Network as much as you can. Often new business owners make the mistake of thinking they can run their businesses as they know their service/product inside out, but it's the other sides of the business that will throw up the most roadblocks. From admin to taxes to recruitment, there is a lot more behind a business than just a product/service. That is just the tip of the iceberg. Depending on the size of the business, you will probably need to be a jack of all trades at the start, so speak to peers and ask how they started and what challenges they overcome. You can help to avoid some of these yourself if you are aware of them. Learn the basics of the 'boring' stuff before you start. Take an accounting course, enrol in leadership classes, read man-management books - the more you know before you start, the less you have to wing it and learn on the job.