From laid off to start-up, one in ten Americans in 2009 started a business.

Business is the “profit-making activity that provides products and services to satisfy human needs” (John F Steiner). However, I believe it to be much more than that! Business is more than a job or an occupation. Businesses tend to be built on passion and desire for improvement. Businesses are rooted from an individuals desire to improve or to change personal circumstances. Business is about building relationships with individuals and communities. Business is the way that we create a better world, improve our communities, invent new technology and work to make a difference in the lives of individuals.

What makes a business “Small” is quite literally its size; the number of employees in the organization. I would always recommend that a business startup start small. With an idea, a vision, and a determination to succeed a business can grow rapidly and evolve quickly.

Small Business Advantages

A small business can be started at a very low-cost and on a part-time basis. Small business is also well suited to internet marketing because it can easily serve specialized niches. Adapting to change is crucial in business and particularly small business; it is typically easier to respond to the marketplace quickly. Small business proprietors tend to be intimate with their customers and clients which results in greater accountability and maturity.

Independence is another advantage of owning a small business.

What every small business should start with

• An idea – Something that goes beyond MONEY!
• A basic outline – This is not the same as a business plan, in fact I would not suggest writing a business plan…if you did you would likely just end up changing it!
• An organized plan of action – From where you want to start to where you want to be when the doors open!
• A skill- Something that you can offer, that will be beneficial to your future customers and their needs
• A little bit of money – No need to have hundreds of thousands of dollars just a few hundred or a couple thousand
• A registered business name – What will people call you?
• A business license – Legitimate is always the way to go!
• An established corporation – Either an L.l.c, C-corp, or S-corp
• A website and blog – You can not be successful if you’re not on the internet! Every business needs a website and a blog!

Here are the things we’re going to cover this week:

- Introduction to Small Business
- Why You Should Consider Starting a Business
- Who is Qualified to Start a Business
- Business Ideas: The Right Idea is Driven by Passion
- The First Steps: Getting Your Business Started