Note: I asked womeninbusiness.com.au subscribers to share a tip they would give themselves if they were starting up their business again today from scratch. Here are 16 start-up tips from women who’ve been there, done that. Subscribe here to contribute to articles like this one.

1. I’d do a short business planning course to make sure I had addressed every aspect of starting up a business…

As there are just so many elements to get your head around, covering off each of them, even if its cursory, is important.

Once you’ve done it, you’ve got an elevator pitch so people can understand exactly what the business is, a document for the bank (if you need to borrow, or set up a merchant account), and you’ve set some goals to work towards….even if they are unrealistic!  Julie Morgan from PR Guru.

2. Avoid analysis paralysis and trust your instincts…

I know, understand and totally agree with the significance of research and planning and assessing your business concept but it can be easy to get bogged down in this phase. You endlessly circle around your business idea, talk about it incessantly with friends and family, research and evaluate for days and weeks on end, tweak and then start the cycle again. Soon, months have passed and you’re no further down the track.

This is analysis paralysis. You’re continually searching for that piece of information or sign that gives you the indication that your business will be a success. In doing so, you freeze, second guess yourself and maybe eventually talk yourself out of it.

My advice to myself now would be to trust my instincts (and the hours, weeks and months of research and analysis that you implemented). Take a calculated risk. Make a start. Launch and test the water and be in continuous improvement mode.

It doesn’t have to be perfect to take it to market, just get it to the market and then refine and improve based on practice, insights and customer  and client feedback. As that (in)famous shoe brand says “Just do it.” Leanne Anderson from Getaway Guru.

3. Find a like minded business partner…

To help share the load, celebrate the high’s and work through the low’s. Jo Macdermott from Next Marketing.

4. You might think you know everything right now, and can handle it all, but I can guarantee you that business coaching is one of the most important things you’re ever going to invest in…

I would tell myself to budget for both ass-kickin’ business coaching and hired help or mentorship in any area that I felt shaky, a little lost, or simply down-in-the-dumps about, be that marketing, bookkeeping, copywriting or web design.

Do your research, find the best people for the job that you can afford, and then hire them. Free your time and energy up, and get inspired to do more of your genius work. It won’t be money wasted. Ming-Zhu Hii from Orlando and Ivy.

5. I would thoroughly research the profile of my target market…

So that my own marketing, advertising, PR  & methods of distribution are directly targeted at those people. This profile would include such things as:

• age
• income
• educational attainment
• where they shop
• how (ie: online, offline or both)
• how much they are likely to spend
• & what their motivation is to shop (ie: they appreciate creative, original work)

Once you’ve done this profiling, tweak and tweak again and stay focused on that target market. Otherwise it’s too easy get sidetracked & spend your valuable time & hard earned money on promoting to the wrong group! Melanie Hay from Hay Creations Jewellery.

6. I would enlist the services of a good marketing and web design service instead of trying to do it cheaply and learning by trial and error.

Unless you are a savvy marketer and website designer yourself you can waste a lot of time, energy and money by trying to do it cheaply.

Probably the only good thing about doing it that way is you are forced to learn yourself. This can be very time consuming though and it could take years to learn what a good marketer can do in a few weeks. Kay Dewar from Ashiki.

7. Conquer your business fears with a little self education!

I found cashflow management daunting, and convinced myself that I could just wing it. But my bank account proved otherwise.

I signed up for online cash management newsletters and committed to reading them and applying them, even though I found it painful at first.  I now feel like a massive weight has been lifted off my shoulder, I have been able to employ an extra staff member through freed up cashflow, and can plan for expansion with a lot more certainty. Claire Seymour from Eatout-Brisbane.

8. Outsource the things that aren’t my speciality.

Over the last two years I’ve been a “yes” girl, saying “yes” when clients (or those still prospective) would ask if I provide a certain service. Sure, I can do that, I’ve done it before…. once or twice. But as inexperience, deadlines and anxiety creep in I spend more time worrying and stuffing up the job than actually getting it done.

