How to Start a Courier Business

ByLanee’ Blunt

Courier service transport documents
 and pakages for organizations.
Anshustock

Startinga courier service is a rewarding and lucrative business. You may find that youare in competition with the big companies. Couriers will transport documentsand packages for individuals, businesses, intuitions, and government agenciessome companies will prefer working with a small courier business. Your courierservice can offer clients in your community convenient delivery or pick-upservices.

Startwith a business plan

Abusiness plan will be required if you are going to request financing. It canhelp you by getting you a business loan and -investors. Include in the plan thename of your company, what your business hours will be, and the types ofvehicles your company will use for transporting goods.

BusinessLicense

Acquirea “Doing Business As,” DBA. Register a legal name for your business if you aregoing to use a name other than your own name. Apply for the DBA with aregistration form with your state and local government.

Applyfor an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the US Internal RevenueService if you have hired employees. Take the test for your commercial driver’slicense.

Advertiseyour Business

Youcan start your business with a small investment and a vehicle. Send direct mailand postcards to dry cleaners, spirits, fast food, medications, event tickets,grocery stores, and pet food stores. 

Reference:

Entrepreneur:Business Idea Center; Community Delivery Service

BusinessIdeas: How to Start a Courier Business Today

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Couriers and Messengers

How to Open a Bakery Business

ByLanee’ Blunt

Youmay get a lot of compliments from your family and friends about your cakes andpies. Owning your own bakery may be your dream and you want to open a bakery. Adegree in pastry arts may help, but it's not necessary to open a bakery. Youcan learn the craft with time and experience and you have the potential to makegood money.

Writea Business Plan

Abusiness plan will be required if you are going to request financing,considering constructing, remodeling or taking over an existing food establishment.It can help you by getting you a business loan and investors.

Funding

Evaluateyour funds and make sure that you have enough money to carry you through 18 to24 months.  Baking entrepreneurs oftenself-finance. You may need to secure outside funding. Try your local communityto bank.

Location

Lookfor a high traffic location, for example near a school, college, bus or trainterminal.

BuyEquipment

Buycommercial sized equipment that will be able to stand the heavy cookingyou will be doing. Talk to equipment dealers for the best technical advice.

HealthInspection

Youwill need to check with your state for information or contact the Bureau ofConsumer Health Services to get a health inspection. Once the inspection hasbeen passed, fill out the necessary forms and pay for the permit. For a mobilebakery stand you will need an inspection of your kitchen and apply for aseparate mobile food permit. Visit or go to your local health departmentwebsite and find out the licenses and permits you will need to apply for.

Reference:

TheStreet: A Dozen Hot Tips for Starting a Bakery; Lan Nguyen; 2008

Cityof Houston; Opening a Food Establishment

Entrepreneur;How to Start a Bakery Business; 2011

How to Start Up an Online Business

ByLanee’ Blunt

Whenyou start an online business you can sell your own products, work withwholesale suppliers, write content, or start an online store. Starting anInternet business doesn’t require a lot of overhead, and is a business to getinto with minimum upfront investment.

Decidewhat type of internet business you will be going into. Is it a product orproducts that you are selling or are you going to sell; business to business,or sell your service? Are you going to do affiliate marketing? A sales taxlicense is required to collect sales taxes. The requirements may be different,so you must check with your own local licensing department. Most onlinebusinesses will take time and work to get going, there will be a lot of thingsto learn, and things to do before the commerce is started.

Registeryour domain name. This is the web address of your online business. Get a webhost. It will provide you with space and support to create your website. Designyour website because it will be considered your store front. You can design ityourself, use a template, or hire someone to design it for you.

Usesearch engine optimization to drive people to your website. Pay-per-clickadvertising is an effective method to get traffic to a new site. Capture yourvisitor's email addresses when they visit your site. Build an opt-in list fromyour customers and subscribers by asking them to give you permission to sendthem an e-mail. Create an email newsletter and send it to your customers.

Reference:

Entrepreneur:How to Start a Business Online; Allen Moon

SBA:Starting an Online Business

StartOnline Business Guide: Online Business Ideas; Kanute Fleming

How to Open an Estate Sale Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

Starting an estate salebusiness can be lucrative if you love to deal with antiques and organizingthings. An estate sales facilitator is called in when a loved one has died orif the family has to put someone in a nursing home. The family may not want todeal with the cleaning up and organizing of the loved ones items and gettingthe items sold so that the home can be sold.

