You may have been thinking about it for years or just a few months.

Maybe something happened at work that made you consider quitting and finally acting on that business idea or maybe you just lost your job and are thinking that this may be the year you go out on my own.Before you rush out and do something you may end up regretting, there are a few very important things to consider.Do you have any experience running a business? If you are currently working in a management position you have on the job training that will give you a leg up but remember being your own boss is not as glamourous as you may think.You will be putting in more hours and have more headaches than you did when you worked for someone else. The positive of that is you are working for yourself doing something that you passionately believe in.Have you fully vetted your idea?You've done your research to see if your product or service is something that people actually want to pay cold hard cash for. Every business, whether it is a service or product or whether it's online or in a brick and mortar storefront, exists to solve a problem. You should always be thinking of how you can solve your customer's problems daily.Are you personally financially fit? A good rule of thumb is to have a minimum of 6 months to 1 year of living expenses set aside for your household. You will have enough to worry about starting a business without the added stress of worrying about how you're going to pay the mortgage or electric bill.How are you going to finance your business? If you want to apply for a business loan, you will need to show at least 3 years of financial projections.This is an estimate of how much money you feel you may be able to bring in when you are fully operational and includes salaries and basic costs of doing business such as rent, utilities, insurance, marketing and inventory if you are selling products.Setting up a marketing program is something else you will need to consider. Being open for business is not much good if people don't know about you. There are many options for your business marketing. A great website is a good place to start and is extremely important to your success.Now that your head is spinning and you are beginning to wonder if you should go through with this, don't despair. Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corporation works every day with new entrepreneurs to help them navigate through those shark infested waters. Best of all, there is no charge for our services.From a confidential meeting with a professional counselor from the Small Business Development Center at Wilkes University to helping provide low-interest loans, we have the experience you need to get you started on the right track.All you need to do is pick up the phone and call us.