The First Steps to Take to Start a New Business
开始创业的第一步

In any type of economy, there are many opportunities for entrepreneurs to go into business for themselves. Recent Bureau of Labor Statistics show that about 71 percent of future employment will come from small businesses. The following areas are likely to thrive for small businesses:
不管在什么样的经济形势下，创业者都有很多机会自主创业。最近劳工统计局的调查显示未来71%的就业就会由小企业提供。以下是一些将会繁荣发展的小企业类型：

1.Career counseling
就业辅导

2.Catering
公共饮食业

3.Computer and Office Machine Repair
电脑以及办公室仪器维修

4.Day Care
日护

5.Educational Services and Products
教育服务及相关产品

6.Financial Planning
财务规划

7.Home Health Care
居家护理

8.Marketing, promotion, and public relations
推销，促销，公关关系

9.Senior Fitness and recreation
高级健身和娱乐

10.Specialized delivery services
专门的运送服务

First, you want to be sure that you have the characteristics that make an entrepreneur. If, after your self-analysis, you determine that you do want to start a small business, then the first step you must take is proper planning.
首先，你要确定自己有成为创业者的必备特征。在自我分析之后，你得确定自己想开创自己的事业，那么你的第一步行动应该是建议一个合适的计划。

The First Steps to Start a New Business
创业的第一步

1.Identify a Product or Service That is Needed in the Marketplace.
确立你要销售的是在市场上有需求的服务和产品

The list of products and services that are needed in the marketplace is unlimited. You may have a dream that you’ve had for years about an invention. You may have a new idea about a current, or old, product or service that can be used in a new way. You may have a talent that you want to use to start your business. Any of these ideas will work.
市场上有需求的产品和服务数不胜数。可能，这几年来你一直渴望创新。也可能，你有将某个新产品（服务）或旧产品（服务）另作他用的新创意。也可能，你的某项天赋很适合创业。以上任何一种想法都可能为你创业铺路。

What you have to do is find a niche for your product or service. A niche is a small, but profitable, segment of the market where there is demand for your product. The Small Business Administration has a Small Business Startup Kit that can help you focus on factors you should consider.
你要做的就是为你的产品或服务找到市场定位。定位的市场是很小的，但也是有利可图的，是市场上对你的产品有需求的那一部分。在小企业管理中有关于开创小企业的方法，显示了创业时你应该考虑的重点。

Finding a niche requires marketing research. You have to realize that your small business can’t be all things to all people. Even large companies find a niche for their products. Let’s take Wal-Mart, for example. Their niche is bargain-minded customers. You have to analyze your product and figure out what type of customer you should market it to. The trend is to make your niche small. Instead of marketing to the familiar 18-49 age group, you want to identify a more specific group.
找到一个市场定位需要做市场调查。你必须意识到你的生意不会涉及所有的产品，也不能面向所有的客户。即使是大公司都也要定位自己的产品市场。比如说，沃尔玛的市场定位是零售市场。你必须要分析你的产品，并确定你的目标客户是什么样的群体。与定位于18-49岁的客户群来说，你需要做更精确的市场定位。

After doing your market research, you should be able to realistically determine the potential of this business and whether it a realistic expectation that you can reach it? Another important question to answer is whether you will enjoy the business and if you are willing to do the hard work and put in the long hours necessary to achieve success.
在做完市场调查后，你要能够实事求是地确定你所售产品的发展前途，你是否能够实现自己对它的期望？另一个你必须回答的重要问题就是，你是否喜欢这个事业，是否愿意努力工作，投入必要长的时间和精力以达到成功。