creativeminds

Having been a small business consultant for the last six years, there is a lot of false information jumping around the internet and from misinformed people - though well intentioned.  My goal is to help people avoid many of the mistakes that I have had to actually live through for the last twenty years.  So feel free to send me your questions and comments as this blog develops.  Any advance help you need, please, please contact your attorney and accountant.  Regardless of the money you have to get your business started, these two individuals can help you avoid many costly mistakes.  Many will spend an hour with you so take them out to lunch or coffee (and pay for it!) and learn all you can from them before leaping.

Let’s go over the top three I have seen and we will discuss more over the next few weeks.

1. Inadequate research
2. Not asking questions
3. Jumping in too soon (goes along with research)

Let’s start with research and tomorrow we will talk about research in more detail.  There are a variety of reasons why people get into a business whether it is a franchise, sole proprietorship, or any of the forms of business legal for your state.  We will be working with Sarah as she journeys into the great unknown.

Sarah has just (inherited, got an idea, quit or got laid off, fill in your own reason why you want to start a business) and wants to know what to do first.  Since the economy is bad right now, small businesses are beginning to become popular again.  So Sarah is laid off and wants to go into business for herself.  What should she do first?  First, she needs to find something that appeals to her.  She will be investing a good deal of her life in the business and if is not something she wants to do, then she better not do it.

How do you find out about your desired profession?

• Library
• Chamber of Commerce
• Other business owners
• Other companies both current and closed that are in your field

 Tomorrow, I will break these down and show you how each of these people can help you to venture forth into your new career.

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