Are you looking to start your own business? Want to take the leap, but not sure where to begin? It can be difficult to know what steps are needed in order to get started. This article will give you an overview of six things that need attention before starting your own company.
#1. Form your company
The first step to starting your own business is forming it into a legal type of business organization, and registering it, of course. That process varies from country to country and state to state, so you will need to do some research to figure out the specifics for the country you want to start your business in.
For example, if you are starting your business in Hong Kong, you will need a Hong Kong company registration number, or the equivalent of such for the state your business resides at. When it comes to company structure, the types of company structures are sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited liability company (LLC), and non-profit.
Each of these is formed when an appropriate agreement is signed, and all parties understand their position within the organization. If you are not sure what are the contents of these contracts, you can find almost everything you need on websites like LegalTemplates.
Some businesses may not need to form an official entity like an LLC or corporation, which is the case if there’s only one owner with no other investors involved. Other businesses may want to consider whether or not they should incorporate it because it offers protection from personal liability for the actions of the business.
It’s generally recommended that new businesses try minimizing their personal exposure by incorporating before being faced with going in front of a judge and explaining why the person who was in was unaware a lawsuit had been filed.
This is because corporations are considered separate entities from their owners, therefore the corporation itself is held responsible for any actions done by its employees or agents.
#2. Choose a name
The first step to starting a business is choosing a good name. A good name will not only help you remember your business, but it can help you find customers as well.
When naming your company, think about what you do and how you want people to think about your company. Remember that naming a company can be difficult and require a lot of time, so it’s important to find the right name that will represent your business in the best light possible.
Once you have your company organized into an official legal entity, it’s time to choose a name. It may seem obvious, but it can be surprisingly difficult to find a unique business name that isn’t already taken.
You’ll want to search the available names with the Secretary of State in your state, checking both trademark and corporate records. Once you have decided on the perfect name, don’t forget to have all occurrences of the name registered with the proper authorities, so you will be able to use protection against someone else using it if they weren’t aware of this new business owner.
#3. Get a tax identification number
A taxpayer identification number is a series of numbers that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) uses to identify businesses. It’s important for your business to have its own taxpayer identification number because it establishes your company as a separate entity from you, the owner.
One reason this is important is if someone were to sue your company, they wouldn’t be able to get any of your personal assets such as your car or bank account, just things related specifically to the business venture itself.
The other reason why having a taxpayer ID number makes sense for new businesses is because many times insurance companies will not take on new clients without one, and this will make it harder for you to acquire insurance coverage in case something were to happen while your business was operating.
#4. Get proper licensing and permits for your industry
When starting a new business, it’s crucial to be aware of the licensing you may need for your specific industry or job position. Licensing requirements vary by state, but most require at least becoming licensed in the state where you plan on doing business.
For instance, if you’re an office manager, then you will probably need to become licensed as an accountant in that particular location because there are different rules for accountants than managers which can take away from your ability to do things that could benefit your business venture.
It’s important to understand what kind of licenses and permits you’ll need based on what type of work your employees will be performing, so you can avoid any problems before they can occur.
#5. Learn about your industry
When starting a new business, it’s important to do some research about the specific industry you’re entering into because there will be things that you’ll need to know in order to properly operate your company and have success with it.
It may seem easier at first glance to just jump right into something without learning about what lies ahead of you, but this is a mistake that can lead to problems later on down the line if you don’t understand how something works or what could potentially go wrong with certain aspects of your industry.
If you want to start a business, it is essential that you learn as much as you can about the industry. This way, you’ll be able to create a product or service that people actually want.
Businesses have been struggling against the current recession because many of them don’t know how to adapt to these tough economic times. However, those who have taken the time to learn more about their industry have been able to excel.
#6. Hire employees as needed
After getting started and keeping records for your business, one thing that is easy as well as crucial is hiring employees as needed. For example, if you are hiring employees for your new company, then they must be on file with the minimum wage department so that whatever wage you decide to pay them is legal.
If there are hourly employees on staff, it’s important to keep time records of what hours they’ve worked and how much they’ve made in order to make sure that their pay meets what is required by law.
It may seem like a lot, but it’ll be worth it when everything goes smoothly with your business venture because this will avoid future liability problems, which could cost you more time and money than necessary for an employer of one or two people.
Final Words
There are a number of things that you need to do when starting up a business in order for it to be successful.
It may seem easy at first, but without taking the time and effort necessary to learn about your industry, obtain proper licensing and permits before hiring employees, or understand how your product will make an impact on people’s lives, you’ll find yourself in trouble in no time.
We hope this list has been helpful! If not, let us know what we missed, so we can give our readers some more ideas about their own businesses. We wish you all the best in your future business endeavors!