Every time an entrepreneur begins starting a new business in McLean, VA or elsewhere, he or she takes a risk. No business plan is certain to succeed, and business owners usually invest a lot of their money into their new companies. If you are thinking about opening a business, make sure that you have the following essentials figured out before going forward with your business plan.

Vendors

Even if your business provides services and does not sell items, you will need to have vendors from whom you purchase your equipment. While you can use a different vendor every time, it’s best to develop a relationship with the same source. Businesses are more likely to offer sales and promotions to clients who regularly support them. For example, if you run a landscaping business, you should have a relationship with a mechanical component manufacturer so that if one of your machines breaks, you can order a replacement part.

Location

Some businesses do not require a physical office in their early days, but you do need a place to store your equipment. If you do not have enough room at your house or apartment, you must rent or purchase commercial real estate. Keep in mind that most landlords ask for the first few months’ rent as a deposit if you are renting. Usually, this is the best policy for new businesses, but if you decide to buy your office space, you will need to spend a lot of money on the down payment. Either way, finding a location for your business is both a critical and expensive step.

Marketing

As you work out your business plan, it’s tempting to focus on the parts of your company that interest you the most. However, you must prioritize marketing or else you will not be able to run your business for more than a few days. Marketing in Gen Z for example requires specific strategies and tactics that should be considered carefully when crafting your plan. Reaching them through digital ads or social networks makes the most sense, but specific targeting requires research or expertise.