In 2020, according to INSEE, the number of business creations in France reached a new record with 848,200 creations, or 4% more than in 2019, despite the health crisis linked to the Covid pandemic. 19.
But the financial investment that may require the start of an entrepreneurial adventure is a brake for some.
Le Figaro makes a list of 5 tips for successfully starting a business without money.
To discover
OUR SIMULATOR - Are you getting paid well?
# 1.
Offer advice or service activities
Many entrepreneurs succeed in launching their business by starting by offering consulting or business services, depending on their past expertise. “
This ancillary activity ends up disappearing in favor of the main activity which wishes to be developed within the company. This makes it possible to finance the start of the development of a product,
”explains Jean-David Chamboredon, president of the Isai investment fund.
If the entrepreneur already has one or more clients, the other solution can also focus on the specific request of the prospect in order to obtain a certain financial gain.
"
The product will be adapted to this specific customer but the objective is then to scale up, thanks to the money obtained, with a product open to more customers
", highlights Marwan Elfroits, Head of Start-up programs. up to Station F.
To read also "Pôle emploi, first business angel of France", these entrepreneurs who start thanks to unemployment
# 2.
Request available aid
“
Pôle emploi is the leading business angel in France. Many entrepreneurs start their businesses with their unemployment benefits. It is therefore important to negotiate a contractual break with his previous job in order to obtain his rights,
”says Benoist Grossmann, CEO of the Eurazeo Investment Manage investment fund. In 2019, more than 815,000 businesses were created, including 194,000 by job seekers, or nearly 1 in 4
businesses. pay
yourself
once the aid stops
”, claims Marwan Elfitées of Station F.
Other aid financed in particular by Bpifrance or by local authorities, such as repayable advances or subsidies, are also available and can represent a real financial boost for business start-ups.
“
It's not very difficult to get them.
Above all, it requires a lot of administrative processes, but there are specialized firms.
They take 10 to 15% of the money recovered, but I think it's worth it because it really saves time,
”says Benoist Grossmann of Eurazeo.
# 3.
Think about economical tools
When setting up a business, it is often essential to compare your idea with the needs of the market. For this, several options are possible such as carrying out a market study. But, ordering such a study from a specialized firm requires a certain amount of up to several thousand euros. “
One of the solutions may be to go through a junior company. These are student associations established in higher education establishments and which do so for very reasonable prices
, ”explains Jean-David Chamboredon, from Isai.
Another solution, even cheaper but more time consuming, is to confront the market by directly contacting potential customers by telephone.
“
You can go to the trade fair for your sector of activity or even pick up your phone and call potential prospects directly to tell them about your idea,
” says Marwan Elfitées of Station F.
Read also7 mistakes to avoid when starting a business
# 4.
Use interns or freelancers
Hiring employees at the very beginning of an entrepreneurial adventure can be risky and costly.
"
It is more reassuring to have recourse to freelancers the time to see if the project is confirmed or not.
It limits the risks,
”confirms Jean-David Chamboredon.
Another option is to use interns for certain missions.
“
It is true that interns can represent a resource that is not very expensive, but we do not create a business only with them.
It's more of the back-up, the time to have the funds to recruit more experienced profiles
, ”explains Benoist Grossmann of Eurazeo.
But the internship recruitment war is raging between start-ups and obtaining labels and awards can be a factor in convincing them.
Read alsoBusiness founders seeking support
# 5.
Do not rent premises from the start
You don't necessarily have to start your business from your garage to be successful. But investing in the rental of premises from the start is not necessarily useful. "
At the very beginning of the entrepreneurial adventure, still at the idea stage, many start-ups start up in the partners' salons and that is enough
", specifies Jean-David Chamboredon, president of Isai.
But once the project progresses and the idea's execution phase has begun, it then becomes interesting to join an incubator or find premises close to other entrepreneurs.
“
This allows you to be surrounded, to obtain advice from business leaders who have been able to go through the same stages.
It also makes you feel less alone, even if that represents a financial cost,
”says Benoist Grossmann, CEO of the Eurazeo investment fund.
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