Sohrab Vazir
Consultant | Founder | Global Citizen | Writer
Tag Archives: Self-Employment
5 Reasons Why Your Website is Failing You
Are you struggling with lead conversion or a consistently high bounce rate? The issue could be your website and today I’ll share 5 reasons why your website may not be generating results (and what to do about it). Success requires a thorough awareness of where you need to improve. Understanding your website’s issues is the first important step towards better numbers and UX. So, here are 5 areas of potential improvement: Okay so let’s start with an obvious one. If your website’s design is old, too basic or simply visually unappealing, it will take a toll on your conversions. Yes, you could get away with this in the 2000s or even early 2010s. However, with all the tools available today, there’s no excuse for bad design. Solution There are so many design options available that require minimal technical skills. Nonetheless, this is mostly the case if you only require basic functionalities. If you do not require a complex website, Content Management Systems (CMS) are probably your best shot. The most popular example is WordPress. It offers so many different templates. Check Themeforest to get started. Well, I probably don’t need to write too much about this one. We all hate slow computers and websites. In many cases, speed is the primary reason why websites are inadequate. There could be various reasons for this one, and it could get technical depending on how your website is made. Solution As a first step, run a speed test on Google’s free tool: PageSpeed Insights. This tool informs you of the steps you can take to improve your website’s speed. The solutions depend on your website, your technical skills and whether you have a developer or not. The font that you use makes a tremendous difference to the overall feel & UX. Solution Make sure you invest a substantial amount of time and attention to the font that you will use. This is applicable whether you are manually adding a font or purchasing a pre-made template. As well as UX and aesthetics, what your website contains is the ultimate factor. Content is what will keep your user engaged. It also determines whether they will take the next steps on your website. Thus, whether it’s from an SEO or a user retention perspective, your content is imperative. Solution Ask yourself the following questions: If you need help with content creation, especially for SEO, then contact me for help! The majority of users in many sectors visit websites on their phones. It’s so important to take an active approach in optimising your website for mobile use. Hopefully this article should give you an idea as to how you could improve your website . In this day and age, your website is essentially the front office of your business. Therefore, you are losing potential customers If it does not create a positive user experience. If you’d like help with your digital strategy, I’m a business consultant with over 6 years of experience in digital enterprise. Find out more about my services here! About My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats which I scaled to over 30 UK cities. I currently help other entrepreneurs and businesses of all size with the digital marketing strategy around SEO, copywriting and content. For more info, please visit here.
My Experience of the UK Business Visa System
If you’re considering a UK business visa, learning about other people’s experiences is helpful. For those unfamiliar with me or my work: I started my business in the UK as a 22-year-old international graduate on a business visa. After successful extensions and further UK business visas, I obtained permanent residency in the UK (Indefinite Leave to Remain). This was all through my initial business: StudyFlats. Firstly, allow me to elaborate that this is the old visa system and many aspects of this article may not be relevant today. Nor is this any form of immigration advice and it is solely my personal experience. I received two endorsements from Newcastle University for the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Visa (the former version of the current Start-Up Visa). I subsequently obtained a Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa (T1E). The latter was the former version of the current Innovator Visa), although with different requirements. As part of the T1E visa extension requirements, the two below were the primary; Whilst they may seem relatively straightforward (though demanding), it was, in fact, quite the opposite. The manner in which the two requirements above were required to be demonstrated to the Home Office was quite complicated. For instance, your proof of investment or job creation would not be acceptable via bank statements/payment proof alone. I was required to enrol my staff on PAYE (provided by HMRC). Plus, the investment proof was subject to stringent requirements. The investment aspect on whether the money was invested via share capital or director’s loan. Below are just “some” examples of the concerns that I had; As stated, I received two endorsements from Newcastle University for my start-up, StudyFlats. Generally speaking, the process of obtaining endorsements can be long and complex. However, it is difficult to define a universal set of problems on this note. This is because endorsing institutions each have their own requirements. This is the case even under the current UK business visa system. This was very confusing and strict to adhere to. One example was when I wanted to rent an office space (as remote working was not yet the norm in 2019). I discovered that, by law, each person is entitled to a minimum space of 11 cubic metres. As I in fact was employing 4 people (instead of 2), this required plenty of time and consideration. Read more about this on the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). As mentioned earlier, the investment aspect itself was quite tricky. An example of this was that the director’s remuneration could not be counted as an investment. Moreover, deciding an investment structure (share capital vs. director’s loan) could have future ramifications if StudyFlats were to raise investment. Employing staff