The best way to become a great business owner is to jump in with both feet. But it can feel daunting starting a local business from scratch, especially if you’re not yet immersed in your community’s economy. Not to worry — these resources can help you start out strong and rise to the top.

Outline a Plan of Attack

Going hard after your goals is a must, but where do you start? Start with a smart plan of attack that includes figuring out your business structure, filling out all that boring paperwork, and launching your business on solid footing.

• Explore options for business ownership and compare the perks of, for example, freelancing versus formal business formation.
• Be sure to file the appropriate local paperwork for your organizational formation, like filing an LLC.
• Sketch a target audience profile to figure out who you need to engage and sell to.
• Start seeking out your ideal demographic online and geographically to learn how they operate.

Join the Community

Part of embarking on the journey toward local business ownership is tying into the community. Connecting with fellow business owners can be instrumental in helping build your confidence and network as your startup grows.

• Embrace both online and offline networking to grow your business connections.
• Propose partnership promotions with other local businesses to help you both thrive.
• Learn from your competitors by studying their business model and seeing how you’re different.
• Be intentional about building relationships with direct competitors — in an honest way.

Take Advantage of Location

A local business may involve getting out there and connecting with others, but there are ways to use digital tools to your advantage. From attracting local consumers to integrating into the community, there are many ways to use geography to your advantage.

• Set up your Google My Business listing and optimize it for local ranking.
• Think about other geo-targeting strategies for your online advertisements.
• Apply local search engine optimization best practices to your website to drive nearby traffic.
• Create content regularly to continue bringing search engine traffic to your site (and business).

Operating a local business is one of the most rewarding endeavors you can pursue as a professional. From developing closer ties to your community to learning more about yourself and your potential, running a small business is amazing for many reasons. Why not dive right in?

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Courtney started Gig Spark to be a resource and the first step for people who are looking to join the gig economy, either to supplement their income or as a way to fulfill their dreams of becoming an entrepreneur.