Ray -- As others have started to describe, there's a huge ton to learn more about making it a successful business than just the flying part. The market you choose to serve will steer what you need to learn. My recommendation is to build your business plan assuming that it will take a long time to build a base of repeating clients. Whether that's 2 years or 5 years depends a lot on the target markets, how much energy you put into it, and some old fashioned luck. It took me two years to reach break even on cash flow in/out. Oh and by the way, don't forget back ups for everything, from the birds to the computers. And you'll need liability insurance.
One way to start getting some experience is through brokerage firms. I call them dating services because they match buyers and sellers, i.e., jobs with pilots. Most of them use one form or another of competition among the flyers, and they do take a drag on the fee, so they're not a great source of profit or repeating business. Most of them are really low-end jobs, but they give you a chance to build your skills.
As you identify more specific questions, come back to the forum and you'll get more specific answers (accounting, software, equipment, specific market issues, etc).
Good luck.......... Bob R.