Getting motivated or inspired to start a business is the first and easiest step to creating one. However, you need to figure out the right strategy beyond your desires and motivations, which begins with finding a niche market, designing a market entry strategy, and having a sustenance plan in place.
With all of these factors figured out, it becomes possible to start and sustain a business. However, finding a niche market is often easier said than done.
Considering that many market niches exist for you to choose from when going into business, it can sometimes be challenging to select the right one. If you find yourself at such a stage at the moment, there is no cause for alarm. With a bit of guidance, you will make the best choice.
This article seeks to provide you with the proper guidance on finding a niche market to start a business.
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What are you interested in or passionate about?
It all starts with what you’re interested in or passionate about when making significant decisions in life, like starting a business. When faced with many options regarding your new venture, the best thing is to place your interests on a scale of importance. To do this, you may need to get a pen and paper and write out as many things you think you’re passionate about and interested in as possible.
For instance, if you’re passionate about fashion designing, shoemaking, and website development, it might be challenging to settle for one. The best thing to do is to arrange all of these on a scale of importance and settle for the most important.
It is always easier to start and sustain a business in a market niche you are interested in rather than what is popular at the time.
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What problems can you provide unique and long-lasting solutions to?
Another way to find a market niche to start a business is to find problems for which you can provide unique and long-lasting solutions. Generally, we live in a world of problems, and value moves towards those who can provide a solution to these problems.
The primary goal of starting any business is to make a profit from it. However, beyond the immediate profit you can make from a startup, you also have to ensure a continuous flow and increase of such profit. Before starting a new venture, it’s essential to find a problem gap in the market and analyze the possible solutions to such problems.
The most prominent businesses in the world are all providing solutions to specific problems. Facebook is providing a solution to the problem of social interaction. Amazon is providing a solution to the problem of purchasing items from different regions. KIA Motors is providing a solution to the problem of comfortable transportation. What problem is that business idea of yours providing a solution to?
It becomes more interesting when you can provide more than one unique solution to a particular problem. This way, you will not only find it easy to start a business in that niche but can also attract high-value clients in the long run.
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What business idea have you been considering for a while?
The decision to start a business is not one you make in a day. For some, it takes weeks and months, while others take years. Instead of overhauling a previous market niche you have been considering for years, why not carry out in-depth business research?
Perhaps, the reason why that idea doesn’t seem feasible to you is that you have not taken time to study the market and consider its pros and cons. To get a comprehensive idea of the market niche you have been considering for a while, you can review businesses doing well in that niche. When carrying out this study, pay attention to the weaknesses and strengths of these businesses. Doing a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) will be beneficial and worth your time.
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How viable is the business you want to start in that niche?
Business feasibility is a vital factor to consider when choosing a market niche in which to start a business. Feasibility is what goes on to determine profitability in the long run. When there is a list of options to choose from, it is best to go for the most feasible.
Worthy of mention is the relativity of feasibility. A business idea that is feasible to a particular audience or one region might not be viable to another.
For example, if you are in a region with a large population of boys, starting a beauty product business may not be a feasible idea. Find your products and services, understand your audience, and make sure your business idea is feasible.
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What are the factors needed to start and sustain your business idea?
When choosing a niche market to start a business in, don’t just think about starting the business alone; you also have to think about sustaining it. Many small businesses fail months or the first couple years after they commence operations because they don’t see the larger picture from the start.
The best way to do this is to outline all the necessary factors needed to start and sustain the business idea options you have. After doing this, you should consider the availability of these factors to you. Some of the significant factors you can consider here include:
- The overall operational cost of starting and sustaining the business idea.
- The structural settings to facilitate the running of the business.
- The process of selecting the right individuals to make up the business’ working team.
Conclusion
The decision to become an entrepreneur is not all easy. Beyond what many people who run a 9-5 job think, you need to do a lot of strategic thinking to become a successful entrepreneur. This starts from deciding what niche you want to start a business in.
While this may appear basic, it is the foundation upon which the success of your business will be built. As highlighted above, you need to consider what you’re most interested in and passionate about. You also have to consider the problems you can provide solutions to and the factors available at your disposal to start and sustain the business.
References
The Balance SMB: How to Find a Niche Market and Make It Your Own
McKinsey and Company: Beating the odds in market entry
TNS: 6 Ways to Conduct In-Depth Market Research from Outside the Country
Right way: A 9-step feasibility test for your new business idea
AbstractOps
If you’re contemplating starting a business, you need to select the right niche. We can help with the process of reviewing several market niche options and come up with the best for you.
Settling for the right business niche can make all the difference in the long term. If you need any help concerning choosing the right niche, you can contact us at hello@abstractops.com.
