Starting up
your own business can be exciting and yet scary ! The online
world can make it easier for you, and yet you need to be
careful as it can also scam you! Do you want to open a
new business today ? NO NO NO NO NO NO NO !!
You want to to do the following FIRST !!!
1. Write down ALL your reasons for wanting to open a
business. Doing this will help you remember why you
wanted to do this when times get rough :)
2, Write down ALL the business you would consider running.
This way you can get all the needed information as you take
the below steps on everything at once instead of going back
and forth on each idea.
3. Find yourself a support partner. Maybe your spouse, a
family member or a friend. Just find someone who will
believe in you, and allow you the time and support you need
to bounce ideas off them, and vent when need be.
4. If your business is online. Go online and check out your
competitors, and see how they are doing. Ask yourself can
you compete with them? How can you make your service better
then theirs?
( OOPS ! I almost forgot to tell you : Write down everything
on paper ( that way it's with you when you need it ). It
won't take long. Trust me you can forget half or more
of what you have already researched.
5. If your business is not to be online, then check out your
competitors in your area. Also check out the want/need for
this type of business. example : you live in a small town of
say 700 people, and there are 5 day cares, 3 cleaning
businesses and 2 tax offices, then you probably shouldn't do
those type of businesses in your area. UNLESS you believe
you can GREATLY improve on those businesses !
I will tell you my secret here: I use to call my competitors
and have them give me information thinking I was a customer.
Sneaky.... well probably... :)
6. Go to your search engines and type in needed information.
ASKJEEVES.com is a great tool for this. You actually go
there and type in your questions. Not just the subject as
with most search engines
7. Visit your local court house and get the needed
information on permits, licenses etc etc.
8. Visit your local IRS office ( yes you have to do this )
Come on, they really don't bite! Mine have been very helpful
to me. Tell them what types of business you are thinking
about and that you need to know what to do next if you would
open this. Just keep really GOOD records or they may not be
so helpful the next time you see them :)
9. Make a list of NEEDED supplies/equipment to get this
business STARTED. Figure out the costs.
10. Ok now your almost there. Get a cup of coffee and all
your papers. Don't forget your support partner. Go over
everything you have collected.
11. Ask yourself these questions :
a. will any of these ideas fit into my family life?
b. do I think any of these ideas will work?
c. can I afford to do this?
d . why/how to reasons A. B. C. ( write this down as your
talking )
12. Ok you now have a match right ? Your ready to go !!!
Oh you can't afford it after all..... so your done right ?
NO NO NO NO NO !
Ask yourself these questions next.
1. how bad do you want to do this? REALLY BAD???? Ok now
then ask yourself theses questions.
a. can you get a part time job to support the cost of the
business at first?
b. can you open a different business for right now to pay
for the one you really want? Ok your already working long
hours and can't take a another job on.... now ask yourself
this.
Can you redo your game plan and start out smaller at first?
YES YOU CAN !!!!! IN ANY BUSINESSES THIS CAN ALWAYS BE DONE
TO A CERTAIN DEGREE ! You don't have to have everything
other companies have when you first start out. This may make
your job rougher but if you really want it..Go for it !!!!
Resource box: Beth LK is a freelance writer on many
different topic areas. Home Businesses, Work At Home and
Women's Issues are her three priorities. Her web sites are:
http://www.aworkathomecommunity.com &
http://www.awomanscommunity.com |
