Startups have become quite popular in the last few years as a booming different type of business, and the Middle East is not the exception. Many business people are setting up a startup in Saudi Arabia, which is one of the most developed states in the Middle East. In the same way, starting a company in this region resembles many ways in Western countries.
In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about creating a startup in Saudi Arabia. You can see an array of industries in startups such as research and development, and fintech. These are innovative industries, which is one of the most important characteristics of a startup. Let us see:
- What is a startup?
- What are some of the advantages of startups in Saudi Arabia?
- How can you set up your startup in Saudi Arabia from scratch?
- How can Company Formation Saudi help you get more information about setting up a startup in Saudi Arabia?
1. What is a Startup?
A startup is a newly created company that markets products and/or services through the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). Additionally, it has a scalable business model, which allows rapid and sustained growth over time.
This technological component allows scaling their business quickly and agilely and with a lower capital requirement than traditional companies.
1.1 Startups Vision
In other words, they are young businesses founded to develop unique products or services and make them irreplaceable for customers. Startups aim to remedy deficiencies of existing products or create entirely new categories of goods and services. This way, disrupting entrenched ways of thinking and doing business for entire industries. Therefore, many startups are known within their respective industries as disruptors.
Startup founders want to give society something it needs but has not created yet. In this manner, they can generate astonishing valuations that lead to an initial public offering and return on investment.
1.2 Characteristics of Startups
- They generally develop innovative business models.
- It operates with minimal costs, lower than traditional companies do.
- Startups get financing mainly through private investors.
- They do not need large capital investments for their development. However, the intensive use of technology allows them to generate economies of scale that translate into a substantial income.
- The internet is the main tool to make itself known in the market. They invest significant economic resources in hiring trained professionals to implement successful online marketing strategies.
- They put a lot of emphasis on the customer service department area.
- The workers of a startup in Saudi Arabia must be highly qualified.
- They are always in constant evolution.
2. What are some of the advantages of startups in Saudi Arabia?
As you can imagine, a startup company in Saudi Arabia accounts for many benefits for investors. Hence, let us see some of the main benefits of startups:
2.1 Expansion
Emerging companies have many possibilities for expansion compared to other types of companies due to the intense use of ICT. Thus, these allow them to reduce operating costs and reach a larger audience, making a lower investment.
2.2 Profits in a short time
The fact of being able to make profits in a short time encourages private investors. It characterizes the figure of business angels, making large contributions of capital and personnel to support the growth of the company. In many cases, they even offer ideas and play an important role as a mentor to promote such development.
Additionally, you can find startup incubators that help entrepreneurs in their creation phase. Likewise, startup accelerators help these companies, once created, to grow faster.
2.3 Location
Some startups carry out their activity even without the need to have a physical space since each worker can work remotely. In many cases, they also do not require much staff. On the other hand, this type of company encourages teamwork and creativity, to develop innovative ideas.
2.4 Participation
Its flat organizational chart allows for easy decision-making and direct communication between employees. This way, they are leading to greater participation and meaningful brainstorming.
2.5 Innovation
The implementation of new business and communication models manages to satisfy the expectations of users or clients. This is because they allow them to express their ideas and comments about the products or services received. The result, in many cases, is an increase in quality and efficiency.
2.6 Sense of Belonging
Working in a startup provides a sense of belonging that is difficult to generate in traditional companies. In some cases, the same worker contributes with many expansion ideas, thus, generating valuable experience and continuous learning.
Generally, the members of a start-up company are young, although there are also people with more experience regardless of their age.
2.7 No hierarchy
Non-hierarchical companies have many opportunities for professional and personal progress. As a result, they usually have tax advantages, depending on the country where they create the company.
3. How can you set up your startup in Saudi Arabia from scratch?
The entrepreneurship model via startup is one of the best known and most demanded. Many of them manage to survive and even be sold, it is also true that around 50% fail and disappear. The success of a startup is based on prior planning and strategy. Let us see some tips to create a startup from scratch and avoid failures that can cause complex consequences for its continuity.
Next, we will see what are the steps to create a startup from scratch as well as some tips to minimize the appearance of the most common mistakes that can lead to its extinction.
3.1 Define the business idea
Without a good idea, it is quite difficult to create a startup or any type of business. Consequently, defining the business idea is the first step towards success, as well as one of the most difficult tasks to develop.
