Start a Business

There are some basic questions that you must ask and answer before you take any action of any kind toward starting a business:

Personal questions:

1. Do you have the health and stamina to start and run a business?
2. Do you have the relentless drive needed to start and sustain a business?
3. Do you have a clear vision of what the business is to be?
4. Do you have a passion for this type of business?
5. Do you have thick skin that can handle criticism and setbacks?
6. Do you work well with other people?
7. How well do you handle stress?
8. Do you have a personal plan for your life?

Questions about starting the business

1. What kind of business do I want to establish?
2. Is there a  need/market for such a business?   What proof do I have that this is so?
3. What is your competition? How can you "do it" better than the competition?
4. Do you have the expertise and the skills to establish and run this business?
5. What is the scope of the business? Local? Statewide?
6. What kind of funding do you need to start this business?
        Is this funding available to you now?
        Can you secure the additional funding you     need?
7. Do you have a business plan?
8. Do you have a marketing plan?
9. Do you need to acquire space? If so, how much space and in what type of location?
10. Do you know the regulations that pertain to this type of business?
11. What kind of reporting will you need to do?
12. Do you need/have an attorney? CPA?
13. Do you need a Federal ID (EIN)?
14. How will you structure it? Proprietorship? LLC? Corporation?

Do not DO anything until you have satisfactory answers to these questions?

When you have answered the questions it's time to:

Write a business plan

Write a marketing plan

Prepare a budget

Name your business

Register your business

Open a Bank Account

Build or have someone build your website/blog and do the Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Find the location and secure the space

Purchase/lease the necessary fixtures, equipment, inventory

Determine if you need employees and, if so, how many and what are the qualifications.
     Write job descriptions
     Place ads, conduct interviews/hire