Small Business Essay 1

Running head: Issues Affecting Small Business

Loretta Lewis8

ENG105-0901A-04, Unit 1

Issues Affecting Small Business

Process Analysis, Chapter 11

February 15, 2009

 Small Business Essay 2

ISSUES AFFECTING SMALL BUSINESS

Small Business: Start to Finish

Loretta Lewis
The writer of this document has owned and operated a small business for 37 years. She is a 58
year old who is currently working for an Elementary School Book Publisher as the manager of
Electronic Publishing, Composition and Research/Development. She runs her small business
from her home in her spare time. The business is called Bunny’s Place. It is named after her
nickname that she has gone by, as if it were her real name, all of her life. She started in business
by just performing small tasks for individuals who were in the process of getting married and
wanted a wedding package, or someone who was in need of business cards, flyers, pamphlets
and things of that nature. She is adept at Graphic Arts and Design and designs everything
herself with instructions from the buyers. She is currently laid off and is instructing others in
how to start a small business.
Small businesses are very complicated to start if it is your first time and you do not know
where to begin. You start off running around like a chicken with no head trying to gather all the
information that others are telling you that you are going to need in order to start correctly
without encountering any pitfalls. In the next section of this essay, it will explain the process that
you need to follow in order to start a small business. You do not have to follow all of the steps
consecutively, but they all must be done in order for you to be successful.
Note: The steps here for your business plan and your checklist do not necessarily have to
take place in this order because some of the information you need may take longer for you
to acquire.

1. Making a Business Plan

In order for your small business to succeed, you must have a business plan. The business
plan document is the most important document that you will need to help you become a success
in any kind of business. The plan should list anything and everything that your business entails
and some personal information about you.
Once you have established what type of business you are going to open, you can go
online and search for samples of business plans written by other small businesses or large
corporations that may already be operating a similar type of business. You can also find business
plan templates (samples) to help you get started. These templates may be different depending on
the type of business, so you would want to be sure that you have selected the one that is closest
to your business. A sample of what a small business plan might entail is listed below to help you
on your way.
Sample Business Plan
1. The Business Profile
• Write a description of the business and tell how it will serve the community.
(the community is where the business is located)
• Describe the market you are targeting.
(the market suggest the people you intend to sell to; who you expect to patronize
your business)
 Small Business Essay 3

a. Is the product you intend to sell specific to a certain thing like (shoes, books,
cars, etc.)
b. How will the laws in the community affect your business? Laws such as those
written by a Home Owners Association (HOA) or city or county government
for the area where you intend to locate your business?
c. Will your product need to be produced in several different genres?
(languages, lifestyles)?
d. Depending on where your business is located (a separate building that is not
attached; a storefront, shopping center; downtown, community town center),
how will this affect the businesses productivity or lack thereof?
e. Will all of the items listed above affect the cost and/or pricing of your
product(s)?
• Talk about the growth of the business.
(discuss rent, mortgage, expansion prospects)
• Describe your pricing and how it will be cost effective to the community.
(discuss whether or not your pricing would in any way price you out of the
community or make it impossible for you to compete with surrounding businesses
that have the same kinds of products)
2. Your Vision
Your vision is what you aspire your business to be and/or become.
3. Information about yourself
Describe your work experience and why it applies to your running this kind
of a business.
4. The People
Here you should talk about your Personal experience with business and state any
Education and/or Credentials (degrees/certificates) you might have.
5. Kinds of Communication
Explain the kinds of communication devices that your business will have such as:
telephones (desktop and mobile), computers (desktops and/or laptops), software, etc.
6. Business Organization
Explain your businesses organization:
• Why you set the business up the way that you did;
• Why it will be best for your business. Explain.
7. Professional Consultants
List the names of your attorneys, your accountants, your insurance company(s) and
agent. List anyone who will be involved in the business in an advisory capacity.
8. Licenses
List all of your licenses and permits.

2. Make a Checklist
Once you have completed your business plan you will be ready to start making your
checklist. Before you start a small business you will need to list all of the items that have
to be done in time for you to open the doors of your business. The list will look something
like this:

Do Business As (DBA) Checklist

 Small Business Essay 4

a. Find a Business Name

(You must think of a name for your business, then go online or go to the local county
records department, which is usually located in the courthouse, to make sure that the
name you choose is not already in use by another business). These records are public
domain, so anyone can look at them.
b. Picked up forms from County Offices. (courthouse)
c. Paid fees for filing forms (courthouse)
d. Put fictitious name in Local Newspapers

Local, State, and Federal License Checklist

The items below can all be found at your local county or state offices. (courthouse)
a. Pick up forms for basic business operation license
b. Apply for federal employer identification number
c. Obtain any zoning and/or land use permits
d. Obtain fire department permits
e. Obtain state issued business licenses or permits
f. Obtain occupational/professional licenses for state regulated services
g. Obtain special federal business license or permits
h. Register in person or by mail

Now that you have gone through and completed all of the steps above and received all the
licenses and permits that you need you are ready to make the final decisions as to whether or not you can
successfully open a small business enterprise. Do not try to make the decision alone. Contact your
lawyer(s), your accountant(s), and your insurance agent(s) and setup a meeting with them to discuss the
processes that you have gone through, show them your paperwork, and they will be able to tell you
whether or not there are still things that need to be done. These individuals deal with businesses of all
types, all the time, and can help to keep you from making the fatal mistakes that could cause your new
small business from opening or to close before it can get off the ground and onto its feet.
When you are done with this meeting you will be more than sure of whether or not you are ready
for the Grand Opening of your small business.