| 1. Business Plan | | | | Once you have a solid business plan and marketing |
| In your business plan you are going to determine | | | | plan in place it is a good time to look at financing |
| everything from who is going to be involved in running | | | | options. Determine your cash flow needs on a monthly, |
| the business, how to find suppliers/salespeople, | | | | annual and 2-5 year plan if possible. How many |
| financing, marketing, locations, product resources. It is | | | | products/services are you going to have to sell to |
| basically a blueprint about what systems you are going | | | | make a profit. Are you going to finance the business |
| to put in place and what differentiates your business | | | | yourself, through alternative lending sources or through |
| from others. A good resource for learning how to | | | | your local bank or credit union. Determine the different |
| create a small business plan can be found on the | | | | financing options that are available for your specific |
| sba.gov website. | | | | business model and which one is best suited for your |
| 2. Registration | | | | business. It may require upfront capital or ongoing |
| It is important to register your business name with the | | | | capital or very little capital but may need capital when |
| US government, requirements will vary by state. An | | | | ready to expand. There are a variety of sites to find |
| important resource online that provides name | | | | information on small business financing. One good one |
| registration requirements is below. | | | | is that identifies needs if you are already in business, |
| Check out the business.gov website and search for | | | | starting or business or plan on buying a business. |
| registration guidelines. | | | | Check out the businessfianance website. |
| 3. Marketing Plan | | | | 5. Finding your 1st customer |
| Once you have a decided business in place and have | | | | This is the most important thing you will need to do. |
| analyzed the industry and determined what services | | | | Having your first customer and contract will do many |
| products you are going to provide and how you are | | | | things for you. It will determine how much current |
| going to develop those services/product and what | | | | demand their is for your product/service. It will also |
| resources you are needed you should devise a | | | | determine what price the market is willing to offer for |
| marketing plan. How are you going to sell those | | | | your product/service. You will also learn why people |
| needed product/services? Who is going to buy them? | | | | decide to choose your product over others or not. |
| Where are they going to buy them? How are you | | | | For help from experts with financing, marketing, SEO, |
| going to distribute them? Why are people going to buy | | | | small business service and products check out our |
| them from you? | | | | website. It will help get you started. |
| 4. Financing | | | | |