Starting a Business in Lincoln, NE

Getting a business up and going, from concept to reality, is just as exciting as it is challenging. Starting a business is so much more than just looking into a tiny thought that sparked into your imagination and caught on fire. While the entrepreneur should indeed be mainly focused on the pursuit of their grand idea, there are also a host of practical things that must be considered in the process. The beginning stages can usually prove to be quite the learning curve, so there is much that can be gained by paying attention to the experiences of others who have done the same or the professionals who regularly assist others on the same journey.

Establishing Your Foundation

Many businesses are started from scratch and built from the ground up, while a bevy of other entrepreneurs out there are looking for a great business that’s already established to invest in and cultivate. In Lincoln we are lucky to have access to the services of experienced business brokerages for the latter. These professionals are behind the scenes working out all of the details for their clients who are starting their very own businesses.

For help on all things that include business sales, franchising, and franchise development, an experienced business brokerage can partner with you in order to help you find the right fit. Their guidance and assistance extends through the entire process from the initial consultation until the business is effectively up and running.

As such, Transworld Business Advisors thrives off of targeted advertising, strict confidentiality, and connecting buyers and sellers with the right opportunities. Transworld has been the marketing leader in business sales and advertising for over 35 years. Ranking #1 in geographical areas in the nation for “twenty-something’s” starting businesses, Lincoln is a strong place to start a new business. This #1 ranking is recognizable, considering Lincoln’s economy is positive and the city is burgeoning.  The city’s needs are both growing and changing.

MJ Cassner of Transworld Business Advisors (www.tworld.com/lincoln) emphasizes that regarding franchises in particular, there are still a lot of misconceptions out there. “One common misconception is that if a person purchases a new franchise, there will be someone hovering over with franchise instructions and rules, and the entrepreneur isn’t free to uniquely add to and build the business; that assumption is completely false. A franchise is a franchise because it is a proven system that works, which simply eliminates as much risk as possible in starting a new business. This means, among other things, that the franchisee will have a solid operating foundation and access to a group of people who can assist and who have been down that road before.”

Having experienced the elements of starting a business firsthand, No Coast Business Advisors is able to offer valuable advice in regards to new businesses on a wide variety of topics including finance, operations, organization, risk analysis, the best ways to manage employees effectively, and so on. Knowing that four out of five start-ups fail in the first 36 months and another 50 percent of the ones that make it past that point fail in the next two years, No Coast Business Advisors is insistent that new business owners have a quality marketing plan in place from the start. Visibility in the initial stages is critical – no one can benefit from your business’s offerings if they don’t know it exists in the first place. Furthermore, Jethro Hopkins of No Coast Business Advisors (www.nocoastbusinessadvisers.com) adds, “Always be aware of payroll and taxes. Those two items will be by far your biggest expenses. My professional advice is to seek professional advice.”

In agreement, Jason Wollen of No Coast Business Advisors continues, “Be prepared to work long hours when starting a new business because it is no easy task to go from concept to a successful, flourishing entity. You cannot simply sit back and make money; in reality it just doesn’t work that way.”

The two also agree that it is easier to purchase an existing business than it is to start one from scratch. They maintain that even when purchasing an existing business you have to have the capital to maintain it for at least a couple of months after the purchase.

Along with visibility, for those starting a business it’s all about location, location, location. After you’ve found your passion and direction, you’ll need to find the right space to establish and grow your new business. The more recent trend towards office spaces with a host of amenities already included, which can be found all around Lincoln, has proved to be quite advantageous for new business owners who are trying to get up and running on a limited budget.

