Get the filter, heater, and any other equipment running. Buy a shrimp from the grocery store and toss it in the tank. Let it rot in there. Have your ammonia and nitrite test kits ready. Once nitrites have subsided, you can start to add fish. I'd do a 40-50% water change before adding fish though. You're looking at an average of about 6 weeks for the cycle to complete. This is an average so yours may be shorter or longer by a couple of weeks. I believe there is an article here about this. Look on the home page under the "articles" link.