Four Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting a Business

Not so fast, Martha Stewart.

OK, you’re special. You are talented and one of the best at what you do. But that doesn’t mean that you’re equipped to run your own business–even one within a field or industry you’ve been working in or following for years.

To wit: 627,200 new businesses opened in the U.S. in 2008–the same year 595,600 businesses shuttered and 43,546 filed for bankruptcy, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Likewise, 30% of small businesses fail within the first two years and half close shop within five years, according to the SBA.

The fact of the matter is that far too many people launch their own companies for all the wrong reasons and without the tools it takes to succeed. Before handing in your notice and signing a lease on an office, it’s imperative you take a hard look at yourself in the salaried eye and ask yourself a few critical questions that could mean the difference between a fulfilling life as your own boss and speed-dialing a bankruptcy lawyer.

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