Congratulations on your decision to start a small business! Starting a small business requires motivation and
desire as well as talent. You also need to be prepared to plan and research. Achieving success in a small
business is dependent upon taking the right steps when you first begin.
While it is to be expected that you will make mistakes when you are first starting out with your business and those
mistakes may not be fatal to your business, in order to gain an advantage over the competition you need be
prepared to put in hard work and be disciplined.
The best way to increase your chance for success with your small business is to take the time in the beginning to
explore and evaluate your options and goals. You can then use this information to create a business plan that is
comprehensive and well thought out. Doing so will help you to achieve your business goals.
Developing a business plan will guide you in thinking through some of the most important issues you will face
when starting a small business that you might not yet have considered. Your business plan can serve as a
valuable tool throughout the life of your business. As your business grows and develops you can use it to plan
the expansion of your business.
