The small business start-up kit : a step-by-step legal guide

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Title:

The small business start-up kit : a step-by-step legal guide

Author:

Pakroo, Peri, author.

Gjelten, Elizabeth, editor.

Summary:

Build a foundation for your business, online and off. Create and implement business and marketing plans. Comply with tax rules, including those affecting home businesses.

General Note:

Includes index.

"With downloadable forms"--Cover.

Edition:

11th edition.

Contents:

Choosing a legal structure -- Picking a winning business name -- Choosing a business location -- Drafting an effective business plan -- Raising start-up money -- Pricing, bidding, and billing projects -- Federal, state, and local start-up requirements -- Risk management -- Paying your taxes -- Laws, taxes, and other issues for home businesses -- Entering into contracts and agreements -- Bookkeeping, accounting, and financial management -- Small business marketing 101 -- E-business: selling and marketing online -- Planning for changes in ownership -- Building your business and hiring workers -- Getting legal and other professional help -- Appendix A: Small business resources and state-by-state contact information -- Appendix B: How to use the downloadable forms on the Nolo website.

Physical Description:

492 pages ; 23 cm.

Genre:

Handbooks and manuals.

Law for laypersons.

Subject Term:

Small business -- Law and legislation.

New business enterprises -- Law and legislation.

Author(s):

Gjelten, Elizabeth,

Publisher:

Nolo,

Publication Date:

2020

ISBN:

9781413327236

Publication Information:

Berkeley, California : Nolo, [2020].

Call Number:

658.041 PAKROO

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003499152	Adult Nonfiction	658.041 PAKROO	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

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Summary

Your one-stop guide to starting a small business

Want to start a business? Don't know where to begin? The Small Business Start-Up Kit shows you how to set up a small business in your state, while clearing state and local bureaucratic hurdles.

We'll show you how to:

choose between an LLC and other business structures write an effective business plan pick a winning business name and protect it get the proper licenses and permits manage finances and taxes hire and manage staff, and market your business effectively, online and off.

The 11th edition is updated with the latest legal and tax rules affecting small businesses, plus social media and e-commerce trends.

With Downloadable Forms
Includes access to cash flow projection and profit/loss forecast worksheets, state-specific business resources, and more (details inside).

Author Notes

Peri Pakroo is a business author and coach, specializing in creative and smart strategies for self-employment and small business. Peri is the author of The Small Business Start-Up Kit for California, The Women's Small Business Start-Up Kit, and Starting Building a Nonprofit, all published by Nolo.

