Small Business Week Is Here, So Turn Your Idea Into Reality With This Starter Kit Don't wait, start today.

By Nina Zipkin

sba.gov

With Small Business Week 2019 upon us, now is as good a time as any to begin making that idea you can't stop thinking about a reality. As of last year, there were 30.2 million small businesses in the United States -- and you could join their ranks.

Don't let a fear of failure hold you back. If it doesn't work out like you think, learning from those mistakes will only help pave the way to something great. It's important to remember that there is no one right way to succeed, but you won't get anywhere unless you start.

Read on for some insights to help you take those first steps.

Financing

How to Finance Taking Your Startup to the Big Time

4 Practical Tips for Building Up Your Savings to Launch Your Small Business

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Seeking Startup Capital

4 Ways to Finance Your Business

9 Steps to Launching a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign

Inspiration

20 Leadership Quotes From the World's Most Influential Leaders

22 Successful Entrepreneurs Share What Inspires Them to Keep Going

10 Inspirational and Motivational YouTube Channels You Should Watch

7 Proven Ways to Redirect Stress Into a Powerful Success Motivator

5 Ways to Keep Yourself Inspired to Achieve Your Goals

Marketing

The Complete Guide to Building 'Buzz' and Getting Press for You and Your Business

How to Make Your Small Business Website Really, Really Effective

3 Tips for Getting Emails Noticed, Opened and Read (60-Second Video)

5 Ways to Build Your Brand That Aren't Social Media Marketing

Are You Doing These 3 Things to Foster Brand Community?

Hiring

Use These Steps to Hire the Best Team Every Time

The 10 Unique Soft Skills Employers Desire in New Hires

As Your Company Scales, These Are the 8 Keys to Hiring the Right Team Members

How to Make Your Startup Team More Diverse

Forget Cultural Fit and Look for Cultural Impact

Business Plans

7 Steps to a Perfectly Written Business Plan

Turn Your Business Plan Into Money!

Business Plans: A Step-by-Step Guide

Writing a Business Plan May Not Be Your Idea of Fun, But It Forces You to Build These 4 Crucial Habits

3 Crucial Questions to 'Fail Proof' Your New Business Idea

Franchise

Starting a Franchise But Need Financing? Here's What to Do.

23 Questions to Ask a Franchisor When You Meet Face to Face

24 Top-Ranked, Affordable Franchises You Can Buy for $25,000 or Less

20 Franchises You Can Launch for Less Than $75,000

The Top-Ranked Franchise 500 Companies Available in All 50 States

Nina Zipkin

Entrepreneur Staff

Staff Writer. Covers leadership, media, technology and culture.

Nina Zipkin is a staff writer at Entrepreneur.com. She frequently covers leadership, media, tech, startups, culture and workplace trends.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

This 31-Year-Old Spends 2 Hours Per Week On His $3,000-a-Month Passive Income Side Hustle: 'Trust Your Vision'

Hansel Moore's home office "wasn't cutting it" — so he found another place to be creative.

Business News

JPMorgan Is Reportedly Laying Off Around 1,000 Workers

JPMorgan is also planning job cuts in mid-March, May, June, August, and September, according to new reports.

Business News

Elon Musk's xAI Is Reportedly Set to Hire Thousands of 'AI Tutors' With Pay Up to $65 an Hour

Employees told Business Insider the company is expanding hiring soon.

Growing a Business

The 10 Best Podcasts Every Entrepreneur Should Listen to for Growth, Strategy and Success

Unlock your potential with the 10 must-listen podcasts for entrepreneurs, offering expert insights on growth, strategy and success.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Growing a Business

How to Break Free From Your Comfort Zone and Start Fueling The Growth of Your Company

Have you ever found yourself stuck in a pattern, circling the same solutions without finding your way forward? Here's how to break free from our self-imposed limitations.