You must set up yourbusiness as a legal entity. Decide which form of ownership is best for yourparticular business: sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited LiabilityCompany (LLC), corporation, or S corporation. You can operate your business under your own name or get a fictitiousname DBA and operate as a sole proprietorship. Get bonded because most familieswon’t work with you if you are not bonded. Obtain insurance to protect yourselfif you accidentally damage property or if you get hurt while on the job.

Hire employees. You may haveto work for families that have not cleaned up. And you may need to hire someoneon days when you have a lot of organizing to do for the big sale.  

Advertise your estate salebusiness. Market your business by passing out fliers. You can put up signsannouncing the sale. Put an ad in the newspaper.

The estate sale business isa good business and is almost recession proof. There will always be someonethat will need your service for their love one. If you are not great atappraising antiques you can always outsource and have a professional appraisethe antiques. Develop relationships with realtors and ask if they can recommendyou to their clients.

Reference:

Entrepreneurship: Starting aLow Start up Cost Business; Rae Morvay

Read This Next

Documents Required Opening a Sole Proprietorship

How to Create a Company Logo

How to Write a Small Business Proposal

Best Home Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

Work from home--Henkster

Best home business to get into when you arelooking for an honest way to make a living either as a part-time supplement toyour income or a full-time income.  Manypeople believe that working from home means that you work from your pajamas andyou can work whenever you want to at your own hours. But working from home ismuch more than that you must be your own boss and push yourself harder and mosttimes you put in more than 40 hours a week.

There are many ideas to choose from but thefirst thing to consider is do you want a service business or to sell a product?

Computer Services

A computer technician, programmer, systemsengineer, web designer are always in high demand. You could have a profitablebusiness from home by becoming a subcontractor or a consultant. The hourly ratefor these services is very high for freelancers.

Bookkeeping

If you are doing your friends and familiestaxes you should consider going into a home business.  You will need software and a computer foryour business.  Market your business, senddirect mail, design a website, and pass out fliers.

Writing

Freelance writing is a good home basedbusiness. Can you write ads, brochures, and website content? Market yourservices to corporations as a freelance copywriter by sending direct mail, orcold calling.  Freelance copywriters arein demand especially in today’s economy with corporations downsizing.

Online Store

Sell products on eBay, Amazon, orCraigslist.  Or you can set up an onlinestore and sell products on your own website with a drop-shipping service.  You can also sell used goods or buy goodswholesale.

Reference:

MSN Money; America's Best Home-BasedBusinesses; Start up Nation; 2010

Entrepreneur;Businesses You Can Start at Home; Lesley Spencer Pyle; 2010


Read This Next


Documents Required Opening a Sole Proprietorship


How to Work With Wholesale Suppliers


How to Start a Copywriting Business


Start Your Own Online Store


How to Start a Consulting Business

How to Start a Catering Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

Starting a catering businessmay be your life long dream, or maybe your friends’ and coworkers are alwayssuggesting that you should start your own catering business.  An advantage of opening a catering businessis that the start-up cost is low.  Presentation skills and the ability to makefood look fancy go a long way, and keeping up with the latest trends in foodand party ideas will help make your catering business a success.

Apply for Licenses

Register your business withyour state and county government.  Obtaina food service permit and a business permit. Register with the IRS.  Check with your county Public HealthDepartment if you are going to operate your catering business from home.

Equipment

Many caterers look for acommercial kitchen where they can rent space by hour or by shift. Arestaurant’s facility may be used in its off-hours or you can share the rentalcost of a commercial kitchen with other caterers.  You will need a delivery vehicle and a phone.

Advertise

Start a website and takepictures of the food you make and some of the parties that you havecatered.  Talk to wedding planners andintroduce yourself to bridal boutiques, bakers, party suppliers and florist.  Create and handout your brochure and businesscards. Send direct mail to corporations and small businesses. Follow up with aphone call and ask fo an appointment to discuss your services.

Reference:

SBA; Starting a Home-BasedFood Production Business; Caron Beesley; 2011

Inc; How to Start a CateringBusiness; Gina Pace; 2011

Entrepreneur: Business Idea Center:Catering

Read This Next

How to Register a Business


How to Open a Restaurant with a Sole Proprietorship or LLC


Direct Mail Advertising

Start a Locksmith Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

Open a locksmith business--Nkzs

Starting a locksmithbusiness is a good business decision and can be a valuable incomeopportunity.  There are many people thatget their homes burglarized, and lock themselves out of their cars. There is noslowing down on the burglary rate and opening a locksmith business will helppeople make their homes safer.