“HIP OffiCenters provides a full-service office environment with all of the tools that your new or existing business needs to grow and be successful,” says Michael Holroyd, owner of Holroyd Investment Properties, Inc. (HIP, www.hiprealty.com).  “A well-trained staff is a very important part of creating first impressions with new clients, and we provide full reception services, support staff, and phone answering. To further defray start-up costs, we also have furnished offices available. We even offer several virtual office packages with many of our amenities including a physical address. While renting from us, there are no up-front costs for buildouts or infrastructure. High-speed fiber-optic internet, an executive conference room, copy center,  kitchen facilities,  break room,  janitorial services, all utilities paid and free parking are all available on-site and included in your rent.  As the business climate is ever- changing, OffiCenters continues to stay flexible in order to best accommodate whatever challenge may present itself. For example, we have no long-term leases, no full-time administrative staffing costs, and no need to buy expensive equipment.  We have ready-to-use offices when you need them and you can adjust your space as your requirements change. Our mission is to provide a complete office solution, so you can focus your time on growing and managing your business.”

Finding the right people to fill key positions will also directly influence your success moving forward. The hiring process can be time consuming, and that’s a resource that is already stretched thin. Trusting an employment agency or recruiter to handle your hiring will allow you to focus on other things while ensuring that they’ve found the best candidate for the job based on your specific priorities and requirements.

With over 60 years of total immersion in the ever-changing the world of work, Manpower has found through such experience that they have been able to have a deeper understanding of the potential of people, along with how to unleash that potential to drive businesses forward. As a business, they offer collaborative partnerships, a suite of Innovative Workforce Solutions, leverage with their global reach and local expertise, and connection towards their deep knowledge of human potential.

Crafting and Projecting the Right Image

From a pedestrian’s point of view, we don’t often realize how much business image affects and influences us. However, it’s proven to be one of the central factors in elevating a new brand into a household name. While it can seem like there are so many other essentials that require a portion of your already-stretched budget, investing in the promotion of your business is wise as it’s largely what will drive revenue in the beginning. Furthermore, there are many opportunities for visibility that require a minimal or investment or are free for you to take advantage of, so it’s up to the business owner to be savvy and get the most out of what’s available to them.

With the assistance of businesses who handle components such as signage, graphics, audio, and general advertising, the expertise needed in order to translate a new business’s presence, passion, offerings, and story to an audience is definitely there.

It is easy to recognize that advertising or putting your business out there in the open to the public’s eyes is not the strongest suit for certain businesses and there is no additional question that this is especially difficult for newer businesses. But, luckily there are businesses that will take this burden off of your shoulders.

For most business owners, advertising won’t be their strongest suit – particularly for new businesses that don’t have any past experience with promotions or campaigns – and it really doesn’t have to be either. Working with an agency or professionals who will invest the time to help you put your business in the best light possible and convey your message effectively is the optimal route for most.

Red Thread is a local agency that’s eager to make your business the best in its field in Lincoln. Producing award-winning work for its clientele, Red Thread specializes in simple, creative, and strategic advertising.

As a business owner himself, Adam Kroft of Red Thread (www.redthreadads.com) advises future start-up business owners to, “Be disciplined to wake up at five a.m. and work over a 12 hour day, be disciplined to walk into a business to introduce yourself and your company, be disciplined to do everything in your power to make your clients happy. The list goes on and on. But the takeaway is this; look at your business and understand what it takes to be successful and just do it.”

Offering four advertising services that can be molded in amazing ways to create an emotional connection to your business–cinematic quality video, look-twice graphic design, buzz-worthy social media, and gorgeous websites–Red Thread capitalizes on and makes advertisements with a mindset that pertains to an old saying stating, “People don’t purchase with their brain, they purchase with their heart.”

With technology being a powerful way to communicate with an audience of potential buyers, and always advancing, one of the best ways to get noticed is by being searched and found online. Your online image and presence are areas where businesses like MIT Images 360 can be very helpful to a start-up. As Lori Black of MIT Images 360 (mitimages360.com) says, “One of the most important things when starting a business is getting noticed. Google is the world’s top search engine, so you want your Google presence to be top-notch. You want to practice good search engine optimization for your business’s website so people can find you when they search for your niche.”

