How to Run a Remote Startup

For traditional founders and team leaders the idea of starting an entirely remote company is partnered with fear and anxiety. But as the world moves towards a more virtual market, many entrepreneurs are embracing this trend and using it to their advantage.

The good news is that regardless of if you do or do not have an innate desire to build and run your startup remotely, there are resources available to coach you through the process.

Embrace Visibility

One great element of a remote business environment is that with the elimination of in-person workspaces, team members are moving their tasks to cloud-based systems that allow for maximum visibility. The ability to collaborate in real time is another added perk of this level of technology. As a business owner finding ways to maintain connectivity within your staff is your challenge to conquer. As you conduct your research consider industries in which the bulk of their operations have been remote from the start to help highlight for you operational processes that are also applicable to your company vision.

The logistics industry has long relied on technology to assist with visibility in remote scenarios. With much of this business model including literal moving parts ignoring the need for tech solutions is simply not an option. The simple addition of dash cams for semi’s can drastically change and improve overall fleet management operations. Consider this example when identifying each remote branch of your company and their need to work in unison.

Be Forward Thinking

If you are still in the business plan development stage this is a great opportunity to look to businesses and industries that have had to quickly change to remote models and benefit from their trial-and-error efforts. Learning from the efforts of others can propel your thinking past theirs and help you to identify what is up and coming and act in a manner that makes your business a part of it. Part of entrepreneurial success means identifying a market need or trend before it explodes and finding ways to ensure that your business is a leader in the market.

Identify and Recruit Talent

One major bonus of a virtual workplace is that you are not limited by logistics in your efforts to recruit and build your staff. This gives you a chance to cast a net that is far and wide and consider applicants based solely off their resumes and potential contributions to your company. Virtual recruiting can also help with time management because initial screenings can be automated whereas traditionally these efforts would require manpower. Since this practice how now become commonplace there is an abundance of information available regarding tips for conducting and participating in virtual interviews successfully.

Once you have assembled your team do not discount the need to find ways to replicate in-person experiences, remotely. Motivation is mission critical and without systems in place to create a successful team bond from floating heads on a video call, your team can grow bored, or even worse, unproductive. When your employees feel like they are working in a silo they will question if what they are doing really matters and that lack of drive can sink a startup before it even has a chance to set sail.