What’s Your Passion? If you are thinking about starting a business, it should be something you enjoy. Since a lot of time and energy goes into running a business, it is smart to look at your hobby or professional experience as a potential business idea. For example, if you are good at sewing, consider a tailoring shop; or an accountant could look at bookkeeping or tax service. Now, imagine what your life would be like if you spent the majority of your day actually doing what you love. Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? To improve your chances, here are 10 Extremely Important Tips for a Successful Business Launch.

Tip 1: The Name Game

Now that you’ve narrowed it down to ONE ‘business idea,’ you’ve got to figure out a name. A major challenge in starting a business is the process of searching and choosing the right business name. Choosing the right business name can mean success while a poorly thought out name could doom your business from the start. Three smart business name tips:

1. A smart business name must be unforgettable. It is imperative that potential clients be able to remember your business name. I’m sure most people have heard of Nike, Walmart, Target, Home Depot and McDonalds. Like these household names, your name should be easy to pronounce and memorable.
2. A smart business name must describe what your business does. When you create your business name, potential clients should be able to understand what products or services your company offers. For example in ‘ Browder Consulting Group,’ the word “Consulting’ is a clue that I provide specialized advice; or as in Lynn’s Styles & Cuts,’ the words ‘Styles & Cuts is a clue that this is a beauty salon.
3. A smart business name should be as short and sweet as possible. As you advertise your business, it is important that your name display well on your marketing material, such as business cards, ad campaigns, domain name and email. As potential clients search for you on the internet, you want it to be an easy spelled and searchable name.

Tip 2: On a Mission

A mission statement is an important tool that tells others who you are, what you do, how you do it and why you are superior than your competition.

• It identifies and clarifies the business’ vision, purpose and direction.
• It provides the path and focus needed for making and implementing decisions.
• It helps define to your future employees what they are doing, why they are doing it and where they are going.

Tip 3: Make it Legal

Be diligent in choosing the best Legal Form for your business. This is one of the first important decisions that you will have to make. This decision can have long-term implications, so here are a few things to consider when deciding which business structure is best for your business:

• Scope of business you plan to attain
• Size of your business
• Business’s vulnerability to lawsuits
• Tax implications based on the different ownership structures
• Level of control do you wish to have
• Expected profit/loss of the business

Tip 4: Surround yourself with a Progressive Team

Who do you need to know or collaborate with as a part of your external team? Having the right people on your team will allow you to focus on your business and help you to avoid costly mistakes. For example, you might need the following:

• Certified Public Accountant: best form of ownership, establish bookkeeping, record keeping procedures and tax planning, etc.
• Business Attorney: reviewing lease contracts, determining the right business structure, etc.
• Computer Information Technician: set up systems, repair issues, etc.
• Human Resource Management Consultant: assess your current HR processes for compliance, navigate through delicate labor issues, set up hiring processes, compensation and benefits and create employee manuals, job description and Standard Operation Procedural manuals.

Tip 5: Research Licenses & Permits Needed for Your Industry

As you can see, there are many steps involved in starting a business. With the daunting task of figuring it all out, it’s easy to overlook the important legal requirements associated with permits, licenses and registrations. Here’s a list that your business might need:

• State Requirements: Business licensing requirements may vary from state to state.
• Business Licenses: Depending on your state, county and city, a business license may be required for tax purposes and to conduct other basic business functions.
• Occupations and Professions: Depending on your profession, state licenses may be required for occupations such as, appraisers, accountants, barbers, building contractors, cosmetologists, funeral directors, physicians, private investigators, private security guards and real estate agents.
• Tax Registration: Some states carry a state income tax. If you establish your business in a state that does, you’ll have to register and obtain an employer identification number. If your business engages in retail sales, you will need to obtain a sales tax license.
• Trade Name Registration: If you plan to run your business in your local community only, registering with the state may be adequate.
• Employer Registrations: Are you planning to hire employees? If so, you’ll probably be required to make unemployment insurance contributions.

