As a prospective small business owner, you may plan:

1. To manufacture products that wirelessly "link" laptop and notebook PCs to home or business computer networks
2. To provide digital certificate solutions (IDs) and infrastructure needed by industry, government, and individuals to conduct "secure" communications and commerce over the Internet, intranets, and extranets
3. To sell mail-order prescription drugs
4. To design custom furniture solutions for "mounting" all electronics on the wall to stylishly regain valuable floor space in homes and offices
5. To develop a battery software management system for plug-in hybrid production cars
6. To erect a wind farm on ranch land
7. To operate a convalescent or retirement home
8. To manufacture a USB biometrics "fingerprint" reader that reliably authenticates users of PCs, corporate networks and the Internet with the simple swipe of a finger
9. To operate a home-based children day-care service
10. To design, develop, and manufacture implantable devices for the treatment of neurological disorders, or
11. To operate a restaurant.

Regardless of the type of business, there are some basic steps that you, as a "new" business owner, should follow.  In "Starting A Small Business In Michigan," we discuss these key steps:

There is also a Glossary of more than 40 business terms.  

During the past 7 years, there has been an overall upward trend in "new" business incorporations both nationally and in Michigan:

Michigan corporations include for-profit, nonprofit, and foreign corporations.

According to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Census statistics, there have been significant increases in the number of new businesses started by women, Blacks, persons of Hispanic origin, Asians, American Indians, and other minorities.  Gross receipts have likewise risen strongly.

Although our primary goal is to provide an overview for starting a new business, you must also focus on making your new business "grow" profitably.