What you will need to do before opening your business

If you are going to be opening a business you may feel that there is a never ending to-do list that is constantly awaiting you. However, business managers need to realize that the amount of planning they put into opening their business will have a direct effect on how successful their business ends up being. The bottom line is that opening a business involves a lot more then just finding the right products or service to sell. You will need to put in lots of time setting up your business long before you ever make your first sale! Prospective business owners need to keep in mind that even though there are lots of steps that you need to take before you open your business ifyou have a plan and follow some guidelines it can be successfully done. Here is what you will need to do before opening your business-

- Have a plan-The first thing to do is to put together a plan on how you are going to open your business. Keep in mind that with so many details it is crucial to have a plan that you can refer to and make sure that everything is getting done. Failing to have a plan can mean that you overlook something vital that is necessary to get your business up and running.
- Deal with the legalities-One of the first steps that business owners need to take is to choose a legal structure for their business. Many prospective business owners simply assume that a sole proprietorship is always the right choice. That may not necessarily be true. Running a sole proprietorship does not always give the business owner enough legal protection. You should consult with your attorney and financial professionals before making a final decision on a legal structure.
- Know your tax liability-It is crucial that business owners understand that they will now be dealing with a much different tax liability. Business taxes are figured much differently then personal taxes. Prospective business owners will need to find out the amount of business taxes that they will owe so that they can prepare to pay them on time. Knowing what your tax liability will be will also help you avoid fines and penalties that can result from late payments. Finally, it is critical to understand that as a business owner you will be held responsible to pay payroll taxes no matter how well your business is doing.
- Get the right insurance-There is always a required amount of insurance for any business. The types of insurance that will be needed will depend on the type of business that you are going to open. You should take the time to carefully research what insurance(s) that you need. You should never try to "get by" without the right types of insurance as this can be disastrous for your business if you are sued. If you are unsure consult with a business insurance broker for what types of insurance that you will need to purchase for your business.
- Set up accounts payable and account receivables-It is also important that you have procedures in place to handle the finances of your business. You will need to have both a process for dealing with accounts payable and accounts receivables. How well you manage the finances of your business will have a direct effect on the success of your business. You should also include a policy as to who you will extend credit to. Many business owners often feel overwhelmed about this part of managing their business. You may want to consider hiring a bookkeeper who can deal with this for you.