Thinking about starting business

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Thinking About

Starting A

Business ?

Let’s Talk About

What’s Next…

Creating a business that brings you joy

The top 10 essentials for making a hobby into a business

Why incorporate your business

Choosing the right business structure for you

Your business success check list

Free resources for new business owners

Recommended book list

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<b>Creating A Business</b>

<b>That Brings You Joy</b>

Building a strong business foundation is one of the keys to owning a successful
busi-ness. Best of all, you can start to create your business while you're working at another

job. Create a business your heart desires and have fun, too!

You just won the lottery and in order to receive your check, you must have a full time
job. What would you be doing? Would it be what you are doing now? If not, ask yourself
why. Do you just need to add a little fun to your career or business, or is it that you are
not happy with your current position and feel ready to go for what you REALLY want to

do? Following are some ideas on how you can make the most of where you are, or take
the steps to get to where you want to be.

• Choose a career that "makes your heart smile." It's your desire level and commitment
that will keep you going during any rough times. Use this guide "Finding Your Ideal
Career (or Business)" to assist you as you create a business around what you enjoy.
Make sure that your end product (your business) has a market, too. www.

coachmaria.com/article/idealcareer.html

• Know what helps you maintain your integrity -- your top 5 values, needs and wants.
Base your decisions on what's important to you. Read Tony Robins book, Awaken
The Giant Within for more information. www.coachmaria.com/personalbooks.html
• Be prepared financially when transitioning into your business by making sure that

you have a reserve of money in the bank or another income. Even with the best
plan-ning strategies, "things do occur" that end up costing us more money than we had
planned to spend.

• Build a strong support system - business and volunteer network, and friends. Join a
success group www.coachmaria.com/events.html for support or hire a coach to assist
you in your business evolution.

• Recognize your strengths and work from them:. Acknowledge your weaknesses and
failures (life's way of providing feedback) and grow from them. Read The E-Myth
Re-visited by Michael Gerber... it's a "must have" business book.

• Create a strong business foundation: a business plan, marketing plan, and operations
manual. Follow them. Create forms and processes to keep you on track, etc. Choose
to be organized and consistent. Your clients and employees will appreciate it!

• Develop your boundaries and standards. They affect your business too! There are
some wonderful Top Ten Lists on both topics at www.topten.org.

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to take your vacation!!

• If you do not have enough time in your life, work with your coach to pinpoint tasks
that you may be able to delegate or eliminate. In general, a Virtual Assistant (VA) is
someone who performs administrative tasks away from the office of their clients. A
VA is the modern day version of the executive assistant or personal assistant. Are you
interested in learning more about VA's? Or are you a VA looking for resources? Enjoy
this list of resources www.coachmaria.com/coaching.html#Virtual.

Listen to others and consider outside advice. Incorporate what you like into your plan.
However, do not feel pressured to adopt another's practices as your own. Ultimately,
you are best equipped to implement how and why you run your business.

<b>The Top 10 Essentials for</b>

<b>Making a Hobby into a Business</b>

The essential thing here is that the IRS is going to look at your intent. Did you intend
to make money? You must intend to make a profit or it's just a hobby. Here are some
of the tangible indications that you have really embarked on a business enterprise.
1. Register your business name by filing a "doing business as" (DBA) statement with
your local county clerk.

2. Use business cards and stationery.

3. Take out a company listing in the Yellow Pages.

4. Keep a log of the business contacts you've seen during the year.
5. Advertise in local papers.

6. Send promotional mailings to prospective customers.
7. Set up a business bank account.

8. Get a business telephone.

9. Buy a postage meter and a copy machine.
10. Hire at least some part-time help.

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<b>Why Incorporate</b>

<b>your Business ?</b>

Anyone who operates a business, alone or with others, may incorporate. Under the
right circumstances, the owner of any size business can benefit!

Reduces Personal Liability

Incorporating helps separate your personal identity from that of your business. Sole
proprietors and partners are subject to unlimited personal liability for business debt or
law suits against their company.

Creditors of the sole proprietorship or partnership can bring suit against the owners of
the business and can move to seize the owners’ homes, cars, savings or other personal
assets.

Once incorporated, the shareholders of a corporation have only the money they put into
the company to lose, and usually no more.

Tax Advantages – Deductible Employee Benefits

Incorporating usually provides tax-deductible benefits for you and your employees.
Even if you are the only shareholder and employee of your business, benefits such as
health insurance, life insurance, travel and entertainment expenses may now be
de-ductible.

Best of all, corporations usually provide an increased tax shelter for qualified pensions
plans or retirement plans (e.g. 401K’s).