This year? I plan on outsourcing everything that yes, I can do, but I’m not brilliant at it. And there is always someone who can do the job faster and better than you can do. There is no shame – just do what you have to do to get the job done. (Just make sure your sub-contractor agreements are signed!) Bronwen O’Brien from The Virtual Assistant.

9. Get the best possible website and blog advice possible – before you put down any money.

The best advice can often come from unexpected places.  If you like a particular blog or website, don’t be afraid to email them for direction.  Often they’ve already tried a number of ideas and have found out what works best for them. Nikki Parkinson from Styling You.

10. Keep pursuing leads that are promising.

Leads are like fruit – they ripen at different times so keep talking with people even if you’re snowed under with work and can imagine how you’ll fit it in.

Hand-in-hand with this is to learn how to spot time-wasters who just want to take your time, seek your advice and have no intention of using your services at that time.In those circumstances, I collect an email address and keep in touch via monthly email newsletters. Your e-news educates them on what you do and what you know, and who knows? They may just be fruit that takes the longest to ripen. Brook McCarthy from Yoga Reach.

11. You can’t be everything to everyone.

It’s nice when you’re just starting out to help people out a lot, but later on in your business life your client base will reach a certain critical mass.

If you have created an expectation that you are available via email and phone to provide assistance for anyone that needs it, you will soon find your entire day is spent problem solving for your client base instead of doing client work and growing your business. The solution is “educate educate”.

Help your clients by showing them how they can find  information themselves or do something themselves rather than saying “I’ll just take care of that for you”. It might take you a little longer in the first instance – but will pay off in spades down the line. Kelly Exeter from Swish Design.

12. Get a mentor and read, read, read.

By reading you learn to ask yourself the right questions and keep looking at the big picture, which is often so difficult to do when you have your head to the grindstone.

You can save yourself a lot of headaches and lost time and money if you learn from people who have already made the same mistakes and have found the answers. Amy Foxwell from Win Win Marketing.

13. I’d look at breaking down bigger goals into smaller tasks – so you can celebrate along the way.

It’s great to have BHAGs (Big Audacious Hairy Goals), but sometimes you get so focused on the bigger goal, that you fail to recognise and celebreate that you have achieved and how far you have actually come to date.

This can help give you a lift you need when you come across any obstacles when trying to achieve your larger aims. Zoe Warne from August.

14. Don’t put your head in the sand and hope people will find your website!

Stick your big toe in and learn the basic language, SEO techniques, subscribe to some great social media newsletters (they are free and have such great ideas!), update your website frequently and don’t be afraid of chatting to people on Twitter and Facebook – at the end of the day the foreign language will become chinglish – you understand most, and can muddle through the rest!  Enjoy! Jenny Tranter from State of Green.

15. I would set aside a marketing/advertising budget and do more extensive research into my target market and what media (both online and print) will reach them…

Then be more particular about what ads I place and where I spend this money instead of wasting valuable start up funds (or non existent start up funds!) trying everything.

I know everyone harps on this but it isn’t usually enough to have a great website and a search engine optimisation specialist – you really do need to reach your market in other ways, as well as narrow down this market into smaller segments. For example when starting up I figured my target market was every parent.

However, whether they have birthday parties for their kids, or need the services of a party coordinator, entertainer, party supplies, etc. depends on the ages of their kids, how busy the parents are, whether they work, where they are located, etc. Therefore, I sent out a survey to get a better understanding into both the party needs of this more defined market and the media they access to address their needs.

And it’s not about distribution size/the number of people you will reach – a directory listing in something like Brisbane’s Child has yielded far more results for me than a big ad in a weekly publication distributed to far more people.. And finally, even if you don’t understand it, feel it’s a time waster, or feel out of your comfort zone – don’t underestimate the power of participating in social networking, forums, etc. – one brief message or line and I see the instant results in my website hits. Michelle Eckles from Ezy Kids Parties.

16. It’s OK that some days will end with no to dos crossed off.

Just spend some time at the end of the day and work out the most important tasks for the next day, then relax so you can start tomorrow fresh and ready to take on the world! Johanna Baker-Dowdell from Strawberry Communications.

Image credits: Studio Mela.