If you have experience youcan start your business right away. If you are inexperienced you can hireexperienced locksmiths, or take some courses before starting yourbusiness.  Take vocational courses thatfocus on lock installation and maintenance, master-keying, security systems, andsecurity systems repair.

Check with your city becauseyou may need to apply for a license bond as well as a city license. The bondwill cost $100 per year.  You will need areseller’s tax ID number. Register your business name. Starting a locksmithbusiness as a sole proprietorship you have to file a “fictitious name” or“Doing Business As” (DBA) registration form. In some states, you have toregister a DBA with the state government or the county clerk’s office. You willneed your driver’s license or state ID card with your application. If you aregoing to hire employees as a sole proprietorship you need to use the (EIN)Employee Identification Number.  Fill-outthe necessary forms and send them back to the federal government and they willreturn it to you with your EIN number.

Purchase a van or a truckfor your business with a sign for your business name.  Buy tools, equipment, and computer withfinance software.

Market your business bydirect mail, passing out flyers, cold calling, office managers, apartmentcomplexes, and builders. Get a website and business cards. Some people may callyou at 3 am, because they have locked themselves out of their car or home,especially if you have a 24 hour service.

Reference:

Business Ideas: Starting aLocksmith Business with Ease; Clay Collins’

Locksmith Buzz: 6 EssentialTips When Starting a Locksmith Business

All Experts: The Possibilityon Living on a Locksmith’s Salary; James; 2003

Read This Next

Documents Required Opening a Sole Proprietorship

How to Create a Company Logo

How to Write a Small Business Proposal

How to Open a Plumbing Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

Starting a plumbing businesscan be lucrative. You will not have to worry about being laid off or yourcompany downsizing. When starting a new business most people take theirexperience in employment and apply it to their business. If you have a plumbingbackground and considering starting a business there are things you have toconsider.

Training

Starting out you will needtraining as a plumber if you don’t have experience. There are schools availablethat you can go to that offer plumbing training, community colleges andvocational schools. These schools will offer training and after you graduateyou can become a full time plumber. Take plumbing courses online if you alreadyhave a busy schedule.

Determine Legal Ownership

You must set up yourbusiness as a legal entity. Decide which form of ownership is best for yourparticular business: sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited LiabilityCompany (LLC), corporation, or S corporation.  Starting a plumbing business as a soleproprietorship you have to file a “fictitious name” or “Doing Business As”(DBA) registration form. In some states, you have to register a DBA with thestate government or the county clerk’s office. You will need your driver’slicense or state ID card with your application. If you are going to hire employeesas a sole proprietorship you need to use the (EIN) Employee IdentificationNumber.  Fill-out the necessary forms andsend them back to the federal government and they will return it to you withyour EIN number.

Purchase Equipment

Buy the equipment you need.Purchase a van or truck for your business. Find a building that will haveenough room for all of your equipment. Advertise and market your business. Getbusiness cards printed and build a website.

Reference:

SBA: 5 Steps to Registeringyour Business

Plumbing Training Courses:How to Open and Run a Plumbing Business; Joshua; 2011

Businessrise: How to Start aPlumbing Business; Gianna Lazarou

Read This Next

How to Start a Construction Business

Documents Required Opening a Sole Proprietorship


Starting a LLC

How to Start a Janitorial Service Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

Open your janitorial business--
nazreth

Starting a janitorialservice is a good business decision and can be a valuable income opportunity. Youhave an excellent chance for success when you start a janitorial servicebusiness. The start-up cost is low and there is always a demand for yourservice.

You must set up yourbusiness as a legal entity. Decide which form of ownership is best for yourparticular business: sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited LiabilityCompany (LLC), corporation, or S corporation. You can operate your business under your own name or get a fictitiousname DBA and operate as a sole proprietorship. Get all the necessary permitsyou need to operate your janitorial business. Obtain liability insurance foryour cleaning business because it will protect you, your employees and yourcustomers in case there is an injury or damaged property.

Purchase the equipment youneed. When you are just starting your business and you don’t have any employeesyou can use your own house cleaning equipment and your car. Buy cleaningsupplies mops, brooms, a vacuum cleaner, bleach, floor cleaner, paper towels,and window cleaner.

Write a cleaning servicecontract that outlines your terms and services and prices.  Set up a business checking account, printbusiness cards, and stationary, Start a website that you can direct clients towith your contact information. Make it easy for prospects to get in touch withyou on your website by setting up an email account in case they want to hireyou for a project.

