Starting a business isn’t for someone looking for a weekend hobby, it’s for those people ready to grab the American dream and make it happen for themselves. So many people start personal business and whether they work from home, in their own location, or remotely across the world, the experience can be emotionally and financially stimulating.

Being an entrepreneur comes with some financial stress and the creation of your own business isn’t easy. Costs add up and before you know it you could be way in over your head. We have put together a guide of three ways to save money on your new business endeavor to keep your dreams alive and your bank account in the positives.

Solidify your business plan

Before investing any money determine if your idea is solid enough to serve as the basis for your company. By creating a thorough plan you will also have something impressive to show investors, which could end up saving money in the long run. Your business plan should include things like a mission statement, company summary, and a service of product offerings. There are a bunch of websites and workshops to help you construct the right business plan for your company. Check out the U.S Small Business Administration website for step-by-step advice.

Save where you can

When starting a business, the little things add up faster than you’d expect. For paper goods like posters, business cards, and items used for advertising find bulk discounts or stores that offer a lower rate. Marketing is crucial to a new business, but the materials for it can be pricy. Vista Print is great for affordable business stationery, marketing materials, and even custom clothing depending on your needs. Sites like this also allow you to add personal touches and have a hands on experience branding your company.

Set a budget and stick to it

This might seem like a no brainer but it is easy to get caught up in the excitement of everything you need to get started. Be diligent to your budget will allow for money to be spent on efforts that will truly help grow your company. Don’t let this new endeavor overwhelm you with the buying of more inventory than you need, spending money that may not be in the budget for a fancy website, or just buying things that aren’t crucial to initial growth. The time for these items will come later when you are able to build capital and invest in further branding your business.