Two of the most important things you need to start a business are time and money. You’ll nearly always need to have cash or credit up front when starting your own business, and knowing how much to have is critical to the venture’s success. A well designed website, business cards, and advertising and marketing your business all cost money, but they’re all essential. It also typically takes time to get a business up and running; it can take months or even years from the initial concept to the first customer or product launch. Along with time goes patience, and you’ll need plenty of it to deal with delays, setbacks and the inevitable mistakes along the way. Finally, don’t forget your business plan, which is important if you’re borrowing money or looking for investors. It’s a detailed document outlining your plans, and the projected operating costs and profits.