Q: My boyfriend wants to open his own small catering company. He has a positive and charismatic personality, so I know he will do well on the customer relations side. The problem is that he doesn't have a business or accounting background and doesn't quite know how to go about setting it up. He has a tight group of friends, who are willing to lend him money without any formal papers, so he doesn't have to worry about borrowing from a bank and passing loan requirements. He already has friends asking him to cater small events, but I am worried about him being too casual and starting too soon. How do people who don't go to college open successful businesses?

A: You don't have to go to college to be a successful business owner. You just need to do your homework and prepare before opening for business. A key resource is SCORE, "Counselors to America's Small Business," a nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneurial education nationwide. SCORE offers free counseling by experienced business professionals, low-cost workshops, and access to many resources to help start and grow a business.

According to SCORE counselor Jerry Hicks, characteristics for success include an entrepreneurial attitude, prior experience in the field of the proposed business, and a focused plan. In a meeting, Hicks would ask questions such as: "What's your objective in starting the business? Will it be your livelihood — your primary source of income — or a part-time venture to earn extra money? What experience do you have in catering?" Hicks says: "Prior experience in an industry is important to successfully start a business. If he has no experience in catering, he should consider working for a catering company, even if only part time, before starting his own.

Or he could begin by catering small events for friends only, but to build a profitable business, he must know what it takes to reach potential customers and provide the services that exceed customer expectations." Visit www.SCORE.org for more information on nationwide counseling and mentoring services.

Good Looks Get in the Way of Good Work

Q: My boss recently asked me to pick up coffee for him at Starbucks. I told him that I am not Betty Crocker. I am super-smart and talented, but my looks get in the way. I just bought the book "Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office: 101 Unconscious Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage Their Careers." How am I going to gain any respect? Do I have to keep plugging away until I find the job that does not abuse me and sees how much I have to offer?

A: First, don't turn molehills into mountains. If a co-worker asked you to pick up a coffee for her, you probably would be glad to do it. Nothing is wrong with doing a favor for a person, whether it's a boss or a friend; just make sure that person knows it's a favor. When handing your boss a coffee, you could say amicably, "The next one is on you."

Second, plugging away at work and waiting for recognition would be ideal if it worked, but it doesn't always. Because your good looks get in the way, analyze yourself. In "Release Your Brilliance: The 4 Steps to Transforming Your Life and Revealing Your Genius to the World," author Simon T. Bailey offers experiences and exercises to polish yourself so others see what you have to offer.

Please send your questions to: Lindsey Novak, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. E-mail her at LindseyNovak@yahoo.com, or visit her Web site at www.LindseyNovak.com. To find out more about Lindsey Novak and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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