When you start a new business, you must choose a legal structure for it. No business legal structure is inherently better than another legal structure; you just need to decide which one is right for your [more…]
When you open your new business, set an advertising budget at the outset; your business needs enough working capital to afford to tell the world about what your business offers. Most small businesses spend [more…]
Establish your business's vision, mission, and values to tell the world about your business accomplishes. Even if you have your business's vision, mission, and values in mind, you need to commit those [more…]
A copyright is a form of protection provided to the authors of original works of authorship, including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works, both published and [more…]
Patents allow the patent holder (in this case, your business) an exclusive right to obtain the full financial benefits of your business's patented invention before others are allowed to help themselves [more…]
Zoning laws are, among other things, the government’s favorite way of trying to keep residential areas residential and business areas business. Local government's zoning laws make everyone [more…]
You can find a business license or permit for most any occasion. Which licenses and permits does your business need? The kind of licenses and permits you need really depends on in which city, county, and [more…]
Believe it or not, most lawyers are nice people, and a lawyer can help you start and maintain your small business. Any business — even a home-based business — needs an attorney on its support team. [more…]
A partnership is when two or more people team up in the ownership and operation of a business. When a partnership works, the business will run like a well-played symphony. When it doesn’t, things will [more…]
A franchise is an agreement in which one business buys the right to distribute another business's products or services. The business buying into the franchise wants the right to use that successful and [more…]
A business based on direct selling, well, sells consumer product or services in a face-to-face manner. Direct-selling businesses have taken the world by storm. [more…]
Business opportunities that you can buy into come in all shapes and sizes. In general, a business opportunity can be an idea, product, system, or service that someone has developed and offers to sell to [more…]
Whenever you sell products through your LLC, you must collect sales tax from clients; and you must pay a use tax whenever you use products that you haven’t paid sales tax on. The sales taxes and use taxes [more…]
Before you first meet your attorney when setting up an LLC (limited liability company), do your homework. Gather pertinent LLC information for your attorney to save time. [more…]
When it comes to recordkeeping and your LLC (limited liability company), it’s better to be safe than sorry. Keeping your LLC records in good order reduces the amount of risk to your business and helps [more…]
If you're considering a limited liability company (LLC) for your business, know what's involved. Forming and managing a limited liability company is just as challenging as setting up any other type of [more…]
Your bed & breakfast is a business, so you need to get your ducks in a row and necessary forms filled out and filed before you open your doors to guests. Use the following list [more…]
Even the best-run bed & breakfast suffers an occasional crisis, and the time to search for a drain-cleaning service is not when you have guests waiting for breakfast. Record telephone numbers for the following [more…]
Whether you like working with the latest technology or you prefer working with people, you’re sure to find a home business opportunity that meets all your wants and needs. If you want to start a business [more…]
Many companies hire home-based employees to sell goods or provide services for them. Although the vast majority of work-at-home opportunities are legitimate, plenty of them aren’t. For every opportunity [more…]
When you’re working from home, separating your home life from your work life can be a real challenge. Your home-based business is a real business, and, as such, it demands both a professional environment [more…]
Working from home is all about setting up a good home business. If you spend time now researching the best business for your talents, creating an effective business Web site, recognizing scams that prey [more…]
A large part of your business plan includes your financial statements. Financial statements are formal records of your business’s financial activities; they provide a summary [more…]
A critical part of a successful business plan is identifying your customers and the competition. Solid business plans incorporate research on potential customers and competitors. Begin by asking the following [more…]
Two big mistakes while developing your business plan can cause your new business to fail: lack of research and lack of preparedness. Avoid becoming a failed business by making sure you don't commit those [more…]