Today’s post is brought to you by Chelsea Lamb at Businesspop.net. If you’re interested in submitting a guest post, contact me via the Contact tab of this site.

When it comes to getting started as an entrepreneur, sometimes you have to take a leap of faith. Of course, that doesn’t mean you should take that leap blindly. In order to make your new business into a success and support your entrepreneurial dreams long-term, you have to do some considerable planning. So, before you make the jump to owning a small business, make sure you are fully prepared by completing this crucial planning steps for entrepreneurs.

Think About Your Tech Needs

You can’t run your own successful small business without the right tech. So, before you branch out on your own, be sure to research the tech you need to get a solid start. And yes, you do need tech to help a business thrive, which includes knowing how to access information and resources that can help you attract your first customers.

For example, Upwork explains that hiring a JavaScript (JS) developer can help with this effort since these highly trained experts know how to apply dynamic features to business websites in order to showcase products and services to potential customers. Hiring JS designers can help increase ROI, bring in more customers, and distinguish your site from others in the same field. So how do you find a good match for your needs? You should look for JS freelancers with in-depth experience in CSS, HTML, and JavaScript, but they should also feel confident working with back-end programming, such as Express.j.s., ECMAScript, Node.js., and Horizon. Another perk of JavaScript is that your site is more likely to be mobile friendly and capture the attention of people who access your website via smartphones and tablets.

Be Clear About Your New Business Setup

Thinking about tech should be part of your overall small business plan. Going through each individual step in this crucial process will help you create a roadmap for success. So, be sure to spend some time creating your business plan, but you should also save some time and effort for actually putting that plan into action. One item that should be on your planning agenda is determining which business structure best suits your new start-up. While a sole proprietorship is the simplest structure for most entrepreneurs, setting up an LLC can also have major benefits for new business owners looking to protect their personal assets. When it comes time to actually set up this structure, you may need to pay for licensing or permit fees to your local or state government, or even to the federal government. Being aware of these setup costs can help you better estimate your small business budget and find ways to pay for initial expenses, such as small business loans or other sources of funding. 

Create or Find a Workspace to Fuel Your Success

As you create a plan and budget for your new small business, you should also think about where you will work. For most entrepreneurs, this means setting up an efficient home workspace in an area of their home that is free from distractions. You may need to declutter or remodel this space in your home, or you may need to look for budget-friendly office furniture.

Now, you may be thinking about deducting your expenses for this space during the next tax year, but taking the home office credit can be tricky. So, if this is a deduction that will help your new small business succeed, be prepared to provide all the details to the IRS and consistently track your expenses. Alternatively, you can opt to work in a co-working space. One of the advantages of working in one of these shared spaces is that you can deduct fees from your taxes, but you can also benefit from increased productivity, enhanced access to business resources, and unparalleled opportunities to network with other new entrepreneurs.

If you want to succeed as an entrepreneur, you have to believe in yourself. However, self-confidence isn’t the only thing you need to truly thrive and succeed. You also need the right planning, preparation, and research to give yourself a solid foundation as a new entrepreneur and make the leap into this major career transition a leap in the right direction for your life.