Procurement for start-ups: where to begin?

For many new or soon-to-be business owners and founders the procurement process is the least of their worries – or so they think. Usually caught up in issues regarding their hiring process, chain of command, growth and marketing strategies and similar traditional start-up issues, many put the procurement process to the back of their minds. Generally, the reason for this is because it seems like quite a simple process - Locate needed goods. Pay. Receive purchased goods. Document transaction. Seems easy right? Unfortunately, like any experienced manager or business owner will tell you, a business process is never as easy as it first may seem.