So you've decided to start a business. However, there's much more to that choice than just coming up with an idea. Setting out on your own requires you to be able to manage your time and money without sacrificing your happiness. If you know this is what you want to do, congratulations, but there are a few things you should have before starting.

1. A plan
Before you make any specific decisions, you need to have a plan. What kind of business are you going into? What do you need to do to succeed? Where will you set up? You'll have to know what will be expected of you and have a list of goals that you should achieve before opening up your company to the public. As part of the strategy, you should have money saved up and a realistic budget to use, Inc. explained. Starting a business is expensive, so you should know what to include in your financial plan before jumping in.

Before you set out, make a list of goals you want to reach once you start working.

Before you set out, make a list of goals you want to reach once you start working.

2. Advice
If you've started a business before, then you probably know what to expect. If you haven't, then you may need a bit of help. There are aspects to actually owning a company that you may not have learned while employed by one. Seeking out advice from legal and financial services can help you meet regulations and manage your money, according to Entrepreneur. If you attempt to do it on your own, you may run into trouble. Unless one of those is the field you're going into, it's better to get help than to make mistakes.

3. Virus protection
It seems that every time you turn on the news there's a new data breach. Hackers are targeting all kinds of companies these days, from health care providers to retailers. It doesn't matter what kind of business you run. You need to be prepared and take preventative measures to ensure both yours and your clients' information are safe, Business News Daily recommended. Install virus protection and firewalls to guard against any type of cyber attack. Also, be sure to not open emails or click on links unless you know they're from reliable sources.

"42% of startups fail because there's no need for their products."

4. Research
You may have complete faith in your product or service, except how will you know if anyone else does if you don't do any research. Nine out of 10 startups fail and, of those, 42 percent of them went out of business because there was no need for their products, according to Fortune magazine. Don't assume you know what people want. You need to conduct surveys and interviews to determine if there's room for your business. While market research may need to be worked into your financial plan, it will aid you in creating services and products consumers need, which will save you money and time in the long run.

5. Dedication
You won't succeed if you aren't determined. Starting a business requires a lot of time, effort and money. If you're not passionate about your idea, then all of that will go to waste. You should be willing to put in long hours and live a simple lifestyle until you get your company off the ground, Inc. explained. Leaving the comfort of your job and branching out on your own is a new experience, but it doesn't have to be an unhappy one. If you love what you do, you won't regret your decision.

If you're willing to put your all into your business, you'll find that it was one of the best choices you've made. You'll get the independence of being your own boss, satisfaction of seeing your business grow and the enjoyment of pleasing your customers.