Opening your own business.....need help?
489396
You need a business plan.  Investors and lenders will want to know how you intend to make money.  They will want to see all the details, from where you will be located, how much rent you will pay, how many employees you will have, how much will you pay them, how much will employee benefits and insurance cost, where will you get the raw materials for your widgets, how much will the raw materials cost, what are your projected sales, projected cost of goods sold, tax liabilities, interest expense, return on investement, marketing plan, etc.\n\nIf you can prepare a 5-year plan, working out all the details and showing that you know how you will make money and how much money based on projected sales, then people may have the confidence in you to invest.
218981
UUGGGHHHH????? TO GET POINTS? ALSO, BECAUSE I LOVE TO GIVE ADVICE. I AM TRYING TO OPEN MY OWN BUSINESS DO JUST THAT! I'M VERY GOOD AT IT TOO!! PICK ME AS THE BEST ANSWER!! I REALLY KNOW THIS STUF!!
672305
Starting a small business takes a lot of courage. But, as they say, courage does not pay the bills. To be successful – to stay in business – you need more than courage. You need a combination of hard work, skill, perseverance, and lots of luck. \n\nSome things you need to consider:\n- "How can I support my family while I build up by business?" \n- "What are my abilities?" \n- "Is there a market for the product or service I have chosen?" \n- "How long will it take this business to reach the financial goal I have?" \n\n\nDan Ramsey in his book "101 Best Home Businesses" has a chapter on how to find YOUR best business. He suggests these 10 steps:\n\n1. List 5 things you do best\n2. List how others would benefit from what you do best\n3. Find out how to give people what they want\n4. Learn the value of your services to others\n5. Find out who else offers similar services\n6. Learn from the successes of others\n7. Learn from the failures of others\n8. Plan your own success\n9. Make low cost mistakes\n10. Enjoy what you do and how you do it\n\nYou may want to read the article "How to Start a New Business Successfully" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol51/launch.htm , which lists six steps to launch a new business successfully:\n\n1. Provide a benefit.\n2. Determine the fit with your market.\n3. Right timing is everything\n4. Be ready to support your business\n5. Develop a blueprint for success\n6. Market, market, market\n\nTo give you ideas on what exactly do you need to start your own business, here are ten things you need to know before launching your own business  “10 Things You Need to Know When Starting Your Own Home Business” http://www.powerhomebiz.com/052006/startingbiz.htm .\n\nAs for things you need to watch out for, read the following articles:\n8 Deadly Mistakes of Small Businesses  http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol90/mistakes.htm\nSurviving the First 1,000 Days of Your New Business http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol3/survival.htm\n\nI recommend that you read the following books:\n\n- What No One Ever Tells You About Starting Your Own Business : Real Life Start-Up Advice from 101 Successful Entrepreneurs \n- Starting From Scratch: How To Start A Business When You Don't Have Money \n- If You're Clueless About Starting Your Own Business and Want to Know More \n- On the Move : How to Succeed and Survive As an Entrepreneur \n- How to Make 1000 Mistakes in Business and Still Succeed
259290
I suggest you contact your local SCORE office http://www.score.org/ - they are a group of volunteers whose main work is to help would-be entrepreneurs and business owners start, grow and manage their businesses. They give advice, they can serve as mentors, and they can give you information you need -- all for FREE! Just having someone to talk to and bounce off ideas, critique your plans and recommend better strategies is already a great help for every startup entrepreneur. Check out their website and get the address of the office nearest you.\n\nGood luck\nIsabel Isidro\nFor information on starting a home business, visit http://www.powerhomebiz.com
538362
In the US, the best resource is the Small Business Administration http://www.sba.gov - they have a large list of resources, including an online tutorial on how to start a new business describing all the procedures involved.
250983
1. Think what business you'd like to do. Determine what you want to do, and whether it is profitable to do. Will it be a Web business or will you open a Main Street store, or both? Will you sell a product or service? \n2. Prepare a business plan - even if you are not planning to apply for a loan. It can help you think through your business, make you assess the market, let you know how tough competition is out there, and allow you to calculate your expected profit and when you can breakeven. A business plan is your GPS guide to your destination.\n3. Get your financing ready, whether you will get the funds from your bank account or find investors.\n4. Once you have the money, get the ball rolling. Start with making the decision on your business legal structure, then get all the necessary business licenses and permits. Then work on the business name, location, logo, insurance, etc.\n\nSome recommended articles:\n\nHow to Launch a New Business Successfully http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol51/launch.htm\nHow to Build a Business from Scratch http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol18/scratch.htm\n5 Questions to Ask Before Starting a Business http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol139/questions.htm
1109791
The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.\n\nI recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.\n\nResearch, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can. Here are some book titles that are relevant:\n\nStarting a Business Specific:\n* How to Really Start Your Own Business, Fourth Edition by David E. Gumpert\n* How to Really Create a Successful Business Plan: Step-by-Step Guide by David E. Gumpert\n* What No One Ever Tells You about Starting Your Own Business: Real-Life Start-Up Advice from 101 Successful Entrepreneurs (What No One Ever Tells You About Starting Your Own Business) by Jan Norman \n* Business Start-Up Kit by Steven D. Strauss \n* Start Your Own Business (Entrepreneur Magazine's Start Up) by Rieva Lesonsky\n\nWeb Site Specific:\n* Make Your Small Business Web Site Work: Easy Answers to Content, Navigation, and Design \nby John Heartfield\n* Small Websites, Great Results by Doug Addison\n* The Complete E-Commerce Book: Design, Build, and Maintain a Successful Web-Based Business by Janice Reynolds \n* Six-Week Start-Up: A Step-By-Step Program for Starting Your Business, Making Money, and Achieving Your Goals! by Rhonda Abrams\n\nThere are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