Reference:

SBA: 5 Steps to Registeringyour Business

Start a Janitorial business:How to Start a Janitorial Services Business

Read This Next

How to Write a Janitorial Service Proposal

How to Advertise a Small Business


How to Make Your Own Business Cards Online

Starting an Internet Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

Sell your products online--lotushead

Starting an Internetbusiness doesn’t require a lot of overhead, and is a business to get into withminimum upfront investment.  There aredifferent types of internet businesses that you may start; a site that sellsproducts, an e-commerce that sells products, an e-commerce business that shipsproducts to people or a service selling website or maybe you probably have onein mind.

Product

Decide what type of internetbusiness you will be going into. Is it a product or products that you areselling or are you going to sell; business to business, or sell your service?Are you going to do affiliate marketing? A sales tax license is required tocollect sales taxes. The requirements may be different, so you must check withyour own local licensing department.

Name your Internet Business

What are you going to nameyour company? A name is very important and you should give carefulconsideration before you decide on any name.

License

Some states require forwebsite owners to register for many of the same licenses that other businessowners have to register for. E-commerce website owners must comply with statetax collection, and accounting regulations. Apply for a vendor license withyour state. Each state is different and the requirements may be different forstate to state. The sba.gov will let you know where you can get a vendor’slicense in your particular state. Type your state, or zip code and vendor andpeddler license in the required field and the site navigates to your specificstate where you can find out your contact information or you can apply. Thevendor license can be obtained at your state office of department of finance.

Set Up Online Site

Get a domain name andregister it. Get a web host. You can find a web host that is inexpensive andeffective. Make sure you use a web host that offers features that makethird-party scripts like a shopping cart a one click system.  Look for free shopping cart scripts. Most webhost will offer the open source osCommerce script as a quick install, but thereare others you can download. Install payment modules Paypal, 2Checkout, andothers. For accepting credit cards select a credit card processor.

Prepare a business plan foryour new internet business.  Market yournew business. Set up a checking accountfor your internet company.  Printbusiness cards.

Reference:

Start a Online BusinessInfo: Starting an Internet Business

Emarketingman: Start anInternet Business

How to Start a Home Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

Starting a home basedbusiness can be very rewarding. You won’t have the long commute, rush hourtraffic, work in your pajamas, and take a long coffee break. Be your own bossand you won’t have to worry about being laid-off. Home businesses are becomingmore popular today as people turn their extra time into profit.

The Home Office

You probably have an idea orthe product that you want to sell. Where in your home will your office belocated? If you are going to sell products you need enough room to store theinventory. If you are selling merchandise you will need to display them whereyour customers can see them. Keep your business and your family life separatebecause your family will need their privacy.

Apply for Licenses

You must set up yourbusiness as a legal entity. Decide which form of ownership is best for yourparticular business: sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited LiabilityCompany (LLC), corporation, or S corporation. A sole proprietorship is abusiness owned by a single individual. Start a home business by operating as asole proprietorship the start up cost is low; no employees are required andbegin working right away with minimum overhead.  Check zoning ordinances, buy insurance, andsee your city clerk about special licensing you may need for your particularbusiness.

Reference:

SBA: Home Based Business

University of Maine: Starting a Home Business

How to Start a Consulting Business

By Lanee' Blunt

Set up your
consulting company--
Surely

Starting your own consultingcompany can be a rewarding experience. What separates a good consultant from a badone is the passion that one brings to the job. As a consultant you should havea lot of experience in your field and be very knowledgeable about the subjectyou are consulting in. Consulting gives you the opportunity to meet potentialclients, establish credibility, and set your own fees.  

Difficulty

Moderate

Things You’ll Need

Business cards

Website

Brochure

Business license

Step 1

Work from Home. Starting abusiness from home when you are just starting out requires less investment thanoperating out of a leased office, or owned business property.  Set up a home office in a spare room.

Step 2

Get your client base.Network by passing out business cards, brochures and join twitter and socialnetworking sites. Ask for referrals from your clients or offer incentives forgetting them. Ask for pro bono work when you are first starting out because itmay produce future business.

Step 3

Get Noticed. Send pressreleases to the local newspaper to get notoriety. Write articles and sendqueries to trade journals and business publications. Writing articles helps toget your name in front of your audience and is a form of public relations.