She also points out that once the potential client finds your website, it’s your online presence that will define how that person perceives your business. Including a Google 360 Streetview Trusted virtual tour, a newer technology through Google, will provide a well-rounded and professional representation to the viewer. “One way to improve your presence is with a Google 360 Streetview Trusted virtual tour. MIT Images 360 shoots indoor virtual tours of businesses that go on Google. These tours help with your Google presence and your SEO.”

While these tours benefit any business, MIT Images 360 sees vast benefits in investing in it if you have a storefront that you wish to show off to consumers. Priced according to the size of the client’s business, these virtual tours are considered by MIT Images 360 to be cost-friendly. This technology is also seen by Google’s statistics as a demanded feature by clients when they go online looking for businesses.

As for most businesses, competition can always work as either a possible setback or motivator. It is important to recognize how to rise above competition and show consumers that your new business is the best option for them. The question soon arises; how do you do this? With MIT Images 360’s help, competing for the top spot on Google will set you apart from competition. MIT Images 360 affirms that a way for start-up businesses, specifically Lincoln start-up’s, to stand out is through an interior virtual tour. As this service and technology is new to Lincoln, most businesses do not have it so currently putting one on your company’s Google business page will really differentiate yourself from others in the marketplace.

Overall, MIT Images 360 encourages new businesses to get connected technologically. Along with an exceptional-looking website, it’s important to set your business up on Google by creating a free Google My Business listing. Through this program, businesses are connected with potential customers directly. Another site MIT Images 360 is insistent on new businesses getting acquainted with is Google Plus. By adding productive content to your page, positive attention can be attracted to your business.

Dealing with a different aspect of your business’s presence, Nebraska Sign helps businesses be visible to all who pass by your physical location. Working to design, fabricate, install, and service custom exterior sign displays and interior identification system for over 65 years, Nebraska Sign has embraced new LED lighting options. Having done interior logo displays, illuminated letters and cabinets, and digital message displays, Nebraska Sign’s offerings are endless for new companies who are hoping to gain attention.

Also dealing with signage, SignPro of Lincoln is a wonderful resource for someone who is starting a business. SignPro of Lincoln also emphasizes the importance of being found by customers as a new business, which signage is great for.

Jared Shald, owner of SignPro of Lincoln (www.signprolincoln.com) , specifies, “We offer a wide variety of products for the different stages of getting a business going. In the early stages we can offer temporary signage like ‘Coming Soon’ banners, yard signs, and temporary window signs. When your opening date is closer, we can give you many options for building signage, both interior and exterior. If your business is mobile or has delivery or service vehicles, we can produce a wide variety of vehicle graphics to meet any need and budget. Once your business is up and running, we can offer many ways to advertise sales and special promotions. Over the years as your business grows, keep us in mind to help you keep your signage and graphics looking great.”

Any number of printed materials can also greatly help to get the word out about your business, especially if you are hosting a grand opening event or will be present at a trade show, as just a few key examples. Local resources such as Eagle Group and Pioneer Printing are can help you with all different types of printed projects, including items such as banners, flyers, posters, promotional items, and so much more. As a starting business, your image is pivotal in order to get others interested in just what exactly it is you have to offer, along with driving awareness of your entrance into the marketplace.

In differentiation from visibility, Audio DNA Recording & Production works to help start-up businesses to create their audio for commercials in order to spread the news of their business in another outlet, the radio. Your design and masterpiece can be created with the help of Audio DNA’s ten years of experience and professional training.

A healthy media mix will be the determining factor in the success of your campaign, as all parts work together to reach your audience at different times and in different ways. While you may narrow your reach down to a target audience down the line, or may even have that in mind initially, public awareness in general is crucial for a new business. The goal here is more so to get the word out to anyone and everyone who might have a need for what you are offering.

Professional photography is also a major part of a business’s image, as it allows you to visually put your best foot forward when you don’t have the opportunity to do so in person.

