Starting you own business is challenging on so many levels. You become your own safety net. You invest in yourself. You give up all those appealing employee benefits you came to really enjoy, like paid vacations and a health plan. You’re embarking on an exciting and terrifying adventure, so buckle up. There may be some bumps along the way.

Every entrepreneur will have their own specific trials do deal with. However, it’s always best to learn from mistakes others made before and to listen to what experience has taught them. To help you build a startup you’re proud of, here are a few things you should know before the big launch.