The Mentor
Everybody needs someone to bounce ideas off of. It doesn't matter if you are just starting out or the CEO of a major corporation, you need a mentor. And expect your mentors to change as your business builds in size and your skills increase. Your initial mentors should be successful entrepreneurs who have a reputation for being good people (why deal with bad ones). They are easier to find than you might think. Seek out some of the business leaders in your community and entrepreneurs whom you respect and admire. Ask your friends, neighbors, and colleagues if they have any connections. People who have retired are often excellent mentors, as they are often looking for something to do. Remember to never to make unsolicited visits. Try to call and get an appointment. If you can't get through by phone, you might try writing a letter or e-mail and then following with a phone call. Request a 15-minute meeting. That should give you enough time to see if the working relationship should go forward.
The Support Staff
The next thing you will have to consider is your support staff in setting up your business. Depending on your skill set, you may need to find an accountant, a lawyer, a tax advisor, or other specialist. These people can help you get the legal format of your business set up properly. Many states now offer the ability to online and set up your own partnership, corporation, or LLC. This is great if you know what the ramifications of those choices are, but I?ve seen too many people think they know based on something they've 'heard' and make mistakes that ends up costing them a lot of money.
You will need to set up your financial systems. I've seen so many people throw everything into a box and hand it to the 'tax guy' at the end of the year. DON'T DO THIS. It will cost you money as we will discuss in the Basic Accounting Course. Some people buy a software program like Quickbooks for Windows or AccountEdge for the Mac. While these are good pieces of software, unless you understand double-entry bookkeeping, I would recommend you take a course on it if one is available in your area or find a bookkeeper to help you set it up properly for your business. It is a whole lot easier getting it right to start with than straightening it out later. If numbers totally freak you out, you may want to just hire a bookkeeper to do the whole thing for you.
You may need someone who is familiar with database management. If you use accounting software, it will keep track of customers, suppliers, and vendors. However, you also need databases of your prospects and clients to send marketing materials to. That could involve finding someone to build an e-mail newsletter or web-based system for you or mailing firm to send out marketing materials.
Depending on your personal skills, you may need a copywriter (writing this stuff is not as easy as it seems), a graphic designer or illustrator, or even a marketing specialist. You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Make sure you've thought things out so you do.