Tip 6: Know Your Clients

A common mistake that I encounter with new business owners is that they don’t know who their customer is… possessing a poorly defined target market. Most want to sell their products or services to ‘everybody’ instead of narrowing their targeted customer base to a manageable size. You must do your homework… i.e., market research. I’ve created a business resource guide to assist you, Resource Guide for Women.

Tip 7: Got Marketing?

In business, marketing plays a key role in getting the word out to your prospective clients. You must create an image and be consistent! It’s important to mold and hone your business image to successfully appeal to your prospects and customers. By choosing a relevant company name, answering your phone professionally, creating a professional and clear elevator pitch, investing in professional business cards, logos and brochures, etc… all are key in marketing your business.

Tip 8: Don’t forget Uncle Sam

Understanding tax obligations is one of the most important issues facing small businesses. The local, county, state and federal agencies does not care that you didn’t know or you forgot to pay your taxes. You will be subject to penalties for not paying on time. Here are some resources to assist you:

• For a list of state agencies: business.gov/states/
• For a SBA resource guide by state: smallbusiness3.com/magazine
• For IRS business information: irs.gov/businesses/index.html

Tip 9: Don’t forget the ‘B’ Word… Budget!

Create a start up budget. Because businesses are different, each will have its own specific cash needs at various stages of development, so estimating your start-up costs may vary. Some businesses can be started on a shoestring budget, while others may require considerable investment in inventory or equipment. It is imperative to know that you will have enough money to launch your business venture.

A few ways to prepare:

• Create a list of anticipated expenses for your first three years
• Projections are fine, be realistic

Have a tracking system

QuickBooks, Quicken, Ledger, Excel spreadsheets, I don’t care which you use…. It’s important to put a system in place that works for you. Personally, I use QuickBooks. I can send files to my CPA, easy to work with. In addition, as the treasurer on the board of a non-profit organization, I also use Quick books to reconcile the organization’s bank statements and to bill our member’s annual dues.

Open a business checking account. The worst thing you can do is run your business from your personal account… it is an accountants nightmare. Open up a business account so that you can separate the two… plus it tells others that you are serious and professional.

Tip 10: Put it all together… in a plan!

Last but not least, you must write your business plan. By failing to plan, you are planning to fail. If you can’t take the time needed to plan for the success of your business, then don’t waste your time starting one. Statistics show that 8 out of 10 businesses fail within the first three years. This is staggering but true! Invest your time in researching and writing a business plan. Many prospective entrepreneurs think that a business plan is very hard and tedious. The truth is it’s a powerful tool that can help you plan and achieve business success.

So, what is this thing called a business plan? Well, a business plan is your blue print or what I tell many of my clients, it’s your bible! A business plan defines your business, identifies your goals, and serves as your company’s resume. It will help you arrange strategic alliances, obtain financing and attract key personnel. By planning for success, you will be able to overcome many hurdles that may arise.

A closer look at why a business plan is important:

• To secure funding, your lender will request your business plan with completed financials. DO NOT approach a lender without having a completed business plan. In his/her eyes, you will look unprepared and too risky. By being prepared, you will have a better chance at securing funding for operations or expansion of your business.
• It is a great way to test the feasibility of your business idea. By the time you complete your market or competitive analysis, you will have a clear picture of the viability of your idea.

As you can see, there is a lot of work involved before starting a business. To ensure success, it is important to research thoroughly, take advantage of the resources available to you and learn as much as you can. Preparation is key to a successful start!

Sylvia Browder is Founder of National Association Women on the Rise, a virtual membership community for aspiring and established women entrepreneurs. For more about NAWR or resources and information for women entrepreneurs, visit us at http://www.nawomenrise.com.

Your attitude that you show up with each day has a lasting impact on your behavior that affects your outcomes. A person’s attitude is an expression of their mindset at any time and in any given situation. Your attitude represents a feeling that can be changed instantly or maintained for a lifetime.

Why is this important?

It is important to understand the attitudes of the most successful business owners so you can emulate them and move your business forward.

