Write a business marketing plan:

Remember, in the first year to 18 months of operation, it is important to regularly review your business plan, to ensure that it is realistic and achievable.

Decide on a Business name and register it with the Dubai Economic Department.

Choose a domain name and register it.

Employ a Consultant to draw up Memorandum of Understanding and Article of Association if forming LLC company, or any agreements between partners (if any) and sponsors.

Identify and secure your office space; identify any expense associated with telephone and internet set up.

Legally set up and register your business with Dubai Economy Department and Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Get your stationery and business cards printed. Call everyone you know and let them know that you are in business.

If you were to take a look at the success stories, be it Microsoft, Virgin or any small corner store, what really drives a business is the passion behind it. If you were to ask Bill Gates of a Paul Allen if they really went into the businesses for money, they’d say no. They went into the business because they believed in their products and genuinely want to make this world a better place.

‘Love for what you do absolutely imperative. Branson says in his autobiography that he did the things he did because he felt he could do it better than anyone else and had a passion for giving people what they wanted ‘

Love and enthusiasm for a business comes when you genuinely feel that the people are being sold short of their expectations and you can bridge that gap.

Understand the identity of the business that is best for you. It is something that gets the hair at the back of your head to stand? Something that you can clearly visualize yourself doing, enjoying and building upon?

Be thorough in your groundwork Once you have identified your field of business, do as detailed a survey as possible on it.

‘A market analysis, as well as a competitive analysis, is musts. It is important to understand what your competitor is doing, or not doing. Do a consumer survey to know what you would expect from a product or service as a consumer.’

A lot of people rush themselves into business plans. Write down your thoughts, revisit them, go to the market place, observe, study.Take your time before you embark upon your new venture, and make sure your fundamentals are in place. You need to be sound in your financial understanding , have a set of financial aids in place and have your cash flow worked out for the year’.

Understanding the market does not mean you should stop or postpone your dream just because someone else beat you to it. Maybe you will do it with difference. For instance, you might add a special personal touch to your style of selling which may be the ultimate winner as compared to that big banner on the crossroads.

Research says that 98% of people buy from the people they like; so the fact that there is competition in the market should never deter you.

’Be astute at identifying niches in the market, recognizing a shortage wherever present. Be eagle-eyed about spotting a need and stepping in to fill it.’

Trust, amiability and good sales can make a business go places.