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Building a successful small business requires a lot of time, thought, and planning. If you’ve never traveled the road to entrepreneurship before, you might find it overwhelming. With so many details to pay attention to, where should you begin?

Marc Goldberg, a SCORE mentor with business management and marketing expertise, has outlined some first steps that are appropriate for nearly every type of business:

• Contact your local chapter of SCORE to get guidance from a business mentor and learn what you can expect when starting a business.
• Determine your value proposition. What customer needs will you fulfill and do you have a large enough base of prospects with those needs?
• Find a good attorney who specializes in small business issues. The legal formation, human resources issues, etc.
• Find a small business accountant to ensure you comply with requirements and file taxes accurately.
• Determine what legal form will your business take. Sole proprietorship, Limited Liability Corporation (LLC), S Corp, or C Corp? Consult with your attorney and accountant.
• Create a business plan. You don’t need a full plan with financials unless seeking start-up capital.
• Select a bank or financial institution for general use and one that can potentially provide funding if you’ll need it to start or expand your business.
• Secure business insurance for liability protection. Talk with a trusted agent who can guide you in acquiring the proper types and amount of insurance coverage.
• Create your brand identity. Choose your business name and develop a logo. Verify with the state and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that the name and logo design isn’t already taken.
• Have a website created. An online presence for your business is essential, as most potential customers will look for information there to learn about your company and its products and services.
• Identify the appropriate social media platforms that will work for your business based on where your potential customers spend their online time.
• Secure a dedicated location for your business. Your needs may be vastly different if you’re a brick-and-mortar retail store vs. a service provider.
• Identify your technology needs. What hardware, software, apps, IT services, etc. will you need to serve customers, market your company, and manage your business?
• Execute a cash flow analysis. The #1 reason small businesses fail is they run out of cash. Do a month-by-month Source and Use of Cash projection for the first year. It will help you determine what your selling terms need to be so you’ll have enough revenue to support your business.
• If you have employees, get a quote for payroll services. Most are reasonably priced and deliver peace of mind as they process payroll (including applicable taxes), file the necessary paperwork, and handle tax filings.

To learn more about what’s involved in starting and managing a business, find a SCORE mentor to find direction and learn about small business resources. About the author: David Inskeep is a retired commercial lender, collegiate educator, and military member. He can be reached at davidinskeep1@gmail.com.