by Karissa Campbell

Created on: March 26, 2008

Can't stand your day job? Dreaming about running your own business? Becoming your own boss can happen - I never thought in a million years I'd work for myself, but here I am doing it, and so can you! If you have the determination and drive it takes to start your own business and deal with all of the ups and downs that come along with it, perhaps you should consider taking on this venture. For fun, I've put together a "checklist" for you to see if becoming your own boss would be a good idea.

1.) Have at least some experience. If you're young, just getting out of college and have never held a paying, on the clock job, it may be wise to take a job before starting out on your own. To make the most out of your work experience, take on a job in a field you love and would be willing to branch out in with your own business.

2.) Put together a winning team. Bring on those who accentuate your skills and "fill in the gaps." Find someone to work their magic in areas you may have a weakness in. (For instance, hiring someone to do bookkeeping. Why bother with that nonsense when you need to be concentrating on building the business?) If you have someone that shares your ideals and you could work well together as a team, consider starting a business with a partner or two. Having that camaraderie can really help the business flow well.

3.) Never be afraid to ask for advice. The World Wide Web is an excellent tool (one of my good friends in fact) for starting and maintaining your own business. Check out SCORE or Entrepreneur.com. SBA.gov can also be helpful. There are hundreds upon hundreds of small business resources online. I'll post more of them for you in the future.

4.) Join local organizations. It never hurts to network with others in the same boat in your area. Business entrepreneurs all together in one room inspires creativity and new ideas for each other's businesses. Not to mention, the events are usually pretty cool.

5.) Don't forget a business plan. Eek, this is something I'm still working on for my business, so I feel like a hypocrite even talking about it, but still it's important. A good business plan addresses the risks and financial forecast for the business. Put ALL of your ideas into writing. A business plan serves as an excellent planning tool and is your key to raising capital, which is the money you need to get your business really going. It builds your credibility, showcases your products and services, and helps you assess both short and long term goals for your company. Check out bplans.com for more information.

Stay focused, work hard, and never stop seeking more information. If you think you can do it, you can!

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