If I only knew back when I started my own small business how important networking is, it would probably have been way more successful. Networking is definitely key!! For those that may not know a lot about networking I've included some information on how to begin: When starting your own business, join a networking group that already exists. Start in your own local community. Look first to see if there is already a networking group or business leads group running. Search the newspapers for the community calendar. Here, you will learn about meetings, their times, and locations. Join these existing groups and become an active member. Expect to pay dues of $50 to $200 a quarter to belong. Paying $200 a quarter is cheap when you look at the potential sales that can come from joining. Stick with it too. If after a quarter you don't seem to get anything from going, stick with it for another quarter just to make sure. It may take a year before you really start receiving referrals. This type of business comes with trust, and trust can take some time to develop. Usually these groups are made up of one representative from each type of profession (to eliminate competition within the group). Check to see if your profession is available. Remember that the power of these groups is that you have the audience of 10 - 20 professionals every week or month. These individuals become your sales people. Sooner or later, they are going to tell people about you. Referrals that are made by people we know and trust are the most successful. These leads are usually always the easiest to turn into sales. Again, networking is key to the success of your business. So get out there, make yourself visible, and show them what you got!! (Information included in this post is cited from http://www.womanowned.com/startingup/relationships/Networking.aspx)