What is a business and how do I start one?

Simply put, a business is an activity undertaken first and foremost for the purpose of making a profit. However, whether or not your business actually makes money is immaterial. The key to what defines a business is the intention to turn a profit. Also, although many ventures arise from hobbies and many owners find businesses enjoyable to run, they are still businesses as long as the profit motive is there. For example, a person who collects baseball cards strictly for their own enjoyment pursues a hobby, while someone who buys and sells baseball cards in a store in order to make money is, in most case, classified as a business owner.

You can find business information from state's department of commerce or chamber of business. In many areas, you are required by law to declare a “doing business as” (DBA) name, even if you are not required to incorporate. This is largely for accountability and tax purposes – and also helps when people want to find businesses. As you can imagine, it is much easier to keep track of “Johnson's Plumbing” rather than trying to remember that your name is “Mark Johnson” and you run a plumbing business. Once you file with your local government, individuals will be able to find business information on your proprietorship from simple contact information to organization dates and legal status.

In addition to filing with your local government, another step you'll want to take when setting up a business is to form a business plan. Even if you are running a relatively simple business, you will still want to form a rudimentary framework for your operations. You'll want to know what kind of profits you expect to make, who your market is, how you'll find business, what obstacles you expect to encounter and other logistical issues. You can find business information for creating a sound plan from your local government resources as well as on the Web (try searching Find.com for “business plans” by pointing your browser to www.find.com/business_plans).

Once you are ready to start taking customers, it's important to know how they will reach you. While print phone books used to be the most accessible source use to find business information, the Internet has vastly expanded the potentials for reaching clients. Many consumers now rely solely on the Web when they want to find business information, as it also contains useful reviews and product information not available in more limited print forms. Ensuring that you have a strong Web presence is essential in attracting business.

Whether you are looking to run a business or just want to find business information on a little known company you are thinking of patronizing or investing with; a bit of additional research will serve you well. You can find business information here, at find.com/business or find other government resources from the United States Small Business Association or your local chamber of commerce.