Welcome to the entrepreneurial journey!
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Running a business
Get the woman entrepreneur’s guide to building a thriving business
IntroductionFrom inspiration to market: Building your business mosaicYour business’s foundation: Planning and funding Laying the foundation: Setting up your businessPatterns of persuasion: Branding and marketing essentialsManaging finances and operations: Strengthening your mosaic Balancing work and life: The heart of the entrepreneur’s mosaicConclusion
Hello and welcome!
I’m Anna Sinclair, founder and CEO of Total Mom Inc. It’s a pleasure to introduce you to this e-book, a resource crafted to guide and inspire you on your entrepreneurial journey.
As of 2021, nearly a million self-employed women are shaping Canada’s economy, with women-owned businesses making up 18% of all enterprises. This e-book celebrates the spirit and determination of women entrepreneurs across Canada.
Within these pages, you’ll find practical advice, inspiring stories, and essential resources to help you manage the complexities of starting and growing your business while nurturing your family too.
Remember, no one demonstrates resilience and determination quite like a mom. Your own journey is as powerful as it is inspiring.
— Anna Sinclair, Founder, Total Mom Inc
Starting your own business is much like crafting a mosaic, where every element of your journey forms an important piece of its intricate design.
In this chapter, you’ll learn how to develop a business idea that sparks your excitement and stands up to market validation — laying down the first pieces of your own unique entrepreneurial mosaic.
Key points:
Finding that spark
- See real-life sparks of inspiration and learn from their experiences
Understanding your market
- Begin with market research
- Who are your potential customers?
- What can you do better than your competitor?
Entrepreneurship begins with the spark that is your business idea. But transforming that spark into a sustainable business requires careful planning and sound financial management.
As you craft the mosaic of your business, remember that your business plan and funding strategy are two of the most important pieces you’ll need.
Key points:
The art of the business plan
- A business plan is more than a document — it’s a road map that evolves as your business grows, communicating your vision and helping you navigate from your initial idea to an ongoing, thriving enterprise.
Finding the funds: How to unlock capital
- When you think about funding, the traditional bank loan might come to mind first. But there are several sources to consider for your venture.
Practical steps for ongoing financial stability
- Effective financial management is about making sure your business can weather the ups and downs and is ready to take advantage of growth opportunities:
Starting your business goes beyond passion and ideas — it’s about building a solid foundation. The business structure you choose will support every piece of your business mosaic.
This chapter guides you through establishing the structural and legal backbone of your business so you can start your venture on solid ground.
Key points:
Choosing the best structure
Take a look at each type of business structure to help you find the best fit based on your personal circumstances and growth ambitions. The common types are sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation.
Opening for business
Whether you’re launching from a corner of your kitchen table or opening a shop downtown, your workspace should allow you to work effectively and welcome customers — in person, virtually, or over the phone.
Consider this chapter your step-by-step guide to branding and marketing that works. From setting up your visual identity to choosing the right marketing channels, learn how to build a brand that resonates and develop strategies that deliver results — pieces of your entrepreneurial mosaic that move you from concept to action and empower your business’s growth.
Key points:
Crafting your brand
Branding is much more than a logo or catchy name. It’s about creating a complete identity for your business that connects authentically with your target audience and sets you apart from the competition.
Some branding basics are visual identity, voice and tone and core values.
Developing a marketing strategy
Think of your marketing as the vibrant, eye-catching colours that bring life to your entrepreneurial mosaic, drawing attention and attracting customers. This chapter covers how to craft a strategy that not only reaches but also resonates with your target audience.
This chapter breaks down the basics of budgeting, finances, and operations management, giving you strategies to support your business’s growth and stability.
Key points:
Budgeting and financial management
Keeping your business financially healthy is key to its success. This chapter is a primer on getting a handle on your business finances. You'll get tips on :
- Setting up a budget
- Financial planning
- Tax obligations
Operations management
Like financial planning, operations management is the glue holding the pieces of your mosaic together, ensuring everything functions well day-to-day. Come learn how to streamline your workflows plus see a case study with practical tips.
As an entrepreneur, you’re constantly juggling the demands of your business with the needs of your family — and your own needs as well. This chapter shows you how to assemble the pieces of your entrepreneurial mosaic to create the work-life balance you need, with insights and strategies to nourish your well-being and find resources designed for the unique challenges you face.
Key points:
Your personal well-being
- Learn work-life balance tips as well as suggestions for proper time-management and self-care.
Support and resources
- How can you build a support network?
- Finding the right community
- Leveraging community support
Your path as a woman entrepreneur is an evolving mosaic, continuously shaped by each decision you make and every challenge and triumph you experience. In this e-book, we’ve explored different aspects of starting and growing a business while balancing personal wellbeing with professional demands.
