Before you get started, read a little book by Michael Barber entitled ';The E Myth';. It describes why about 95% of small businesses fail within five years, and what you can do to prevent it.
Find your local Small Business Administration office. They are listed in the yellow pages or at http://www.SBA.gov The SBA has counselors that will help you create a *business plan* that will be your road map to success. That business plan is what everything else will hang on - it will tell you when you can expect to start actually making money (you'll be in the red for probably 18 months to 2 years), what your growth plan is, who your clientele will be, how you will market your greeting cards, how you will produce them, what you'll need to make the business go, how you'll advertise, etc.
Remember - just because you're creative and artistic and can produce some prototypes does not mean you understand how to make the thousands of cards it takes to actually make a living at this. And, designing and making cards will be a very small part of your day. You'll spend most of it running the business and marketing your wares.
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