Reader Ana Maria Lecours is pretty confident about her cooking. But she's not sure how to translate her weekend meal deliveries into Ana's Kitchen, the small business she hopes to open ultimately.

The number of women-owned businesses in this country continues to grow at twice the rate of other businesses. So if you're thinking about starting your own business, here are a few basic things to consider:

1.The type of business: If, like Ana Maria, you love cooking, then would you want to own a catering company? Are you dedicated and passionate about what you love?

2.The name of your company and the location.

3.Financial needs: What can you afford to invest from your own savings versus what you need to borrow?

4.Employees: Will you need to hire a staff?

5.Equipment and office rental: How much equipment do you need to get started? Do you need to rent an office space?

6.Business ownership: Do you want to run the business yourself, partner with someone or form an S or C corporation? You'll want to run each option by an accountant or financial advisor, to work out the best choice for you.

7.Develop a business plan: The Women's Business Center is part of the Small Business Association (SBA), which is the largest source of long-term business financing in the nation. It is a federally-funded government agency, with offices across the U.S. Set up an appointment with your local office, or go online for more details: SBA's Women's Business Center

8.Business loans: The SBA will work with you to determine whether you qualify for an SBA business loan. Or you can speak to your bank representative about a small business loan. In general, banks aren't prone to giving loans of any substance until they know the history of their client. So go where you've been banking for at least a few years.

9.Business licenses: There are many types of licenses. You need one to operate legally almost everywhere. Check with your accountant or SBA counselor.

10.Liability insurance: It's recommended to get insurance to protect yourself from legal action. Policies can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars a year, depending on the volume of business you generate. Talk it over with your SBA counselor.

11.Filing taxes: Keep all receipts and maintain a good record of your expenses. Decide whether you want to pay on a quarterly or year-end basis. Starting out, it's easier to budget your costs if you file quarterly because you will see on a month-to-month basis how much you're spending.

NOTE: To keep your business expenses separate from your personal expenses, get a separate credit card just for business expenses. It cuts down on the work later on, when you go to file your taxes.

We wish you every success!