QuickBooks is dedicated to supporting your unique entrepreneurial journey with financial tools for invoicing, tracking expenses, accepting payments and more, providing the resources your business needs to flourish. See why QuickBooks is the ideal partner in your quest for success.
Hello and welcome!
I’m Anna Sinclair, founder and CEO of Total Mom Inc. It’s a pleasure to introduce you to this e-book, a resource crafted to guide and inspire you on your entrepreneurial journey.
As of 2021, nearly a million self-employed women are shaping Canada’s economy, with women-owned businesses making up 18% of all enterprises. This e-book celebrates the spirit and determination of women entrepreneurs across Canada.
Within these pages, you’ll find practical advice, inspiring stories, and essential resources to help you manage the complexities of starting and growing your business while nurturing your family too.
Remember, no one demonstrates resilience and determination quite like a mom. Your own journey is as powerful as it is inspiring.
— Anna Sinclair, Founder, Total Mom Inc
Starting your own business is much like crafting a mosaic, where every element of your journey forms an important piece of its intricate design.
In this chapter, you’ll learn how to develop a business idea that sparks your excitement and stands up to market validation — laying down the first pieces of your own unique entrepreneurial mosaic.
Key points:
Finding that spark
- See real-life sparks of inspiration and learn from their experiences
Understanding your market
- Begin with market research
- Who are your potential customers?
- What can you do better than your competitor?
Entrepreneurship begins with the spark that is your business idea. But transforming that spark into a sustainable business requires careful planning and sound financial management.
As you craft the mosaic of your business, remember that your business plan and funding strategy are two of the most important pieces you’ll need.
Key points:
The art of the business plan
- A business plan is more than a document — it’s a road map that evolves as your business grows, communicating your vision and helping you navigate from your initial idea to an ongoing, thriving enterprise.
Finding the funds: How to unlock capital
- When you think about funding, the traditional bank loan might come to mind first. But there are several sources to consider for your venture.
Practical steps for ongoing financial stability
- Effective financial management is about making sure your business can weather the ups and downs and is ready to take advantage of growth opportunities:
Starting your business goes beyond passion and ideas — it’s about building a solid foundation. The business structure you choose will support every piece of your business mosaic.
This chapter guides you through establishing the structural and legal backbone of your business so you can start your venture on solid ground.
Key points:
Choosing the best structure
Take a look at each type of business structure to help you find the best fit based on your personal circumstances and growth ambitions. The common types are sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation.
Opening for business
Whether you’re launching from a corner of your kitchen table or opening a shop downtown, your workspace should allow you to work effectively and welcome customers — in person, virtually, or over the phone.
Consider this chapter your step-by-step guide to branding and marketing that works. From setting up your visual identity to choosing the right marketing channels, learn how to build a brand that resonates and develop strategies that deliver results — pieces of your entrepreneurial mosaic that move you from concept to action and empower your business’s growth.
Key points:
Crafting your brand
Branding is much more than a logo or catchy name. It’s about creating a complete identity for your business that connects authentically with your target audience and sets you apart from the competition.
Some branding basics are visual identity, voice and tone and core values.
Developing a marketing strategy
Think of your marketing as the vibrant, eye-catching colours that bring life to your entrepreneurial mosaic, drawing attention and attracting customers. This chapter covers how to craft a strategy that not only reaches but also resonates with your target audience.
This chapter breaks down the basics of budgeting, finances, and operations management, giving you strategies to support your business’s growth and stability.
Key points:
Budgeting and financial management
Keeping your business financially healthy is key to its success. This chapter is a primer on getting a handle on your business finances. You'll get tips on :
- Setting up a budget
- Financial planning
- Tax obligations
Operations management
Like financial planning, operations management is the glue holding the pieces of your mosaic together, ensuring everything functions well day-to-day. Come learn how to streamline your workflows plus see a case study with practical tips.
As an entrepreneur, you’re constantly juggling the demands of your business with the needs of your family — and your own needs as well. This chapter shows you how to assemble the pieces of your entrepreneurial mosaic to create the work-life balance you need, with insights and strategies to nourish your well-being and find resources designed for the unique challenges you face.
Key points:
Your personal well-being
- Learn work-life balance tips as well as suggestions for proper time-management and self-care.
Support and resources
- How can you build a support network?
- Finding the right community
- Leveraging community support
Your path as a woman entrepreneur is an evolving mosaic, continuously shaped by each decision you make and every challenge and triumph you experience. In this e-book, we’ve explored different aspects of starting and growing a business while balancing personal wellbeing with professional demands.
QuickBooks is dedicated to supporting your unique entrepreneurial journey with financial tools for invoicing, tracking expenses, accepting payments and more, providing the resources your business needs to flourish. See why QuickBooks is the ideal partner in your quest for success.
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