User:Tired and retired/sandbox

HOW TO START A SMALL BUSINESS
First devise a 'MISSION STATEMENT' A short description of what your business is all about. This statement represents the guiding philosophy of your organization (even if it is just you). It is the thing to which everything you do for your business must be centered. All phases of the business ( marketing, supply, distribution, et.al) must take this statement into consideration. It is a broad definition of your goals and should not be a limiting factor for future growth.

Topics in the pipeline: FINANCE Determining how much money you need to launch the business, where to get financing, bookkeeping, taxes, forms of payment for your product or service, lines of credit When and how to hire employees,..... PROCUREMENT Where to find sources for the raw materials you need, outsourcing, Intangibles: code writers, site designers,

MARKETING A separate marketing plan is a necessity! Lots involved here: advertizing, word of mouth, use of social networks, Ebay Etsy et al. How to measure the effects of your marketing efforts, store location, determining who will buy your product or service and how to most effectively reach those customers. Creating a prospectus and /or business plan which will be appealing to the people or institutions you plan on using for both start-up and continuing financing....

TAXES Where to get help with local, state and federal taxes.

LIST OF RESOURCES, CITATIONS, KNOWLEDGE SBA. State and local small business assistance programs, valuable internet sites, using your own networks of friend, relatives, or past business associates, Wikiversity, local college resources.....

Know when to fold 'em Know when it is best to 'throw in the towel' Given that ______% of business start-ups fail develop a fall back plan.

It's often said that more than half of new businesses fail during the first year. According to the Small Business Association (SBA), this isn't necessarily true. The SBA states that only 30% of new businesses fail during the first two years of being open, 50% during the first five years and 66% during the first 10. Source: Google search