I want to start a small business. How do I start?

Question

I want to sell indian dresses, decorative and gift items in PA. I know where to get the supply. How do I start. Please give me step by step info if you can.

I want to know...
1. How to rent a shop
2. How do I get financial spport for small bunisses
3. What are the licensing procedure
4. What are the taxes and fees to gov.
5. and anything else you can think of.

Thank you very much.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

You are looking for a book as you have so many questions and you need a lot of information that no one here in YA will have the patience to type.

I suggest you start with resources on how to start a small business in Pennsylvania:

PA Open for Business http://www.paopen4business.state.pa.us/p…
Starting a Business http://www.newpa.com/default.aspx?id=25
Entrepreneur's Guide: Starting and Growing a Business in Pennsylvania http://www.newpa.com/download.aspx?id=5

I suggest you also consult with a business mentor. Government and organizations such as SCORE provide free mentorship assistance where you can have a counselor guide you through your business startup process. Here's a listing of SBA offices as well as SCORE offices in PA

SBA Pennsylvania http://www.sba.gov/pa/
Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center http://www.pasbdc.org/
Bethlehem - Lehigh Valley SCORE http://www.lehighvalleyscore.org
Erie - Erie SCORE http://www.score193eriepa.com
Fairless Hills - Bucks County SCORE http://www.score570.org
Harrisburg - Harrisburg SCORE http://www.panetwork.com/score
Jenkintown - E. Montgomery City SCORE http://www.score513.org
Lancaster - Lancaster SCORE http://www.scorelancaster.org
Latrobe - Westmoreland Co SCORE http://www.scorewestco555.org
Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh SCORE http://www.scorepittsburgh.com
Pottstown - Pottstown SCORE http://www.pottstownscore.org
Reading - Reading SCORE http://www.readingscore.com
State College - Central PA SCORE http://www.scorecpa.org
Uniontown - Uniontown SCORE http://www.uniontownscore.com
West Chester - Chester County SCORE http://www.scorechesco.org
Williamsport - N. Central PA SCORE http://www.lycoming.org/score
York - York SCORE http://www.yorkscore.org

Then read books such as:

- What No One Ever Tells You About Starting Your Own Business: Real Life Start-Up Advice from 101 Successful Entrepreneurs http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1…
- If You're Clueless About Starting Your Own Business and Want to Know More http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1…
- Start Your Own Business : The Only Start-Up Book You'll Ever Need http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1…
- Steps to Small Business Start-Up : Everything You Need to Know to Turn Your Idea into a Successful Business http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1…

Source(s):

How to Start a Business in Pennsylvania http://www.powerhomebiz.com/resources/st…

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thank you very much. Also thanks to
"TM Expre". I can only choose one best.

Answer 2

start small and work from there...

Answer 3

Talk to other business owners and pick there brains!!! That is how I started my business! Oh and don't be afriad of taking risks!!!!!

Answer 4

1. Build a wigwam
2. Apply for loan from government. Tell them you are an Apochee and you will get all the money you need.
3. just send three wigwam to PA
4. 4 wigwam
5. Get another idea. If you are asking these questions here, you are way off. Go do the internet searches on your own. Type in your question. Call others who may be in the business.

Answer 5

Associations may be a good avenue to explore. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links.

Research, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:

* Start and Run a Profitable Retail Business by Jim Dion, Ted Topping
* Retail Business Kit for Dummies by Rick Segel
* Specialty Shop Retailing: How to Run Your Own Store Revised by Carol L. Schroeder
* So You Want To Own The Store: Secrets to Running a Successful Retail Operation by Mort Brown

* How to Start a Business in Pennsylvania by Desiree A. Petrus, Mark Warda
* How to Start a Business in Pennsylvania by Entrepreneur Press

There are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Source(s):

http://www.entrepreneur.com/howto/retail -- Entrepreneur's How to Start a Retail Business Guide

Associations:
http://www.nrf.org – National Retail Federation
http://www.narda.com -- North American Retail Dealers Association
http://www.imra.org – Retail Industry Leaders Association

Articles:
http://www.ezinearticles.com/?Building-R… – Building Retail Business without Financial Muscle by James Little
http://ezinearticles.com/?Start-a-Small-… – Start a Small Retail Business with Multiple Sales Channels by Jacob Wren
http://ezinearticles.com/?Retail-Selling… – Retail Selling Strategies by Donny Lowy

http://www.paopen4business.state.pa.us/p… -- PA Open for Business
http://www.pasbdc.org/ -- PA Small Business Development Center
http://www.pachamber.org/ -- PA Chamber of Business & Industry