50 Things You Should Know Before Starting Your Own Online Or Offline Home Business
Getting Started:

Working from home: The pros and cons

Is it legal where you live? Do you need a license? How to find out

Researching and developing your idea

Identifying - and understanding - your competitors
Preparing yourself for business - mentally, financially, physically

What You Need - And Where To Find It:

Creating "The Plans"

Your business plan
Your marketing plan
Your disaster plan

Finding the money you need
Borrowing
Venture capitalists
Financial "angels"
Government and private grants

Creating your company

Choosing a name
Choosing a legal form - Sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation
Know the law

Work where you live - but don't live where you work

Creating a work area
Furniture, hardware, software
Keeping personal and business lives separate
Dealing with family, friends and neighbors
Workplace safety is still important
No more water cooler chats or "let's grab lunch" socializing

Surviving the financial strain - and knowing the costs

Paying yourself
Setting reasonable prices

Advertising and marketing


Trademarks, copyrights and contracts


Accountants, programmers, website designers and more


The art of e-commerce


Privacy policies, terms of service, customer rights and other legal stuff




Bringing It All Together:

Cashflow - when it's good, when it's not
When customers complain
Keeping customers happy, loyal and coming back

The taxman cometh

The Top 5 first-year mistakes

Knowing what you're doing right, what you're doing wrong and what to do next



Success:
Planning for growth

Hire staff - or outsource - or partner?

No more paid vacations
If it all goes wrong: Dont rush to bankruptcy

If it all goes right: The exit strategy (aka, Retirement)