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Starting A Business

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Starting a business can be an awesome process that not only generates income but can help you develop personally as a business owner.  If you have a skill, talent or hobby that you would like to grow and sharpen, consider starting a business. Starting a new business is also a good way to develop your problem solving, planning, delegation, leadership, time management and communicatio...
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How to Get Started

Starting a business can be very overwhelming but also very rewarding.  If you decide to start a business, it is important to set up the business correctly for success down the line.  So don't skip the steps of building a solid foundation for your business.  There are resources that can help guide you in the right direction.  This is a list to help with the starting steps for starting a business. 

 
Kay Smith profile picture
Starting a business may seem very overwhelming but it can be done one step at a time.  If you are unsure where to start, the Small Business Administration provides a simple outline of steps to get started.
10 Steps to Start A Small Business
 
Kay Smith profile picture
An LLC is a common business entity that some business owners choose to form. It is a limited liability company.  Make sure you research what is best for you and your business and the state where you are located.  It may be for you and it may not.  If you decide it is the best formation for your business, there are resources  to help you get it started.
How to start an LLC in 7 steps: A complete guide for 2023
 
Kay Smith profile picture
An EIN is an Employer Identification Number.  It is assigned by the IRS for businesses.  It is an identification number for businesses like a SSN is an identifier for a person. An EIN is free to obtain from the IRS and is needed for actions such as opening a business bank account.
How to Get an EIN Explained and Where to Apply | IRS Home
 
Kay Smith profile picture
A very important aspect of having a business is having a business bank account. Once you begin to make and spend money on behalf of your new business, you should have a business bank account so there is no mingling of funds with your personal account... To help you make a choice, here is a list of possible banks where you can start a business account.
The Best Business Bank Accounts of 2023 | BestMoney

Resources For Starting A Business

When starting a small business, its always best to build a team of professionals that can help you be successful.  This team may include an attorney, accountant, tax professional, mentor, business coach, etc. However, as a business owner there are some things you can do yourself. Additionally, even with a team you still can be knowledgeable about different aspect... Here are some resources to help you get started or to increase your knowledge.

 
Kay Smith profile picture
This is a quick start guide for tips and pointers on starting a business.  It never hurts to have a plan for how to get started and this book can help point you in the right direction.  This guide has a business plan checklist, tips on business taxation cheat sheet and even help with presentation and Eeevator pitch templates.
Starting a Business QuickStart Guide
 
Kay Smith profile picture
Any successful business owner will tell you it all starts with a business plan.  Even if the plan changes 55 times, you still have to have a plan.  If you have never written one before, this is a helpful book to help you get it completed.
How to Write a Business Plan With No Experience
 
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One very important thing in starting a business is TAXES. It is always best to hire a professional when you start a business, but it also does not hurt to expand your knowledge of tax deductions and things to watch.  This book is a guide of write-offs and tips for business owners and those that are self employed.
475 Tax Deductions for Businesses & Self-Employed
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Kay Smith profile picture
This is a classic book in teaching sales techniques. The is a all time best selling book. It focuses on how to sell and the art of selling. It is an easy read and a must for business owners.
Little Red Book of Selling - Jeffrey Gitomer
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Ideas for A New Business

Have you been wanting to start a business but not sure what you want to do? Do you know that you can take your talents and skills and produce a product that others may want to buy?  You can also take your hobbies, talents, and skills and teach others to do it as a business.  Here are some suggestions of things you can do to start a business.

 
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Candle making can be a fun and profitable business. It can be easy to learn and master. It can be a hobby but it can also become a successful business.
Candle Making Kit for Adults with Hot Plate
 
Kay Smith profile picture
This is a soap making kit. It comes with multiple pieces needed to learn how to make soap. Making soap is almost like art. If you can master the craft, it can also become a profitable business.
Large Soap Making Kit - DIY Kits for Adults
 
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Jewelry making can also be a fun and profitable skill to sharpen. This is a kit that could be used to learn how to make jewelry that could be sold on handmade marketplaces or at local markets.
Jewelry Making Kits - Supplies, Tools & Charms
 
Kay Smith profile picture
This is an affordable heat press. You can use this to start a business for yourself. You can use it to create tshirts, aprons, pillows, and other crafts that can be sold. If you enjoy creating designs and want to sell them, consider this as a way ...
Cricut EasyPress 2 Heat Press Machine, Raspberry

Helpful Tools For Business

There are several things that can help you as a new business owner.  Here are some items to invest in that can help you be more efficient and successful.

 
Kay Smith profile picture
This is a thermal bluetooth printer. It can really help you as a new business owner to print your labels to ship your products to your customers. It can really be a time saver and valuable tool.
Bluetooth 4x6 Thermal Shipping Label Printer
 
Kay Smith profile picture
This is a digital postal scale. It has a 50 pound capacity. This can be very helpful to business owners in shipping packages. Weighing packages helps you know your shipping costs and pricing your items accordingly. It also saves time at the post o...
ACCUTECK 50lb Digital Postal Scale, Silver
 
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This is an HP laptop that is very affordable. It is a good start for a business owner. It has 16GB Ram and 1TB SSD storage and there is also a version with 2TB so you have plenty of space. This is an excellent option when you are just getting start...
HP 15.6" Touch, i3-1115G4, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD