Many people decide to start a business using their gifts. Having your own business affords you the luxury of a flexible schedule, being able to choose who you work with, and doing work that is truly fulfilling to you.

There are certain things you must take into consideration before taking the plunge into your own business.

First, know the difference between dabbling and having a serious business. You dabble when you only use your healing modality on friends or family, or very rarely on paying clients. Realize that a business is meant to provide financial support. Yes, you will be doing something you love, but you also need to do all of the business things like tracking results, marketing, planning, and bookkeeping. If you continue to dabble, your business will never fully get off the ground.

When deciding whether to go into business, do some research. Find out what other successful business owners have done and follow their lead.

The second thing that is imperative to your business is a business plan. Yes, you do need one. Creating a business plan is important. By going through the process of planning, you’ll learn a great deal about your potential business. You’ll learn everything that will be involved to make your business a success.

By creating a business plan, you will also be giving yourself a guide that will tell you where you are right now, where you want to be in a year to 5 years, and how you’re going to get to that end result.

Take your time with your business plan. This is not something to be rushed. Plan to work on it for a minimum two weeks. Really think about each section, and don’t be afraid to refine your plan as you work through it. Nothing is set in stone. As you gain more information, you can modify your plan.

The third consideration is money. You gotta spend it to make it, as the saying goes, and in business it’s true. Make a list of all the things you need to start your business and how much they cost. This will tell you how much money you need for start-up.

The next thing you’ll want to figure out is your operating expenses. What equipment, tools and supplies will you need on a day-to-day basis to run your business.

Once you get that number, you can figure out how much product you will need to sell in order to break even, and make a profit.

You will also need to determine how much you want to contribute to your household income through your business. You may need to hold down a job until your business brings in enough cash-flow to cover your living expenses.

Another thing to know about starting your business is that it won’t be an instant success. It takes time to build a business. Have patience and enjoy the process!

Figure out how you are going to market yourself and realize that one marketing technique or one marketing campaign isn’t going to bring you instant fame and fortune. It may take up to 6 months or longer to get your first customer.

Finally, know that you can do this. Make your plan and take action. The action is the key. You can have the biggest dreams and make all the plans in the world, but without action, your business will not become a reality.

Having your own business is exciting. Take a good look at everything that goes into running a business before taking the plunge. Don’t rush into it full steam ahead and expect instant results. Your business can, and will be a success if you take the time to plan and follow it up with good, solid action.