Resource: SBA.GOV

Starting your business, especially in the film industry, can be nerve-racking.  The U.S. Small Business Administration is a great website to start with.  It will help you tackle what you need, where to get it, and answer questions you might not have realized you had.

This website, SBA.GOV, has some really great tips and information.  There is a great place to start, Starting a Small Business.  Sometimes it is hard to remember that even if it is a movie production company, it is still a business.  You still need to file taxes, hire staff and gain a profit.  Hopefully one day your small business will turn into a huge corporation.

One of the best tips for beginners is writing a business plan.  Get your ideas down on paper.  SBA.GOV suggests finding a niche and using market research, tables and graphs as well as surveys to help find what is needed in your market.  Using your creativity and well thought out business ideas will help strengthen your business in the long run.  There are also templates available if you need that extra help getting started.

Another big thing that I have utilized on this great website is the checklist they provide to help you secure a loan.  Getting the money to start your business is key.  Many businesses will fail if there is not enough money to help them grow.  Check out their business loan application checklist page for more details.

Even after spending a great deal of time researching and detailing everything you need for a new business, it can never hurt to have a mentor to go to for advice.  You can check out local resources as well to help you.  But the best advice anyone can ever give you is to research, research, and don’t forget to do your research!  Be prepared, and good luck!