Q. Starting a Small Business is Overwhelming, Where Do I Start?

A. Yes, starting a small business can seem like a daunting task, but if you start with small baby steps and stay focused, it’s actually much easier than you think it is!

The best place to start is with yourself and find out what your interests are and what you have a passion for. There’s no sense in starting a business if what you’re selling doesn’t inspire or motivate you!

Sit down with a pen and a piece of paper and start writing down a list of your hobbies or interests. Do any of these things stand out as something that you could see yourself doing for many years?Can you picture yourself doing it and enjoying it to the fullest?

Ok, so you’ve decided on a business you want to pursue. Now it’s time to roll up your sleeves and write a business plan. A business plan is important no matter what size your business is because it provides you with a guideline as to how you want to approach this business. A business plan will also show potential investors - if any - how you want to make money and how you will pay them back.

There are many of business plan templates and samples available on the internet. One website that provides free business plan samples and an easy-to-use software program to create a business plan yourself is Bplans.com.

During the process of writing a business plan, you may want to enlist the help of a business counselor or mentor. A great place to find a business counselor in your area is SCORE.org . SCORE provides free small business advice for entrepreneurs and they have many offices around the country. A SCORE counselor can sit down with you and answer any questions that you have about your business plan or any other aspect of your business. SCORE also has low cost workshops where you can meet and network with other entrepreneurs like yourself!

3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."