{"id":2020,"date":"2017-06-21T08:00:10","date_gmt":"2017-06-21T12:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/?p=2020"},"modified":"2026-02-16T05:27:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T10:27:55","slug":"launch-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/launch-business\/","title":{"rendered":"When to launch a business"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWhen to launch a business\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\tMike Torre<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

This post is sponsored by Microsoft.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, you have a dream\u2014a huge dream! Whether you aim to disrupt an industry or build a better mousetrap, you desperately want to launch a business. You yearn to bring your concept to life. You cannot wait to ditch your day job and escape your cubicle. And then, at last, you can join the ranks of great entrepreneurs who have delighted the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Great! But when? When\u2019s the best time to launch a business, anyway?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch your timing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The hard truth is that ventures fail for lots of reasons, including bad timing. With so many challenges facing a startup, you can at least try to make your timing work for you\u2014not against you. While \u201cnext week,\u201d might seem like attractive timing, you should try to calculate your launch date to maximize your exposure. The more advertising noise out there, the higher the cost of media and the less likely your marketing will reach anyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Develop a launch strategy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like any marketing plan, a solid business launch plan clearly defines the market opportunity; defines the objectives; identifies the target audience(s); spells out the approach and the tactics that will deliver positive results. Plans should also account for variables like competitive activity, as well as things like trade show events or cultural occasions, like holidays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your best bet? Work with the pros. To deliver the best possible ROI, engage a marketing agency and\/or media planners to develop a launch campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you really ready?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wait, you say, what launch? What marketing? If you have no advertising budget, let alone a marketing plan, then watch out\u2014you may not be ready to launch at all. The notion that \u201cif you build it, they will come,\u201d does not prove true. It\u2019s more like, \u201cIf you build it and advertise it, they may come\u2014but not for long and probably not more than once unless you\u2019re really good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marketing makes it happen<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Love it or hate it, marketing drives our economy. Even activities as simple as A-frame street signs and basic text ads at online search engines can help attract attention. Of course, appropriate tactics vary by industry and circumstance, but most businesses need a basic marketing mix to stand any chance of success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business launch requirements<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At a minimum, most startups need something like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n