17.10.2022

BBR'S DIGITAL PLATFORM PROVIDES RESOURCES FOR STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS

With a general business or an employee for life - nowadays this is not a dilemma for more and more people who choose to manage their own time and professional growth and embark on their own business venture. Although it sounds easy to achieve, growing your own business is much more than an idea and actually requires a lot of research, work, analysis and, possibly, making mistakes.

If you are currently on the threshold of a new stage in which you want to leave employment in the past and become your own boss, you will surely benefit from having an advisor by your side. Someone to help you in making decisions, in preparing a business plan, a marketing concept and many more details that you probably don't even think about. However, hiring a consultant is quite an expensive investment, so most people go it alone and rely on their own efforts.

There are a few steps at the beginning of this long process that you should be aware of. To begin with - the idea. Are there other similar businesses developed, how do they function and what is their unique advantage are questions you should ask yourself before you start anything.

Then comes the business plan – what you will do, what are the dangers and risks, but also the benefits and opportunities, what are the expected costs and when will you possibly break even. Where there is potential for growth and who can benefit you with resources (human or financial) and who is the worst option for the development of your business - all these you must be ready to answer frankly. Registering a company is the next step, which seems simple, but if it's your first time, it's better to use the services of a company that will save you time and nerves.

Congratulations, you now have a company, you are its manager, you can start your business! This is the stage where many people realize that there is something they have been missing, namely the need for advertising. No one is bigger than advertising and that certainly applies to your business idea too, so roll up your sleeves and start exploring promotion options. Online advertising is the most sought after of all other types these days, but if your business requires outdoor, radio or television advertising – turn to these channels. It is a good idea to consult a marketing specialist to help you formulate a strategy and help you implement it and "spin" the business as quickly and successfully as possible.

These are basically the main steps on the way from an idea to a working business, only if it were that simple, surely everyone would have their own business. The truth is that at every stage you will encounter stumbling blocks and problems, and if you want to feel a little more confident in what you are doing, you need an experienced partner.

But who is he?

Born specifically to support people starting a business in Bulgaria, the Business Booster digital platform offers help from the first step to the success of any idea. The platform was created by the Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB) and aims to support small and medium-sized businesses right from the start, as well as to cope with challenges and grow confidently.

Business Booster provides key resources and services that help in the creation, support and development of small and medium-sized businesses in Bulgaria. The platform can be an important partner for start-up entrepreneurs in the country, giving them the opportunity not only to apply for funding, but also to find the most accurate and useful information for their business.

Business Booster contains several key elements - business academy, e-market, possibility of online consultation and application for funding in real time. The service started with the "Microstart" program, which offers financing of up to BGN 50,000, and the addition of new financial programs for the needs of small and medium-sized businesses will soon follow.

All users can count on the assistance of Vicky, a digital 3D animated assistant who will help you every step of the way, so that you can use the platform with pleasure and ease. The chatbot will navigate you through the main sections of the platform and answer your questions.

To fully meet the modern demands of people, the platform provides fully online document management and does not require physical presence in an office. Everything is signed online, and the creation of a company profile is done by entering the EIC, after which the data is loaded automatically through integration with the Commercial Register.

You need a qualified electronic signature, and the Credit Quest back office system will be introduced by the end of the year, which will speed up the processing of credit applications.

For those of you who need a little refresher or literally to acquire new knowledge, the free business academy will come in handy. It collects information, manuals and resources to start your business.

The platform will also assist you with the sometimes difficult task of creating a digital face of your business - a website or an online store. Integrated within Business Booster is a complete solution for entrepreneurs who want to reach more customers online and this is the working E-market – just log in and start. Business Booster was created with the desire to help and support all Bulgarians who have an entrepreneurial mindset and are not afraid to try to develop their business. The platform provides an easily accessible and understandable financial service, a lot of resources and information and facilitates the transition from a business idea to a real working business, which is the dream of anyone with a passion for their own ventures.