Starting a business in today’s economically turbulent climate is not easy. Start-up capital is difficult to find and hard to raise but those with an entrepreneurial fire-in-their-belly will see this merely as an obstacle to surmount rather than a road block. The convenient accessibility of the internet enables those with the technical know-how to establish an online or ‘e-commerce’ business. Whether your start-up is based in cyberspace or you have a physical, bricks and mortar storefront from which you sell your wares – the principles of successful business apply. Resources must be well applied and managed which means careful consideration of time and money spent. Every penny counts, especially in the first couple of years that a business is in operation. This is why one needs to stay on top of payroll, understand how to efficaciously market the business brand, and keep track of every expense and bill. A high proportion of businesses fail in their first year as a result of poor management, lack of planning and insufficient capital. The following are some tips for how to take one’s start-up business and ensure that it lasts for a long time.