4 Tips for Opening a Local Business

Once you’ve mastered chaotic school mornings and raising stubborn kids, you might be looking for life’s next challenge. If you have an entrepreneurial streak and a love for the neighborhood, you might be interested in opening a business that serves the community.

Working on a business from home is great, but something about having your own brick-and-mortar store just hits different for ambitious moms. Whether it’s a neighborhood café near the beach, a family-friendly retail shop, or a spa where moms can come in and relax, your dream shop is within reach. Running a local business can be time-consuming and challenging. Below, we explore five tips that can help you simplify your operations to make sure everything runs smoothly.

1. Hire Friendly, Approachable Staff

The simplest way to ensure smooth operations for your small biz is to make sure you have a reliable staff on the front line. Your business’s salespeople, baristas, waitresses, cashiers, and more are the heart and soul of your shop. It’s crucial that you hire people who aren’t just warm and friendly, but also have outstanding problem-solving skills. If your staff always remember to prioritize the customer and solve any problem they might have, you’ll always have repeat customers and good reviews.

2. Be Active on Social Media

A solid social media presence is vital for any small business that wants to thrive today. By being active on Facebook, Instagram, and even TikTok, it’s easier to connect with potential clients for your business and spread the word about your shop. If people have questions about your store, social media also creates an avenue for them to send inquiries and for you to answer them.

Social media is also an excellent channel for making important announcements about your store. If you’re closed on certain days or are holding a huge sale, you can use your online accounts to make sure everyone in the neighborhood knows about it. With fast and convenient communication, your operations will run easier and smoother.

3. Use Online Scheduling Tools for Appointments

If you want to put up a business that is appointment-based, like salons and spas, make scheduling easier by having your team use an online calendar tool, like Calendly. This allows customers to book an appointment or reservation at your shop without the hassle of making a phone call or scheduling it in person.

Calendly can be linked right to your Google Calendar, so when someone makes an appointment through the site, you see it right away on your end and can keep tabs on who’s coming in on what day.

4. Conduct Smart ID Checks Fast

If you’re looking to open a business that sells age-restricted products (like, say, a bar that serves cocktails or a shop that sells cigarettes), your top priority should always be to stay compliant. That means you have to accurately check every ID, every time.

If you want to reduce human error as much as possible, implement technology from OCR Studio into your operations. This AI-powered software scans IDs at lightning speed, allowing you to swiftly and accurately verify any customer’s identity and age. This keeps not just your shop, but also the entire community safe.

Endnote

Having the tenacity and drive to open your own local business in Volusia County isn’t enough. To be a successful businesswoman, you also need to be forward-thinking. Whether you adopt traditional techniques to make operations run smoother or embrace modern technologies to do it for you, having the right strategies in place will help your shop, café, restaurant, nail spa, or beauty business soar. Keep these tips in mind and implement them in your own local business so you can run it smoothly and with confidence.