Let’s begin.

1) Success Business owners are passionate about the success/value they can create. Unsuccessful ones are more passionate about watching people on TV live out their dreams in sports, movies shows etc. than actually going out and creating the life they want.

Action Steps:

Consider any major success story – what did they have in common?

· Passion for the value they could create.

· Ask yourself am I really passionate about my project?

· Is this passion sufficient to take me through all the ups and downs that I can expect in growing and scaling my business?

· If the passion is really not there – stop and rethink your next move carefully.

· As the old expression goes – “Don’t climb your business ladder to only learn it is leaning against the wrong wall“.

2) Successful owners maintain a positive mental attitude as a steady state condition. Unsuccessful ones have a mental state that changes and varies with outside circumstances.

Why is this important?

Many times in life you rise and fall to your level of expectations.

If you start with a Negative Mental Attitude you are likely to not fully apply yourself and get results consistent with your expectations.

Life is too short to be grumpy and you will attract other people who are also grumpy and will pull you down.

A positive mental attitude is not sufficient but it is a requirement to succeed.

Action Steps:

· Change your attitude right now by focusing all your thinking on what you are grateful for.

· You cannot maintain two completely different thoughts in your mind at the same time.

3) Successful owners are hyper consciousness about what they are thinking and their attitude at any given point in time. When they feel their attitude turning towards the worse they take massive evasive action to change their attitude since they know their attitude determines their altitude in life. Unsuccessful Business owners allow their emotions derived from their environment to run unchecked. They pay little attention to what they are thinking about and emotionally move with the current. Unsuccessful Business owners are not in control of their mental state.

Action Step:

· Take time at multiple points during the day and ask yourself: “What are my thoughts and feelings on ________ (the most pressing issue for you right now).

· Journal those thoughts and then analyze why you think the way you do.

4) Successful Business owners understand the importance of understanding the root of fear so they can eliminate it before it impacts their attitude. Successful Business owners have an abundance-oriented attitude and believe there is more than enough for everyone. Unsuccessful ones never get to the root of their fears and correspondingly their attitude is impacted. Unsuccessful Business owners have a scarcity-oriented attitude and believe that the pie is only so big – for them to prosper someone must suffer.

Action Steps:

· Write down a list of what you are fearful of.

· Separate the fears into two columns.

· Those that are rational with real consequences and those that are not rational without real consequences.

· For example jumping out of a perfectly good airplane to sky dive is a rational fear – you could die.

· Speaking to a group of 1000 industry peers at a conference is an irrational fear.

5) Successful Business owners have a can do attitude and focus on what they want irrespective of the odds. Unsuccessful ones allow the statistics of others to shape what they believe is possible and often settle in life.

Action Steps:

· Write down very clearly what you want and why you want it.

· Now go deeper and ask the question why again – you will soon discover your internal core motivation and it is this motivation that you need to harness to drive you through to achieve what you want.

· Pay no attention to the Nay Sayers and those that tell you why the odds are against you – they have already given up on their dreams and consider themselves to be “practical”.

6) Successful Business owners maintain an attitude of true collaboration and cooperation with others because the notion of competition while important is not the primary focus. Successful Business owners preoccupy their mind with offering incredible service as a way to differentiate themselves and be selected by the market. Unsuccessful Business owners believe that competition is the primary focus and their attitude is they must beat their competitors into the ground. Unsuccessful Business owners preoccupy their mind with how they can hurt the competition and by accident win new customers.

Action Step:

· Develop the ideal customer journey path for your client.

· Vividly imagine how a district and delightful experience can be crafted to meet your customer where they are to help them get to where they want to go.

· Focus 100% on the customer problem and anticipating their needs because you understand them so well.

7) Successful Business owners maintain a balanced attitude and seldom allow events in life to be taken personally. They look at life’s events objectively and are careful with the labels they use. Unsuccessful Business owners love to assign labels to everything and often get very excited because they take everything personally.

Action Step:

· Exercise your intellectual asset of Perception – whenever you examine a new idea – turn it over in your mind to see things from all perspectives.

