As a new business owner, there may be many things that you want to do. You plan for your success, and you work hard to make it happen.

Once you take the first step toward establishing your business, there are some additional steps to take. For example, you should start doing your market research. Knowing your market helps guide the services you offer or the items you sell. This helps you put together a strong business plan, too, which may help you obtain more funding or business loans in the future.

Here are two additional tips for first-time business owners.

Put together your business plan

A business plan is essential for any new business. You need to have a summary of what your business is, offer an overview of your business and do your market analysis. You should also complete a competitive analysis and sales and marketing plan. In some cases, you’ll want to have an operations and management plan. Finally, consider how you’ll get funding and set up a financial plan.

Have specific long- and short-term goals

The next tip is to have specific long- and short-term goals. Make those goals SMART: That means making them specific, measurable, attainable, relevant to your business and timely. For example, if you want to make $10,000 in sales in your first year and have already made $1,000 at the end of the first month of business, you’re probably looking at an attainable short-term goal. You should also consider your long-term goals, such as hiring an employee or earning $500,000 in profits, for example.

These tips are just a few of many that can help you on your way to better business. Your attorney can also keep you up-to-date on changes in the law that may affect your business’s goals.