Business Start-Up Checklists

Each year, I'm approached by hundreds of people who believe that they want to become their own bosses.

They are honest, hard-working people. But, many are not really ready to do what it takes to plan and launch a successful new business.

To help you examine your readiness to step upon the entrepreneurial path, I've created the following profile.

The Definition Of A Serious Entrepreneur

So, how do we define a "serious start-up entrepreneur"?

Here's what we look for:

• Someone who can honestly say that they love the primary work activity involved in their chosen business concept. Eg. Selling landscape design.
  
  
• Someone who can demonstrate previous experience in successfully delivering this primary work activity, or who has a convincing plan to become trained to do so. Eg. Selecting and planting a variety of healthy landscape vegetation.
  
  
• Someone who knows (or will let us show her) the realistic expenses for her chosen type of business, and who has the resources and willingness to invest this dollar amount.
  
  
• Someone who is willing to be trained and coached in how to plan and run a small business.
  
  
• Someone who is prepared to commit at least ten hours of business planning time each week for as long as it takes to successfully launch their business.
  
  
• Someone who is committed to following their written business plan throughout their first year in business.
  
  
• Someone who has the courage to drive ahead when things don't go right during their first year in business.

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