as a solo founder/director is tricky enough. Combine the latter with strict immigration requirements and the degree of complexity is limitless. This is particularly with strict employment laws being in force. Tip: there are lots of “P” forms that you will need to learn about. Therefore, I suggest cracking on with pre-emptive research if you’re planning to recruit staff. Last, but certainly not least, the biggest struggle was just managing and growing the company. Do a simple search about entrepreneurship challenges and you will come across SO much material, and perhaps millions of problems. Entrepreneurship is a tough journey. However, it can be extremely difficult when pursued in the business framework. This is not to discourage founders. If you have a viable idea/business that you believe in, you will overcome the challenges. If I could do it, then so can you! In short, UK business visas can be complex….. However, with the right mindset, management and direction you can overcome the complexity. As stated, the current UK business visa system does substantially differ from the Tier 1 Entrepreneur route. Need help with a UK business visa endorsement? As you have probably seen through my countless disclaimers (another aspect of being an entrepreneur in the UK), I am not an immigration advisor. However, I am a business consultant who can help you map the right idea and also help with your business planning. Better business planning and awareness will maximise your chance of getting an endorsement. And that’s why I’m here! Get in touch with me today for a free 1:1 introductory call. About My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats which I scaled to over 30 UK cities. I currently help other entrepreneurs and businesses of all size with the digital marketing strategy around SEO, copywriting and content. For more info, please visit here.
The Realities of Being a Foreign Entrepreneur
In today’s globalized world, being a foreign entrepreneur is becoming an increasingly popular phenomenon. Subsequently, there’s a growing body of academic and non-academic material revolving around migrant entrepreneurship. In this article, I’ll seek to highlight a number of realities about being a foreign entrepreneur, building on my personal experience. Firstly, allow me to state that being a foreign entrepreneur is not “all sunshine and rainbows” (as the famous Rocky Balboa once said). It carries an enormous amount of risk and can be a quite dark life path (anybody who says otherwise either lacks the knowledge or is lying to you). My purpose in writing this guide is to provide you with a “no BS” and informative piece of advice that can hopefully enable you to consider every aspect of this journey before embarking on it. There’s a good chance your mental health will suffer Let’s face it: there’s a reason why the majority of people don’t start their own businesses. First and foremost, there’s a huge amount of risk involved with no guarantee for any return. This factor alone is enough to make entrepreneurship a non-option for most. But assuming that you’ll proceed regardless of the aforementioned, the constant risk and uncertainty are bound to affect your mental health. Immigration rules can be rigid This is a broad observation, and it highly depends on the country that you migrate to. Nevertheless, you’ll be bound by some form of immigration legislation, and may have to meet specific milestones for extending your stay in the host country. As mentioned earlier, entrepreneurship is unpredictable in itself, let alone having to meet pre-defined goals. The worse part is that you may invest time and money, and still not meet those objectives. Not only are you jeopardizing your most valuable assets, time and money, but you may even have to leave the place that you deemed to be your new home (worst-case scenario, of course). Of course, as I mentioned, this is objective given that different countries have varying rules around their entrepreneur/startup visas. Personally, I went through the foreign entrepreneur journey via the UK’s former Tier 1 GE and Entrepreneur visas, and “easy” is not a word I would use to describe that path. Prepare for (a lot of) rejections I am generally under the assumption that most people associate rejection with employment applications, or their social and romantic lives. Hence, let me elaborate: it’s highly likely that you will have to endure a considerable amount of rejections. Whether it’s from prospective clients, customers, or funders such as VCs and angel investors, you will need to be ready for it. You may face a scarcity of resources Being a migrant may limit some of the business resources that are available to you. For instance, a native person may have access to business loans made available by banks. However, the same option may be unavailable to you due to you having a time limit on your stay. Again, this is a general and objective observation. It is best practice to be prepared for minimal resources and emphasize self-sufficiency. You may be seen as a “cash cow” This is something which I personally experienced in the early days, and it did irritate me a great deal. It was perhaps partly true, as I did invest a substantial amount of money in order to obtain my visa. But the unsettling aspect was the sense of exploitation that I felt when I sought to outsource the company’s projects. To give you an example: I started my company, StudyFlats, as a solo non-technical founder. As I had no idea how websites worked, I obtained some quotes for the website to be coded. Some of these quotes were in the region of tens of 1000s of pounds, for a simple WordPress website. Needless to say, I eventually did it myself at a cost of ÂŁ300. This is just one instance to demonstrate how fast you’ll lose your money if you lack the right skills and knowledge. Being a foreign entrepreneur is a life-changing experience Lastly, I will say that being a migrant entrepreneur is an experience that will shift your perspective and life direction indefinitely. Once you overcome the obstacles and grow your concept, you will realize your true competencies as a person, which you may have never imagined. I hope this guide has given you an idea about what to expect in the bittersweet journey of migrant entrepreneurship. If you require any consultation from someone who’s been there and done it before, ping me for a chat here. About My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats. I did so by obtaining an endorsement from Newcastle University under the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Scheme (similar to the current Start-Up Visa). Subsequently, I obtained a further 3-year Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa (which was replaced by the Innovator Visa). I grew my business to over 30 UK cities, and a team of four, and also obtained my Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement) in the UK. I now help other migrant entrepreneurs, such as myself, with their businesses, and mainly with obtaining endorsements from the endorsing bodies.
