Start a Business

Step 1Start a new business basics

Covering the basics is the first step when starting a new business

• Choose a business name - Choosing the best name for your startup and how to protect it
• Business startup strategy - What business are you in? What makes your business unique? Who is your intended customer?
• How to protect a business idea - How important is protecting your business idea and when do you disclose information? Find out here
• Read more about the basics of starting a business

Step 2Incorporate your business

Make your business official and protect yourself by incorporating your business

• Legal entities and business licenses - What's the difference between an LLC and an S Corp? Answers to these questions and more regarding the legal structure of your startup
• How to form a corporation - Step by step processes for setting up a business corporation
• Protect a business idea - How important is protecting your business idea and when do you disclose information? Find out here
• Read more about incorporating a business

Step 3Write a business plan

A solid business plan raises your chances for success and helps you to get funding

• What is a business plan? - Business planning expert and entrepreneur Tim Berry answers this question and more
• Business plan template - This SBA and bank approved template for a business plan can help you get started
• Business plan outline - What makes a successful business plan? Here are the pieces that lenders and investors expect
• Get ideas from our sample business plan library

Step 4Funding & finance for a startup

Ensuring that your business has the financial resources to operate is critical to startup success

• Proper funding for your business - Know the right funding for your business type, from venture capitalists to SBA guaranteed loans.
• Small business funding tips - Eight tips to improve your chances of getting your small business funded
• Personal guarantee for credit approval - Often requested by lenders, know when to use the Personal Guarantee and when not to
• Read more about small business finance

Step 5Marketing & advertising your business

Effective marketing and advertising will promote your business and drive sales

• Marketing plan outline - The content of a standard marketing plan
• Market research - Nearly every company can benefit from market research data
• Sample marketing plans - Review complete sample marketing plans to inspire your own planning efforts
• Read more about small business marketing

Step 6Growing your business

A proper growth strategy will help you take your business to the next level

• Cash planning - Understanding how cash flow works will prevent your business from going broke even when producing a profit
• Strategic business planning - A solid business strategy keeps your business on focus and consistent over time
• Read more about small business growth