There are many resources to help you start your own business in the Starting a Business section of this website.
For instance, What Type of Business You Should Start explains how to figure out what type of business is the best fit with your goals and lifestyle. If you know you want to start a small business, but have been having trouble deciding just what you want to do, it will be a big help.
Once you have a specific industry or profession in mind, you'll want to browse this list of "How to Start Your Own Business as a --------" articles to find the specific advice you need to make your dream business a real business.
How to Start Your Own Business Articles From About
- 10 Steps to Follow Before You Start a Crafts Business
About.com Arts / Crafts Business Guide Maire Loughran provides advice on everything from getting practical experience through finding vendors in this essential starting a crafts business collection of articles.
- Bed and Breakfast Worksheets for Aspiring Innkeepers
Thinking of starting your own B&B business? This series of articles by Eleanor Ames covers everything from startup costs through being a good host (About.com Bed and Breakfasts).
- Biotech Business Models
Theresa Phillips explains the three main structures that would be used to set up a biotech company, the vertical, platform and product models (About.com Biotech / Biomedical).
- What You Should Know Before Starting a Catering Business
Greg Casella, 2010 president of the National Association of Catering Executives (NACE) and owner of his own catering company, gives his advice for anyone who wants to start a successful catering business (About.com Event Planning).
- Setting up a Composites Shop
"A good way to plan your facility is to think through the entire manufacturing process, from statement of design to delivery of the product," says Barry Berenberg. Here he explains what you need to set up a manufacturing facility for composites (About.com Composites / Plastics).
- Start a Desktop Publishing or Graphics Design Business
This collection of articles for starting your own business from About.com Desktop Publishing Guide Jacci Howard Bear includes advice for creating a portfolio, finding clients, choosing a name and business planning.
- How Does Ecommerce Work?
A must-read if you want to start your own business selling products and/or services online from Ajeet Khurana, About.com Guide to Ecommerce.
- How to Start an Event Planning or Meeting Planning Business
Rob Hard provides a detailed explanation of how you can start your own business in the events and meetings industry, from the events planning skills and experience you need through establishing a fee structure (About.com Event Planning).
- Answers to Common Questions About Freelancing in the Advertising Industry
About.com Advertising Guide Paul Suggett explains the ins and outs of becoming a freelancer in the advertising industry, from how much a freelancer should charge through dealing with taxes.
- Make Freelance Writing Your Full-Time Job
Learn exactly what freelance writing is, what kinds of things freelance writers write, how much money a freelancer can make and what it takes to succeed in freelance writing from Allena Tapia of About.com Freelance Writing.
- Lessons on Turning an Invention Idea Into Money
Like to start your own business based on one of your inventions? Inventors Guide Mary Bellis leads you through the process of turning an idea into a money making invention in this series of online lessons.
- Before You Become a Freelance Mobile App Developer
Priya Viswanathan, About.com Guide to Mobile Devices, explains why becoming a freelance mobile apps developer may be better than working as an employee for someone else and provides the information you need to make money from developing and selling your own mobile apps.
- How to Start an Online Business
Learn what you need to know to start a successful online business with this detailed guide from Bryan Haines of About.com Online Business.
- Opening a Pagan Business
Patti Wigington explains what you need to know before starting your own business as a Pagan-based business such as a bookstore, a candle shop, or an energy-work studio, including advice on how to deal with specific issues that non-Pagan businesses probably don’t have to deal with (About.com Paganism / Wicca).
- How to Start a Patient or Other Health Advocates Business
Trisha Torrey, About.com Guide to Patient Empowerment, explains in detail how to take an entrepreneurial approach to patient advocacy in this five part series.
- 10 Steps to Become a Personal Fitness Trainer
Are you a fitness enthusiast with a passion for health? Then maybe an exercise-related business such as becoming a personal fitness trainer is for you. Read this article by About.com Exercise Guide Paige Waehner if you're interested in starting this kind of small business.
- Before You Open a Restaurant
From deciding if opening a restaurant is right for you and choosing a concept through how to be sure your new restaurant is properly equipped, About.com Restauranting Guide Lorri Mealey’s in-depth guide will lead you through the entire process of starting your own restaurant
- What Type of Person Succeeds in a Real Estate Career?
About.com Real Estate Guide James Kimmons lays out the pros and cons of starting your own real estate business.
- Becoming an Independent Travel Agent
It can still be a very profitable business, says Bonnie Burgess. Here she presents statistics from a study by the American Society of Travel Agents and information on how people can become travel agents themselves (About.com Tourism).
- Becoming a Professional Web Designer
Resources such as job leads, tips for writing contracts, pricing suggestions, marketing and advertising advice from About.com Web Design/HTML Guide Jennifer Kyrnin will help you start your own business as a web designer.
- Here Comes the Wedding Planner
What does a wedding planner do? What skills are required? What typical fees and startup costs might you expect? Career Planning Guide Dawn Rosenberg McKay provides the answers.
