31/01/2022
15. Get your finances in order
The goal of any business is to make money. Otherwise, you just have a hobby (which is also OK!). But if your goal is to find effective ways to start a business, knowing what you'll need to start up and how to manage cash flow once you have it will be integral to your success. Although it's hard to get a definitive list of reasons as to why most businesses fail, cash flow and insufficient capital are frequent culprits.
There are two sides to this coin: financial literacy and securing funding (if it's needed). Let's start with the first one. There are plenty of businesses you can start with minimal startup costs, but others will require money for inventory, equipment, or physical space. A clear view of your total investment—before you spend a cent—is a must for helping to make important projections, like when you’ll break even.
Where the money ends up going will largely be determined by your business, but our research shows that for most businesses, product and inventory costs represent a large share of spend in Year 1. If those calculations show you’ll need more funding than you can afford to spend out of pocket, you can look at options like a small business loan, a Shopify Capital offer (for those qualified), or a crowdfunding campaign. Read more on how to get a business loan and the different types of loans you can apply for.