The 5 Main Reasons Why Startups Fail
Why startups fail is not a new question, given that the majority of startups fail within the first three years. When launching a startup, there are many things to take into account. There are so many factors that may either help your company grow or cause it to fail. Many assume that launching a business means you’ll almost certainly succeed. In reality, failure is something that is more common than most people think. According to Statista, the failure rate for startups stands at 67% within the first 5 years after they are launched. When they fail, it’s often because of one of these five factors. Let’s take a look at why startups fail and how you can avoid falling into the same traps when launching yours. 1. Poor Timing The first reason startups fail is poor timing. Timing is important in any business venture, but it’s especially critical for startups. If you launch your new business at the wrong time, you may find that there is not sufficient demand for your product or service. This can spell disaster for your business in the long term. This can happen for a variety of reasons. First, the market may have changed since you first came up with your idea. If you are launching a tech-based product but the industry has recently undergone a major shift, your product may already be outdated. Second, your customers may not be ready for your product or service. You may have a great idea, but if people don’t need it or can’t use it yet, it won’t be successful. You have to make sure the timing is right before you launch. Third, you may be entering a highly competitive market. If you are trying to launch a new product or service but there are already similar offerings out there, you may experience difficulty getting customers to choose yours. 2. Lack of a viable product Another very common reason for startup failure is the lack of a viable product or service solution. Many entrepreneurs are so excited about their ideas that they don’t ensure the viability of their offering. They rush to get the product into the market as quickly as possible in order to start reaping the benefits of their hard work. First and foremost, ensure that you’re actually solving a real problem. Second, make sure that your product is high quality. You have to be sure that it lasts as long as possible, and that it solves the issue it’s designed to resolve. If your product is low quality and you don’t do anything to resolve the problem, your business will quickly flounder. Customers will be dissatisfied with your product, and they will likely stop purchasing it altogether (should it get to that stage). At that point, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be able to keep your business afloat. 3. Bad marketing Another reason why startups fail is incorrect marketing. Sadly, a lot of the time, it’s a case of “not what you say, but how you say it”. This happens when a business is marketing the wrong product or has an ineffective marketing strategy. If you are marketing a product or service that no one wants, it won’t help you get new customers. It will only serve to annoy the ones you already have. If you are marketing your product ineffectively, you won’t reach your target audience and you won’t be able to reach them effectively. You have to ensure that your marketing methods are reaching the right people. 4. Poor internal dynamics Another reason why startups fail is that the founding team members are not compatible with each other. If the founding team members aren’t able to work together productively, if they don’t have the right skills, or if they don’t have sufficient chemistry, the business is at risk of failure. Moreover, if there is a case of conflicting personalities, it’s bound to affect productivity. You have to be sure that you are choosing the right people to work with you. At the same time, it’s imperative to ensure that you are choosing partners who appreciate your skills and who can work well with you. If your team members aren’t able to work well with each other, they are unlikely to be able to solve problems and they won’t be able to work toward the same goals as a team. 5. Networking Finally, another reason why startups fail is because of network issues. A lot of startups rely on investors and lenders to help them get up and running. In some cases, they may also rely on partnerships and alliances with other businesses. If you are dealing with a lender or an investor who is disorganised and unreliable, you may find that you don’t get the funding that you need. If you are dealing with a lender or an investor who is dishonest, you may find yourself in serious financial trouble. Similarly, If you are partnering with another business, you have to make sure that you are working with reliable partners. You have to ensure that you are able to work with them effectively and that you are compatible. Hopefully, by now you have a better idea of some of that factors that can contribute to the failure of a startup. If you’re launching your own company, or thinking about doing so, check out what I have on offer About My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats which I scaled to over 30 UK cities. I currently help other entrepreneurs and businesses of all size with the digital marketing strategy around SEO, copywriting and content. For more info, please visit here.
