IRS: Checklist for Starting A Business
Learn the basic steps you need to follow to set up your own business with this checklist from the IRS.
IRS: Checklist for Starting a Business
Biz Video: Start-Up Success
Business On Main a website presented by Sprint that provides business information. It’s Bid Viz series of videos give advice and tips to entrepreneurs and start-ups. Check out the video below.
President’s $30 Billion Small Biz Plan
President Obama today formally launched his proposal to re-direct $30 billion in bailout funds into community banks to bolster small business lending. The money would come from TARP, the Troubled Asset Relief Program that funded the billions in bank bailouts at the height of the financial crisis.
“The more loans these banks provide to credit-worthy small businesses, the better a deal we’ll give them on capital from this fund,” Obama said in prepared remarks on his plan to re-focus un-obligated bailout money.”
In addition to using the TARP funds for community bank lending to small businesses, Obama wants to coax small businesses to hire more workers by giving employers a credit of up to $5,000 against their payroll taxes for every net new employee they hire in 2010 and by giving businesses a bonus 6.2 percent tax credit on aggregate wage growth in excess of inflation.
Read more at USA Today
Do You Love A Local Business?
If you have a local business that you love, there is still time to nominate them to win a small business grant worth $35,000.
Intuit is still sponsoring and accepting nominations for small businesses. One of the best things about this contest is that you can nominate your small business. Fans of local small businesses can nominate their favorite hometown business, which will make them eligible for a drawing to win. The more nominations a business has, the more chances they have to win a grant.
lovealocalbusiness.intuit.com
How To Start A Cleaning Business
Author: Sue Barrett
Residential and commercial cleaning businesses are traditionally the top-selling franchises year after year, so it is hard to deny that the cleaning business is a hot market. Some cleaning companies can survive on just a few corporate clients, and in most cases, you can rely on consistent monthly income from long term contracts. No wonder so many entrepreneurs enter this field.
Although cleaning and janitorial services can be a profitable field, it can be challenging for new entrepreneurs to start a cleaning business – and succeed. Here are a few tips.
1. Survey the market in your area. Do you find lots of other cleaning companies that you will have to compete against? This is not an uncommon situation. Since there are many smaller niche markets within the cleaning field, it may be more profitable for you to enter a smaller market with less competition. Some specialties include window cleaning, carpet cleaning, grout cleaning, kitchen cleaning, etc. Another way you could compete against larger cleaning companies is to offer benefits that are not offered elsewhere, like extended service hours, use of nontoxic cleaners, etc.
2. Once you have chosen a niche, put together a basic business plan. This can help you establish start-up and operation costs and give you a clearer picture of what you need to do to reach your income goals. Viewing sample business plans of other cleaning companies can help you accomplish this in less time. There are several you can find by searching the internet.
3. After you have put your plan together, decide on a business name and register it with the County Clerks office. You will also need to get a business license at your local city or county office. Although it is not a requirement to have insurance or bonding, it is a smart idea and can look good to your customers if they ask. You can get free quotes online from a variety of different sources, or you can set up a meeting with a local insurance agent to discuss your options.
4. Get a tax ID for your company through the IRS and open a business bank account. Keeping your personal and business finances separate is important come tax time. Opening a business bank account is not have to be expensive or difficult. Interview a few banks to find the best service for you. You may even be able to open a free bank account.
5. Meet with a tax accountant to discuss potential tax deductions for your business. The more write-offs you know about, the more money you can save. If you decide to do your own bookkeeping, accounting software like Quick books Pro can make the job much easier. You do not have to get the most recent product – in fact, you can save money purchasing a version just a few years old.
6. Professionalize your business image with a business phone line, business cards and professionally-designed literature. You can create your own business cards, brochures and flyers online for less money, yet still create a professional image.
7. A website can be another great way to look professional and advertise your services too. If you have the time, you can do this yourself for about $100 a year. You can display your services, rates, contact information, job photos and customer testimonials on your site to help potential customers make a buying decision.
8. Write a short press release to your local newspaper announcing the opening of your business and mention a “grand opening special” or discount for first-time customers. This can get you free advertising in the paper instead of having to pay for an ad.
It can be helpful to get a business start-up guide at your local library or bookstore to review when you have questions. If you know someone in a similar but noncompeting business to yours, see if you can take them to lunch and interview them. You can often gain some valuable insight.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/small-business-articles/how-to-start-a-cleaning-business-1800006.html
About the Author For resources and tools related to these 8 steps, plus to pick up your cleaning business start-up guide, visit How to Start a Cleaning Business. Sue Barrett has been the Director of Business Solutions at Home Business Center, Inc. since 1997. Specializing in small and home business issues, she can provide quality insight and reputable resources for those wanting to start, manage and grow their own home-based business.
