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What to Do Before Starting a Business
Kody Wirth | Nov 13, 2023
When you’re fired up about starting a business, it can be tempting to jump right in. But before you start picking out the perfect business name and researching ideas—you need to understand what you’re getting into.
Business ownership isn’t glamorous or easy. It’s challenging and sometimes overwhelming. But it can be incredibly exciting and fulfilling when you take the time to do it right.
That means your first step should be understanding why you’re starting and what it will take to succeed. This guide will walk you through different ways to accomplish this and help you prepare to become a business owner.
Do some self-reflection
At the start, it’s likely just you building the business. You need to know why you want to come in day after day. You need to understand your limitations. And ideally, have a support network to talk to.
So, before you start coming up with the perfect business idea—look inward and have answers to the following questions.
Get to know entrepreneurship
Are you ready to start a business? Do you understand what traits or skills lead to success? Do you know what pitfalls to avoid?
If you answered no or maybe to any of these questions, check out the following resources to familiarize yourself with business ownership.
Now you need a good idea
After some self-reflection and exploration of what it takes to be an entrepreneur, you have a decision to make.
Do you still want to start a business?
If you answer yes, you’ll need a solid idea to move forward with. Check out the next step in our startup guide to finalize your idea and then move on to validating if people are interested in it.
Startup resources and templates
Having the right tools and resources can be critical to starting a business. Here are some of our favorites worth checking out before you officially start.