Playing by the Government's RulesDon't be scared by government regulations--just be prepared.

Excited to start your business, but ready to run when it comes to dealing with government regulations? Getting on the government's good side requires some effort, but the payoff is worth it.

Just ask Gary Golduber, co-founder ofDriversEd.com, an online driver-training provider. Started in 1997 as a convenient alternative to boring, all-day traffic school, DriversEd.com needed approval to provide a validated service. The Oakland, California, company started by applying to local court officials for approval. "The challenges were to identify the right state or government agency," says Golduber, 46, "then to find out what the laws and regulations were in those particular jurisdictions, and to understand the procedures of those agencies and how to work with them." In California, for instance, Golduber dealt with individual courts that regulate traffic school, whereas in other states, it's the DMV that holds that jurisdiction.