· Be very careful before you assign a label to something as being “good” or as being “bad” because these choices impact your thinking downstream.

· For example if you lose a key customer and associated this as a “Terrible Loss” you cut your mind off from understating why they left and what can be done to improve the customer experience to:

· retain the rest of your clients and

· To innovate your service to attract more clients.

8) Successful owners maintain an attitude rooted in humility. Their inner self does not need this validation. Unsuccessful owners win so seldom that they want the whole world to acknowledge how great they are when it happens. Their sensitive inner self needs this validation

Action Steps:

· Objectively look at how you respond to wins and loses relative to your interactions with others

· Do you boast about your wins or are a quietly confident individual?

· Consider asking those that are very close to you this question and see what they say.

9) Successful Business owners maintain an attitude that is open to being wrong. Unsuccessful Business owners believe they are seldom wrong because they are so smart and accomplished

Action Steps:

· Make a list of mistakes you have made or were wrong about your business.

· Take a look at your financial statements and ask yourself this question again. If you struggle to see your weakness you will never address it or compensate for it through smart hires.

Are you feeling a bit jealous when you see your colleagues succeeding in business? Have you been wondering what it takes to get to their level?

I know that a lot of people seem to think it is complicated to create a successful business.Well, actually, it’s not! It’s quite simple, really. I want to share a few ideas with you – ideas that have helped me to be on track for a multiple 6-figure business this year.

Public speaking is one of the best ways to grow your business – I don’t care what industry you’re in. You want to show confidence, when public speaking, from start to finish. It takes meaningful, relevant, sustainable content – along with showing confidence through your body language. You want to be certain to present your ideas with lots of energy and passion so that people get excited about the possibilities in store for them. How do you do this? Get out there and start talking.

One of the other secrets to success is to know your market – it is critical to price your products and services appropriately. This is the one area where I see many women entrepreneurs fail! It is a combination of lack of self-esteem and a sense of self-worth through to the fact ‘you don’t know what you don’t know’ about pricing! I didn’t have a clue, quite frankly, until I made the investment to work with a high-level marketing coach. It was at that time, and in that relationship, that I learned so much of ‘how’ to do this. It is such a pleasure for me to work with my clients and see the light bulb come on when we explore the different options available – not only with the pricing, but with the creation of multiple streams of revenue.

You want to project a professional image to your community. As far as I’m concerned, this topic does not get addressed enough when it comes to having a successful business. If you are serious about becoming a wealthy woman leader, then you must look, act, speak and project yourself in this way. Find role models. Hire an image consultant. Do whatever it takes. Are you going to meetings looking like you just got out of bed? (I’ve seen it!) When you work from your home office, have you fallen into the trap that it’s convenient to dress in sweats? Come on – get serious! When you look good, you feel good – and when you feel good, you do good. Dress for success.

You not only want to project a certain image to your local community, but it’s also important to ‘be that wealthy woman leader’ when it comes to your on-line presence. Most of you are aware, by now, that I have recently re-branded to the Wealthy Woman Leader image. I am constantly up-leveling and growing my business and therefore, my professional image needs to reflect same. Our company image, locally and on-line, reflect this in every way. What about you? What needs to change? Take a very good look at your business and at your image from the eyes of a new prospect – what do you see? What do you want to see?

Prospects love to see positive client feedback – so make it available. In working with my clients, I realize that one of the reasons they have not been sharing positive client feedback is because they haven’t asked their clients for it. You want to create a successful business – then share the success stories of the people with whom you have worked. Pretty simple – yet, I know many potential wealthy women leaders hold themselves back from asking because of mindset issues again. In working with my clients, we have created a simple template, and an ‘ask’ script that makes this very simple.

So, if you are feeling somewhat jealous about the success of others around you, take some of these simple ideas and implement them today. You, too, will begin to experience progress, build your confidence, and watch that bank account grow – and be the successful business owner that you have just dreamed of being. It’s all in your hands! Make it happen today.