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When you start a new business, you suddenly find yourself doing new functions that require you to get good quickly.  You are now involved in marketing, sales, customer service, accounting, and planning.  You may bring some of these skills to your new business.  But youll have to develop a good portion of these skills on the job.  This list of start-up secrets will help you focus on whats most important in setting up your business.

Secret #1: Research your market before you launch your business.  You need to learn the demand for your product or service, who your target customer is and who is your competition.  This may be better understood as what solution you are offering to what problem.  If there is competition, is there enough demand for additional businesses or is the current market saturated with providers.  The most important question to consider is how you will make your first sale.

Secret #2: Get advice from professionals and those who have already succeeded.  You should start with your local branch of Small Business Association (SBA) and SCORE offices as they offer retired executives who will share free advice or help you to make contacts with third party vendors.  Also, look at the Chamber of Commerce for any business networking opportunities to meet other business owners who have already been down the start-up road.

Secret #3 Determine how much financial capital youll need at start-up.  Many new businesses fail simply because they lacked the necessary capital to sustain their business until it became financially viable.  The start-up must determine how much capital will be required for products, overhead, marketing, etc.  Also, you should consider the required working capital as purchasing terms can increase the days until you receive payment.  Once you know how much, create a plan to find access to the needed capital before you launch.

Secret #4 Learn how to use the internet and other technology.  The internet has an vast number of resources to tap as you work through the business start-up plan.  You can use the internet for product demand and competitors intelligence.  Also, look to the web to connect with customer leads and potential business partners.  You should have access to email and seek customer interaction through the internet as it is a low-cost application for new businesses.

Secret #5 Be frugal with your start-up capital.  I have known entrepreneurs that would lease their computers, office furniture and anything to lower the cost of the business launch.  Of course, if the expense doesnt lead to a direct sale then you will want to find the lowest initial cost outlay.  This will conserve more capital so you can stay in business longer if sales are slow to take off.

Secret # 6 You must know and follow your passion.  It is your passion about your business that keeps you working through tough and difficult times.  It is passion that allows you to focus on your work because it is fun and not work.  If you are not passionate about the business you intend to start, then get a second opinion before you launch.

Secret #7 Learn how to survey your customers.  You must find out what your customers really want beyond what you are already delivering.  There are additional products and services needed by existing customers that do not have a present solution.  This is a great mechanism to increase sales by capturing more revenue per customer or a greater share of wallet.

Secret #8 Create a way to ease into your start-up business.  You do not need to go all in on the first day.  You can launch your business on a part-time basis then go full-time when profits will sustains your required income.  Prolong your day job as long as necessary regardless if your job is the reason youre going solo into business.

Secret #9 You must adopt technology as your best friend.  Stay up on the technology required to operate your business as well as learn new uses of technology to better your business.  If utilized correctly, technology will make you and your business operate more efficiently. It is the advances in technology that make it easier to launch a new business at such a low cost point as the internet.

Secret #10 You can outsource services rather than hire employees.  If you need additional help to sustain your business, then you can use a temporary or contract worker to lower your cost basis.  There are a number of websites such as Elance, Guru, and others where you can submit a request for a specific service and select the lowest bid or best offer for your project.

These ten secrets will help you to focus on what is required to launch your business.  To grow and succeed in your business, you must also plan where youre going and measure your results along the way.