Image by Angela Radulescu via Flickr

Starting a small business will be exciting and frightening at the same time. Exciting, because you are embarking on a new adventure; hopefully doing something you love. Frightening, because you are stepping out into an unknown future.

Anyone can start a small business. It will just take much hard work and plenty of planning. There are many things to consider before taking that first step of making your dream a reality.

1. Finances: Where is the money coming from that you will use to run your business? A source of capital must be in place before beginning. Whether you borrow from a family member or get a loan, this step must be considered at the beginning. Without a source of money your dream may never become a reality.

2.Plan of action: This plan should be written out. This will allow a loan officer or investor to see what your long and short-term goals are. Take the time to make this plan as detail oriented as possible.

3. Permits and license: Permits are a fact of life when running a business. Every state and town varies on what is required, so consult your local town hall to help you start in the right direction. Have all permits and licenses in place before opening.

4. Location: Where you place your business makes a difference. Choose wisely when considering a location. Does the site have easy access? Is it easy to find?

5. Resources: Where will you get your supplies from? Again, this is a question to answer before the business is up and running.

There is no greater satisfaction then when you finally have your business up and running. It will be worth all the sweat and tears to have that satisfied feeling.