The Challenges of Being an Immigrant Entrepreneur
Starting a business as an immigrant entrepreneur can be challenging. There are many uncertainties along the way that might make it difficult to take the leap and start your own business. In this article, I’ll explore some of the challenges you may encounter when starting your own business abroad as an expat, and what you can do to ease the process! The hardships of being an immigrant entrepreneur Starting your own business is hard enough, but add in the challenges of being an immigrant entrepreneur and it can seem downright impossible. From finding the right visa to accessing capital, there are a number of unique hurdles you’ll need to overcome. But don’t despair – with careful planning and a bit of tenacity, you can make your migrant entrepreneurship dream a reality. Here are some of the challenges you may face, and how to overcome them. One of the first challenges you’ll face as a migrant entrepreneur is finding the correct visa. Depending on your country of origin and destination, there may be a number of different visas available to you. However, not all visas will allow you to start your own business – so it’s important to do your research before making any decisions. Once you’ve found the right visa, the next hurdle is accessing capital. Without the right financial backing (though the amount varies depending on the destination), it can be difficult to get your business off the ground. You may need to consider alternative financing options such as crowdfunding or small business loans. Another potential challenge is language barriers. If you’re not fluent in the language of your destination country, it can be difficult to communicate with potential customers or partners. The Road to Success As a migrant entrepreneur, you will face many obstacles on the road to success. But, with hard work and determination, you can overcome these obstacles and achieve your goals. One of the biggest challenges you will face is finding funding for your business. Many banks and investors are reluctant to lend money to immigrant entrepreneurs because they perceive them as high-risk. However, there are a number of organisations that provide loans and other financial assistance to immigrant entrepreneurs. Another option is to raise funds through crowdfunding platforms such as Crowdfunder. You will also need to deal with visa and immigration issues. This can be a complex and time-consuming process, but it is essential to ensure that you have the right to live and work in your chosen country. Another challenge you may face is cultural differences. This can be a barrier to networking and building relationships with potential customers and clients. It is important to research the culture of your target market and adapt your communication style accordingly. Despite the challenges, being a immigrant entrepreneur can be a very rewarding experience. You will have the opportunity to build something from scratch, create jobs, and make a positive impact in your community. With dedication and perseverance, you can achieve success as an expat entrepreneur. End of the Challenge As an immigrant entrepreneur, you may have faced many challenges along the way. But don’t give up! You can overcome these challenges and be successful in your venture. Here are some tips to help you end the challenge: 1. Stay positive and motivated It can be easy to feel defeated when you’re facing difficulties, but it’s important to stay positive and keep going. Remember why you started your business and what your goals are. This will help you push through the tough times. 2. Seek advice and support There’s no need to go through the challenges alone. Seek out advice and support from family, friends, mentors, or other entrepreneurs. They can offer valuable insights and help you find solutions to the problems you’re facing. 3. Be persistent Success seldom comes easy, so it’s important to be persistent in pursuing your goals. Don’t give up when things get tough. If you keep working hard, you will eventually achieve your objectives. If you’re seeking help with setting up your business abroad and require consultancy, check out my services or contact me to find out how I can help! About My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats.I did so by obtaining an endorsement from Newcastle University under the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Scheme (similar to the current Start-Up Visa). Subsequently, I obtained a further 3-year Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa (which was replaced by the Innovator Visa). I grew my business to over 30 UK cities, and a team of four, and also obtained my Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement) in the UK. I now help other migrant entrepreneurs, such as myself, with their businesses, and mainly with obtaining endorsements from the endorsing bodies.
