The startup culture is full of people who want to, and try to, but just can’t get their business off the ground. Why is this the case?

Much of the reason has to do with the fact that many entrepreneurs don’t know how to take their business from point A to B. Point A is that brilliant idea in the mind of the entrepreneur. B is that subsequent, hoped-for state where the business is secure, established and making money. "In between" is tough.

In terms of strategies, one of the best ways to build your business is to take that idea in your head to market as soon as possible. Because delays kill. Speed saves. Here are ten tips on how you can launch your startup faster.

1. Just start.


  • Write the first line of code.
  • Register the domain.
  • Sketch the product.
  • Design the prototype.


2. Sell anything.



  • Ted Turner simply sold television broadcasting and advertising.
  • Howard Schultz sold coffee.
  • Warren Buffett bought and sold other people’s stock.

Entrepreneurs aren’t always innovators. You can take someone else’s product and sell it. Richard Branson, after all, launched Virgin Airlines in desperation. He was headed to the Virgin Islands for an, um, romantic interlude. But his flight was cancelled. So, he chartered a private flight, despite his lack of money to pay for it. Here’s how he described what happened next:

I picked up a small blackboard, wrote “Virgin Airlines. $29” on it and went over to the group of people who had been on the flight that was cancelled. I sold tickets for the rest of the seats on the plane, used their money to pay for the chartered plane and we all went to the Virgin Islands that night.



To get these answers, ask a competent attorney. The attorney will provide advice -- say it's to start an S-Corp. But, then what? Ask the attorney to do it for you. Instantly, you will have gained an expert who is implementing his/her own advice for your money. Payment? You can reward the attorney with stocks or deferred payment.

When an issue arises, and you don’t have the answer, find someone who does. Then, when this expert gives you advice -- whether business best practice, manufacturing locations, logo design, accounting, whatever -- ask that person to do it.


4. Hire remote workers.


5. Hire contract workers.



6. Find a cofounder.

I couldn’t have founded my businesses without my cofounder Hiten Shah. For me, starting a business took more than just hard work and passion. It took the inspiration and skills of a cofounder. VCs are more likely to invest in a startup that has a founding team, not a founding individual. Even having three cofounders isn’t too many, assuming you have a clear decision-making hierarchy.


7. Work with someone who pushes you to the extreme.




8. Don't focus on money.

Creative Bloq has this gem of advice regarding startups: “Don't necessarily worry about where an income will come from. A good product/service will always find a way to make money."


9. Spend time and money on marketing.


10. Talk to your potential customers.






Starting fast means that you leverage all possible resources to focus on one thing -- getting started. Getting started is the main thing. Once your business is up and running, anything else is possible.


Neil Patel

Neil Patel


Entrepreneur and Online Marketing Expert