I played in a Planescape game in which we almost started an investment bank/insurance company. The setting was tailor made for it, as the Lady will enforce contracts, making for a good business environment. Our procedure was something like this:
0) Be a bunch of intelligent, amoral, inhuman pedants. Also, make characters like that.
1) Secure startup capital. In this case it was real estate.
2) Get a pit fiend to owe you a favor.
3) Make the pit fiend a silent partner and legal counsel. Making him your silent partner gives him a vested interest in your success and gets valuable networking done. Making him legal counsel makes contract negotiations go better.
4) Start financing adventurers. Since d20 SEC hasn't been released, get other people to underwrite expeditions while you get kickbacks on suppliers and subcontractors.
5) Make preperations to utterly hose a prime material plane. This is where the euphemism 'providing market fluidity' and some fast talking will get those weak-stomached Neutrals on your side.