Corey Rourke of Corey Rourke Photography (www.coreyrourkephotography.com) offers the following advice for those who are starting a business:

“When starting a business a great amount of time is spent making our retail space look perfect and setting up advertising  on vehicles, buildings and online.  This is a good proactive approach to making your business more visible.  We live in a visual world, so the quality of image you and your business project can positively, or adversely, affect your business.  However, many times photography is something that is overlooked when setting up the branding and marketing of a business.  People do notice the difference between a good business headshot and one that was taken in your backyard.  If you are selling a product the image is everything!  For example, go to Amazon, Craigslist or eBay and do a search for any product.  I guarantee your eye will stop on the well-lit professional images of a product before an amateur image.  Whether you are a service-oriented business or have products to sell, make sure that you are represented by quality images.  This shows that you care about professionalism, quality and service.

Furthermore, if you are starting any business, take your time and get a good business and marketing plan in place. After getting these together and finding a good accountant, start networking and get the word out that you offer a superior product with exceptional customer service.  Networking and partner marketing are probably the most underused methods to build a business and yet, with the right partners, can be irreplaceable.”

Along the same lines, membership in your local Chamber of Commerce can help you accomplish several things for your business in a short amount of time.  It can help you in getting name recognition throughout the community for your business, getting networked, accomplishing your marketing goals and becoming part of a larger voice for business in the community.

“Taking care of our members is our top concern when we wake up each morning; we are invested in their success and are there to help them every step of the way,” says Jaime Henning, Membership Director for the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce (www.lcoc.com) . “We meet many talented and successful businesses that are just starting their journey.  In many cases, they are looking for someone who can be a marketing partner and a promotion partner for them.  Time is their greatest challenge and their main focus is growing their business and giving great customer attention. Joining the Chamber is one of the best ways to cover a lot of ground and accomplish a lot with a team of marketers on your side.”

The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce is a group that’s dedicated to protecting and promoting the local business community. The primary goal? To help business owners network and grow.  If you are looking to build B2B relationships or needing a referral generator that does the legwork in bringing people together, it’s the place for you.  It is also 90% tax deductible as a business expense.

Behind the Scenes Business Essentials

Not every aspect of a business is obvious to the consumer. In fact, one of the main parts of a business’s success is what happens behind the scenes. In not only the start-up world, but also the general business world, it is common to hire on companies to help with certain specialties. This happens so that these businesses do not have to worry about things that are necessary to their business like answering the phones or dealing with account payables and receivables, so that they are able to tilt their focus more towards their strengths and what must be done daily to drive the business forward.

For new businesses in need of an experienced accountant, SP Group, P.C. is a local firm that fits the bill nicely. Following their core values of real relationships, belief in the power of teamwork, competitiveness, and balance of work life with family life, the firm itself views every client relationship like a partnership. Entrusted with ensuring that the business’s finances are in order, they are invested in the success of their clients.

“SP Group offers numerous services for businesses of all types, including businesses that are just getting started,” advises Matthew Westenberg of SP Group, P.C. (www.spgrouppc.com).  “These services include income tax preparation for all types of businesses and individuals, IRS and state audit representation, payroll reporting, QuickBooks setup, support, and training, business startup services, monthly bookkeeping, and financial statements. We are always more than willing to invest our time, expertise and resources into your new business in order to see you thrive.”

As a starting business, you can easily find yourself being pulled in a million different directions. If phone calls are taking up a majority of the time that you need to devote elsewhere, Executive Answering Service is the perfect resource to assist you with that part of running your business. After all, these days 80 percent of all major companies outsource to an answering company to keep costs down so they are able to remain competitive and stay focused.

