Yes, really. Starting a business with just a smartphone may sound daunting and a little crazy, but it's still very possible. Already thinking about a product or service you’d like to launch? That’s a great place to start!

Think about what excites you to make every day special. What are your hobbies and interests? Do you have the kind of skills that can plug a gap you’ve identified in the market? Does your social media content attract attention and all the likes from your followers? Your talent, skills and passion is what can set you apart from everyone else and help you make money at the same time. 

Yes, you’ve guessed it - on your phone! Once you've landed on the product or service you’d like to pursue, it's time to do some research. Use your smartphone to do market research, identify your competition, and assess the demand for your offering. What other tools besides your smartphone would you need? Find inspiration on social media and others who’ve walked the path before you to measure interest and identify potential customers. Create folders on your phone to save your research and notes.

Once you’ve validated your business idea, it’s time to go social. Create social media that are catchy and memorable. Use free tools such as Canva to design a look and feel for your business. Make sure your bios are engaging and informative. Consider setting up a business line on your phone, preferably separate from your personal one. This is easier when your phone has a dual SIM port. Create and share engaging content that showcases your niche. Make sure everything you do creates a compelling brand experience. 

If your business is product-based, look into joining a smartphone-friendly platform such as Takealot and Amazon. Here, you can set up and manage your online store entirely from your smartphone. Check with your bank and take advantage of secure smartphone-friendly payment methods. Boost your sales by adding your business listing to Yep! Telkom’s digital marketplace that can help you reach even more customers.

Use productivity apps like Trello and Buffer to stay organised, communicate with team members, and manage tasks and projects. Need help keeping track of your business expenses? Expensify facilitates expense recording through real-time receipt capturing, credit card reports, and mileage tracking.

So, you’ve been running your business for a while and want to find out what people think about it. Surveys and social media polls are a great way to see what the market sentiment is, what you’re doing well and how you can improve. Use this feedback to adapt, regroup and watch your business grow.