Many small businesses are started without outside help or intervention. Yes, it requires a lot of work, research, trips and/or phone calls to various government agencies and specialized professionals and, especially, patience and tenacity. You will find on the Activizers.com website a guide to what we recommend is necessary to accomplish a successful small business start-up. There are also many books on this subject available from the U.S. Government Small Business Administration as well as commercial book sellers. If you decide to follow that route you should be careful to select books reflecting the requirements and unique situation in the state in which your business will reside. Each state is different and there are few federal standards (other than employee and federal income tax requirements).

But You'll Still Need Some Help

Even if you decide to proceed on your own, you will still need expert tax advice and, most probably, a good attorney. There are many legal traps that can be easily avoided if you seek the expert advice before hand rather than waiting for the problems to hit you.

The 'Employee Trap'

If you intend to hire employees, it is especially important that you have the advice of an attorney. There are so many rules today, many with vicious teeth, that even an inadvertent slip can be very expensive and even, in a worst case, land you in the lockup. These potential problems usually can be avoided (though there is no guarantee) and it is well worth being extra cautious. If you don't really need employees — especially in the immediate future — it is best to contract out those activities for which you might otherwise need employees. It will cost less both in money and headaches.

Think About It — Carefully!

As we said earlier, many small businesses are started without outside help or intervention. It does requires a lot of work, research, trips and/or phone calls to various government agencies and specialized professionals and, it especially requires a lot of patience and tenacity on your part and on the part of your family.

Using a Mentor . . .