[asterisk-biz] Registering a business name

[Davis Sylvester III]

Mark C wrote:
> Arya,
>    Most accountants will do an initial consult for about 1 hour 
> billable time (give or take).  Time/money well spent if you are 
> serious and ready to start. The tax rules under the current 
> administration have become very favorable for incorporation. Check out 
> the SBA's web site ( http://www.sba.gov ).  Anyone can handle form 
> 1040-ez but when you start into business its best left to a 
> professional.   Not to mention you would rather spend your time doing 
> your business instead of making the gov't happy about paperwork.  I 
> have found the best reference for an accountant or lawyer are other 
> business owners.  If you know anyone in business for themselves ask 
> about who they use.
> Mark C.
>
> Arya wrote:
>
>> I live in Pennsylvania right now, Do I have to spend more tax if I 
>> register my company?
>>
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Arya:

Brian is right most start-up small businesses register in Delaware as it 
is the least expensive to start a company there.  But you have many 
options, as the others have stated you can start a Corporation, LLC, S 
Corp, etc.  But if you just want to work under an assumed name or Doing 
Business As (DBA), that can be done right at the local courthouse.  It 
will cost you in the neighborhood of about $10 - $25.  This process 
makes taxes issues easy as you just claim revenue under your personal SSN.

If you go the other route, my advise would be to talk to an accountant 
as they generally don't charge anything to give advise initially.  Most 
of the paperwork to incorporate a business is generally straight 
forward.  And most states allow you to file the documentation right 
online via a web form.  If you use mycorporation.com they will want you 
to use them as your registered agent and they will charge a fee  for 
this service.  I think the fee is annually and runs in the neighborhood 
of about $325 per year.  Most small business owner use themselves as the 
registered agent, which will cost you nothing.  The registered agent is 
nothing more than a person responsible for corporate correspondences 
sent to your company (i.e. when you are sued, that's how the attorney 
knows where to send the paperwork).

But you also must consider which states you plan to work in, as you have 
to be registered in each state that you plan to have employees.  And the 
fee for foreign corporation can be expensive.  Again find an 
accountant.  Most companies start out using Quickbooks as an accounting 
system 
(http://intuitmarket.intuit.com/QBA/ReferralDB/ReferralDataBaseMemberSearch.asp) 
and they have a list of certified CPAs that are also certified to work 
on Quickboks.  Most are independent so their fess are usually reasonable.

Hope this helps.