38. Obtain liability insurance for your premises if customers or clients will be visiting.

39. Obtain product liability insurance if you will manufacture hazardous products.

40. If you will be working from your home, make sure your homeowner's insurance covers damage to or theft of your business assets as well as liability for business-related injuries.

41. Consider health & disability insurance for yourself and your employees.

Set Up Your Books

42. Decide whether to use the cash or accrual system of accounting.

43. Choose a fiscal year if your natural business cycle does not follow the calendar year (if your business qualifies).

44. Set up a recordkeeping system for all payments to and from your business.

45. Consider hiring a bookkeeper or accountant to help you get set up.

46. Purchase Quicken Home and Business (Intuit), QuickBooks (Intuit) or similar small business accounting software.

Set Up Tax Reporting

47. Familiarize yourself with the general tax scheme for your business structure. (See Tax Savvy for Small Business, by attorney Frederick Daily.)

48. Familiarize yourself with common business deductions and depreciation. (See Deduct It! Lower Your Small Business Taxes, by attorney Stephen Fishman.)

49. Obtain IRS Publications 334, Tax Guide for Small Business, and 583, Taxpayers Starting a Business.

50. Obtain the IRS's Tax Calendar for Small Businesses.

As you can see, starting a business involves making quite a few initial decisions and getting policies and paperwork in place. For more information about and help with starting a business, consult the following Nolo resources: Legal Guide for Starting and Running a Small Business, by attorney Fred Steingold; Wow! I'm in Business, by attorneys Richard Stim and Lisa Guerin; or Quicken Legal Business Pro (software).