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Starting a Business???

by RayFinckle
8 replies
Hey Warriors

I'm in need of some advice. Can anyone on here give me some basic advice on starting a business. I wasn't planning on starting one, but I already have some clients and feel there's big potential. What I would be doing is building websites for small local businesses, adding them to all the outlets like yelp, google places. Ranking them for keyword phrases ect.

I have no experience with startng a business/providing a service/ consulting ect. What steps do i have to take? I would need a federal employer ID number right? :confused:

Any help or resources I should take a look at would be a great help.

I have been mind mapping the packages i would provide, Any advice on my prices, services i should add or remove would be greatly appreciated

Here is what i was thinking

Bronze Package 300$:
Build one customized website
Basic Video series on how to use Wordpress and add content to your site
Customer support

Silver Package 600$:
Install google XML Sitemap
Install Google Analytics
Create Facebook Page
Create Twitter
Add to
1. Yelp
2. Google Places
3. Citysearch
4. Yahoo Local
5. Niche Industry Sites
6. InsiderPages
7. JudysBook
8. Superpages
9. YellowPages
10 Kudzu

Gold Package $1000-?

I'm thinking this will be all of the above plus a keyword of my choosing to rank them in the top 3 of google.

(I'm unsure what to charge for this service. I also will not be taking on any keywords that i think will be to hard to rank for. Not quite sure how to analyze keywords for local searching. From what i read its different from regular keywords and the algorithm google uses.

Does anyone experience here? I don't want to bite off more than i can chew.

Also I will be outsourcing this whole process after I complete the process by myself a couple times.

Thanks

Regards
Alex
#business #starting
  • Profile picture of the author mywebwork
    Hi Alex

    An excellent resource to learn how to start a business is Startup Nation, specifically their 10 Steps to Start a Business.

    10 Steps to Open for Business

    Bill
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    • Profile picture of the author mackyinc
      Originally Posted by mywebwork View Post

      Hi Alex

      An excellent resource to learn how to start a business is Startup Nation, specifically their 10 Steps to Start a Business.

      10 Steps to Open for Business

      Bill
      Startup nation is very a very good resource. You should also look up what goes into a business plan. This will help you think about everything you need to consider and address when starting a business.
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  • Profile picture of the author warriorjohn1444
    Banned
    Are you looking for advice to start a business or you are giving out one. Which one pls?
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  • Profile picture of the author GMD
    Banned
    Originally Posted by RayFinckle View Post

    Hey Warriors

    I'm in need of some advice. Can anyone on here give me some basic advice on starting a business. I wasn't planning on starting one, but I already have some clients and feel there's big potential. What I would be doing is building websites for small local businesses, adding them to all the outlets like yelp, google places. Ranking them for keyword phrases ect.

    I have no experience with startng a business/providing a service/ consulting ect. What steps do i have to take? I would need a federal employer ID number right? :confused:

    Any help or resources I should take a look at would be a great help.

    I have been mind mapping the packages i would provide, Any advice on my prices, services i should add or remove would be greatly appreciated

    Here is what i was thinking

    Bronze Package 300$:
    Build one customized website
    Basic Video series on how to use Wordpress and add content to your site
    Customer support

    Silver Package 600$:
    Install google XML Sitemap
    Install Google Analytics
    Create Facebook Page
    Create Twitter
    Add to
    1. Yelp
    2. Google Places
    3. Citysearch
    4. Yahoo Local
    5. Niche Industry Sites
    6. InsiderPages
    7. JudysBook
    8. Superpages
    9. YellowPages
    10 Kudzu

    Gold Package $1000-?

    I'm thinking this will be all of the above plus a keyword of my choosing to rank them in the top 3 of google.

    (I'm unsure what to charge for this service. I also will not be taking on any keywords that i think will be to hard to rank for. Not quite sure how to analyze keywords for local searching. From what i read its different from regular keywords and the algorithm google uses.

    Does anyone experience here? I don't want to bite off more than i can chew.

    Also I will be outsourcing this whole process after I complete the process by myself a couple times.

    Thanks

    Regards
    Alex

    I don't know anything about your packages or what prices that you should offer -- so I'll just "stay in my lane" and not comment on that. BUT...

