It’s easier to start a business than ever before – and it’s only getting easier. If you have a good idea for a business and enough motivation to try and make it succeed, you can launch a small startup from scratch and (hopefully) grow it into something truly noteworthy.

But why is this entrepreneurial environment so powerful? What are the factors that have led to this thriving renaissance of entrepreneurship?

Why It’s Easier to Start a Business

Let’s take a look at some of the main reasons why it’s easier to start a business today than ever before:

  1.       Free website builders. First, we need to acknowledge the internet and the presence of free website builders. These days, most people learn new information, discover new businesses, and buy things mostly online. If your business wants to succeed, it needs a great website. And there are dozens of free website builders available to help you design and host your website for free (or inexpensively), even if you don’t have any experience. In a matter of minutes, you can be up and running with an impressive-looking site.
  2.       Online guides, resources, and templates. That’s not all the internet has to offer. The internet has also democratized the availability of guides, resources, templates, and other valuable assets for entrepreneurs. For example, with a quick search, you can find templates for business plans, general ledgers, and other important documents. And if your business needs to follow strict rules and regulations, there’s good news – there’s a startup that is disrupting the distribution of standards from European and International organizations, iTeh Inc, which makes it easier than ever to find more than 236,887 standards across 182,647 projects.
  3.       Instant research. Want to know how big an industry is and how it’s going to grow in the future? Do you need to learn more about your target demographics? Are you interested in ballparking rent costs for downtown? The internet can help. With a simple search, you can find almost anything you’re looking for within minutes – and use those answers to build a more competent business.
  4.       Crowdfunding. Struggling to find a venture capitalist or an angel investor to help your business succeed? Barely scraping by with the capital you put in? Not to worry. These days, it’s possible for most types of businesses to crowdfund their way to success. Take on microdonations from thousands, or even millions of people, and use their money to create something you might not have been able to before.
  5.       Online networking. The plethora of thriving social networks available online also makes it easier to network professionally. In mere minutes, you can search for people in your area who work in the same industry – and you can reach out to them with a question, a message, or even an invite for coffee. With enough diligence, you can grow your network of contacts and eventually get in touch with investors, partners, employees, and other important professionals to help your business grow.
  6.       A culture of entrepreneurship. Culturally, we love entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs are typically celebrated as innovators and leaders, even if they don’t find success right away. This encourages people to take the first step and motivates them to try and achieve as much success as possible. On top of that, it often gives them access to a thriving community of like-minded entrepreneurs – and consumers willing to help small businesses succeed.
  7.       The nature of modern businesses. It’s also worth noting that “modern” businesses tend to be leaner, more agile, and easier to start than their ancestors. Instead of buying a major piece of business real estate and investing in millions of dollars of equipment, you can hypothetically code a new app or start a new website by yourself, at home. Startup costs are far lower than they’ve ever been before.

The Benefits of Easier Entrepreneurship

The benefits of easier entrepreneurship aren’t just for entrepreneurs, either. Small businesses and new businesses are disproportionately responsible for job creation, and therefore, economic growth. Rising rates of entrepreneurship in a given area can help everyone in that area do better economically.

Where Does It Go From Here?

No one can predict the future. But it certainly seems likely that entrepreneurship is going to get even easier and more accessible in the near and distant future. As a society, we’re constantly moving toward more accessibility, cheaper resources, and new ways of connecting with each other – and our cultural favoritism toward entrepreneurship doesn’t seem to be dying anytime soon.

If you’re ready to start a business, you’ll be able to slide into the entrepreneurial world with ease. And if you’re not ready yet, give it a few years – it might be even easier.