Anonymity

Corporations can offer anonymity to its owners. For example, if you want to open an
in-dependent small business of any kind and do not want your involvement to be public
knowledge, your best choice may be to incorporate.

If you open as a sole proprietorship, it is hard to hide the fact that you are the owner.
And as a partnership, you will most likely be required to register your name and the
names of your partners with the state and/or county officials in which you are doing
business.

Easier Access to Capital Funding

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With sole proprietorships and partnerships, investors are much harder to attract
be-cause of the personal liability.

Investors are more likely to purchase shares in a corporation where there usually is a
separation between personal and business assets. Also, some banks prefer to lend
money to corporations.

An Enduring Structure

A corporation is the most enduring legal business structure. Corporations may continue
on regardless of what happens to its individual directors, officers, managers or
share-holders.

If a sole proprietor or partner dies, the business may automatically end or it may
be-come involved in various legal entanglements. Corporations can have unlimited life,
ex-tending beyond the illness or death of the owners.

Easier Transfer of Ownership

Ownership of a corporation may be transferred, without substantially disrupting
opera-tions or the need for complex legal documentation, through the sale of stock.

Centralized Management

With a corporation’s centralized management, all decisions are made by your board of
directors. Your shareholders cannot unilaterally bind your company by their acts
sim-ply because of their investment.

With partnerships, each individual general partner may make binding agreements on
behalf of the business that may result in serious financial difficulty to you or the
part-nership as a whole.

Adds Credibility !

A corporate structure communicates permanence, credibility and stature. Even if you
are the only stockholder or employee, your incorporated business may be perceived as a
much larger and more credible company. Seeing “,inc.” or “corp.” at the end of your

business name can send a powerful message to your customers, suppliers, and other
business associates about your commitment to the ongoing success of your venture.
Provided by Active Filings LLC. Incorporation Services in all 50 States http://www.
activefilings.com

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<b>Choosing the Right</b>

<b>Business Structure For You.</b>

Businesses may choose from a variety of corporate entities, based on their needs.
Below are useful descriptions.

General Corporation

A general corporation, also known as a “C” corporation, is the most common corporate
structure. A general corporation may have an unlimited number of stockholders.
Con-sequently, it is usually chosen by those companies planning to have more than 30
stockholders or large public stock offerings.

Since a corporation is a separate legal entity, a stockholder's personal liability is usually
limited to the amount of investment in the corporation and no more.

Close Corporation

A close corporation is most appropriate for the individual starting a company alone or
with a small number of people.

There are a few significant differences between a general corporation and a close
corpo-ration. A close corporation limits stockholders to a maximum of 30.

In addition, many close corporation statutes require that the directors of a close
corpo-ration must first offer the shares to existing stockholders before selling to new
stock-holders.

Not all states recognize close corporations.

Subchapter S Corporation

A Subchapter S Corporation is a general corporation that has elected a special tax status
with the IRS after the corporation has been formed.

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S Corporations avoid this "double taxation" (once at the corporate level and again at the
personal level) because all income or loss is reported only once on the personal tax
re-turns of the stockholders.

For many small businesses, the S Corporation offers the best of both worlds, combining
the tax advantages of a sole proprietorship or partnership with the limited liability and
enduring life of a corporate structure.

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

The LLC is not a corporation, but it offers many of the same advantages. Many small
business owners and entrepreneurs prefer LLC’s because they combine the limited
li-ability protection of a corporation with the "pass through"" taxation of a sole
proprie-torship or partnership.

• LLC’s have additional advantages over corporations:

• LLC’s allow greater flexibility in management and business organization.

• LLC’s do not have the ownership restrictions of S Corporations, making
them ideal business structures for foreign investors.

• LLC’s accomplish these aims without the IRS' restrictions of an S
Corpo-ration.

• LLC’s are now available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

If you have other questions regarding LLC’s, be sure to speak with a qualified legal and/
or financial advisor. For an Entity Comparison Table, please visit http://www.
activefilings.com/en/information/entity_comparison.htm

Provided by Active Filings LLC. Incorporation Services in all 50 States http://www.
activefilings.com

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<b>Your Business Success Checklist</b>

How do you start to plan your business? What is required? What should you
re-search? Where do you start? Use the checklist below to guide you as you build a

strong, solid business foundation.

Check your Personal Foundation. Make sure you are ready mentally, emotionally
and financially to begin your new venture.

• Make the time.

• Budget your income.

• Create balance in your life.

• Know your strengths, weaknesses, top 5 values and needs.