Step 4

Get Licensing. Depending onyour business you may need certification or a license before you start yourbusiness.

Step 5

Acquire a “Doing BusinessAs,” DBA. Register a legal name for your business if you are going to use aname other than your own name. Apply for the DBA with a registration form withyour state and local government. Apply for an Employer Identification Number(EIN) from the US Internal Revenue Service if you have hired employees.

Step 6

Set up a checking accountfor your new consulting company.  Printbusiness cards. Get business letterhead printed with your company name andcontact information. Start a website that you can direct clients to with your contactinformation. Make it easy for prospects to get in touch with you on yourwebsite by setting up an email account in case they want to hire you.

Tips

Join your local Chamber ofCommerce.

Reference

Inc; How to Promote YourConsulting Btsiness; Lou Dubois; 2011

Entrepreneur; How to Start aConsulting Business

SBA: 5 Steps to RegisteringYour Business

SBA: Taking the Plunge;Caron Beesley; 2010

Read This Next

Documents Required Opening a Sole Proprietorship


How to Start a Copywriting Business


How to Work With Wholesale suppliers

How to Start a Construction Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

Start your own construction business--
Hbrinkman

Starting a constructioncompany can be a profitable business if you have experience and can fix orremodel residential or commercial properties. You must understand contractdocumentation and must know your area of expertise, for example utilities,heavy grading, and site development. You can go to school for constructionmanagement or you can learn from experience, or you can start with another firmas an intern with 3 or more years experience before starting your own company.

You must set up yourbusiness as a legal entity. Decide which form of ownership is best for yourparticular business: sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited LiabilityCompany (LLC), corporation, or S corporation.

Apply for an employee identification number (EIN) with the federal government. Fill-out the necessaryforms and send them back to the federal government and they will return it toyou with your EIN number.

Get the licenses and permitsthat you need to run your business. Most small businesses will need a generalbusiness license or specific operating permits from your state and localgovernment. Get insurance for your business to insure you and your companyagainst claims of personal injury and property damage.

Draw up a contract for yourcompany to use for clients. Define the scope of work, payment, and workschedule. Do not rely on a verbal contract and make sure that you geteverything in writing before you begin.

Reference:

Small Business BC:Considerations for Starting Your Construction Company; Candice Macalino; 2010

Entrepreneur; Starting aBusiness as a Remodeling Contractor; Paul and Sarah Edwards; 2004

How to Work With Wholesale Suppliers

By Lanee’ Blunt

Find a wholesale supplier--
linder6580

Starting an online store,retail store, hair salon, or auto body shop you must have a relationship with awholesaler or wholesalers. Finding and forming a relationship with a wholesalerwill require that you do your homework. It’s easier to find one if you knowwhat products you will need.

Types of Wholesalers

You have to understand thedistribution channels and how companies get goods to their customers. Somewholesalers if you are a small company may not work with you because they onlysell to large companies that can handle bulk. There are many others that willwork with smaller businesses.

• Manufacturer—you may buy direct for some products. For example, a small boutique buys goods from a small manufacturer.

• Wholesaler Regional Distributor—regional wholesalers who take delivery of boxcar sized lots, and sells directly to local wholesalers.
• Jobbers—they make daily deliveries to local grocers and retail brick and mortar stores.
• Importer Distributor—they import and distribute a product in a certain country.

Start Accounts with Wholesalers

Identify a supplier. Contacteach wholesale company through their website, or by calling them on the phoneand fill out their new account application. Make sure you understand the volumediscounts, return policies, and order processing time for the types of productsyou want to sell. Purchase the products you want to sell or set up a dropshipping arrangement with them. Start promoting your online store or retail store.

Reference:

SBA: Small Business Matters;Tips for Finding and Working with Wholesale Suppliers; Caron Beesley; 2010

About: How to Find aWholesale Distributor; Gregory Go

How to Start a Copywriting Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

Starting your own copywritingcompany can be a rewarding experience. When you are starting your new business,make sure you have all the necessary office equipment. A copywriting businesswill give you the opportunity to do what you love best and that is to write. Writinggives you the opportunity to meet potential clients, establish credibility, andset your own fees. The least expensive way to market your new business is by wordof mouth.

Difficulty

Moderate

Things You’ll Need

Business cards

Website

Stationary

Business license

Get your client base. Write a sales letter and create a brochure. Sendout a direct mail package informing prospects about your new business. Networkby passing out business cards, brochures and you can talk to business people andoffer your services. Ask for referrals. Ask for pro bono work when you arefirst starting out because it may produce future business.

