resources to start a business

TOOLS & RESOURCES TO GET YOUR SMALL BUSINESS UP & RUNNING

Tools & Resources: Starting a new small business can be overwhelming!

The below tools and resources have either been created to help you on your journey or come highly recommended by either myself or others I trust.

Each will add value to your new small business. There are other tools out there as well, so please do the research to ensure they are a great fit for you and your business. If you find any great ones along your journey that you feel should be here, please email me at tammy@localsmallbusinesscoach.com

**There are some affiliate links contained where I earn a small commission but it doesn't cost you anything. Please know that I only recommend services that I know you will love using based off my experiences and others

RESEARCH TOOLS

Research is CRITICAL for a successful launch of your business. To help get you going, make sure that you listen to both the research episodes of the podcast: Episodes 6 & 7 both dive in deeper into the actual process.

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However, to help get you going, here is a cheat sheet that you can use along with a notepad to gather the necessary information to make an informed decision.

Click to Download your Start a Local Small Business Research Cheat Sheet
GREAT RESEARCH WEBSITES: Key Online Resources for Starting Your Small Business: The SBA – Small Business Association & The IRS

Small Business Association ~ ASB.gov  – Every new business owner needs to surf this government website for ideas and tools for their journey. They provide all kinds of useful information and resources for all types of small business owners. You will be amazed at the amount great info you will find.

IRS Small Business Section ~ IRS.gov  – As much as you will want to keep every penny, you will need to pay taxes and will want to contact a CPA. However, the IRS website will give you some insight into how to set up your business structure so when you speak to your accountant you can keep legally as much of that profit as you can! However in being an accountant, your accountant must know the changing trends in the industry, being able to do a competitive analysis of other businesses, and being able to unlearn old ways and adapt to the ever changing needs of the industry.

Read more at: https://www.skillsyouneed.com/rhubarb/accountant-key-skills.html

Links to Each State IRS Website – Click here and go to the IRS page with a link to every state government site for small businesses.  Remember, you want to make sure you study and follow all state & local laws. The state websites will provide you information on setting up your company, state tax IDs, and any licenses that are needed.

Business Insurance – SBA Website ~ You NEED insurance. Depending on the type of business, your needs will vary. Before you start contacting various companies, visit this website by the Small Business Association which will explain the various insurance needs so you are informed when speaking to an agent.

Plan your office environment ~ Alan Desk plans and creates stunning environments to redefine the workplace. From inception to the end design the office space & office furniture is designed and defined to meet your needs and requirements using office furniture near me to create an exciting and vibrant workspace and environment.

Remember…Do your research!

YOUR SUCCESS BLUEPRINT

Success Blueprint:  Now that you have done your homework, the time has come to take the research you did and turn it into a success blueprint. A success blueprint is a gameplan you will use to get your business from concept to open for business.

Listen to the business plan vs success blueprint episode of the podcast where I dive in deeper.

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Here is the link to the PowerPoint – Success Blueprint    You can use as either a PowerPoint or as a PDF

YOU NEED A WEBSITE

RECOMMENDED PICK —–>>  BLUE HOST

YOU MUST HAVE A WEBSITE. Sorry to shout that. But in today's online world, you need to claim your business everywhere and you need a website to direct them to. You can go for free over at wordpress.com or you can do a basic website. You don't need anything fancy. A great value is thru Bluehost which is why I recommend it. For less than $5 a month, you can have a website up and running.  You can't beat that.

If your small business doesn’t have a website then you are missing out on business. In today’s online world everyone is Googling for what they need. I'm also a fan of GoDaddy but you will pay a little more.  For more on your website, please check out this 10 must-haves for your website.  10 Must-Have Items All Local Small Business Owners Need

Here is a step by step and video walkthrough to help get you going – HOW TO BUILD A WEBSITE FOR YOUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS[

MAKE SURE YOU GET PAID!!

These resources will help you get paid. You will need an invoicing system, bookkeeping system, and a way to take payments. These two can do all in one.

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Try Freshbooks for Free for 30 days

FreshBooks

Get Paid Quicker! FreshBooks is quickly growing in popularity with small business owners. I am one of those that are moving over to FreshBooks. A great price and easy to use. With FreshBooks, you can easily invoice clients from your desk or on the go so this helps you get paid quicker. Try the free 30-day trial and see if you agree with how easy it is.

CURIOUS?? FreshBooks vs QuickBooks“> Freshbooks vs Quickbooks Click to See the Differences  – FreshBooks vs QuickBooks

PayPal – Paypal.com

You will need to be able to accept payment for your services. You will have a few options. But at least set up a PayPal business account and you will have the ability to take credit cards both online or on your mobile device. You can also check your options with your local bank but Paypal is easy to set up and get going.

Quickbooks

A great tool that can be done either online or on your computer. When I had my small business, I was a big fan of Quickbooks. Easy to key in and easy to create invoices. It might take some practice but you will be glad at tax time you used it!

Square (Swipe Credit Cards) – SquareUp.com 

We know of some business owners that have used Square to swipe cards for payments. Check it out and see if it fits your needs. Remember, there are lots of options so do you research of companies.

BELOW SECTION IS BEING UPDATED.

Information is still good though!
Sorry for any inconvenience.

MORE GREAT RESOURCES

Critical component to owning a small business is to make sure you are working “on” your small business as much as you are working “in” your small businesses.

These tools are some great must haves

 

 Turbotax

As much as we hate tax time it is a necessary evil. I have used Turbotax for years.  Even the most complicated situations will work as Turbotax walks you through the entire process. I’ve had rental properties, several businesses as well as a host of other unique situations. Give it a try if you haven’t set up your CPA yet or stubborn like me.

Microsoft Office 365

I LOVE my Office 365. I use to buy the full package but love how with Office 365 I always have the latest greatest all for only $5 a month you can have their online program or download like I do and for $99 I have the full program on all 5 of my computers / laptops / ipad. Great for tracking, making flyers, writing copy, all kinds of uses!

DropBox

Another of my favorites! I use the Dropbox upgrade and have all my folders and files on any computer I go to. Works great when working on a traveling laptop and hoping on a desktop. Or pulling up a file on your phone or iPad.

LegalZoom

LegalZoom is an excellent resource for all things legal. When I created my first LLC I needed it done quickly and used Legal Zoom. I was extremely happy with their service. If you are looking to convert your DBA or sole proprietorship over to an LLC and would like to have help doing it, I recommend giving LegalZoom a call.

However, LegalZoom actually can cover other business needs as well. So if you have business legal needs or even personal legal needs check out LegalZoom.

Stay in Touch – Aweber 

For some of you, you will want to have a way to collect email addresses on your website. It is a great way to find folks that might not need your services today but might in the future. What do you do with the emails? Send them maybe a newsletter or “in touch” email once a month with helpful tips?  Aweber is a great tool and is easy to set up.

Don't Worry – We will continue to find new tools and resources for you

]Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I do earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase. I have personally used the vast majority of them or have spoken to others that have had a great experience with them. I only recommend them because most folks are looking for a place to start and they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions. Please do not purchase any of these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals. There are a lot of great resources out there.

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