From an Idea to Startup: A 7-step guide from a first-time entrepreneur

Entrepreneurship can often feel like standing at the base of a mountain, staring at the summit, wondering how on earth you’ll make it to the top. I know this because I was once in your shoes. 

When I first had the idea to start my own business in the UK, I was working a full-time job and had limited technical skills. But I knew I had to take the leap. 

Today, I want to share how I turned an idea into a real business, overcoming common barriers to entrepreneurship. Hopefully, this story will also act as a beginner’s guide for anyone thinking about how to start a startup—especially non-technical founders.

In each of the steps I mention, I will also share a key takeaway that I feel will help you the most.

1. Finding the Right Idea

Every business starts with an idea, but not every idea can turn into a business. The first step in my journey toward starting a business in the UK was identifying the right gap in the market. 

For me, it was in the area of digital marketing. 

I was good at marketing, and I noticed that many small businesses in my area were struggling with their online presence. I decided to explore the idea of providing digital marketing services to these small businesses by improving their websites and social media strategies.

I thought to myself, “This could be huge! There are so many small businesses in the UK.” 

But my excitement quickly turned into uncertainty and self-doubt.

“How do I know if this will actually work?”, I wondered anxiously.

So, I decided to test the potential of my idea by talking to potential clients and providing them free consulting services. This also gave me a better understanding of what the market needs.

I also did some market research on who else is giving similar services. I wanted to understand what they sell for how much and how I can stand out from them.

Key takeaway: 

Before you launch a business, it’s essential to ask if your idea solves a real problem in the market. Is the problem big enough for the market to pay for it?

To know this, testing your idea on a small scale can help immensely. This will also help overcome one of the major barriers to entrepreneurship - the fear of failure. 

Here is a helpful guide on 5 questions you can ask to validate your business idea.

2. Developing a Business Plan

Once I validated my idea, I needed a business plan. 

But let me be clear—starting a startup doesn’t require a 50-page business plan like B-School interns and VC firms make you believe. 

All you need to answer is “What do you sell to whom, at what price and how?” 

I kept mine simple: 

• Focus on small businesses

• Offer premium yet affordable marketing services

• Stand out by providing personalized strategies.

My plan wasn’t about perfection; it was about getting started. I outlined my target audience, competition, pricing strategy, and revenue projections on one page. 

This gave me a broad direction and focus, helping me stay on track as I navigated the initial stages of entrepreneurship. 

Key takeaway:

For beginners, the key is to focus on understanding your market and how you’ll make money. A simple plan is better than no plan at all.

3. Building a No-Code Website for Your Startup

One of the biggest challenges for non-technical founders is building a website or an app. In today’s digital age, it is often a crucial step in starting a business, be it in the UK or anywhere else. 

As a non-technical founder, I didn’t want to hire a developer or spend months learning to code. That’s when I discovered Bubble.io, a no-code platform that completely changed my approach to digital entrepreneurship.

I attended a Bubble bootcamp to understand the basics of building a website for myself. 

Bubble made it really easy for me to build a fully functional website. It has a drag-and-drop interface. So, I didn’t need any coding skills to make a design. I could customize everything—from layout to workflows—allowing me to create a professional website in a few days.

Bubble also allows integrations with various tools like Google Analytics, Stripe etc. This helps connect various workflows together. Initially, I found learning how to set up these workflows a bit of a challenge, but the Bubble bootcamp and the community around it helped me set things up pretty quickly. 

Key takeaway:

No-code platforms are perfect for starting a startup without having to worry about technical hurdles, allowing you to focus on your product or service. 

I would recommend you to explore Bubble, Adalo and Wappler for your technology needs.

4. Branding and Positioning

Building a website is just one part of the equation when you’re launching a startup. You also need a solid brand to stand out in the market. 

I knew branding goes beyond a logo or catchy tagline; it’s about how the business communicates its values and personality to the world.

For my digital marketing agency, I focused on creating a brand that reflected trust, expertise, and a personal touch. Your brand should differentiate you from competitors and resonate with your target audience. 

It was important that there is consistency across all marketing materials—from your website to social media. It helps establish a memorable brand.

Positioning is equally critical. 

Early on, I wanted my brand to be seen as a premium service while still being accessible to small businesses. This helped me get a foothold in the market and establish credibility. 

Key takeaway:

Keep branding and positioning at the top of your mind. Getting them right can make or break your business potential. 

5. Launching the MVP (Minimum Viable Product or Service)

Next comes the exciting part—launching! 

I knew that launching a fully polished version of my service would take too long. I did not want to risk wasting my time on offerings that my customers might not even need. So, launching my services quickly was vital.

That’s why I focused on launching an MVP—Minimum Viable Product (Service). An MVP is a bare essential package (product or service) that you can sell and provide enough value to your customers. This approach helped me to start offering services quickly and gather valuable customer feedback

For my digital marketing agency, the MVP included website audits, social media management, and basic SEO services. 

I started small, offering services that I knew I could deliver well. As I got more experience, I refined and expanded my portfolio. This lean approach to starting a startup helped me test the market, iterate on my offerings, and gradually grow without overcommitting any resources.

Key takeaway:

If you’re thinking about how to launch an MVP, focus on solving one core problem for your audience, and perfect that solution before adding more features or services.

6. Marketing and Gaining Traction

Once my MVP (i.e. Service) was live on the website, the next step was to gain traction. 

Like most startup entrepreneurs, I didn’t have a big marketing budget, so I turned to content marketing, social media, and SEO—strategies that don’t require huge upfront investment but can yield great results.

I wrote blog posts that spoke directly to my audience’s pain points and shared them on LinkedIn and other social platforms. 

I started being active in communities where potential customers hang out. Word-of-mouth referrals also played a big role in getting my first clients.

Key takeaway:

For anyone just starting a startup, I recommend using content marketing to share your expertise and build relationships with your target market. The more value you provide, the more likely people will be to trust you and ultimately become customers.

7. Navigating Challenges along the way

Balancing my side hustle with my full-time job was tough, and there were times when I doubted whether the business would take off. 

But as cliche as it may sound, every setback in the hustle was an opportunity to improve. I adjusted my services based on client feedback and refined my business operations over time.

What also helped me was connecting with fellow entrepreneurs and seeking out entrepreneur training resources, such as online courses and webinars. This gave me the guidance and motivation to keep pushing forward. 

Key takeaway:

Be patient, stay consistent, and learn from every experience. Starting a business is a marathon, not a sprint.

From a Side Hustle to a Startup

My journey, like any new endeavour, was full of learning curves and unexpected twists. 

Starting a business is less about having a perfect plan and more about taking consistent action. Today, my digital marketing agency has grown from a side hustle into a fully operational business. I have quit my job and I now run the agency full-time. But my business is far from perfect. I continue to course correct and refine it.

If you’re considering how to start a startup, remember this: take that first step. 

Use tools like Bubble for your no-code website, create a simple business plan, and focus on delivering value. 

Start small, but keep your eyes on the bigger picture. With determination and the right guidance, you’ll be on your way to scaling your startup before you know it.

Curious About Building and Scaling Your Startup?

• Building Your No-Code MVP: A Complete Guide to Launch Within the Next 60 Days

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• Launch to Lift-Off: Maximising Your MVP's Market Entrance