How to start a business? The stages of business creation

THE STAGES OF BUSINESS CREATION

The process of creating a business is carried out in several essential steps. The small-business.net teams take stock and offer you their advice to enable you to open a business in the best conditions.

1. Do market research

That's it, you've got your business idea! Your motivation is at its peak, you are in the starting blocks, eager to get started and build your business !

Your idea may be good and original, but you can't get started without going through a few preliminary steps. And in particular the realization of a market study . This is the starting point of any business creation project .

It allows you to take the temperature of the market and realize the potential of your project.

Doing a market study allows you to identify the competition and the offers that already exist on the market. And so become aware of the risks and your strengths and weaknesses. To find your concept, what makes you unique, but also to determine your catchment area and your positioning thanks to the marketing mix .

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2. Make a business plan

The business plan , also called business plan , is a file that details the key points of your project. It is required by financial partners, in particular banks, for any business creator . It is therefore an essential phase for setting up and structuring your project . It is thanks to this document that you will be able to convince and show that your project is viable and holds water.

The business plan allows you to:

Obtain funding;

Find your financial and professional partners;

Solicit investors;

It should include elements such as:

Presentation of the product/service

Presentation of the business model

Assessment of potential customers

Assessment of future turnover

Assessment of future captured market share and potential profitability.

If in doubt, follow our guide on mistakes to avoid when creating your business plan .

Or fill in your details to be called back by our experts within 48 hours !

Making a business plan thus becomes affordable for everyone.

3. Choose your legal status

This step is simply essential in the business creation process. Since it will subsequently determine your tax status.

In order to choose the right legal form for your business, you will take into account several data such as the number of partners or the amount of contributions for example.

There are 5 main legal forms to date, which we detail in more detail in this article :

Sole Proprietorship (IE)

The Sole Proprietorship with Limited Liability (EIRL)

The Sole Proprietorship with Limited Liability (EURL)

The capital company

The general partnership (SNC)

4. Domicile your business

Another essential step in the creation of a business : the business domiciliation .

Every business must have an official address, registered with the tax authorities and various official bodies: this is called business domiciliation . This address is used to receive all your official documents and mail and must be indicated on your documents such as your invoices, quotes, contracts, etc.

It is therefore a question of finding the ideal location for your future business . For example, it is possible for you to choose your personal address or to opt instead for an address of a commercial premises.

Finally, be aware that a hybrid solution exists if you do not have premises but do not wish to involve your personal address.

Some business address services allow you to rent an official business address.

5. Register the business name

After having chosen a name for your company and previously checked whether it is not already used by a company in the same sector or in your catchment area, you must officially register it.

This stage of business creation is to be done with the National Institute of Industrial Property ( INPI ) or on the organization's website. However, be sure to check that this name is not already registered.

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6. Register the company

To start a business , you need to register your company .

This step is to be done with the National Business Directory (RNE), the Trade and Companies Register (RCS) and the Business Formalities Center (CFE).

This registration brings together a set of administrative formalities that allow you to legally create your business .

First, you must write and file the company's articles of association , ie the operating rules of the company.

Then you can tackle the deposit of share capital with a bank. It will then be able to issue you with a certificate of deposit of the funds essential when compiling your business creation file .

You must also publish an announcement in a journal of legal announcements within one month after signing the articles of association.

Finally, you can file your registration file with the CFE (Business Formalities Centre).

It is following this that you will receive your Siren number, Siret and APE code which will be issued to you by INSEE.

7. Declare the business: declare yourself a self-employed entrepreneur

It goes without saying that after having created your company , you must declare it to various organizations such as:

The post office

The electricity supplier

The gas supplier

The water supplier

telephone and internet provider

This step seems basic and yet some entrepreneurs sometimes miss it.

8. Join the pension fund

An entrepreneur who creates his company in France must join a mandatory pension scheme for himself and his employees.

Membership must be done within 3 months of business registration .

It is important for the entrepreneur to learn about the different plans and choose the one that best suits his business.

You can hire a professional to make sure all the steps are done correctly.

Need help getting in order? Petite-Entreprise.net accompanies the project leader for the creation of his company . We have a network of competent consultants committed to a quality approach, who are there to support entrepreneurs wishing to build a business and help VSEs and SMEs face the future. Contact us for more information.

As you will have understood, the creation of a business is strewn with a whole bunch of small actions and steps to be taken to be in good standing and to be able to exercise legally.

These steps can be taken relatively quickly as long as you have a well-crafted project and know who to contact.

Once this preliminary course has been completed and your business has been created, you can now concentrate on the core of your activity!