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By: Rajesh Velayuthasamy

Coronavirus has been a learning curve for everybody. We’ve all had to work out how to unmute ourselves on Zoom calls and hone our puzzle skills to keep ourselves entertained in lockdown. But the learning curve has been particularly steep for businesses, and nearly 400,000 businesses in the UK closed during the pandemic.

But while many businesses struggled, the US, UK, France and Germany all saw new company registrations soar. People worldwide, mainly the UK, followed Uber, Burger King, and Airbnb to launch a new business in a crisis.

At the pandemic’s beginning, the switch to remote working and all the other changes needed to stay safe seemed temporary. But after nearly two years, it looks like they’re here to stay, and new businesses will need to prepare for the new normal before launching.

If you’re planning to get your business off the ground with Covid-19 seemingly under control, we’ve put together these tips for starting a business in a post-pandemic world.

Research your industry

Even before the pandemic, it was essential to research your industry before starting a business. But the pandemic has made it even more crucial to complete a deep dive into your industry and how Covid-19 has affected it.

Throughout the pandemic, certain industries have thrived, such as:

  • Fashion and beauty
  • Food and drink
  • Gifts
  • Home health and fitness.

But while some industries have done better than others, it’s how these businesses have adapted to new circumstances that have let them grow. The ways these businesses have adapted include:

  • Creating E-Commerce sites
  • Improving user experiences throughout the customer journey
  • Implementing home delivery services.

If you’re planning to start a business, there are success stories within almost every industry. Do your research to see what has worked and what hasn’t before taking the next step.

Create a flexible business plan

Once you’ve researched your industry and got a good idea of what works and what doesn’t, you’ll need to develop both a business name and a business plan.

You may already have a business name in mind, but if you don’t, it’s worth considering:

  • What your business does
  • What you will offer your customers
  • Can you sum your entire business up in one memorable word?

If you’re struggling with a name for your business, it’s a good idea to focus on your business plan first, as the process may spark a brilliant idea for your company name. Your business plan will give a detailed overview of what business will do and how you plan to succeed. You’ll need to include:

  • The demand for your business
  • Your chosen business model
  • Financial projections
  • Competitor and market analysis.

While competitor and market research has always been essential to a business plan, pay special attention to how the pandemic has affected businesses like yours. Be as detailed as you can be as your business plan is your roadmap to success (or failure).  There’s no way to plan for every eventuality but do your best to prepare for the unexpected so that if another event like the pandemic takes place, you’re ready.

Embrace technology

One of the stumbling blocks for many businesses throughout the pandemic has been technology. Companies operating the same way for years or decades had to change how their business worked. Many that embraced the technological changes thrived, and those who didn’t either struggled or went out of business.

If you’re starting a new business during the pandemic, you must embrace the new technologies that have become the norm and be on the lookout for new and better ways to run your business. Depending on your industry, the technology you’ll need to put in place will be different, but generally, it’s worth considering:

  • Virtual meeting technology like Zoom and Microsoft Teams
  • Instant messaging and communication for your staff
  • Employee monitoring software
  • Workflow technology like Teamwork and Monday.

Prepare for remote working

While some businesses were already embracing remote working before Covid-19, many had to accept it when the pandemic began. If you’re starting a new business, you must prepare for remote working — even if your business will be office-based.

Depending on your industry, it may be possible to launch your new business without the need for a physical office at all. Rather than choosing a physical office space, you can get a virtual office with a prestigious address in a major city.

Choosing to go completely remote with your new business offers many benefits, such as:

Even if your business cannot be completely remote, you should still prepare for working from home. That way, if another lockdown occurs, you can seamlessly switch without it affecting your business.