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Step 1
Come up with a business plan. If you aren't applying for a small business loan, the business plan doesn't have to be written formally. It simply has to outline how you will obtain funding for everything needed for the business, how much funding is needed, what items need to be bought and a general timeline to making the business profitable.
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Step 2
Decide how you will purchase everything needed and try to get the best deal. Stay out of debt if you can, but it may be necessary to take out a loan to purchase some of the items. Set out to buy everything needed. If you have a storefront, set it up with the purchased items. If you will run the small business from home, clear out a space that is large enough to house the things you need for your business.
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Step 3
Hire employees if they are needed. If you know or suspect that the amount of work is too much for one person, hire at least one person to help out. You can go to the local unemployment office and take advantage of their services for free. You may also take out a classified as or an ad in an online job site.
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Step 4
Get together your inventory. Organize it so that it sells efficiently. If you will run a service business, make sure you are up to speed on the service and are ready to provide it to anyone who asks.
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Step 5
Set up a system of bookkeeping. This may be accounting software or you may be more comfortable with using a notebook and receipts to keep track. If the job looks too big for one person, hire a bookkeeper at least part time to help keep track of the money coming in and going out.
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Step 6
Advertise your business. If no one knows about your business, they can't buy anything from you. Use newspaper ads, a website and any other means you can afford to get the word out to your potential customers.
