Slide effortlessly into 2023 with brilliant business ideas

Slide effortlessly into 2023 with brilliant business ideas

UK small business owners work REALLY hard.

You are collectively propping up the economy right now, despite the toughest economic circumstances we’ve seen for generations. You’re brave, you’re busy and - frankly, you deserve a break. 

But we know what entrepreneurs are like (because Smarta is run by a bunch of them!) and easing back a bit - when you want to be driving your business hard and fast - can be difficult to do.

So, we’re going to pitch you the idea of downtime in a different way…

Rest creates space for new ideas

As we look back at all the ups and downs of 2022, many of us will be searching for new ideas to make our businesses more successful in 2023.

Perhaps you’re searching for an additional revenue stream, or wondering whether to pivot from being a product-based business to providing services (or vice-versa). Maybe you need a completely new idea for your next startup.

The thing with ideas is - they’re slippery. The harder you try to catch them, the tougher it becomes to actually nail a good one down. Read on for our recommendations.

Stop trying so hard

Moments of business brilliance or creative genius can strike unexpectedly and it’s often the moments we’re NOT searching for new ideas, when they land in our lap.

The best way you can increase the likelihood of that happening is to do… nothing.*

Isn’t that just the best business advice you’ve ever heard?!

In all seriousness, this is brilliant news for entrepreneurs and small business owners who struggle to switch off, are prone to overwhelm and are worrying about stepping away from their business over the holidays.

If we allow ourselves time to rest and recuperate from one hell of a hectic year, who knows what life-changing inspiration is going to strike. 

*When we say nothing, we mean hang out with your nearest and dearest, watching movies in your PJs and sharing snacks. In other words, nothing except investing in yourself and your relationships. Oh, and make sure you keep showering regularly because research shows that LOADS of ideas happen in the shower!

Our co-founder and operations Director Ian Straker says:

Ideas will come up at different times rather than sitting down at a specific time and expecting them all to magically appear, so allow this part of the process to take a few days. Reflecting on what you've achieved in the previous year can be useful to identify things you want to build on further, or things that you want to put more focus on.

Once you've got the ideas down - in your phone or on paper - take a break and come back a day or two later - see which ones jump off the page as this can be a good indication of what is most important to you.”

Let yourself get distracted

A little distraction can be a good thing for creativity.

Team Smarta love working from coffee shops, but there is scientific research to show it can really help not only creativity but also productivity. There are some tasks that require uninterrupted focus, like filing your self assessment tax return.

But too much focus can prevent you from seeing opportunities outside of those right in front of you. So there’s another reason to shut down for the holidays and let your brain relax, ready to jump on the 2023 small business trends.

Remember: It’s OK if your idea doesn’t work first time

Every multinational company you’ve ever heard of started with an idea. A lot of those ideas were majorly different to what those companies became.

  • Facebook started as a way to compare the attractiveness of college students

  • Pinterest started as an app to notify label-lovers when their favourite designer goods went on sale

  • Groupon started as a website for raising funds for charity

  • Instagram started as Burbn - an app to let you “check in” at your favorite places

  • The original company behind Twitter created it as a podcasting platform, but this was shelved after iTunes came out

So when those founders - Mark Zuckerberg, Jack Dorsey, Andrew Mason and Kevin Systrom - started their businesses, they didn’t strike gold on day one. They were met with a mixture of frustration, failure and even ridicule. But those ideas evolved into some of the most used platforms in the world.

We loved telling the story of Netflix, a business which - like millions of others - began with an idea to solve an everyday problem.

Most business ideas begin with a product or service which can be offered to paying customers to solve a problem in their lives.

You may have previously had ideas from your own experience of a problem; something that annoys you or stresses you out, and which you care enough about to try and create the solution yourself. 

In the day-to-day rush of running your own business (especially if it’s a side-hustle in addition or full or part-time employment) we rarely have time to dwell on these frustrations. Until that weird time in between Christmas and New Year when your well-rested business brain starts whirring again!

Businesses born out of hobbies are also common. That’s partly why the UK saw a huge surge in self-employment during and after the pandemic.

When we have time to reconnect with the things we love to do for ourselves, it’s natural to start wondering how we might turn our passion projects into money-making schemes.

If you have a hobby that you dream of turning into a business and need some financial backing to make it happen, you can apply for a Start Up Loan from Transmit Startups and benefit from expert advice and support all the way. If you've previously received a Start Up Loan and find yourself inspired with ideas to scale up your venture, second loans are available for you.

How the right tech can help your ideas take off in 2023

Technological innovation is all about making it quicker and easier for humans to achieve our goals, and the right electronic kit can help us speed up solving some of those human frustrations our businesses exist to fix.

But tech doesn’t last forever, and as anyone who’s faced “the blue screen of death” knows that there’s nothing like a computer meltdown to pour ice on a great idea.

If you’ve been thinking of upgrading the technology you use for your business, remember that computers and tablets used for company purposes are an allowable expense which can be offset against your tax bill.

Whether you’re shopping solo or kitting out a whole team, we’ve snagged discounts of up to 20% at DELL for Smarta members. From powerful desktop PCs to use in the office, to stylish laptops that work wherever you do, Dell has products to suit every small business.

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