Validating your business idea

For anyone whose mind is buzzing with business ideas, there are two major things to take into consideration before getting started. First is the feasibility of the business idea and second is the timing. With these two in place, one can move to securing funds for the business and fleshing out the business plan. Here are a few things you must consider before taking the big step of being an entrepreneur:

1. Check the trend – All industries are witnessing a rapid rate of change and innovation. Your business idea must be at the cusp of this change and there must be a long-term demand for your product/service. For instance, in the digital age, most content is generated online. People are starting to consume content online rather than print. Keeping that in mind, it is not the best idea to get into the newspaper/magazine business. Even advertising companies are making the shift to digital forms of advertising instead of traditional methods.
   
   
2. Market size – You will not be able to truly gauge the potential of your business if you do not evaluate its market size. Market size is the number of individuals in a certain market who are potential buyers and/or sellers of a product/service in a region. This will also help you pitch your business ideas to potential investors.
   
   
   
   
3. Have conversations – Nothing will help you understand your future customers better than speaking to them. Discuss your idea with potential customers and partners to evaluate where you truly stand. You may even get your first customer this way! Start making allies before you enter the market and never take other’s opinions lightly.
   
   
4. Evaluate cost – You must have a comprehensive understanding of how much the business is going to cost you personally and from an investor’s point of view. Incurring surprise costs after you start your business is a situation you want to avoid at all costs.

The above points will help you embark on your business journey with confidence and help you pitch your idea to investors, partners and future customers. Being well prepared will give you an edge over your competitors and take your business to the next level.