For Love or Money? Don't start a business until you've answered this question.

There are two different kinds of entrepreneurs in this world:those who start a business to do what they love, and those whostart a business to make money. There is, of course, some overlaphere--those who start a business based on their hobby or passiongenerally want to make a decent buck, and those who start abusiness based on profit potential want to enjoy what they'redoing. But there's no doubt about it: The ones who base theirbusinesses on their passion are generally not in thisentrepreneurial game for the money.

This brings us to a key question you need to ask yourself as youprepare to start a business: Are you doing it for love or money?Your answer to this question will help you determine how to proceedwith your business. If your answer is "love," and youknow you'd like nothing more than to earn some extra cash doingthe thing you do best, then starting your business will be slightlysimpler than venturing into a business where you're hoping tomake a million your first year.

And I don't mean "simpler" because you'll haveless work to do--I mean "simpler" in the sense that youwon't be hung up on a dollar figure. Instead, you'll bepouring your heart into something that you'd likely be doingwith or without any monetary compensation involved. In my opinion,this is the best way to start a business. Think of it this way: Onthose days when you're at the end of your rope and you thinkthere's no possible way you'll see the break of dawn beforeyou keel over in exhaustion, what would you rather bedoing--something you enjoy, or something you have to do to makeends meet?

I know there are plenty of people who start their businessessolely with the intention of making money and perhaps selling thebusiness later. If that's what you want, go for it. But if yourgoal is to really sink your teeth into the idea of being anentrepreneur, do some soul-searching before you start abusiness.