This lecture course examines the necessary steps that a photographer must take to start a commercial photography business. Relevant local, state and federal regulatory and taxing agencies and application forms, professional support services, general ledger accounts setup pertinent to photography, photographic business insurance needs, and employer obligations are discussed. Students will learn how to create a simple business plan applicable to photographic ventures. The course also examines issues of sound financial practices specific to profitability in commercial photography, paying particular attention to matters of copyright and image licensing, calculating cost of doing business, strategies for pricing image usage, and negotiating job fees.