Based on the collection digitization project I just finished working on, some of my relatives and colleagues have suggested that I look into starting a side business as a consultant. The first step is filing the paperwork for a business license with my county. But I'm curious with the folks here what were some of the first steps you took for your business other than just filing the paperwork? It's probably a little different for me since I'd be looking at providing a service rather than selling a product.

Name it. Make it snappy, unique and memorable. In some ways, I think there's no point in doing anything else until you have a *good name* for your business.

Incidentally, I just got the trademark certificate for Sublime Stitching today. Yay!

Ooh, may I ask what was involved in obtaining your trademark certificate? Tia!

Grace- I'm emailing you directly about this.

At what point do you have to file for "business-ship?" Do you have to file with everyone (county, state, whatever) at once or certain levels to do certain things? I mean, I consign, but hope to sell on my own when I can afford in time and money a website of my own. Do I need to be registered as a business somewhere right now?

AesSedai, now that it's getting towards the end of the year, I'd recommend waiting to file for your license/dba with your county (the first step) till 2004, otherwise you'll have to do a Schedule C (sole proprietor dealie) on your taxes for 2003. I filed with my county right away so I could do business under the name Plain Mabel, but I didn't file with the state to collect sales tax till I actually started my site. While you're just consigning and the consignment shops are handling the sales tax, you can just file with your county for now.

Ok- I'm sorry, but i'm clueless about this- how does one file with their county- and what am i actually filing for? If i knew i could probably do the research on how to do this for myself. Also, i *might* move soon, does that matter?

You can usually just go to your city hall, fill out a form, pay a few bucks ($10-20 unless you're in a major city), and call it a day. You may also need to fill out something with the building inspector (they usually don't come to your place, they just make sure you're allowed to run a business in your home). If you have to go through the building inspector, make it VERY clear that you are doing work online and not having customers come to your house -- they don't always "get" that right away, and if they don't get it you may be turned down.

You're filing to do business under a name that is not your own -- "doing business as" or dba. If you're doing business under your actual name, then you might not have to file at all -- it depends on where you are. In some areas, you need to apply for a business license no matter what, and in others you only need to do that if you're using a name that's not yours.

Either way, as soon as you begin officially doing business, you should be recording all of your expenses and income because you'll need to fill out a schedule C along with your usual state and federal income tax forms.

If you're moving pretty soon, like in the next few months, I'd just wait, you should be fine.

for a ton of legal information for starting a business, check out http://www.nolo.com/

tax info (filing your businesses, EIN, tax IDs) check out http://www.irs.gov

and for small business info, check out http://www.sba.gov/

US Chamber of Commerce http://www.uschamber.com/default

hope this info helps. i'm still reading it to figure out what to do with starting my business.

oh i am so glad i read this post! i just started my own little shop (http://www.trashymagazine.com) and i had no idea what i needed to do to with taxes and forms and legal stuff etc. i don't make very much money from my website so i have just been using my paypal account to recieve payment and i just planned on claiming the money i made at the end of the year when i do my taxes.. is that ok? or do i need to actually go fill out legal business forms? anyone know? cause i have a personal acount with paypal so it is my name but i do call my website trashy magazine? bleh. confusing stuff! i just figure it's like selling stuff on ebay right? any advice would help!

thanks!
xoxo,
crystal

trashymagazine@aol.com
www.trashymagazine.com