Launching a small business is no small feat. Millions of Americans dream about it every year and only a small percentage take the risk. Women entrepreneurs continue to launch 1/3 more businesses each year than their male counterparts. But just because you accept the challenge of small business ownership doesn't mean success is in your future.

Here are my 6 steps to a successful business for women entrepreneurs:

(1) Startup funds - have enough money to launch your business and keep it going until enough revenues are generated to keep you going. Don't go into debt. ANYONE CAN SPEND MONEY - successful entrepreneurs MAKE MONEY.

(2) Write a Business Plan - have a roadmap for where you are3 going and how you are going to get there. It doesn't have to be a novel -- but it does need to demonstrate that your business concept is feasible. A one page business plan is better than nothing. If you can't put your plan down on paper you won't be able to execute even the small tasks required.

(3) Benefits not features - your future customers want to know how doing business with you and your business will benefit them. The features of the business may make you feel special but customers only care about what's in it for them.

(4) Networking - figure out how you can be in as many places as possible. Startup business rarely can afford public relations, marketing and sales. Therefore, the entrepreneur is required to be everywhere (s)he can be all at the same time. The more buzz you create for your business and the sooner people learn about your venture the faster business will develop.

(5) Fill a need in the marketplace - every day businesses are launched and fail because the entrepreneur didn't consider what the potential customer actually needs and would pay for. For example, I worked with a client that wanted to start a business that would be a concierge service for people's auto service needs. Yes, people would love the opportunity to have their cars picked up, taken to the service station for even simple things such as an oil change and then delivered back. The problem - no one was willing to pay enough for the service so it could cover gas and the time needed for the entrepreneur to make a profit. Therefore, there was no need in the marketplace.

(6) Do what you have a passion for and what you are good at - success in business happens to people who work because they love what they do. Entrepreneurs who would pursue their passion whether or not they made money at it have an exceptional level of success. Love interior decorating - love cooking - love selling -- love graphic design - love construction -- all these loves can be small businesses where entrepreneurs often spend their time off doing what they love for free.

These 6 steps are just the beginning if you want to succeed in business. But until you are ready to check each step off don't launch your small business.

Success is not about having good luck - it is all about taking control of your plan.