• Order a copy of your credit report.

• Choose your ideal business.

Get organized. Any new business venture will go more smoothly if you know right
from the start what you have to offer, who you want to offer it to, and how you want
your business to be organized.

• Read a few books on business start-ups and marketing.

• Check the need for your services.

• Prepare a business plan and ideal client profile.

• Price your service or product.

• Develop a customer service policy.

• Create an Operations Manual.

• Plan for your office - location, supplies, utilities, and set-up fees.

Develop a strong network and referral base. From support to legal advice,
star-ting your own business is never something you do all by yourself.

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• Legal: licensing, business type, contracts, trademarks, copyrights, patent, service
marks.

• Build support: family, friends, business coach, consultant, advisors, business and
so-cial networking.

• Insurance: health, home, car, income, liability, risk, disability, loss of pay.

• Money: taxes, accounting, banking, billing, cash flow, loans.

• Marketing: copywriter, proofreaders, website designer, graphic designer, an
assis-tant, Toastmasters, etc.

Create a Marketing Plan. A new business often doesn't have a huge budget for
mar-keting and a plan can help you save money.

• Design your marketing plan with your integrity in mind.

• Develop print media (business cards, stationary, forms, advertisements, newsletter,
etc.).

• Decide if online marketing will be part of your plan (website, newsletter, ad's, etc.).

• Practice describing the benefits of what you do in 30 seconds and 2 minutes (called
verbal logo, USP, elevator speech).

• Re-evaluate your plan every 3 months.

Start your research with the business, marketing and personal development articles at

www.coachmaria.com/articles.html.

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<b>Free Resources</b>

<b>for New Business Owners</b>

Below is a list of time saving resources to help you start formalizing
your new business.

OK. So you're ready to start your own business...be your own boss...or are you? If you
still have questions, below is a list of places offering free information that can assist
you.

Consult phone books and web sites for local information. Remember to ask about any
mailing lists, classes they offer, or additional contacts that would be helpful for you to
add to this list.

Enjoy this list as a guide as you "plant the seeds" for your new venture and enjoy the
networking opportunities.

1. Federal Agencies

• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

• Web site www.sba.gov

• Toll Free: (800)U-ASK-SBA.

• Request any free information and an order form for other publications.

• Web site also has templates and sample Business Plans.

• Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

• Web site www.irs.treas.gov/prod/bus_info/sm_bus
• Toll Free: (800) 829 - 3676.

• Business Kit Publication # 454 includes an Employee Tax ID Form.

• STEP (Small Business Tax Education Program) Publication # 1057, contains
information on Business Tax Classes given in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and
Guam.

• Tell them what type of corporation you are thinking of becoming, how many
employees, etc., so that they can send you other free, helpful publications.

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• Request a free copy of IRS Publication 3207, "The Small Business Resource
Guide" at />

• Census Department Consumer

• Web site www.census.gov

• Call Customer Service at (301) 457 - 4100.

• Your source for social, demographic and economic information.

• Consumer Information Center

• Web site: www.pueblo.gsa.gov
• Toll free (888) 878 - 3256.

• Order a Consumer's Resource Handbook.

• View their Small Business brochures on line.
2. State Agencies

• Attorney General's Office US, National Organization site: www.naag.org/
about/ag1.cfm

• Secretary of State and State Department of Revenue. Find the links to all
State Departments at />

state_departments.htm

• Small Business Technology Development Center: www.businessfinance.
com/business-information.asp

• Rural Business Development Center.

• Service Corps of Retired Executives SCORE
800/634-0245

• Cooperative Extension Service Offices.
3. County

• Business Development Offices.

• Small Business Incubators National site: www.nbia.org

• Colleges for Small Business Centers, Continuing Education Classes, Business
Seminars, Meetings.

4. City/Town

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• Professional Groups - check phone books, too.

• Develop a relationship with a Banker.

• Interview CPA's Use this "Tips for Hiring a CPA" as a guide.

www.coachmaria.com/articles/cpa.html

• Locate a Lawyer and start to develop a relationship.

• Check local newspapers for organizations to join or volunteer to be a speaker.
5. The Internet

• Search the WEB using a variety of search engines or directories such as:

www.yahoo.com - www.excite.com - www.google.com - www.altavista.com-
lycos.com

• Use the WEB to search for former colleagues and others to let them know
about your business. www.switchboard.com, www.infospace.com, www.
four11.com, www.classmates.com, are a few sites with phone and e-mail
di-rectories.

