2 Simple Steps Before Starting Your Business

There is so much small business information available today that it's easy to be bogged down by the sheer volume of it all. Where does one start? Well, it's safe to say not all the information you'll receive will be of equal value. So it's important to be discerning when you're thinking about applying any suggestions to your new business. In many cases, you'll find some suggestions don't match your business type, management style, budget, or industry. This could lead to wasted dollars spent and time lost. So learning how to research and compile information will be key in developing a plan that is tailored to fit your business needs.

What I suggest is a methodical and basic approach to starting your business. No matter what the industry, in most cases, these two initial steps will always be the same.

  • Take a crash course in small business. There is no better place to start then http://sba.gov. Not only will you find dozens of free tutorials on business planning and managing but you will also find important information regarding legalizing your business in respect to your location and your industry. In addition, you will find links to other leading small business sites and resources. Visit the site and remember to bookmark this page. Try to develop a schedule and visit the site on a regular basis to familiarize yourself with small business ownership and all its related issues, regulations, requirements, and rewards.
  • Network with other small business owners. Join community websites specifically geared towards small business owners so you can find solutions to common problems such as time management and financing. It's also the best way to build a support system while you are planning to launch your business. Some entrepreneurs give up because they feel they are going at it alone! But there are so many other people out there going through the same challenges and are more than happy to assist you.

    • Don't let your confusion or the amount of information available overwhelm you into paralysis. Once you've gained knowledge on how to become a successful entrepreneur don't stop there. Each day try to work more and more towards formalizing your plans. And don't be afraid to ask for help. Remember, you've got a lot of work ahead of you but these first two steps will ensure you don't head into entrepreneurship ill-prepared.

    Copyright © 2005 Rhonda Winn - All Rights Reserved. Rhonda Winn has been helping small business owners since 2000. She is the author of the popular eBook, "How to Live Your Dreams and Achieve Unlimited Wealth in Small Business" Receive the first chapter free, when you join her bi-monthly newsletter today: SmallBizStartupKit.com.

    You are free to publish this article as long as the content remains unchanged and copyright notice and byline is not removed from article.

    In The News:

    pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    I Always Play by the Rules and It Stinks!

    This week I coached a wonderfully lovely woman I'll call... Read More

    Documenting the Exit Strategy in Your Business Plan

    All investors greatly desire and are motivated by a clear... Read More

    The Chasm of Change---- Restructuring ----- The Goliath

    Richard L. Daft one of the country's recognized academic leadership... Read More

    Vision Getting Dim?

    A recent conversation started with a typical question, "How's business?"... Read More

    Buying Used Detailing Equipment and Rainy Day Services

    Mobile auto detailing equipment becomes very inexpensive around March each... Read More

    The Six Sigma Method and Design of Experiments

    Six Sigma is becoming a proven approach for businesses and... Read More

    Be Like Bill - Think!

    Twice a year, Bill Gates goes to a remote island... Read More

    What Every Service Provider Ought To Know About Writing A Business Plan

    It's easy to lose sight of what needs to be... Read More

    Vendor Relations Strategies Sample Outline

    One of the quintessential parts to any business is your... Read More

    Benefiting from Strategic Thinking

    I recently took an organizational behavior class where my professor... Read More

    Alice In Wonderland - A Parable for A Business Plan

    Remember reading "Alice in Wonderland?"She asks the Cheshire Cat, "which... Read More

    Why Six Sigma Will Work in Healthcare

    If ever there were an industry where we want zero... Read More

    Planning for Success

    Business planning is widely acknowledged as one of the keys... Read More

    College Students and Graduates to Run Company Outlets or Franchises

    Does your overall business strategy include the recruitment of college... Read More

    2 Simple Steps Before Starting Your Business

    There is so much small business information available today that... Read More

    Business Plans Keep You On The Success Course

    Where would your business be without a proper plan? A... Read More

    A Rough Cut on Feasibility

    A piano tuner recently moved to Buffalo, NY, and would... Read More

    How to Develop a Successful Board of Advisors (...and Why You Should!)

    In today's rapidly changing and highly competitive markets, many privately... Read More

    5 Strategies That Will Boost Your Business Productivity Today! - Part 2

    Growing your own small business can be one of the... Read More

    Business Plan Descriptions of Computer System

    Entrepreneurs often give little if any consideration to their computer... Read More

    Getting Started with Succession Planning: Part I

    GETTING STARTED WITH SUCCESSION PLANNING: PART IA survey of 4,300... Read More

    Consolidation in the Software Industry is Hardly New: Obsess About It or Risk Losing it All

    Some analysts credit [Larry] Ellison with anticipating the consolidation in... Read More

    Thinking Like A Farmer

    One of the difficulties we face in our industrialized age... Read More

    Executive Summary for Business Plans of Franchisees

    Writing a business plan for a franchised outlet of a... Read More

    The Best Entity to Hold Real Estate

    Possibly THE most frequently asked question of me is "What... Read More

    How to Grow Your Business by Clearing the Way to Growth

    Is your business growing as fast and effectively as it... Read More

    Laying It Out On Paper

    You might be thinking to yourself, "Why should I waste... Read More

    Resilience

    I. INTRODUCTIONThe term resilience, which is of frequent use in... Read More

    Designing an Efficient Distribution System

    Let us look at a few of the big distribution... Read More

    Breaking the Growth Barriers in the Information Technology and Software Sector

    There's nothing automatic about corporate growth, particularly in the information... Read More

    Why Create an Annual Plan?

    Can you imagine going on a road trip without knowing... Read More

    Corporate Contingency Planning

    Part 1A few weeks ago I attended a seminar sponsored... Read More

    6 Changes You Can Make to Increase Business Profits

    I read once that something like 30 percent of all... Read More