Converting an idea into a business concept requires thinking about issues such as the sales channel of the product or service and who will buy it, the benefits of the product or service, etc.
Therefore, as an entrepreneur, you must have to answer several questions, including the following:
- What is the product or service?
- How is it different from other products?
- Who will buy the product or service?
- Who are the competitors?
The entrepreneur must be able to describe accurately the essence of the business. This way, they have maximum security to continue with the next steps of creating the startup and not die trying.
3.2 Conduct a market study
We have the idea but alone it will not develop or grow since there are other procedures once the business model has been identified and defined with its characteristics. As a result, there is no other option but to carry out a market study.
One of the most crucial factors for a good business plan is the pertinent market study. Therefore, a market analysis is a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the same. Consequently, they analyze the size of the market in both volume and value, the different customer segments and purchasing patterns, the competition, and other influential actors in it.
At the end of a deep market study, you will know what you have and what you are facing. In this manner, you can recognize your values, and strengths and be clear about your objective.
3.3 Define the value proposition
Another great concept that arises in the process of creating a startup is the so-called value proposition. However, what is a value proposition? In simple words, we can say it is that differentiating element that will make you better than the competition in the same sector.
From the point of view of the consumer, it is what makes them decide to choose one product over another.
Within the idea definition phase, you must underline very well the value proposition. To identify this factor of the market, you must take into account the competition and the business idea. Indeed, the value proposition marks the business strategy of a startup in any country.
3.4 Define your customer segment
The audience or the target public, in short, to whom we are going to offer our product must be correct, otherwise, no business strategy will work. One of the big problems that many companies suffer is not related to their product or service, but the choice of their buyer persona.
Buyer personas are representations of your ideal customers. They help you define who is this audience that we want to attract and convert, and above all, it helps us to humanize and understand this target audience in greater detail.
It is crucial not to go too far only with a business plan and the type of audience we want to reach. Indeed, each product has its customer segment or segments, and recognizing them requires careful market research.
With new technologies, consumer analysis has become much more comprehensive, facilitating interaction with them and obtaining more information about them.
3.5 Build your brand
Now, we want to discuss a subject as important as the brand. A startup, as a small business, should compete in a difficult market. Indeed, they compete with big brands and not-so-big ones, but ultimately the fight is between the brands.
The brand shows the identity of the company at its best; the more complete it is the more notoriety it will have. Let us not forget that a brand is defined by a consumer’s or customers’ general perception of your business.
The process of creating a brand requires study and reflection, as well as a policy of continuous work and visibility over time.
3.6 Form an optimal team
Being lucky to surround yourself with the right people, contributes to the growth and improvement of the company. The same thing happens in the context of startups. The management of a company requires in many aspects great dedication and knowledge. In this manner, they can provide effective solutions in real-time and anticipate possible problems.
People with confidence, a desire to work, and faithful in business ideas are necessary. In this way, they can create a solid, united group with a future. Also, finding a great supplier that can provide payroll for your workers and other legal services is very important.
3.7 Develop your Minimum Viable Product
It is simply final service product to offer to future customers. Hence, it is a concept related to new companies. To achieve it, it must follow certain protocols to achieve said Minimum Viable Product with the best guarantees.
They usually catalog it as the first work project of a startup. From this Minimum Viable Product, they can estimate its costs, time, and suitability for the target audience.
3.8 Validate the business model
One of the fundamental steps before launching a business model is to carry out a correct validation of the hypotheses. Indeed, if you do not do so, you run the risk of building our business on false ideas and perceptions.
The objective is to design different experiments and tests to validate the best acquisition channels for the business model. This way, it will possibly lead you to have to propose new changes or options in the model.
4. How can Company Formation Saudi help you get more information about setting up a startup in Saudi Arabia?
In case you are considering setting up a startup, consider Company Formation Saudi for it. Indeed, we have years of experience advising companies in this type of service, accrediting us as the leading company in the market. Therefore, do not hesitate to contact us to create the perfect startup in Saudi Arabia.
In Company Formation Saudi, we have proper services and professionals, which will help you thrive in the Middle East market:
Are you interested in hiring our service for your startup in Saudi Arabia? You can call us at our phone number if you need help +971 43 316 688. On the other hand, you can contact us via email at the following address: contact@companyformationsaudi.com.