    If my assumption is correct, and you're U.S., based, the easiest way for you to get into "business" is the following:

    1. Sit down and think up of a business name. Go to your state's "Secretary of State" website and there you should find an online business name directory. Type your proposed name in and make sure it's not already taken.

    Found a name? Good...

    2. Go down to your city or town's "clerk office" and pay for a "Doing Business As" Certificate. Let's say you picked "Smart Solutions" as your business name: you'll get a nice certificate with your name on it with the following: "doing business as SMART SOLUTIONS".

    3. Go the IRS website or call them and get an EIN number instantly assigned to you:

    Employer ID Numbers (EINs)

    Yes, it's the number that you will use in place of your Social Security Number.

    4. Take you DBA certificate, EIN number, and the other usual material and go down to your local bank. With this stuff you can open up a free business checking account -- checks, VISA Debit Card, online banking, the whole package.

    5. This is called a "sole proprietorship". It's the EASIEST way to get into business.

    6. You're still taxed at the individual rate -- that means come tax time, the income you make from "Smart Solutions" and the income you make from whatever other job you have is all taxed together. Of course you can deduct business expenses and all that other good stuff.

    The other golden rule is: KEEP YOUR BUSINESS AND PERSONAL EXPENSES/INCOME SEPARATE. Even though you're still taxed at the personal rate, this is a golden rule to live by.

    There's a ton of other things I'm not including, but that's the basics (like what's the BEST business "form" for you: LLC? INC? -- only you know that).

    ...and yes, with what I've written above, your checks would have your business name on it and not yours (unless you choose to put both)!
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    • Profile picture of the author RayFinckle
      Thank you Usuallyclueless

      That answered a lot of my questions, and thanks everyone else for the suggestions.

      Another question that I should of mentioned (I'm not sure if this is a stupid question), Do I have to go through this process to provide the service I mentioned. Can I provide this service without making an actual business out of it? I'm doing this to earn a supplement income?
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      • Profile picture of the author GMD
        Banned
        Originally Posted by RayFinckle View Post

        Thank you Usuallyclueless

        That answered a lot of my questions, and thanks everyone else for the suggestions.

        Another question that I should of mentioned (I'm not sure if this is a stupid question), Do I have to go through this process to provide the service I mentioned. Can I provide this service without making an actual business out of it? I'm doing this to earn a supplement income?

        You're most totally welcome. And the answer to your question is "no". You don't have to go through all that just to offer the stuff that you want to offer!

        What you're proposing is no different than some guy or gal selling a bunch of stuff on eBay everyday. You can start selling right now, or tomorrow -- and pocket the cash.

        The only thing that you need to "worry" about are taxes. If you're taking payment with PayPal, they will report your earnings/transactions (over a certain amount) to the IRS; that's just one example. Come tax time (federal or state if that applies to you) you'll have to report the income and pay tax on it. Or hopefully you won't have to pay tax, but your refund will be smaller.

        Consult a tax pro about it, however! Otherwise, sell, sell, sell...
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        • Profile picture of the author RayFinckle
          Originally Posted by usuallyclueless View Post

          You're most totally welcome. And the answer to your question is "no". You don't have to go through all that just to offer the stuff that you want to offer!

          What you're proposing is no different than some guy or gal selling a bunch of stuff on eBay everyday. You can start selling right now, or tomorrow -- and pocket the cash.

          The only thing that you need to "worry" about are taxes. If you're taking payment with PayPal, they will report your earnings/transactions (over a certain amount) to the IRS; that's just one example. Come tax time (federal or state if that applies to you) you'll have to report the income and pay tax on it. Or hopefully you won't have to pay tax, but your refund will be smaller.


          Consult a tax pro about it, however! Otherwise, sell, sell, sell...
          Awesome, thank you, I'll just start selling and if it picks up I'll move on from there and maybe create an actual business out of it.
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  • Profile picture of the author celente
    number 1 spy on your competitors

    number 2 what are you really worth.

    I you know what you are doing and can generate great results, then charge more.

    But i guess this is entirely up to you.
    Signature
    Create a $5000 USD a month Business. 1-on-1 Coaching. By 6 figure marketer! - CLICK HERE
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