Executive Answering Service has operators available twenty-four hours a day, every day, acting as your friendly telephone receptionist so that you are able to be on the phone with other clients, in meetings, or simply devote your time to other areas. They take your requests as to how to handle certain situations in order to project the right image and help with time management. Their primary goal is to give customers the highest quality service adjusted to their specific business needs, which requires knowledgeable staff, quality training, and state-of-the-art technology.

In a situation years ago, the main function of an answering service was to simply reach someone in the case of emergency. But, in 2016 there are so many other functions in the industry. For instance, “virtual receptionists” can save a company the overheard costs of an employee, including salary, insurance, and training. Executive Answering Service offers not only virtual receptionists, but also order entry, appointment scheduling, emergency dispatch, call triage, great customer service, and many other functions. As Megan Lipert-Murphy, owner of Executive Answering Service (www.executive-answering.com) , always says, “It can take years to earn a client but only seconds to lose one.” This makes a reputable answering service very important for not only new businesses, but all businesses.

As it goes without saying these days, technology is an important asset to any new business. Kevin Knudson of Q-TEQ states, “At Q-TEQ, we take into consideration what type of business the start-up will be and together with the client, we’ll take the time to figure out what technology would be most beneficial to incorporate. We want our clients to approach technology wisely and likewise, invest in technology wisely. No matter the size of the business, Q-TEQ can configure a system or provide a solution that best fits your needs.”

In addition to having an extensive inventory of tech-related items and parts, Q-TEQ also offers numerous types of computers for all different types of customers. For the customer looking to spend less, they have used and open box computers. If the company has more available to invest, they have the ability to custom build computers. Being open seven days a week, Q-TEQ makes it a priority to be of service to many different types of customers with wide-ranging needs. With familiarity in dealing with internet, intranet, “the Cloud”, and all other things technology, Q-TEQ prides itself on being a one-stop technology shop for new business owners.

Those who aren’t technology gurus will want to work with a professional who is able to come alongside and understand the objectives of the business in order to make targeted recommendations for streamlining processes and addressing key issues. Jason Wiley, owner of Everyman Computers (www.everymancomputer.com) , explains, “There are so many options when it comes to technology and starting your business that it really is vitally important, even if you are somewhat tech savvy, to consult with an IT professional before buying any kind of workstation, printer or especially networking components. Not purchasing the right equipment and doing so with forward thinking can be extremely costly. You want your initial startup costs to go towards growing your business, not to waste it on technology that doesn’t suit your business.

Buying components that will serve your technology needs along with taking into account productivity and future expansion, and even buying the right equipment for your business period, is the goal. It is especially easy in today’s market to overspend while other options such as buying used or getting exactly what suits your needs minus the extras you don’t actually need may be the best route. Take the time to invest in a consultant who will talk real with you and offer you solutions that you can feel comfortable with, and more importantly, do your research!”

With access to advice from professionals, a multitude of ways to promote your new business, and assistance available for everything that goes on behind the scenes or that isn’t in your wheelhouse, starting a business, while never necessarily easy under any condition, can go a lot more smoothly.

Being the person with the big ideas has a lot of pressure to it too. It is not uncommon for those just starting a business to feel strain in all directions and start wondering when times will get easier and help will come along. Thankfully for these new professionals, there are seasoned professionals who know all of the best tips and tricks of the trade in regards to business and what to do versus what not to do. With the help of these professionals, through numerous Lincoln businesses, a newly started business can be well on its way to making it big in its marketplace and respective industry.

There are many local businesses that are able to come alongside and help get you off the ground and moving in the right direction, and the best part is that they too understand your struggles and can offer valuable insight. If there’s one thing you can count on as a new business owner, it’s that you’re never at it alone—there’s always someone that’s walked the path before you, and that wisdom is some of the very best information you can get your hands on. Once you’ve found the right professionals to fill the critical gaps, your time as a business owner will be spent more effectively and productively, plus you’ll be better positioned to troubleshoot. For those who are embarking on the journey towards entrepreneurship, we wish you all the best and can’t wait to see what you have to offer the world!