Starting a new small business of one requires a mass of business planning and research. Don’t be overwhelmed though, start-up is a high-energy stage and what’s needed is the right focus for those energies.

Some valuable pointers if you are planning to run your own business and want your business to thrive, not just survive.

Getting the right business name and creating a strong image are central to your success as a soloist. Here's how you can get it right from day one. What’s in a name?

So you've taken the plunge and are going it alone. Good for you! Commonly, though, new soloists find they get the nerve to start their own business, only to find that once they're up and running, new anxieties are taking their place.

How do you know exactly when the time is just right to take the plunge and start your own business? The answer is surprisingly simple: never.

When setting out on their solo journey, some people undertake strategic business planning, while others set off blindly, with no clear direction. Many soloists take the more haphazard approach, and this results in what I call business misery.