First off, congratulations! You’ve decided to turn your passion into a business. Being in business for yourself has personal rewards above and beyond any monetary success that you might achieve. You’re joining a growing number of new entrepreneurs and the team at Fast Start is extremely proud of you.

However, whether this endeavor is something that you’ve been dreaming about for years or an idea that’s just recently struck, you have to make a plan.

The steps below will help guide you through the process. If you need additional assistance, the Small Business Administration (SBA) and SCORE have numerous guides and resources for small business owners. You can also schedule a consultation with Fast Start if you would like professional assistance with starting your business.

Click on the links below to learn more about the process of starting a business.

What do you need to start a business?

• Business plan

• Startup Expense Sheet

• Business structure

• Business name

• Required government paperwork

• Determine the Location

• Build a Website

• Get a free business email account

• Payment system and business bank account

• Marketing plan

How do you start a business from home?

• Business plan

• Startup Expense Sheet

• Fund your business

• Business structure

• Business name

• Required government paperwork

• Develop your business idea

• Research the zoning codes

• Identify your customer

• Run a competitive analysis

• Articulate your unique selling proposition

• Build your business model

• Register your business

• Build a Website

• Get a free business email account

• Develop your marketing strategy

• Open a business bank account

• Prepare your payment system

How do you start a business with no money?

• Business plan

• Startup Expense Sheet

• Business structure

• Business name

• Register your business

• Required government paperwork

• Freelance in your areas of expertise to earn money

• Consider businesses with a low up-front cost (ex: virtual assistant, social media influencer, or blogger)

• Build up savings

• Create a free website

• Get a free business email account

• Open a business bank account

• Recruit investors

How do you start a business online?

• Business plan

• Startup Expense Sheet

• Business structure

• Business name

• Register your business

• Required government paperwork

• Develop your business idea

• Find your business domain and brand name

• Build a website

• Get a free business email account

• Open a business banking account

• Optimize for SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

• Create a marketing plan

• Fund your online business