Never forget that an online business must still adopt sound business practices to succeed. Your goal should be to work at the business and not for the business.

Work towards the goal of you not being necessary to the business for it to run successfully.

Most online businesses are small and there is nothing wrong with that. Most don't have much money (I reckon there is something wrong with that) and invest huge amounts of time in establishing their business. After all, they have plenty of that and it's free isn't?

No it is not!

Your time has a value and if you need to work 12 hours each day to make the darn thing work the inevitable will happen. You will get sick of it and stop, or your partner will get sick of it and make you stop.

On your way to building a successful business you must be sure of four things:

• A record keeping system which tell you how you are travelling now.
  
• A plan to show you how to reach your ultimate goal.
  
• To know the amount of income required to meet your expenses, including your required profit and your loan repayments.
  
• And the one thing that ensures survival - Money in must be more than money out.