You can't just jump into things! Ricky will tell you what happened to him when he did, and Sara tells how she planned her business before she began operation.

Step 1. Ricky: I didn't do a Business Description. The Internet was hot so I got swamped and I wasn't ready for it. A Business Description defines everything about your business including product, location and competition. It gives you an edge on your business before you open your doors. Step 2 Sara: My Marketing Plan was key in my success! It helped me ascertain what made my business different and who exactly my customer was. The more precise I was about my customers, the more I could do to reach out to them. Step 3. Sara: The Financial Management Plan. Success is knowing how to manage money. A good plan includes a "Start-Up Budget" (one-time costs, equipment, deposits) and an "Operating Budget" (expenses vs. income). Do this before you start and things run much more smoothly down the line. Step 4. Ricky: The Management Plan. When you're the boss, it's all up to you! I figured things would all fall in place but without a plan, they fell all over the place! Could I do it all alone? Would I need to hire someone? Was I ready to train? These are questions a good Management Plan would have helped me ask before opening my doors. The Small Business Administration web site has additional information on how to develop a business plan.