How to Start Your Own Business
Thinking about how to start your own business? Don’t know where to start? The this article’s just right for you I started my own business, an internet start-up called StudyFlats, as a solo immigrant founder at the age of 22 with very little professional experience. Not only did I have to overcome the hardships of starting my own business as a fresh graduate, I also had to deal with a rigid set of immigration rules. (But hey they say whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger) Undoubtedly, starting your own business involves (and demands) a great deal of ambiguity, risk, mistakes and sacrifice. I know this because I’ve gone through this journey One of the most difficult stages is actually getting started. Some questions that you may be asking yourself are: What business should I even start? How much money do I need to get started? How to market it? Should I leave my regular job? 1) Start with a “pain point” So we all know that most businesses are essentially solving a problem or simplifying a process (e.g. UberEast simplifies the process of ordering food online). Think about something that has bothered you personally, particularly if it has done so on multiple occasions or if there’s a pattern of that inconvenience. 2) Alternatively, think about what you’re personally good at Okay let’s say you can’t really think of a pain point. Or you did and you discovered that a solution already exists in the market. Another way to start your own business would be to think about your personal skills, strengths and attributes. For example, you’re a two-time national champion in a sport and are a fitness enthusiast. In this case, a good idea would be to start your own (online) personal training business, or something relevant to that area. This is a really good way to start because it involves the things that you’re passionate about. We’d all love to do what we’re passionate about as a career, yet sadly most of us don’t. 3) Market research Regardless of how you find a business idea (steps 1 and 2 above), the next step is validating your idea with actual numbers and facts. This is the process that’s called market research. Market research is about understanding everything that concerns your customers, their characteristics and defining features in addition to the competitive landscape. Make sure to make use of online tools such as Mintel. There are also plenty of online guides about how to do market research such as this one. 4) Think about the business’ operational structure Now that you’ve discovered the idea, it’s time to think how you will implement and execute it. Depending on whether your business provides goods or services (or both), it’s key to think how you will provide them. Is it online over a website? Is it e-commerce? If yes, which platform to use? And if it’s providing products, some relevant questions would be how to source your products? What about storage? And so on… 5) Choose a business name (AND think about your digital marketing strategy) Okay so in my experience, this was the part that things started to get slightly annoying. As you’re planning to start your own business, things are generally exciting and on the optimistic side. However, choosing a name is, in my opinion, where things start to get tricky. Now, the extent of how difficult choosing a business name is will depend on the nature of your business. However, here are some of the things to keep in mind when choosing a name: As a general rule, keep it to less than 10 letters Your chosen name must be rememberable It cannot infringe any existing rights (i.e. if another company is already using that name) It should be available on social media channels No association with any events,. individuals or content that may harm the company’s reputation The latter and additional factors are even more significant if your business is primarily online-based. Some factors include: The availability of domains (we all know the preference is for the .com extensions though this is slowly changing) Social media user availability Once you choose a name, it’s also important to think about your online presence, with some of the key things to consider being: Creating a Google Business profile Website Social media channels 6) Consider the legal structure of your business Once you’ve taken the previous steps, it’s now time to think about the legal structure of your business. Depending on factors such as your circumstances, number of people. involved and so on, this part is highly dependent on each business. In the UK, there are a number of options such as limited companies, partnerships or self-employment. It’s important to consider all the legal implications of any path you decide to take. Make sure to obtain professional advice from an accountant or a solicitor if necessary. 7) Prepare your business plan It’s important to create a 3-5 year forecast and planning for your business. This is where your business plan comes in. 7) Register your business After deciding the legal structure of your business, it’s time to register it. Once again, make sure that you do so after you gain a thorough of understanding of the implications and details of your chosen structure. Here are some of the key steps to take towards starting your own business. As I mentioned before, starting a business is a demanding journey but if you’re passionate about your venture, it’ll all be worth it. You might also like another article of mine about 5 brutal truths about being a founder. Additionally, If you need help with starting your own business, contact me.