Are you thinking about starting your own business? There are a few things you’ll want to consider before making your decision. Here are five items to check off your to-do list before you launch.

Prepare yourself.

Owning a business is hard, there’s no getting around that. You have to consider what you’ll go through as a business owner. You’ll be working long hours for, most likely, very little pay. Many companies don’t make any money for at least a year. If you’re the sole profit earner in your family, this might not be a viable option for you. Owning your business means you have a lot at stake and the risk might not make sense for you.

Many business owners feel large amounts of anxiety, depression, and fear. If you’re serious about starting a business, research therapists in manhattan and set up a session. Talking with a therapist will help you determine your ability to handle being a business owner, and you may want to continue to see your therapist after you start your business. Having someone to talk with about the pressures of running a business can make a huge difference in your mental health and, ultimately, your success.

Weigh your options.

If you have a great idea for a business and you’re passionate about pursuing it, go for it. If you’re just wanting to be your own boss, however, you might want to Google search “franchise opportunities near me.” Becoming a franchisee means you’ve paid for the rights to a franchise. You can then open up a new franchise of an existing company. This gives you several advantages. You now have an existing brand and the brand recognition that comes with it (which for something like McDonald’s is huge). You have a method of operations that you know works. Becoming a franchisee saves you a lot of the startup work that comes with creating your own business. You don’t have to invest a large portion of funds into marketing or a large amount of time into creating operations. If this idea appeals to you, do some research on franchising and starting a business and see which would work better for you.

Research the market.

If you’re set on starting a business, you need to start with research. You should know everything about your industry before you start your company. Spend a few weeks, at least, learning what you can about the market and how your company will fit into it. Who will your target population be? Where will you be looking to start your company? Will you operate digitally or do you plan to purchase a brick-and-mortar store? Which option would work better in the current market? Asking yourself these questions will help you learn more about the industry and gives you the bonus of continuing to refine your business idea. Give yourself time to research or your business won’t succeed.

Write a business plan.

Now that you’ve researched the market and industry, write up your business plan. This plan will outline every detail of your company, from your mission statement to your projected earnings. A great business plan is an absolute must if you hope to succeed. You’ll show this document to potential investors or the bank if you’re trying to get a loan. It will give you an idea of how to create your business and what you need to accomplish. You definitely can’t skip this step if you’re serious about starting a company.

Find a mentor.

If the idea of researching the market or writing a business plan scares you, find yourself a mentor. He or she should be someone with experience owning a business, whether in your preferred industry or not. Your mentor has been through this before, so he or she can help you learn how to do research or write your plan. He or she can answer your questions and give advice. The right mentor could be a game-changer for you and your business. and you’ll want him or her to be involved from the very beginning.

Starting a business can be extremely exciting. Make sure you’re doing everything you can to ensure your success. With these five tasks, you’ll set yourself up for an amazing future.