| TASK |
CONTACT |
NOTES |
DATE DONE |
| Assess your skills and interests |
Word processing |
Meeting planner |
Large corporations; potentially substantial fee for each meeting organized |
| Research the business idea |
Scheduling |
Investigate the business (will it make money? how much? what do you need to start it?) |
|
| Write a business plan and market plan |
Yellow Pages; county clerk's office records |
You may not need an elaborate business plan with high-powered spread- sheets for a small home business. You should at least create an informal plan, however, both to help you decide if the business will make money, and to give your activities focus and direction. If you need financing, you will need a formal business plan. |
|
| Choose a business name and verify right to use the name |
Organizing Meetings |
|
|
| Register or reserve corporate name |
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office |
Normally, you can't register a business name if another business is using a similar name. Therefore you should check the Yellow Pages for similar names before going to register yours. It's also advisable to have several alternate choices ready. Some businesses that have registered names may not be in the phone book. |
|
| Register or reserve state or federal trademark |
Writing Letters |
Only if you plan to incorporate |
|
| Register copyrights |
U.S. Copyright Office |
Registration isn't required to protect your copyright, but registering a copy- right gives you more recourse against infringers. It is also inexpensive and relatively easy to do. |
|
| Apply for patent if you will be marketing an invention |
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office |
Assistance from a patent attorney is advisable. |
|
| Check zoning laws |
County, city, or town zoning board |
|
|
| Choose a location for the business or make space in the house for it |
Coordinating multiple tasks |
|
|
| Register business name and get a business certificate |
Usually handled by the county or city clerk's office |
A business certificate may be called a DBA (doing business as) or a fictitious name certificate. You may also need a business permit from your town or city to operate your business, as well as other licenses or permits. Determine what you will need by asking local authorities or other local business people. |
|
| File partnership or corporate papers |
Coordinating multiple tasks |
It is highly advisable to have an attorney help you prepare the papers if you plan to operate as a partnership or corporation. See chapter 11 for additional information. |
|
| Get any required business licenses or permits |
City or county licensing or clerk's office |
|
|
| Order any required notices of your intent to do business in the community |
Local phone company |
Some states require you to run a public notice in a newspaper indicating your intent to operate a business. You should be able to find out how to place such notices and how long it must run when you register your business name. |
|
| Have business phone or extra phone lines installed |
Coordinating multiple tasks |
|
|
| Check into business insurance needs |
Coordinating multiple tasks |
Equipment and auto/vehicle insurance or fire, theft, and liability insurance may be needed. Your personal vehicle and house insurance may not cover your business. (See chapter 22 for additional information.) |
|
| Find out about health insurance if you will not have coverage under a spouse |
State tax department |
If leaving full-time employment, make sure your coverage doesn't lapse. |
|
| Apply for sales tax number |
Local IRS office |
|
|
| Get tax information, such as record- keeping requirements, information on withholding taxes if you will have employees, information on hiring independent contractors, facts about estimating taxes, forms of organization, etc. |
Coordinating multiple tasks |
|
|
| Apply for employee identification number if you will have employees |
|
|
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| Call Department of Labor to determine labor laws if you will have employees |
|
|
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| Call everyone you know and let them know you are in business |
|
|
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| Order inventory Order signage |
|
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| Order fixtures |
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| Have sales literature prepared |
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