Starting Your Small Business
A Home Business Article Contributed by Teresa Phillips
What Do I Need to Know about Starting My Small Business?
Starting a small business requires time, patience and money. To start, you will need to have at least six months of living expenses so that you can grow your small business and not starve to death. Also do you have lines of collateral or credit? . That said, Where is your location? Do you want any employees? What are the zoning regulations of my city or town? What licenses do I need? Do I have a small business plan?
Do I have a business card, business checking account? What avenues of advertising am I going to use? Do I have a budget for this business and can I stick to it? Am I a self starter? Do I need insurance for both building and car? What can I take off my taxes for using my house as a home office? What kind of taxes will I be paying? There are just some of the questions that you will need to ask and answer honestly. There is also more information available for starting your small business.
What Sources of Information Can I Get about Starting My Small Business?
Starting your small business is not going to be easy unless you have professional help. There are several avenues to look for information about starting your small business. One of these is the Small Business Administration. It is listed in your phone book under both "Associations" and "Government". The Small Business Administration also has a website that lists state and local offices, hours of operation and phone numbers.
The website address is www.sba.gov. This website has a lot of good information on starting and operating a small business, From business planning, to disaster relief, this agency does it all. Also One Stop Employment centers will also have some good information about starting and operating a small business. They are found in the phone book as well.
What about Licensing , Tax Information and Other Information Do I Need to Start My Small Business?
For small business licensing, you would need to contact your state government first, to find out if you need a license. This would also hold true for city and local. Tax administration is done by the IRS. Their web site is www.irs.gov. They have many pamphlets and online reading that can be used to help start your small business. If you are using a home office, be aware that some places such as apartments and certain zones do not allow a business to be run within their location.
Checking with banks about credit and business checking, the phone company for a business line, are just two of the things that you need to be aware of. Advertisement is also an issue. There are many forms of advertisement: The yellow pages, a magnetic sign on your car, flyers, and Internet advertising Those are just some things that you will have to consider for your business. Make certain that you have a budget for all expenses.
