In the Professional Trenches: 6 Things to Consider When Building a Remote Startup
Building a remote startup from the ground up can feel like an uphill battle. Rest assured, Rome (much like any successful startup) wasn’t built in a day, giving you leeway to adopt a trial-and-error approach.
If you’ve found yourself jumping to conclusions and battling thoughts of “What if my startup fails?” remember that the path to success isn’t a straight line. As long as you consider these six steps, you will be able to simplify the process.
The tools you’ll need
As a remote startup owner in the Digital Age, you’ll need to wield industry-specific digital tools when nurturing employee employees and cultivating your management strategy. First and foremost, you’ll need a virtual business address, which you can acquire easily from providers like iPostal1. With a virtual business address in your arsenal, you can insulate your family home from security threats, curate a professional business image, and catch the attention of online searchers. One of the primary benefits of having a virtual business address is that you can always change it if you need to move or if a more convenient location becomes available.
Other digital tools that can benefit blossoming startup owners include project management tools like Trello or Monday.com. To unite remote workers under a common goal, consider a communication and collaboration tool like Slack or Microsoft teams. Finally, a CRM (Customer relationship management) tool used to manage and monitor client relationships will enable your startup to set sail.
Remember, every aspect of your startup, from payment to video hosting, SEO management, and even daily communication, will require the relevant tools. Keep in mind that some companies may even need to provide hardware to employees. Employees might also require training in company-wide software post-onboarding.
Communication is an essential part of company culture
Since you’re hiring people from potentially a global pool, it’s essential to put communication at the forefront of your focus from day one. To center open and honest communication in your business model, ensure that potential candidates fully understand the job they are being hired to do. Additionally, conduct a thorough training process, connect with employees as questions arise, and disclose your expectations upfront.
A company is only as good as the people working there
One of the most notable benefits of launching a remote startup is that you can access the global pool of potential candidates. Unlike conventional models, prospective candidates can reside in any country so long as you onboard them properly. There’s no need to worry about needing employees to move closer to the office or schedule in-person interviews in the remote workforce.
Numerous sites help find remote workers for any field. So, you can afford to be pickier in your hiring process. By scouring the industry for top talent, you can onboard employees that will take your vision and make it a reality, so hire wisely.
Your company working hours
Conflicting time zones can be tricky to navigate. Often, employees working from home will need to adjust to their supervisor’s hours of operation, which can be a challenging concept to wrap your head around at first.
To determine company working hours, consider the relevant time zones, average response times for internal communication, and daily work expectations.
Employee support
It’s true that working from home increases productivity. However, working remotely can present some unique challenges absent from the physical workplace. If your employee operates in a different time zone or runs up against technical issues, try to help them find the best possible solution to keep working efficiently.
Since your employees don’t speak to you face to face, each digital interaction will have a considerable impact on how your staff sees you as a leader. If you let employee concerns slip through the cracks, prepare for top talent to follow suit.
Remember, just as you have a vast pool of potential employees, your employees also have access to a wide network of jobs in their local area. With this in mind, poor communication could cost you top talent when a star employee flees your startup in search of new opportunities.
Wrapping Up
Building a remote startup is a thrilling venture that can bring you immense professional and personal satisfaction. When embarking on this rollercoaster ride, take every opportunity as a learning experience, and keep our considerations in mind.
This article has been published in accordance with Socialnomics’ disclosure policy.
