Taking the leap of faith to start your own business is difficult enough.  According to the SBA, in 2008 an estimated 627,200 businesses opened.  On the flip side, an estimated 595,600 closed their doors.  While many factors contribute to the decision for a business to open or close, prioritizing the following three items will get you headed in the right direction when you start your own business.

1. Business Plan – The most important part when you start your own business is developing your business plan.  A business plan forces you to consider all foreseeable areas of your company and address issues before they occur.  It helps you to diagram the operations, research your competition, plan your marketing strategy, and understand how you will make money.  It is the most critical part of your business, it will grow and expand as your business grows and expands.  A business plan should be developed before you ever start your own business.
2. Organization – Starting organized is much easier then getting organized.  Creating systems for how you interact and deliver your product or service to your customer, making and receiving payments, or storing information, will be immeasurably valuable in the long run.  Using software for accounting, billing, or order processing will save you mental and financial pain when things don’t go as planned.
3. Website – Today a web presence is standard.  At the least a website is an information tool to educate your customers on why you are the best choice.  With online business searches outpacing the yellow pages, your web presence maybe the only interaction your potential customer ever gets.  A professional website is a must if you want to start your own business.

Can you be successful without these items?  Yes.  Will it be unnecessarily more difficult?  Absolutely.  Take a look at our resources on business plans and websites here to understand how to implement these items in your business.