Small Businesses in America--A Question

[Republican_Man]

I'm working on starting a small business which will deal in creating web design solutions (and this referral thing that takes too much explanation) for other small businesses. I will hire contractors to do non-e-commerce jobs (as I have a program I'm going to use for that), but I was wondering the following question which doesn't really require too much background info on my business idea:
If any of you own a small business, what things did you have to do to get it started and how did you go about that? I've been doing a good amount of research, but if I could get a list of things all-in-one as well, that would be great.

Thanks,
RM

[borgslayer]

First you need a good knowledge. (You have to know what your getting into)
Second you need a lot of money otherwise its hard to get started.
Third good communication skills. (So the business will like you and stay or comeback.
Fourth a good name for a business that is appealing.
Fifth you need to spend 80% of your time working on your business until your comfortable.

[Republican_Man]

I actually mean the technical business stuff--all the forms and things like that to make it official and get me on my feet.
How I'm going to do it and the funds and all that I've figured out. I just need to know the important things towards starting a business.

[PrankishSmart]

How much cash do you have to start it? What are you going to do about advertising? Employees? Stock? Not to mention taxes.

[Republican_Man]

Well, I've been working a bit with my dad--I'm a teenager under age 18, so there's that. I have to find out all I can about technical aspects first, even though he's a business veteran (hasn't created his own business, but has been in business for as long as I've been born, is in a high posiiton in Avaya, is a marketing guy, and has an MBA).
For my purposes I need little money to start, and I've put $300+ aside for it--definitely enough, so long as I wait for a trademark (any idea how much those cost?).
I'm going to hold off on employees and instead hire contractors to do contracted work (so that I don't have to worry about all the things that come with employees at this age).
I'm not going to incorporate or deal with stock for some time and will be a sole proprietorship for at least the time being, especially considering the circumstances.
With regards to advertising, I have a friend who has connections to other small businesses, and I personally know a few people who own businesses and don't have a web site, and would also like referral business (I'm going to have a referral program set up as part of my business). Until I get enough money and business and get far enough to advertise publicly, I'll just do word-of-mouth or come to them directly by setting up a meetings.
Taxes is I guess part of what I want to figure out in terms of necessary things to have set out before I go into business. I know some things and have checked out the Colorado Department of Revenue site and stuff, but it's still one of the things that I'm questioning about.

See, it's not going to be a huge business, especially considering that I won't be depending on it for living expenses, etc. I don't want to deal with employees at this time and have some of those things figured out. Once I have my new business plan (I decided to change my business around a bit, so I've been writing a new plan) I'll post it here (bleeping out a few personal details ) It'll take me a few more days, but I should at least have a rough job next week.

But yeah, what I really need to know is what forms to get and what government channels I need to go through to get it started and all those things. The startup costs, advertising, employees, and software I've pretty much figured out already. It's the technical aspects--forms, government channels, etc--that I need to get straightened out.

It's late, so I'm too tired to say anything else I can talk more tomorrow.