Starting a small business requires commitment, careful planning, and energetic execution. Below are some general tips for how to begin getting your small business off the ground.

Think about:
-Creating a business plan
-Developing 2, 5, and 10 year business timelines
-Grant writing opportunities
-Establishing a board of directors
-Managing finances and creating a payroll
-Targeting clientele
-Hiring and firing employees
-Improving name recognition (creating a website, search engine optimizations, social media following, marketing, advertising)
-Research similar organizations and define what made them successful or unsuccessful. What mistakes did they make and how can you avoid making similar mistakes with your company? What created their success?

Read About It: Select a book about small business or entrepreneurship to read together
-The Wall Street Journal: Complete Small Business Guidebook by Colleen Debaise
-Small Business Management: An Entrepreneurial Emphasis by J. William Petty
-The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni
-The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebau
-The Unbreakable Rules of Marketing by Cathey Armillas and Jeff Berry

IMB Tool Kits [http://us.smetoolkit.org/en]
Learn about building a small business with IMB’s Tool Kits
-Deciding on a Business, Business Plans, Organization, Licensing, Accounting, Financing, Start-up Costs, Forecasting Calculator

Resources: Utilize these additional resources throughout your mentorship

-EBV [http://www.ebvfoundation.org/]
Entrepreneurship program for veterans with disabilities

-B-Plans [http://www.bplans.com]
Samples of more than 100 Business Plans

-Digital [https://digital.com/]
Reviews of various Small Business Platforms and Websites.

-Small Business Association [http://www.sba.gov]
Veteran specific programs, grants and loans

-Start-Up Nation [http://www.startupnation.com]
Video segments, forums and groups for entrepreneurs

-Entrepreneurship [http://www.entrepreneurship.org/en/About.aspx]
Free resource designed to build entrepreneurial economies