I think your first step would be to get a great lawyer on your side, a very knowledgeable accountant, and someone that has been in the business for a while to start your sales team and client management. I am actually looking into a similar business at the moment and you guys have provided a great deal of good resources thanks guys!

Just a couple financial management resources for you here: Basic Guide to Financial Management Financial Management Workbook from SCORE There are other great resources on financial management and accounting for small businesses. Here's a great basic resource with accounting terms and definition: http://sellitontheweb.com/blog/accounting-financial-management-new-busin... Here's another good one as well from Yahoo! Small Business on financial management principles http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-subCat-m-2-sc-53-finance_financial_management-i' target='_self here. Message Edited by NicoleD on 11-05-2009 12:54 PM

I think it is important if you start, to make as minimal costs and see how your business go. If it goes well, you can enlarge your team. But an accountant is of course a must if you don't know how to do it yourself. Bassevelde Assenede Message Edited by NicoleD on 09-02-2009 05:20 PM

Even though I cannot speak from first hand experience I know some small business owners who use Quick books and when tax time comes, he just emails his CPA the automatically tabulated file and he's done. (After he cuts the check to the CPA)

My advice is to network in your community - find people that you trust and ask them who they recommend. I have heard way to many horror stories of accountants or bookkeepers stealing the company blind. You can also seek out small, well known accounting firms in your local community who can provide all the services you are seeking - and, as they work with many clients - there prices many be better than you think.

eChange, That's a big question. If you're bringing in $100K a year in gross sales vs. $10M the answers to your question should be very different. Many larger cities or counties have entrepreneurial support organizations. Maybe contact a local chamber of commerce and ask if any such organization exits in your area. Maybe also join the chamber then you have an open door to discuss your particular situation and get a variety of good answers and referrals. Good Luck!

Without question, your best source of solid information is an Advisory Board. This board has no real power. It is not like a Board of Directors. It advises only. If you can induce some people from your industry to join your board, you will be eons ahead of other startups. Sometimes college profs will sit on these boards; sometimes local leaders will. Even a successful businessperson in another industry could be a good person to add. An Advisory Board may or may not be compensated. That's up to you, and what you can offer them. Can you give them publicity? Contacts? Prestige? You can meet online, or in person from time to time. Send out an agenda ahead of time, and send a summary afterwards. You add or delete members as your needs evolve. Since an Advisory Board has no real responsibility, the members also have no liability, so people are often more open to this type of board. These people will also be able to point you in the direction of solid professionals that you might consider hiring, whether for special projects or on an on going basis. MaryAnnwww.BusinessPlanMaster.comBusiness Plans for Financing Your Business

Thanks for your post eChange. I'm curious to hear the approaches that start-ups are taking.