No one likes to delay the start of a project. No project manager likes to break the news to the customer that the customer – or the deliver organization – is not ready to start yet. It can set a bad first impression that is difficult to recover from. But not ready is not ready. And you'll never be sorry delaying the start of a project till everyone is ready. Success is much easier to achieve that way.
That said, let's consider my list of nine good reasons to delay the start of a project. Solve these issues first...then start.