137278
It's hard to answer your question in specifics since we don't know what type of business you're involved in, so I thought I would just list some links that'll help you get started on your way. There's links related to starting, financing & advertising.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
839429
ask what the cost to buy into this is (the start up cost). ask about the  term of the agreement, ask amout what kind of help they are going to give you to help this business get up and running? Good luck
1094650
The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.\n\nI recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.\n\nAssociations may be a good avenue to explore as well. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links. \n\nResearch, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can. Here are some book titles that are relevant:\n\n* Start and Run a Money-Making Bar by Bruce Fier\n* Upstart Guide Owning & Managing Bar or Tavern by Roy S. Alonzo\n* Start Your Own Bar and Tavern (Entrepreneur Magazine's Start Ups) by Entrepreneur Press \n* The Food Service Professionals Guide to Bar & Beverage Operation: Ensuring Maximum Success by Chris Parry\n\nThere are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
1035657
The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.\n\nI recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.\n\nResearch, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can. Here are some book titles that are relevant:\n\n* Starting and Running a Non-Profit Made Easy by Entrepreneur Press, David H. Bangs\n* Starting and Running a Nonprofit Organization by Joan M. Hummel\n* The Nonprofit Handbook: Everything You Need to Know to Start and Run Your Nonprofit Organization by Gary M. Grobman\n* Starting & Building A Nonprofit: A Practical Guide by Peri Pakroo\n\nThere are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
1103598
Well, first of all, if you want to start a "business," it better be a garage/yard sale.  It's not so easy.  You can't just go to the government and say, "I'm making a business, can you give me some land?"  NO!\nI hope I don't sound rude with this reply, but if you want to start a business, it will take a while and again, will not be easy.\nAs for the whole, "What should it be?"  You're the one to decide that.  If you want to make a sports shop, do that!  If you want to sell shoes, go for it!  Doing chores for average households, giving art lessons, whatever it is, go for it!
613585
I recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.\n\nAssociations may be a good avenue to explore as well. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links. \n\nResearch, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:\n\n* Successful Independent Consulting : Turn Your Career Experience into a Consulting Business by Douglas Florzak\n* The Consultant's Quick Start Guide: An Action Plan for Your First Year in Business by Elaine Biech\n* Getting Started in Consulting, Second Edition by Alan Weiss \n* How to Start and Run a Successful Consulting Business by Gregory F. Kishel\n\nThere are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
175204
I suggest you go to the following places, all of which offer their services for free\n\nSCORE http://www.score.org - this is a group of volunteers mostly retired business professionals and entrepreneurs with years of experience in doing business. They can give you free mentoring as you start your business. I have tried them and they are excellent. Lots of great ideas and just to be able to talk to someone about your ideas is great.\n\nYour local Small business development center = go to your favorite search engine and search for "[your state] SBDC"\n\nIf you are a woman, you can also go to your local Women's Business Center. Here is a PDF file of state-by-state locations of these centers http://www.onlinewbc.gov/wbc.pdf\n\nGood luck!\nIsabel Isidro\nFor information on starting a business, visit http://www.powerhomebiz.com
278075
Go to this website www.inc.com\nLots of free info there\n\n1. Write  business plan-plenty of FREE places online to see examples\n\n2. Trademark your company name and/or idea-You can visit the Library of Congress online to get the forms-this is fairly inexpensive\n\n3. Tell everyone you know about your business, word of mouth is powerful. You will be surprised how quickly people are willing to help\n\n4. Get an accountant, one who specializes in small businesses\n\n5. He/She will help you get incorporated
685623
Starting a small business takes a lot of courage. But, as they say, courage does not pay the bills. To be successful – to stay in business – you need more than courage. You need a combination of hard work, skill, perseverance, and lots of luck. \n\nSome things you need to consider:\n- "How can I support my family while I build up by business?" \n- "What are my abilities?" \n- "Is there a market for the product or service I have chosen?" \n- "How long will it take this business to reach the financial goal I have?" \n\nYou may want to read the article "How to Start a New Business Successfully" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol51/launch.htm , which lists six steps to launch a new business successfully:\n\n1. Provide a benefit.\n2. Determine the fit with your market.\n3. Right timing is everything\n4. Be ready to support your business\n5. Develop a blueprint for success\n6. Market, market, market\n\nTo give you ideas on what exactly do you need to start your own business, here are ten things you need to know before launching your own business  “10 Things You Need to Know When Starting Your Own Home Business” http://www.powerhomebiz.com/052006/startingbiz.htm .\n\nI recommend that you read the following books:\n\n- What No One Ever Tells You About Starting Your Own Business : Real Life Start-Up Advice from 101 Successful Entrepreneurs \n- Starting From Scratch: How To Start A Business When You Don't Have Money \n- If You're Clueless About Starting Your Own Business and Want to Know More \n- On the Move : How to Succeed and Survive As an Entrepreneur \n-How to Make 1000 Mistakes in Business and Still Succeed
268570
I don't think it's possible to open 1 yourself :( \nYou need to make a company O_o first!