| Always contact a Lawyer for advice as to how to | | | | the bank make you an Endorsement stamp |
| set up a business if you are unsure. | | | | accordingto their specifications. Your first couple of |
| There is always free legal advice available through | | | | hundred business checks will be mailed to youwithin a |
| SCORE (Service Corps of Retired | | | | few weeks of ordering. The bank will explain to you |
| Executives). If your business starts to get really | | | | how an Endorsement stamp works. |
| lucrative in the future, you can even considermoving up | | | | 6. Rubber Stamp Purchases: Go to a business like |
| from a Business to a Corporation, or an LLC. You can | | | | Office Depot, Staples, Office Maxor a local print shop |
| incorporate online at SCORE will tell you how and not | | | | in your area which can be contacted in the Yellow |
| charge you a fortune to do it! | | | | Pages. Have them makeyou a Stamp with your |
| You can also check the Yellow Pages under "Free | | | | Complete Company Contact Information. This should |
| Legal Aid". There are numerous agenciesready to | | | | be under $15.00. |
| assist you in starting a business. Call the SBA (Small | | | | 7. Have Business Cards Made: This can be |
| Business Administration) or visittheir Web-Site at Here | | | | accomplished at your local print shop or ata place like |
| are the following steps, posted in order of operation: | | | | Kinkos, Office Depot, Staples or Office Max. |
| 1. Establish A Post Office Box.: This can either be done | | | | 8. Find an ISP (Internet Service Provider) : Find an |
| directly at the US Post office,or through a private | | | | Internet Service provider. This isyour "Pipeline" to the |
| company such as Mail Boxes etc. To get your | | | | Internet. You can go with an established company like |
| Business License andother paperwork processed | | | | MSN (Microsoft |
| quickly , they will need a PO Box or some type of | | | | Network), Earthlink, AOL, Compuserve or you can |
| businessaddress. That's why you should get your PO | | | | check your Yellow Pages under Internet Access or |
| Box first. | | | | Internet Service Provider or something similar. Pose the |
| 2. Fictitious Business Get A Name: Find out from City | | | | same questions for locating an ISP as you would for |
| Hall where to go to get a | | | | securing a hosting service, which are listed below. |
| "Fictitious Business Name". This is just a fancy way of | | | | They will all give you an E-Mail address. You should |
| saying the name for your business. | | | | check out |
| Before you go, you should think of a good name. | | | | 9. Securing a Domain Name: If you wish to make a |
| Here's an example. If your last namewas Ramirez, you | | | | presence for your business on the |
| might want to call it "Ramirez Security" or something | | | | Internet and are not satisfied with the free hosting |
| similar. Thecost for this is about $10.00. | | | | services out there, then you will have to |
| 3. Give Public Notice of Your New Business: After you | | | | Secure a Domain Name. To do that, it will cost just |
| get your Fictitious Business | | | | over $8.95 per year. Apply here: . Think of some good |
| Name, you will get a receipt for this. You can bring this | | | | names and check them out for availability. Try to have |
| receipt to your local newspaper,and they will know | | | | a keyword in your Domain Name, it will help with the |
| what to do. They will charge you a modest fee, but | | | | Search Engines. |
| make sure thatthey offer full services, including filing it | | | | The reason this comes in handy is because no matter |
| with the County Clerk and giving you a | | | | how many times I change Hosting Services, |
| confirmationletter after this is complete. You need to | | | | I'll always have the same name and same E-Mail |
| give "Public Notice" of your DBA (Doing business | | | | address, This means,if you ever get angry at your ISP |
| As) name. This means that you will have to get it | | | | or hosting service, you can just change it and |
| published in a paper for 4 weeks, once a week. | | | | everyone willstill be able to find you. You won't have to |
| 4. Apply For a Business License : Go to City Hall in the | | | | change your business cards, letterheads or |
| City you live in and apply fora Business License. | | | | anythingelse to reflect a different Web-Site. |
| Different cities might have different procedures and | | | | 10. Find a Hosting Service: Find a Hosting Service that |
| fees. They shouldgive you an application to fill out. This | | | | will meet all your expectations. |
| is always done after the Fictitious Business | | | | A Hosting Service is the place you "Park" your Domain |
| Namestatement, because they need to know the | | | | Name. There are hundreds of thousandsof them out |
| name of your business on the application. Thisonly | | | | there now. Just shop around and consider different |
| makes sense. It takes a few weeks to receive your | | | | factors such as: Price, Service, |
| license in the mail once yourapplication has been | | | | Method of Connection., CGI Support, Tech Support, |
| processed. | | | | and customer support. How accessible are they to |
| 5. Open up a Business Checking Account: Go to your | | | | Billing and General Service Questions? These things |
| local bank and set up a Business | | | | you must ask yourself before you join one. |
| Checking Account. This usually requires a deposit of | | | | Now, you have started your business, and are ready |
| $100.00 or so. Also, if you plan onaccepting credit card | | | | to begin the process or securing orders. |
| orders, inquire about a merchant account. They will be | | | | Congratulations!! |
| very happy todiscuss all options with you. Also, have | | | | |