Get Noticed.Send press releases to the local newspaper to get notoriety. Write articles andsend queries to trade journals and business publications. Writing articleshelps to get your name in front of your audience and is a form of publicrelations.

Acquire a “Doing Business As,” DBA. Register a legal name for your business if you aregoing to use a name other than your own name. Apply for the DBA with aregistration form with your state and local government.

Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the US Internal Revenue Service if you havehired employees.

Set up a checking account for your new copywriting business.  Print business cards. Start a website thatyou can direct clients to with your contact information. Make it easy forprospects to get in touch with you on your website by setting up an emailaccount in case they want to hire you for a project.

Tips

Join your local Chamber ofCommerce.

Reference

SBA: 5 Steps to RegisteringYour Business

How to Register a Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

Starting your own businessrequires that you must have a marketable product or service that will reachyour paying customers. Starting a business involves planning, making financialdecisions, and following the steps to ensure that your company has thenecessary licenses, permits, and registrations.

Determine Legal Ownership

You must set up yourbusiness as a legal entity. Decide which form of ownership is best for yourparticular business: sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited LiabilityCompany (LLC), corporation, or S corporation.

Obtain Federal Tax ID

Apply for an employeeidentification number (EIN) with the federal government. Fill-out the necessaryforms and send them back to the federal government and they will return it toyou with your EIN number.  You will needthis to hire employees. The EIN is also known as an Employer Tax ID and FormSS-4.

State and Local Taxes

Register with your state fora tax identification number, worker’s compensation, unemployment and disabilityinsurance.

Obtain Licenses and Permits

Get the licenses and permitsthat you need to run your business. Most small businesses will need a generalbusiness licensd or specific operating permits from your state and local government.

Reference:

SBA: 5 Steps to Registeringyour Business

Inc: How to Prepare toLaunch Your Start Up; Matthew DeLuca; 2011

Starting a LLC

By Lanee' Blunt

A limited liability company LLC is a business that is similar to a partnership. A LLC has legal protections of personal assets that a corporation has but does not have the same formalities of paperwork and fees that a corporation has. LLC’s are popular because of their similarities to a corporation where owners have limited personal liability for the debts and actions of the LLC.

File an article of organization with your secretary of state’s office

The exact rules for setting up your LLC do vary from state to state. SBA.gov will navigate you to the proper state where you can apply for the LLC. Your secretary of state’s website will provide you with the rules and fees involved.

Agreement for your LLC

Write an agreement for your LLC that states the arrangement and details, percentage of ownership of members, roles, and responsibilities.

Lawyer

Hire a lawyer to read your paperwork this is not mandatory. Yet, it is helpful to make sure that your operating agreement has your interest protected.

Mail your Application

If you mail the application instead of handing it in person, everyone who is on the application has to sign the form. You will need to include a photocopy of each driver’s license or state ID card with the application.

Tips

LLC limits your personal liability and are simpler to form than corporations.

In some states you may apply online or download an application to mail it back.

Reference:

IRS: Limited Liability Company (LLC)

The Wall Street Journal: How to Form an LLC

Start Your Own Online Store

By Lanee' Blunt

Starting an online store is a good way to make money selling your products everyday.  Cheap web hosting and templates help you to build a website for your own catalog on the web. Setting up your own e-commerce site gives you more flexibility, freedom, and more control. Having your own site lets you avoid transaction and listing fees, but you will have to pay processing fees from your payment gateway.

Obtain a Tax ID

Get a sales tax ID. To sell products you are required to collect sales taxes, you will need to obtain a Sales Tax Permit from your state or local government. In order to deal with wholesalers and distributors you will need the tax ID before they will let you open an account with them.

Web Host

You probably have one in mind so I won’t talk about it too much here. Make sure that you use a web host that offers features that make installing third-party scripts like shopping cart systems just in one click. Get a domain name.

Set up your website. Install your shopping cart system.

Online Store

Get an account with an online provider such as Amazon, Yahoo, or eBay.

Payment Method

You can install payment modules including Paypal, 2Checkout, and others. Select a credit card payment processor for accepting payments through credit cards. Paypal is easy to set up and popular for most online users. For the shipping cost you ban specify per item shipping cost, and rates for different zones.

Product Images

Use product images and descriptions of your products in your online shopping site. Select a category product image and enter in the other detail description and name.

Reference:

Lifehacker: How to Set Up Your Own Online Store