I started a Business from My Bedroom.

If you think your entrepreneurial adventure has to begin once you’ve graduated, then you only need to look at Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg to put that notion out of your head.

Starting up in a dorm room during college, there was nothing stopping Mr Zuckerberg and his idea, and you’re no different.

In the last 10 years the UK alone has seen an increase in self-made millionaires rise by 9.2%.

An impressive figure that clearly displays us as a nation of go-getters who aren’t afraid to put ourselves out there in the name of success.

But what all of these entrepreneurs have in common is the fact they all began from humble beginnings. From dorm rooms, garages and basements, you don’t need to start up in a tech hub to be taken seriously, it’s simply a case of being realistic.

Technology has enabled us to work anywhere in the world, and the same goes for starting a business in the comfort of your own room.

Whether you’ve had a light bulb moment, or a plan you’ve been sitting on for a few years, we picked the brains of successful businessmen and women to get to grips with where they started and the words of wisdom they would offer.

Focus on the Idea First

It’s easy to get carried away with an idea and want to buy everything and set yourself up in a big city, but don’t run before you can walk.

There is nothing wrong with starting up in the space that you have available, as the flashy office will soon arrive when the investors come calling.

You need to take this time in the early stages to see if your idea has any legs.

Talk to your peers and seek some guidance from a business mentor who can help you through the planning process.

“There are a number of books that I would recommend to anyone starting out in business, including Four Hour Work Week, One Thing and E-Myth, and I’d encourage entrepreneurs to really think about the lifestyle they want to create – not just the business”, comments Managing Director Jodie Cook of JC Social Media.

There are now a number of online tutorials on the processes involved with starting a business, and many of these bare minimal costs.

Perfect the Product

You need to perfect your product first and ensure it can hold it’s own in the competitive market. What are your customers looking for?

If your product is already out there, what makes yours different and how can you improve it?

“I noticed a gap in the market for high quality products rather than those that were being imported, so found a manufacturer in the UK who could provide me with the quality and styles that I knew my customers wanted,” comments Laura McGreary from Waisted UK.

As the old saying goes, you can’t enter a race with a donkey, so you need to ensure your product hits the mark and will generate an income for you.

Become an Expert

It’s a well-known fact that as the largest demographic currently in the UK, millennials are the ones who hold the highest amount of disposable income, but are the savviest shoppers.

Researching product reviews and looking for the best offers, they are far more educated to the ways of marketing than their previous generation, and cannot be swayed by glorified content.

Therefore, if you really want to put your product to market you have to not only be an expert about the ins and outs of your business, but you need to be aware of the trends in the market, your competitors and understanding your customers needs.

Starting a business whilst in the midst of your studying may seem like loading on extra unnecessary work, but it can prove to be a great stepping stone for when those uni years are finally over.

Tags: business, startups

Category: Student News