Small Business Trends

Startup may be the most challenging part of running a small business. While enthusiasm is high, resources and experience are limited. But startup is also a critical time for seeing that the right business is created, one that will be sustainable and stand the test of time. In this edition of the Small Business Trends roundup we look at the resources available and the ideas out there about how to get your new venture up and running.

Startup Trends

Farmer’s markets becoming small business incubators? Before starting a full-fledged food or craft business, check out your local farmer’s market. It can be an awesome way of testing your business model before committing resources to a bricks and mortar location of your own. The right farmer’s market can lower the barriers of entry for a variety of business ideas given the right circumstances. Read on for more details. LATimes.com

Somalia new hot spot for small telecom startups? The country may be war torn but what can the jump in telecom startups, innovation and, as a result, the fledgling economy teach us about the importance of a hands-off approach to regulation of business here in the U.S. and throughout the developed world? WSJ

Startup Tools

Join niche forums to grow your business. Imagine you could talk on a regular basis with tons of other professionals in a similar business to your own, sharing insights, experiences and resources. That’s exactly the benefit an industry-specific online forum can provide making it particularly valuable for those starting out in small business and helping them avoid costly mistakes and gain helpful allies. There’s probably a forum specific to your industry if you take the time to look. You’re The Boss

What startup tools are you using? When getting a small business off the ground, you need resources to move forward and gain momentum. But the range of tools can be overwhelming at times and choosing the right ones at least to get started can be a challenge. Here’s a collection of basic tools that will, at least, give you a place to begin. Youngentrepreneur

Self-development

Conquering startup neurosis. We’ve all heard the wonderful fairytales that get us interested in entrepreneurship in the first place. Stories of instant success, fabulous wealth and an ever upward spiral of growth plus the thrill and allure of being your own boss. But it may be time for a reality check. Not about whether or not small business success is possible. It is. But rather about the hard work, and yes, sometimes mental and physical strain it takes to get there. MyWifeQuitHerDayJob.com

Are people really resistant to change? Introducing a new product or service can often be challenging in the face of what would certainly appear to be the resistance to change in the marketplace and a reluctance to try something new. But Fast Company columnist Dan Heath suggests that what is sometimes seen as a resistance to change is actually simply an inability to understand. When trying to figure out how to market your own business, try to think about how best to communicate why your product or service is really better. You might be surprised at the results. Open Forum Innovation

Startup Tips

The rise of the urban entrepreneur. Despite sometimes challenging conditions and popular wisdom which has larger businesses abandoning the urban landscapes that spawned them, one initiative suggests that cities still provide a nourishing environment for small business growth with a “social capital” rarely found elsewhere. And what’s more, they’ve collected the data to prove it. Bloomberg Businessweek

Would you really buy that? Forget the high level big business CEOs who work that low level job to find out what their underlings are really going through. More important when launching that new business is figuring out what’s going through your customer’s mind. Would you really want that product or service you’re foisting on the masses? Why or why not? Sounds like the beginnings of some promising marketing research. Bloomberg Businessweek

Operations

Businesses are about the people. Yep, it’s the opposite of everything you hear from the marketing gurus. The customer should be the focus of every startup and small business (the way sometimes it has ceased to be in bigger companies). So, focusing on employees may seem a bit counterintuitive, especially during tough times and in the startup process when resources are tight. But thinking of employees is a big part of team building. Consider how this can affect your bottom line. Winning Workplaces

Tips from the home front. It may not surprise many to discover that moms constitute a substantial portion of small business entrepreneurs and with the pressures they already face they may also be among the most chronically overworked. So beyond colorful suggestions like “outsource household work” what other helpful suggestions does this small biz set have for other moms thinking of starting their own companies and for the rest of us? Inc.com