Before you proceed much further, what will be your business philosophy?
Are you an open, trusting person or do you suspect that everyone will try to rip you off? How attentive to detail are you?
Do you really care about your customers and the quality of your product and service? Might you care about these too much and add unnecessarily to your costs?
Will you be tempted into short-cuts and bending the law a little e.g. in securing supplies or declaring your profits? Might this be just a mite unethical and even criminal?
What will be your attitude to employees - relaxed and friendly or vigilant and careful knowing that they may steal from you or bring a claim for negligence or discrimination?
These are not unreasonable questions. What is your position? Think about your business practices
lawful conduct in respect of tax and trading
with due regard to social and environmental responsibility
in terms of obligations to creditors
as a good, but not naive employer
as a provider of quality goods and services which conforms to specification and contract - no more no less. You may indeed want to go the "extra mile" where you can afford to do so.
as a business that cares about customers and wants them to come back (if they pay) for a quality service.
The answers enable you to articulate your mission which will - in one form or another - be communicated to customers and employees. It will guide your practice. You will keep faith with yourself - your values and standards.