• Join an e-mail list, newsgroup or business newsletters www.topica.com,
ya-hoogroups.com, www.smartgroups.com

• Incorporate your business on-line:

6. Bookstores

• Bookstores give you a variety of great ideas.

• Search the web for bookstores. www.amazon.com, www.bn.com are just two
of many online bookstores.

7. Libraries

• Many libraries have at least one free computer for patrons to use.

• Ask the Librarians for information or advice.

• Tell them about your business. Remember, people ask them for advice, too!

• Check bulletin boards for information. They're a great place to put your
busi-ness card or brochure.

8. Friends

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9. Family Members

• Let everyone in your family know you're starting a business... and watch all
the free advice come in!

10. Other Business Owners

• Contact other business owners that you know. Do I hear lunch anyone?

• Ask for advice, referrals, and their business cards.

• Start a referral book of local business owners.

• Don't forget to contact owners who do the same work as you, but who work
in a different state/region/county. After all, since they aren't the
competi-tion , they maybe more willing share their secrets of success with you!!

• For encouragement, to keep focused, to bounce ideas off of, etc., hire a
coach! Request a free 30-minute interview/consultation session here!

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<b>Recommended Book List</b>

(for more recommended business books, go to www.coachmaria.com/businessbooks.
html )

• One Page Business Plan Book By Jim Horan

• Emyth Revisited by Michael Gerber

• Working From Home by the Edwards.

• Power Networking: 55 Secrets for Personal & Professional Success, by Donna
Fisher and Sandy Vilas

• Selling the Invisible: A Field Guide to Modern Marketing by Harry Beckwith

• The Portable Coach by Thomas Leonard (Attraction Principals)

• Guerrilla Marketing Books by Jay Levinson

• Permission Marketing: Turning Strangers Into Friends, and Friends into

Customers by Seth Godin, Don Peppers

Sponsored by

ACTIVE

FILINGS LLC

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<b>About the Author</b>

Maria's Place for Holistic Evolution is an internationally known coaching,
consulting, speaking and teaching firm. Founder, Maria Marsala has
blended her career as a Wall Street trader and manager with her love of
community activism and her experience as a consultant to create Maria's
Place.

In both her professional and volunteer positions, Maria’s acted as teacher,
mentor, sounding board, somebody to be accountable to, a partner in
per-sonal or professional growth, and she draws on this wealth of experience to help her
cli-ents to grow.

Also an avid writer and teacher, Maria uses her love of writing to reach people who
need help building their business, getting organized, or adding fun and focus to their
life.

She has authored many articles and a bimonthly ezine, "Helping You and Your Business
Grow". Thinking About Starting A Business? is her 2nd ebook and with it she hopes to
help her readers build a strong, solid business foundation.

Whether through her writing or coaching, the people who benefit most from Maria’s
services are those who know they want to make changes in their life – personally or
professionally—and would like a little guidance and accountability. They want more
from life—more fun, more time, more energy, more financial security—and they are
willing to work hard and try new things to get there.

Maria’s personal commitment and belief in the coaching process keep her motivated to
help others succeed. She has seen the positive difference that focus and accountability
make in her clients lives, as well as in her own life through her relationship with her
coach.

Her clients describe her as a good listener, skilled at hearing what people are not
say-ing, and good at helping them look at things from other angles. Many of her clients
complete their business plans and increase their incomes within 90 days of working
with Maria.

When Maria is not coaching or writing or teaching, she enjoys working with computers
and gardening, relaxing in her Washington home or driving across the country, to go
"home" to New York City.

<b>Publisher</b>

Edition & E-book Design:
Grupo Urbano New Media Corp

<b>Sponsor</b>

This e-book is free for the users thanks to:
Active Filings LLC, The Company Makers

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<b>Incorporation Services in all 50 States</b>

<b>10651 N.E. 11th Court, Miami Shores, FL 33138, United States</b>

<b> - </b>

<b>Phone 305-893-9870 - Fax 305-402-2248</b>

ACTIVE

FILINGS LLC

If the Sky is Your Limit…

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<a href=''>30-minute interview/consultation session here! </a>
<a href=''>all 50 States http://www.</a>
<a href=''>Web site www.sba.gov </a>
<a href=''>Web site: www.pueblo.gsa.gov </a>
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<a href=''> </a>

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<a href=''>four11.com, www</a>
<a href=''>.classmates.com</a>
<a href=''>wsletters www.topica.com, ya</a>
<a href=''>ya-hoogroups.com, www.</a>
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<a href=''>are just </a>
<a href=' /><a href=''>Edition & E-book Design:Grupo Urbano New Media Corp</a>