Determine what type of music you plan to publish. If you are interested in creating new editions of classical music scores, for example, your company will function very differently than one whose primary purpose is to distribute and license popular songs. A narrow, specific approach will allow you to finely tune your business plan.
Create a business plan. Take stock of the resources you currently have as well as the tools you will need and create a tentative budget. You can get free mentoring from SCORE, which also provides helpful advice for starting and running a business -- and many free templates, including a business plan. Although this information does not have to be precise, you should incorporate items such as software, employee wages, building rental and raw material costs such as paper and ink into your estimation. Include a projected time line for your business, including tentative start-up dates and other milestones such as equipment purchases and distribution contracts.
Master the tools you need to create a fully operational business. If you plan on printing new editions of older music manuscripts, obtain a notation software package and thoroughly acquaint yourself with its operational procedures. A more intimate knowledge of your tools will help you save time and increase productivity.
Register your business. If you do not have any co-founders, you will most likely be operating as a sole proprietorship. Although this is the easiest structure of business to form, it also places the burden of financial solvency on you: all losses and gains come directly from your own financial holdings, as opposed to the business accounts of a corporation. The United States Small Business Administration provides extensive information on the different types of small business operating arrangements.
Register with music publishing and licensing companies, such as the American Society of Composers and Performances (ASCAP) and Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) Becoming an official member of these two organizations will allow you to quickly register and protect your published music from various forms of copyright infringement, ranging from illegal duplication to unauthorized playback of recordings. In addition, these organizations offer numerous development workshops that can help you refine and expand your publishing company.
Create a website that presents your company in an informative, aesthetically pleasing fashion. Due to the musical nature of your company, consider adding playback plug-ins to your site that can offer prospective clients and customers samples of your product line and potential market.
Research new material. If you are interested in publishing songs by new, undiscovered song writers, find musicians and groups in your area and attend their shows. Before approaching new musicians, however, ensure that you are capable of presenting a professional, appealing offer. Research the legality of music publishing arrangements to ensure that both your and your musicians' interests are represented fairly.