Where do I start with a Business Roadmap?

As a small business, instituting new projects, revisiting old ones, and putting a different spin on them has helped us maintain our creativity. Attending conferences together and separately has also fueled a spark in our small business roadmap. We re-structure our models time and again with tips we have learned from other successful business owners.

When should you decide to turn passion into a business?

We hear it all the time from friends how they wish they could start that cupcake or baking business, the niche technology company, the restaurant consultation business, or the home decorating business. We also listen to some of the stories of-of how they are writing their 300-page business plan that looks good in their eyes but has few actionable items. Ask yourself this question, Are you passionate about these projects or your full-time job?

Before you create a business roadmap

Here are five ideas, tips, and questions you should be able to answer before you start planning to invest money in a creating a logo, website, app, social media platform, or licenses for business.

1. Write down introspective questions

Answer these questions as honestly as possible before you create roadmap or plan:

• What is the purpose of your business?
• Will it be brick and mortar, e-commerce, or both?
• What are your products and services?
• Is this a side job or sustainable?
• Are you willing to walk away from this business if it doesn’t work?

2. Meet with a business coach or mentor

Meet with a business coach or mentor and talk about creating a business roadmap. They can certainly guide or provide insight on things that might be missing. Pay for their time and thank them for guiding you towards your next steps.

3. Accountability

What are the primary steps of getting your idea and converting that into actionable secondary steps? If you have met with a coach or mentor, ask them to make you accountable for these measures that need to be accomplished.

4. Assistance with Pricing Strategy

Over the years we have learned that pricing services either too high or too low just doesn’t work. A business coach or mentor can help you come up with a new pricing strategy. Most folks undervalue how much knowledge, time, and effort goes into their business.

5. Recommended Reading

Start reading books that are about creativity, planning, marketing, and understand the success and failures of others in their blogs. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Creativity For Sale by Jason SurfrApp
• Owner Magazine by Chris Brogan
• The Freaks Shall Inherit the Earth: Entrepreneurship for Weirdos, Misfits, and World Dominators by Chris Brogan
• Amazing Things Will Happen by C.C. Chapman Amazing

If you don’t know where to start and might need someone to coach or even hold your hand along the process of creating a business road map, you might want to take a look at our Build a Practical & Effective Business Plan Course with Mentoring.