Ever dreamed of starting your own business? It isn’t as crazy as you might think.

Self-employment is both a career choice and a lifestyle choice. The Small Business Development Center Program offers free workshops and online resources to help you evaluate whether your idea for a business is something worth pursuing.

To increase your chance for success, take the time up front to explore and evaluate your business and personal goals. Then use this information to build a comprehensive and well-thought-out business plan that will help you reach these goals. The process of developing a business plan will help you think through some important issues that you may not have considered yet. Your plan will become a valuable tool as you set out to raise money for your business. It should also provide milestones to gauge your success. You can get free mentoring at an SBDC near you.

Click here to read about youth entrepreneurs and Napa's Youth Entrepreneurial Program.