Business StartUp Guide for Young Entrepreneurs

Business_startup_guide_for_young_entrepreneurs Written by Eddy Hood

The prospect of starting a new business is exciting for any entrepreneur. With a few conceptual ideas, you may feel ready to move forward to make your new business a reality. Planning is an important phase of a business startup. You should ensure that you have mapped out your new company's model for success.

 

Business Plans

Before you venture into the startup world, do your investigation to devise a complete business plan that includes market analysis, a full outline of your service or product line, and accounting organization. When you embark on a trip, it's common to plan your route on a map to ensure that you don't get lost. You might think of a business plan as a type of map that plans the best route for your new startup. Your business plan should include an executive summary, which is a succinct overview of your startup's purpose and the problem you will be solving with your services or products. The executive summary should also include information about your target market, your financial plan, and details about your business management team. To flesh out the executive summary, your business plan should include sections such as a company description, a market analysis, product or service description, details about company organization, a sales plan, financial projections, and a funding request, if applicable.

 

Location

The location of your business can be of paramount importance, depending on the type of business. For example, a brick-and-mortar retail company will need a location that fits the target market for the product you will be selling. In this situation, you will need to perform demographic research to analyze traffic patterns, current businesses in an area, and other details such as parking and signage. Zoning is another important factor to explore as you plan the location for your startup. The city in which you plan to operate will have specific zones for types of businesses, and you will need to adhere to these zoning codes. If you plan to operate your new company as a home-based business, ensure that you will be in compliance with city and any applicable homeowner's association requirements. If you will be leasing space, consider hiring a real estate attorney to help you negotiate your commercial lease. Proceed carefully as you choose your new business location to ensure that you choose the best spot with the most advantageous lease.

 

Finance

Starting a new business takes funds, so it's imperative that you plan and project your finances. As you make plans for the future success of your new company, you will need to estimate the startup costs, prepare financial statements, analyze and prepare a cash flow plan, and project the point in the future when your new business will begin to make a profit. Many entrepreneurs need financial assistance to start a new business. This assistance can come in the form of grants or loans. A number of small business loan programs exist to help business owners with financing for their new business ventures. Any lending institution can give you information about these programs. You might also find business grants offered by non-profit organizations and state or local programs. The money you might receive from business grants often requires that you match the funds. Venture capital is another financing option that involves offering investors shares in your company or roles in the management of the company.

 

Taxes

Your new business will need to adhere to federal and state requirements for taxes. The Internal Revenue Service requires business owners to identify their businesses by obtaining an Employer Identification Number. You can obtain your EIN online, by phone, fax, or mail. State governments have separate and specific requirements for taxation of businesses, so check with your state to ensure that you follow applicable laws. Most states provide this information online, making it a simple process to register and pay business taxes.

 

Permits

Operating your new business may require that you apply for permits and licenses. These permits and licenses exist on the federal, state, and local levels. Federal licensing oversees a variety of different business activities, including (but not limited to) agriculture, alcoholic beverages, firearms, and transportation. On the state level, almost any type of business you might start will require some type of permit or license. Check your state's website for information about applying for the necessary permits. Ensure that you follow all permit requirements for your local municipality, also, by checking with your local city or town hall.

 

Employees

You may not need a staff initially as you get your new business off the ground. Eventually, if the amount of work involved with your company exceeds what you can do yourself, you will need to hire employees to help perform this work. Your Employer Identification Number that you received from the IRS is a necessary component of hiring employees, because you will need to report taxes. You will also need to keep records of withholding employment taxes to adhere to federal and state requirements for this information. The federal government also requires that employers verify every employee's eligibility to work in the United States by submitting Form I-9 within three days of a hiring date. States also have a state directory, to which you must report new hires within 20 days of a hiring date. As an employer, you must also carry worker's compensation insurance. Once you venture into the realm of employing a staff, your accounting, payroll, and records must be impeccable to comply with federal, state, and local requirements.

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