How do you start to plan your business? What is required?
What should you research? Where do you start? Use the
checklist below to guide you as you build a strong, solid
business foundation.

Check your Personal Foundation. Make sure you are ready
mentally, emotionally and financially to begin your new
venture.
-- Make the time.
-- Budget your income.
-- Create balance in your life.
-- Know your strengths, weaknesses, top 5 values and needs.
-- Order a copy of your credit report.
-- Choose your ideal business.

Get organized. Any new business venture will go more
smoothly if you know right from the start what you have to
offer, who you want to offer it to, and how you want your
business to be organized.
-- Read a few books on business start-ups and marketing
http://www.coachmaria.com/businessbooks.html.
-- Check the need for your services.
-- Prepare a business plan and ideal client profile.
-- Price your service or product.
-- Develop a customer service policy.
-- Create an Operations Manual.
-- Plan for your office - location, supplies, utilities, and
set-up fees.

Develop a strong network and referral base. From support to
legal advice, starting your own business is never something
you do all by yourself.
-- Look for assistance: employee, independent contractor.
-- Legal: licensing, business type, contracts, trademarks,
copyrights, patent, service marks.
-- Build support: family, friends, business coach, consultant,
advisors, business and social networking.
-- Insurance: health, home, car, income, liability, risk,
disability, loss of pay.
-- Money: taxes, accounting, banking, billing, cash flow,
loans.
-- Marketing: copywriter, proofreaders, website designer,
graphic designer, an assistant, Toastmasters, etc.

Create a Marketing Plan. A new business often doesn't have a
huge budget for marketing and a plan you help you save
money.
-- Design your marketing plan with your integrity in mind.
-- Develop print media (business cards, stationary, forms,
advertisements, newsletter, etc.).
-- Decide if online marketing will be part of your plan
(website, newsletter, ad's, etc.).
-- Practice describing the benefits of what you do in 30
seconds and 2 minutes (called verbal logo, USP, elevator
speech).
-- Re-evaluate your plan every 3 months.

Start your research with the business, marketing and
personal development articles at
http://www.coachmaria.com/articles.html.



About the Author
Maria Marsala, Business & Life
Coach-Consultant. Maria works with individuals as they design, start
and grow their businesses or careers around what they love to
do. Visit www.CoachMaria.com to subscribe to "Growing You and Your
Business" a free weekly online newsletter.