Feeling put off

[AyeWhySwim]

Do other people feel disheartened when you spot other businesses further down the line doing the thing you want to do? I'm stuck in getting going with actually trying to get a business started because once I've started researching I find other people doing what I want to do so I start wondering if I should bother at all. Maybe I'm not cut out for this if I feel so disheartened by the thought of having to 'compete' or the thought that I'll be a newcomer with little experience and knowledge compared to people who are already in the business.

Competition is a fact of life for 99.9% of businesses. I can't think of many at all that literally have no competition.

Every window cleaner is in competition with others, as is every garage, every electrician, every corner shop, every hairdresser, every dog walker, every holiday cottage. every pub/restaurant, every accountant, every solicitor.

Some may have a "niche" or may have less competition due to geography (i.e. the only pub in a village), but that just means a bit less competition, rather than none at all.

You need to think about differentiating yourself from the competition - i.e. what you can do better or differently to make the customers come to you instead of them.

Pressed "post" too soon. Even if you find a niche or a business opportunity with no competition, it'll be very short lived as other people will see what you're doing and will copy it (unless you are able to patent or copyright your product, and even then, others may take your idea and do something slightly different to get around your protection).

Urgh. I know what you are saying is right. I'm just such a non-confrontational/competitive person! I keep putting myself off trying because I feel like it's tiring to even start.

I have mentored quite a few small businesses and the failures have mostly been because people have started a business doing something THEY wanted to do rather than something there was a need for
Obviously to succeed you need to be doing something you are passionate about and something competition is fine but make sure there IS a market for what you do or differentiate yourself in some way if lots of other people are doing similar.
You don't need to be competitive or confrontational but you WILL nees to self yourself and your business. A lot of the other failures have been because people thought that if they had a good product/service it would " sell itself"

Good point. I've got something I THINK I've identified a need/desire for. Something that I feel passionate about too. But something that's new to me as an area plus I'm totally new to the whole world of running a business having worked in the public sector so far. I've got nothing to lose giving it a go I guess as I'm able to make a start whilst still doing my other job. How could I find a mentor? So I could pick up the bits of knowledge I need about the running of a business and how to make it work?

Some local councils offer a scheme for startups to get free business advice

Perhaps it depends where you live, but certainly where I am there is more than enough custom for everyone. There are people already doing what I am currently setting up, I've actually found it really helpful. It's given me an idea of how much people are prepared to pay (more than I though) and some good ideas. Obviously I will be putting my own spin on things and have a different end goal or vision to them.

I think the other thing is to realise that you don't have to appeal to everyone. There may be an established business that is the 'same' as mine already, but they could well attract a very (or even slightly) different type of customer.

every business in the world has some form of competition. the trick is to make sure that you know your market so you give people exactly what they want and you work harder, at the start, than the next person.

we started our own business and have always made sure we are the first response in the inbox or to the phone message. the first couple of years are tough but I would say that you need to spend a really good amount of time doing market research before launching so that what you offer stands out.

have you thought about having a chat with your local chamber of commerce or women in business group?