Your Small Business Start-Up Companion	p. 1
As Conditions Change, the Elements of Success Are the Same	p. 1
Systems Facilitate Success	p. 2
Why This Book Is a Must for Start-Ups	p. 3
Take the Leap	p. 4
1 Choosing a Legal Structure	p. 9
Sole Proprietorships	p. 11
Partnerships	p. 15
Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)	p. 23
Corporations	p. 28
Benefit Corporations, L3Cs, and Emerging Business Structures for Socially Conscious, Mission-Driven Businesses	p. 34
Choosing the Best Structure for Your Business	p. 36
2 Picking a Winning Business Name	p. 39
An Overview of Trademark Law	p. 41
Trademark Issues Online	p. 53
Name Searches	p. 57
Choosing a Domain Name	p. 63
Trademark Registration	p. 65
Winning Names for Your Business, Products, and Services	p. 66
3 Choosing a Business Location	p. 71
Picking the Right Spot	p. 72
Complying With Zoning Laws	p. 77
Commercial Leases	p. 83
4 Drafting an Effective Business Plan	p. 87
Different Purposes Require Different Plans	p. 89
Describing Your Business and Yourself	p. 90
Making Financial Projections	p. 97
Break-Even Analysis	p. 101
Profit/Loss Forecast	p. 113
Start-Up Cost Estimate	p. 117
Cash Flow Projection	p. 118
Putting It All Together	p. 124
5 Raising Start-Up Money	p. 125
Realities of Funding a Start-Up	p. 126
Debt Versus Equity Financing	p. 128
Business Loans	p. 129
Equity Investments	p. 132
What Lenders and Investors Look For	p. 134
Alternatives to Institutional Funders	p. 135
6 Pricing, Bidding, and Billing Projects	p. 139
Pricing and Billing for Service Businesses	p. 140
Bidding and Creating Proposals	p. 147
Pricing for Businesses Selling Products	p. 151
7 Federal, State, and Local Start-Up Requirements	p. 155
Step 1 File Organizational Documents With Your State (Corporations, LLCs, and Limited Partnerships Only)	p. 158
Step 2 Obtain a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)	p. 160
Step 3 Register Your Fictitious Business Name (FBN)	p. 164
Step 4 Obtain a Local Tax Registration Certificate	p. 169
Step 5 Obtain a State Seller's Permit	p. 171
Step 6 Obtain Specialized Licenses or Permits	p. 172
8 Risk Management	p. 177
Who Might Sue or Be Sued	p. 179
Risk Management Strategies	p. 188
Insurance and Warranties	p. 195
9 Paying Your Taxes	p. 205
Tax Basics	p. 207
Income Taxes for Sole Proprietors	p. 215
Income Taxes for Partnerships	p. 219
Income Taxes for LLCs	p. 222
Estimating and Paying Your Taxes Quarterly	p. 225
City and County Taxes	p. 229
Sales Taxes	p. 231
10 Laws, Taxes, and Other Issues for Home Businesses	p. 239
Home Business Zoning Restrictions	p. 241
The Home Business Tax Deduction	p. 244
Risks and Insurance	p. 252
11 Entering Into Contracts and Agreements	p. 257
Contract Basics	p. 258
Using Standard Contracts	p. 264
How to Draft a Contract	p. 266
Reading and Revising a Contract	p. 273
Electronic Contracts	p. 274
12 Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Financial Management	p. 281
Accounting Basics	p. 284
Cash Versus Accrual Accounting	p. 288
Step 1 Keeping and Organizing Receipts	p. 291
Step 2 Entering Receipts Into Bookkeeping Software	p. 294
Step 3 Generating Financial Reports	p. 299
Using Technology to Manage Money, Inventory, and Projects	p. 309
13 Small Business Marketing 101	p. 319
Defining Your Market	p. 321
Learning About Your Market: Market Research	p. 328
Cost-Effective Marketing Tools	p. 333
14 E-Business: Selling and Marketing Online	p. 345
Defining Your Strategy and Goals	p. 348
A Website: Your Online Base Camp	p. 351
Online Outreach Methods	p. 353
E-Commerce: What's Involved?	p. 362
Website Builder Services and Affiliate Stores: Do or Don't?	p. 363
Planning a Website Project	p. 365
Choosing and Working With a Web Developer	p. 372
The Website Development Process	p. 376
Driving Traffic to Your Site	p. 382
Domain Names and Hosting	p. 386
Intellectual Property: Who Owns Your Website?	p. 389
15 Planning for Changes in Ownership	p. 397
When You Need a Written Buy-Sell Agreement	p. 399
Buy-Sell Agreement Basics	p. 402
Limiting Ownership Transfers	p. 402
Forcing Buyouts	p. 403
Establishing the Price for Sales: How to Value the Business	p. 406
Implementing Buy-Sell Provisions	p. 408
Sample Buy-Sell Provisions	p. 409
16 Building Your Business and Hiring Workers	p. 421
Employees Versus Independent Contractors	p. 422
Special Hurdles for Employers	p. 426
Hiring and Managing Staff	p. 428
17 Getting Legal and Other Professional Help	p. 433
Working With Lawyers	p. 434
Working With Accountants and Other Financial Professionals	p. 439
Internet Legal Research	p. 441
Appendixes
A Small Business Resources and State-by-State Contact Information	p. 445
Small Business Start-Up Information	p. 447
State Tax Agencies	p. 449
State Sales Tax or Seller's Permit Agencies	p. 452
LLC Offices	p. 455
State Unemployment Compensation Agencies	p. 458
B How to Use the Downloadable Forms on the Nolo Website	p. 461
Editing RTFs	p. 462
List of Forms Available on the Nolo Website	p. 463
Index	p. 465

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Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Table of Contents