Startup Basics

From the Small Business Administration

First Steps

Starting and managing a business takes motivation and talent.

It also takes research and planning. Although initial mistakes are not always fatal, it takes extra skill, discipline, and hard work to regain the advantage. Take time beforehand to explore and evaluate your business and personal goals, then use this information to build a comprehensive and thoughtful business plan that will help you reach these goals.

Developing a business plan will force you to think through some important issues that you may not otherwise consider. Your plan will become a valuable tool as you set out to raise money for your business, and it will provide milestones to gauge your success.

Getting Started

1: List your reasons for wanting to go into business. Some of the most common reasons for starting a business are: