This guide has been written within the CAROTS project to help future founders of Scientific Service Companies (SSCs). These types of companies are very niche and have particular needs. Therefore, this is a tailored guide that will help scientists on their way to starting up the next Scientific Service Company in Europe. In this guide they will learn about 1) different kinds of business models, 2) the market they will operate within, 3) how to take their service to market and sell it, 4) future ideas about intellectual property, and 5) how they will fund their startup in the early days.