Feel like you want to start a business? Have a hobby that you want to turn into a money maker? Well, go for it! But be prepared for a whole lot of hard work, long hours, and small paychecks. It is by no means easy to start a business. It is going to take a good, well thought out plan for you to build your business into an identifiable, successful identity. Here is a step by step plan to get you started:

1. Name Yourself
Obviously, you should already have an idea of what your business is going to do, or sell, or what service it is going to provide. Come up with a name that explains that and appeals to your target market. Then, go to your county courthouse and register your name.

2. Find Yourself
Figure out from where you will be doing business. Working from home? Great….but make sure you have a separate phone line. Renting an office? Make sure you know the address and phone number, and make sure you have a fax line – even if you don’t think you’ll need it. You will.

3. Tell Uncle Sam
You are going to want to get an EIN (Employer Identification Number) right away. It is not required unless you have employees, but it is a good idea to go ahead and get it before you have to.

4. Open an Account
Never, ever let your personal funds comingle with your business funds. That is only a recipe for disaster. Even if you think you will only have a small amount of business revenue, and you’re certain you can handle it, open a separate bank account. It will save you from a ton of headaches down the road.

5. Identify Yourself
Design a letterhead and a logo. It does not have to be anything fancy, but it is still important to have an identifiable logo. You will put it on everything: posters, brochures, business cards, and everything else. It will (hopefully) become an easy way for people to identify you.

6. Invest in Business Cards
You should never again walk out of the office (or home) without a pile of business cards in your pocket. You should be prepared to hand these out constantly. They are the means by which you are going to enter the business world.

7. Stationery and Stuff
Form a plan on what other advertising literature you will need, also. If you are going to be printing brochures or flyers or whatnot, make a plan for them now. And make sure you invest in a good desktop publishing program like Adobe Photoshop or QuarkXPress.

Congratulations, you are well on your way to starting your business. Now, you still have a whole lot of work ahead of you, but at least you have a plan. Have fun!

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