will it get built? Define the process, from sourcing raw materials to assembly to completion, packaging, warehousing, and shipping. Will you need additional people? Will there be unions involved? All of these things must be taken into account.
- Who will lead, and who will follow? Define your organization, from the receptionist up to the CEO, and what part each plays in both function and financials. Knowing your organizational structure will better help you plan your operating costs, and fine-tune how much capital you will need to function effectively.
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9. Getting feedback.
Friends and family make great resources for asking questions and getting feedback––don’t hesitate to use them as your sounding board.
Needing to increase the size of your premises.
This happens more often than expected.
Once the stock starts piling up, you may find it ends up in your living room, bedroom and the garden shed.
Think rental of storage premises if needed.
Leon Rod & Steel Business
10. Define your goals.
Do you want financial independence, eventually selling your business to the highest bidder?
Do you want something small and sustainable, that you love doing and from which you want to derive a steady income?
These are the things that are good to know very early on.
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11. Create a working name.
You could even do this before you have an idea for the business, and if the name is good.
You may find it helps you define your business idea.
As your plan grows, and things begin to take shape, the perfect name may come to you.
But don’t let that hinder you in the early phases.
Create a name that you can use while you plan and don’t hesitate to change it later.
- Always check to see if the name is being used by somebody else before selecting it.
- Try to create a name that is simple and memorable.
12. Determine the legal structure of your business.
Before starting your business and filing the necessary papers.
It is important to decide on how your business will be legally structured.
Generally speaking, you will be establishing either a sole proprietorship; partnership; corporation.
Or limited liability company (LLC). There are important legal and tax implications for each.
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13. Register your business name.
Unless you are running the business under your own name, such as “John Smith Painting,”.
Most states require you to register a “Doing Business As” (DBA) name for tax and legal purposes.
Registering a DBA is done with your state government or county clerk’s office.
Search the specific requirements of your state online.
14. Secure start-up costs.
Most businesses require capital to start.
Money is typically required to purchase supplies and equipment.
As well as keep the business operational for the period before your business becomes profitable.
The first place to look for financing is yourself.
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Leon Rod & Steel Business
15. Obtain a business license.
The city or county which you operate within will require a business license.
Typically, these forms can be found on the website for your city.
- These forms will require your business type, address, # of employees, EIN.
- And possibly information regarding revenue (estimations will work fine here).
- Keep in mind that licensing requirements often apply to online and home-based businesses as well as typical brick-and-mortar businesses. Requirements do vary according to location, so be certain to contact your local and state government to determine specific requirements.
16. Inquire as to other necessary permits.
Unfortunately, each city or county has different permit requirements for businesses.
These can include things like “Home Occupation Permits” for home based businesses, “Alarm Permits” if your business requires a commercial alarm, or various alcohol and firearm permits.
- Contact your local government’s permitting bureau or similar authority.
- Or seek out the local chamber of commerce or business association for advice.
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17. Come up with a pricing model.
Start by checking out your competitors.
Know how much are they selling a similar product for.
Can you add something to it (add value) to make yours different and hence make it a more enticing price?
Leon Rod & Steel Business
18. Establish a bank account for your business.
It is very important not to mix business and personal finances, as this can lead to issues with the IRS.
Having separate bank accounts for business and personal transaction simplifies accounting and makes tax requirements easier to understand.
- To open a business account, simply contact your local bank or credit union.
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19. Contact a small business lawyer or accountant for further guidance.
While forming a sole proprietorship is relatively simple.
If you are forming an LLC, Corporation, or Partnership, it is essential to involve a professional.
- A professional can guide you through which forms to fill out, and can also help you draft important partnership documents.
- For example, forming an LLC or Partnership involves documents specifying what ownership is attributed to each partner.
- This must be specified in a legally valid form.
20. Hire the right people.
The first impression is critical for a new small business.
And unless you’ll be doing all the work yourself.
That impression will be made at least in part by the people you hire.
- Ideally you can find someone who is familiar with the business — someone who has twirled dough if you’re opening a pizza shop, for instance — but even more important is finding a person who is willing and eager to learn.
- You need employees who want to learn to do things (and represent your business) your way.
- You do have to be willing to let go a little, however.
- This business has been your baby for a long time.
- But as you let it out into the world, you’ll need help taking care of it.
- Look for employees who are eager to contribute ideas and adapt as the business goes through its early growing pains.
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21. Do your homework.
Look over resumes. Call references.
Don’t just hire your nephew to make your brother happy. (Wait until your business gets on its feet.)
Key questions like “Can you provide an example of a problem that you successfully solved?”.
May offer insights into a potential employee’s ambition, ingenuity, and work ethic.
Keep in mind that such questions are common, however, and the interviewee may have prepared stock answers already.
An inability to answer effectively is thus a bad sign.
In addition, try to think up a few problem-solving hypotheticals.
For instance, that are specific to your small business.
Leon Rod & Steel Business
22. Prepare your site.
Whether you have a physical or virtual business site.
The impression it makes on your initial customers.
Will go a long way toward determining your chances of success.
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23. Consider a “soft” opening.
There is no rule that says your first day of business has to also be your Grand Opening.
Give your business a chance to work out the kinks before announcing itself to the world.
Open officially for business without great fanfare, maybe for a week or two before your (well-advertised) Grand Opening.
