Becoming an entrepreneur and making a business out of something you’re talented at or passionate about can be really satisfying and empowering. These days, more women than ever are choosing the path of the solopreneur - either as their main or only source of income, or as a way to make extra money through side ventures that can allow them to turn their hobbies or interests into ways to supplement their main incomes.
There are almost uncountable different types of business a solopreneur can start, from businesses where you make and sell things, to businesses where people hire you on a freelance basis to provide services. You can make a business idea out of anything that there is a demand for and that you are equipped to provide, as long as you can find a way to make people who want what your business offers aware that your venture exists. 
So, if you are considering getting started as a female solopreneur, what are some things you can start to do now that can help make sure you are as well prepared as possible to take on the unpredictable world of running your own new business?

Think About Your Brand

No matter how small or large your vision, whether you want to develop an important new piece of software or sell your own handmade cosmetics, you should think about what you want your brand to be. A brand is not just a logo or a business name, but should be something that comes through in everything customer facing about your business, from the kind of language you use on your website and social media posts, through to the color schemes of your packaging. Do you want your brand to be friendly and sweet, or chic and professional? Do you want to come over as modern and innovative, or traditional and dependable? Think about the values and styles that will appeal to your target customers, and begin building your brand identity!

Learn About the Market You’re Entering

Market research can give you a real edge when it comes to identifying where to focus things, but it can also help you with more fundamental aspects of what you are doing like pricing. You should identify businesses similar to yours and study what they are doing, even if they are not direct competitors due to targeting different locations. You should also be living and breathing the industry you’re going to be a part of, and joining any groups or forums you can, both online and offline, to network with other people like you and learn as much as you can. Doing all of this research and getting more involved is a process that you don’t just do once, either. Your knowledge and understanding of your market and industry should be constantly growing, as should your presence within it.

Get Things Set Up Right

Before you begin actually operating as your new business, make sure you have done what you need to do to start up your business from a formal and tax perspective. You should learn about laws and regulations specific to your industry and the kind of trade you want to do, and get advice where needed, such as for help forming an LLC. The requirements will be different for all different types of ventures, but the information you need should never be difficult to find.
There can be a lot to learn when you’re first starting a business, but you can learn a lot as you go through each stage of creating your new venture. Good luck in your new life as a female solopreneur!

WRITTEN BY

Clara Rose