The 5 Often Overlooked Things Every Small Business Must Have

According to SBA.gov there are 23 million small businesses in the United States, and combined they
account for 54% of all U.S sales. As the website puts it, corporate America continues to downsize as the rate of small business start-ups continues to grow (and just as important, the failure rate for small businesses has declined). Now is an excellent time to start a small business. And if you've got an idea and the drive, a small business can be a very big thing.

But it can be difficult to know what you need to get started. Even with reading tons of books and speaking with successful business owners, some of the details can go overlooked. Which is exactly why I've come up with a list of 5 of the often overlooked things every small business needs. Now, keep in mind that this is not a complete list of what every start up should have, just a concise list of 5 things you may overlook. If there's any other essentials you feel should be added to the list, please add a comment!

• A Website: Personally, before I work with a company, I will check them out online. And if I can't find any website, I'm much less likely to give them my business. It's 2013- Even if very little (or none) of your business comes from the Internet, you need to have a website. Remember, it doesn't have to be too flashy, just something simple featuring your business information.
• A Logo: A great logo can make your brand stand out (it might even convince someone to work with you rather than your competition. If your business doesn't have a logo, you can usually get one created for you, sometimes for as little as $5.
• Envelopes & Letterheads: Similar to how a logo can help you with branding, branded envelopes and business letterhead can give your business a professional look. These sort of little touches can demonstrate your professionalism to your customers.
• An Up to Date Mail List: Odds are you interact with several new people every day, and you should be keeping all of their information in a frequently updated mailing list. Whether you're running direct mail campaigns or you simply want to send out holiday cards, a good mailing list can be an invaluable asset and can generate tons of new business.
• Business Cards: Business cards allow you to make an impression every time you're out. Attending a meeting and not having business cards is a big faux pas. Luckily they are relitavely inexpensive.