Starting my new Computer Support Business is truly a grass-roots effort.  I have no previous business experience.  I’ve only taken one class in community college relating to business.  I don’t have any immediate relatives who own a business.  Also, I’m going to attempt to make this business completely self-funded, meaning I’m going to avoid using my own money and instead use money I make from the business and put it back into the business.  I’m really starting from scratch here.

So in order to set some goals, ensure forward movement, and to help you all keep me in line, I’m listing the first steps I’ve taken, or will take, in these early days of business development. 

1. Have a Business Plan - This has been completed, more or less.  I have a good idea of the services I’m going to offer and how I’m going to offer them. 
2. Come up with a name - With the help of friends and family, I found a name I feel is catchy and represents my business and it’s services.  More on that later.
3. Register the business name - I’ve began the process of this.  I used LegalZoom to file for a DBA (Doing Business As) and a Trade-name Application to make my business official.  There have been some snags in this process and I’m working on getting things ironed out.  I’ll let you know how things turn out.
4. Start finding a way to make money - I’ve also started doing this.  I’ve been able to do computer repair work on the side with the help of the service company ComputerAssistant.com.  They funnel customers to techs who then bid on the work.  It’s been a god-send and I’ll be sure to write up a post all about it soon.
5. Put that money in a bank account in the businesses name - This will allow me to make sure that I keep my business and personal finances seperate and also allow me to write checks and accept payments as my business name.  
6. Create a separate business phone number - I haven’t done this yet because I’m waiting to get the bank account set-up first.  I want to keep phone calls from customers distinctly seperate from other phone calls.  I’m thinking of using a Skype or Vonage account for this.
7. Make some business cards and start spreading the word through family and friends - And this is where my business will officially start generating true revenue, hopefully.

Once I get to step 7, and actually start getting some customers, doing some work, and making some money, I can move on to other things like building a website, drafting service contracts, getting insurance, and getting my finances organized. 

Am I missing anything?

Sidebar:  With this post I’m trying out a MySpace Crossposter which will publish new blog entries into my MySpace profile also.  So now all my MySpace buddies can keep tabs on my progress as well.  Cool stuff! Yes, I know, MySpace is for teenage girls.  But it’s useful to me for a number of reasons, mostly because alot of people I know use MySpace or Facebook.  I’d use the Facebook crossposter as well, but many of my coworkers are on Facebook and I’m not sure I want to let them know what I’m up to with all this just yet.  Is that concern justified?