Once again S.C.O.R.E. or the Small Business Administration can help you with preparing the financial statements you'll need before contacting banks or investors. No successful business I know of keeps a bad set of books. They know where the money is coming from and where it's going. Good bookkeeping can alert you to a whole host of potential business failures that might go unnoticed in the day to day operation of the business. Fortunately in today's world the computer makes it easier than ever for the average person to maintain the business records necessary for a successful business.
Good accountants are worth their weight in gold.
They can help you set up your initial bookkeeping system and they can show you the red flags to look for each month. I would suggest checking with them before buying a software package and see what they use so you can just take them a disc from time to time. It will also save you a ton on your taxes in the time they have to spend preparing your return. That would be poor management. When you're a one person business you are the only one you have to please.