Thinking about starting your own business?
You’re not alone.
The high unemployment rate, increasing workloads at many companies reluctant to hire more people and the allure of being the boss have combined to interest quite a few people in starting their own enterprise these days.
Is entrepreneurship for you?
On Friday, the U.S. Small Business Administration made it a little easier to answer that question by opening up a new Web site — business.gov — that has a huge amount of information.
It lists everything from doing business with the government to dealing with workplace issues like safety or benefits.
My favorite part of the new site is its business startup guide.
It provides a very practical approach to people who’ve only dreamed about entering the business world.
The first section puts you through an exercise that makes you answer some key questions: Are you a self-starter? Are you good at making decisions? Do you have the physical and emotional stamina to start and run a business?
Everyone interested in starting a business should be forced to answer such questions.
Some people were born to be on their own. Others really need to work a fixed schedule at a regular salary with regular benefits.
The exercise helps separate the dreamers from the doers before the dreamers get separated from large amounts of money.
The beginning of the guide also lists the good aspects of operating a business, which it identifies as:
For those who still like the idea, the guide then goes on with some real, practical advice.
It explains the different types of business structures, how to develop a business plan, how to find money, governmental regulations, SBA assistance and some help from local organizations.
The site has a lot of step-by-step information that will help anyone new to the business arena and may also provide help to people who are in it now and struggling.
If you’ve been thinking about going into business, it’s definitely worth a look.
Not new, but also very helpful for people interested in starting a business or increasing an existing one is the Small Business Development Center at Edmonds Community College.
It has a lot of basic information that’s free, as well as information about classes, seminars and business evaluations you can sign up for.
The Web site for the center is www.btc.edcc.edu/sbdc/
For those who qualify, business development centers can give highly detailed evaluations of a fledgling business and provide individual counseling to make it more successful.
Mike Benbow: 425-339-3459 or benbow@heraldnet.com.
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