Over the course of my career, I have worked in small businesses and large corporations. I have formed my own LLCs and corporations in multiple states. Each time, it was a challenge that I had to overcome by doing. I made many mistakes as I fumbled through the procedures. There are many helpful websites and resources. Yet, I never knew whether I was on the right path. I was making progress without knowing whether I was going in the right direction. I wished that there was a resource that could have helped me better understand the logical steps to follow in starting a business. Now that I have gone through the process a few times, I want to share my thoughts about the considerations and consequences of the decisions one makes in Starting, Running, and Exiting a Business. Starting a Business is the first of three business management phases. This series will cover Starting a Business in two sections: Planning and Formation. Planning provides the strategic vision and roadmap that will guide your actions as you establish your business. The bulk of planning will be spent getting a better understanding of various business concepts. It requires one to think about the purpose of the business, its governance, how to register the business, marketing plans, operational organization, and other startup considerations. As you evaluate these topics, the second, complementary step, is to write a business plan. The business plan will help you understand why you made these critical decisions and to share with other the vision of your organization. Even with solid planning, the formation of a business can feel overwhelming. Armed with your documented Business Plan, there are more decisions to be made and resources to acquire to begin the act of building your business. In the Formation section, we will discuss what you will need to get started, the importance of a good lawyer, choosing a name, how to register your business, opening a business bank account, selecting various business systems, finding an office, and finally purchasing business equipment and services Starting a Business covers the planning and formation of a business. It will help you lay a solid foundation from which to launch your business. You’ll gain a clearer focus on the who, what, why, and how of your business, which will guide you through the next challenges of Running a Business.