Location

Where you decide to set up your business will depend on the type of company you have, whether customers come to you or you go to them and, very often, what’s available and what you can afford.

If you’re providing a service such as home repair or construction, gardening or plumbing, your primary concerns may be cost and convenience — you need a place to store equipment and keep your records. But if you have a retail shop, then location becomes critical — people need to be able to get to your store easily, and you want as much visibility as possible to attract attention and possibly get some walk-in business.

It may also be possible to work out of your home, provided you have room for any equipment or office space you’ll need. Some areas are zoned residential, which means it may not be legal to operate a business out of a home. So be sure to check any local zoning ordinances before you set up shop at home, plus check whether any state regulations apply. For example, you may need a certain amount of space to operate a children’s daycare center.