Every business starts with a dream. That's what I had when I stared my first business after graduating from college. Fortunately all my clients were also small businesses (sole proprietorships, LLCs, S corps and C corps); everything from restaurants to electronics manufacturers to wind park developers. This gave me a unique insight into the challenges everyone faces during the first two to three years: what Venture Capitalists call the Death Valley Curve. This is the time between your start date and the time you generate a profit. The curve is there for every new start-up. It's just a matter of making it to the other side. Once you're past the valley, other challenges present themselves. New lessons have to be learned. In time I found ways to navigate them. There is no single path to success but there are specific guide posts along the way. The solution is to have experienced help on your side as you grow.