Customers will probably just trickle in.
But that will make it easier to practice getting things right before the hopeful rush of customers to come.
24. Start early.
Don’t wait until opening day, or even until you know when opening day will be.
Be proactive in establishing brand awareness and generating anticipation.
A “coming soon” sign on your in-preparation storefront is a good start, but not enough on its own.
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25. Leon Rod & Steel Business
Preserve the bulk of your initial marketing budget for the Grand Opening.
But before that time utilize budget-friendly options like flyers, targeted direct mail, and a social media presence.
26. Leon Rod & Steel Business
Try to build your brand even before your location is ready.
If you’re going to be selling handcrafted necklaces or handmade pierogies.
Seek out a local craft or food festival where you can set up a table and sell your wares.
Be sure to advertise your forthcoming retail presence.
If you’re an accountant, maybe you can volunteer to offer tax advice at the local community center or library (and hand out business cards).
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27. Establish a marketing budget.
The run-up to opening and first few months of operation may very well make.
Or break your new small business, so make sure you give your initial marketing push a strong effort.
Leon Rod & Steel Business
28. Use traditional media.
If your marketing budget allows, consider using traditional media like radio or newspaper.
If you can manage television advertising as well, it is always a good idea to diversify your ad presence.
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29. Leon Rod & Steel Business
Consider including coupons as well; they provide not only motivation to visit.
But a tangible connection between a potential customer and your business.
It is also easy to track their effectiveness, as more coupons coming in mean they are doing their job.
30. Consider bunching your ads
You may assume that TV advertising is beyond your small business budget.
But there are options for producing and placing lower-cost ads.
Sometimes with the assistance of the local broadcast network.
Consider bunching your ads during programs relevant to your targeted customer base.
TV judge shows for a legal practice or the nightly news sports report for a golf training academy.
For instance — so that you seem like a major sponsor.
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Leon Rod & Steel Business
31. Use social media.
Even if you don’t know your tweets from your tags.
Or assume that your Leon Rod & Steel Business doesn’t need a social media presence.
Make use of all avenues to spread the word about your business.
Some 80% of your fellow small business owners are using social media, particularly for marketing.
32. Consider when to make your opening “grand.”
As mentioned, there is no requirement to hold your Grand Opening on your first day of business.
And it is often advisable to wait even a couple of weeks before staging it.
- Schedule your Grand Opening for a day and time that suits your product or service — a Saturday morning for a diner; a Friday evening for an ice cream parlor; early evening for a martial arts studio.
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Leon Rod & Steel Business
33. Make it an event.
Work hard to build excitement in the days and even weeks leading up to your Grand Opening.
- Use the term “Grand Opening” in your marketing — it makes it seem more special than just an “open for business” notice. Create excitement by offering prizes, giveaways, demonstrations, special deals, etc., for visitors that day.
- Hire a photographer to capture the event for media (traditional or social) consumption. Bring in live entertainment, extra staffing, even security if you expect an especially large crowd.
- If your business and/or its location aren’t conducive to a large public Grand Opening, consider having an event more along the lines of a “launch party” at a nearby restaurant, banquet hall, etc.
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34. Guarantee a positive customer experience.
Plan ahead and do whatever you can to ensure that attendees walk away from your Grand Opening.
With a positive first impression of your new business.
Oversights as simple as inadequate parking, long food lines.
Or running out of paper products in the restrooms can sour an otherwise enthusiastic reception.
- Have extra staff on hand to make sure customers don’t have to wait too long for service or attention.
- If parking may be an issue, try to work out arrangements beforehand with other businesses or community groups — perhaps setting up satellite parking at a nearby church, for instance.
- Send attendees home with a token of your appreciation — ideally something with your logo on it — along with a coupon / special deal for a return visit.
35. Involve the community.
Establish your connection to the local community from the very start of your business.
Let people envision your business having a positive community impact for years to come.
- Invite the local press to your event, but also other local business and community leaders.
- Network with as many as possible and establish yourself as a member of the local team.
- If possible, align your Grand Opening with a community event, when local crowds will already be gathered. Make it seem like a part of that larger celebration. Sponsor the entertainment at the holiday lighting celebration or midsummer festival. Advertise both your business and your deep connection to the community.
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36. Build your product or develop your service.
Once you have the business all planned, financed, and have your basic level of staffing, get going.
Whether that’s sitting down with the engineers and getting the software coded and tested.
Or getting materials sourced and shipped to your fabrication room (aka “garage”).
Or purchasing in bulk and marking up the price.
The building process is the time during which you prepare for market.
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Leon Rod & Steel Business
37. Manage your running costs.
Keep a close eye on your running costs and keep them in line with your projections.
Whenever you see something spent wastefully—like electricity, phone plans, stationery.
Packaging—look around and estimate how much you really need.
And minimize or remove the cost in every way possible.
Think frugally when you start up.
Including renting items instead of purchasing them.
And using pre-paid plans for services your business needs.
Instead of locking yourself into long-term contracts.
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38. Decide how to accept payment.
You will need to do something to get payment from your clients or customers.
You can get something like a Square, which is great for small businesses.
Since it requires the minimum amount of paperwork and the fees are minimal.
However, if you feel uncomfortable with technology.
You can inquire about a more traditional merchant account.