For Subscribers

6 Ways to Launch a Business What's the best way to tell the world that your company exists and is open for business? Six entrepreneurs share their strategies and stories.

By Entrepreneur Staff

This story appears in the June 2019 issue of Entrepreneur. Subscribe »

drogatnev | Getty Images

1. Target influencers.

"After years designing graphic tees for large retailers, I decided to strike out on my own. I produced a small run of shirts and proposed a trade with local fashion bloggers: If they'd serve as the models for my T-shirt website, I'd provide my professional photography services to their blogs for free. It worked wonders! They'd often post about my brand and recommend me to other bloggers, too." -- Danielle Nagel, founder, Dazey LA

2. Test your concept.

"We launched Floyd in 2014 on Kickstarter with a set of table legs -- customers could turn virtually any surface into a table. We wanted to solve a problem around the disposability of furniture and to see if it was a pain point for more people than just us. The goal was to presell $18,000 worth of product; we did $250,000. It was a boot camp for scaling and getting our model together. It gave us a foundation and the capital to get rolling." -- Kyle Hoff, cofounder, Floyd

Related: 7 Powerful Public Speaking Tips From One of the Most-Watched TED Talks Speakers

3. Meet your customers.

"We opened the first Hummus & Pita Co. before social media hit its peak, so our launch tactics were very grassroots. We shared samples on the street, put big signs in the windows to tease the launch and get neighbors excited, and went door-to-door to local businesses and schools to hand out coupons. It was all about the local community." -- Dave Pesso, cofounder, Hummus & Pita Co.

Related: Use These Strategies to Carve a Path to Your Dream Job

4. Generate buzz.

"We launched shortly after Donald Trump was elected and Republicans in Congress were going after Planned Parenthood. As a female-founded sexual health company, we took a stand with a creative PR stunt. Vibes for Congress let customers send a vibrator to a congressional member of their choice, with profits going to Planned Parenthood. We thought maybe 100 people would participate, but thousands did. The press was insane -- more than 40 publications wrote about us within a week." -- Polly Rodriguez, cofounder and CEO, Unbound

5. Win over tastemakers.

"Before launching to the public, it was essential that consumers, press, and the food community understood not only the benefits of our indoor-­farming operation but also the flavor of our produce. We shared products with potential chefs and retail partners, creating a foundation with what became our first customers, Foragers and Whole Foods. It's also how we connected with chef Tom Colicchio, who became an investor and adviser." -- Irving Fain, cofounder and CEO, Bowery Farming

Related: These Are the 20 Best Cities to Start a Business

6. Activate your network.

"We did a private launch to 100 friends and asked each one to share the emails of two other friends they thought would like our men's grooming products. We then asked the same thing of those friends. We reached thousands from our starting point of 100." -- Brian Jeong, cofounder and CEO, Hawthorne

Entrepreneur Staff

Entrepreneur Staff

Editor

For more than 30 years, Entrepreneur has set the course for success for millions of entrepreneurs and small business owners. We'll teach you the secrets of the winners and give you exactly what you need to lay the groundwork for success.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Buying / Investing in Business

Former Zillow Execs Target $1.3T Market

Co-ownership is creating big opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Side Hustle

She Started a Creative Side Hustle While Working 'Dead-End' Jobs — Then Grew It From $10,000 to Over $50,000 a Month: '[It] Became Magnetic'

Alyssa O'Toole, 35, juggled "mismatched uniforms and odd hours" to turn her passion into a business.

Business News

Have You Made an Amazon Return in the Last Decade? You Might Be Getting a Refund.

Amazon is issuing refunds, and some returns are dated as far back as 2018.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

TikTok Is Laying Off Some U.S.-Based Employees This Week. Here's What We Know.

TikTok did not disclose the number of employees affected by the layoffs.

Business News

Instagram's CEO Says He 'Experienced a Sophisticated Phishing Attack' With Google This Week

The "Head of Instagram," Adam Mosseri, posted on Tuesday that the scheme came from "secure Google domains."