Jean L. Serio

Bottom line: It isn't always money keeping a person from starting up a business. With a good business idea and reasonable business plan, even those who've never started one are usually capable of finding money they need.

Often the problem is following through with research necessary once you've decided to start one up. But if you've chosen a niche (product or service) you plan to offer:

Here are 9 important questions, to get answers to, before taking that all-important first step forward:

1) Have you researched and chosen a product or service you're at least familiar with and will enjoy providing? If not, are you willing to learn what's necessary - take classes, hire a coach - in order to learn how promote and sell those products or services?

2) Is it a product or service customers want or need over the long haul? Is it a niche product you can easily promote and profitably sell. Have you checked out your competition, prices of similar items?

3) Have you determined where to buy products or obtain any necessary services you want to sell? Will the wholesale price you pay be low enough to allow substantial markup and profitability?

4) If you plan to open a storefront, have you checked out areas and prices of commercial buildings -- lease prices and requirements, condition of building, lighting, air conditioning, heating, roofing, flooring, windows, kitchen, restrooms, storage, office and/or backroom; private entrance for clients or patients; places for signage; loading and unloading; employee parking, for example?

5) How customer-accessible is the location? Is there available customer parking? Is the area well lighted and safe for both customers and employees?

6) If you've decided to lease a building will it require: remodeling, lighting, security? Will the building owner allow remodeling or physical changes like putting in new lighting? Are you required to use companies they refer you to? To pay for it yourself? If so, how much it will cost? Can you afford it? Can you negotiate with the owner to pay a portion of it?

7) Are there local licensing requirements, taxes to pay; city regulations regarding signs, advertising, parking, pickup and delivery; fire or government regs; local merchant and professional groups you're required to join?

8) If you're interested in a particular commercial location, what hours are other business open? Are you required to be open specific hours; are you capable of that? If not, can you afford employees?

9) Have you checked availability, expense and setup of: phone, fax and Internet access? Electricity and/or gas, security, insurance requirements the landlord or leaseholder of the building requires?

These are just a few of the basic, yet very important, questions you need answers to before buying merchandise or adverting. None are optional. Your business will fail, before it has a chance to get on it's feet, if you don't know what's personally and financially required. When you do the necessary research and determine your responsibilities, in advance, you're well on your way to setting up the solid foundation necessary for a successful and profitable business.

Jean L. Serio Copyright 2007. Are you one of the 1.2 million women tired of working the 9-5 grind, sick of worrying about making ends meet? If so, starting your own business still remains one of the best strategies for providing you financial freedom. Discover how to start your own business today with your own step-by-step Action Plan Plus, to ensure you receive all the details FREE, and learn how you can harness the power and resources you need to start, first, sign up for your Free Newsletter "Start Up a Business Today". Go to: www.womensmarketingandbusinessnetwork.com "We help you make it happen".