The women's small business start-up kit a step-by-step legal guide

Cover
Title Page
Table of Contents
The Women’s Small Business Start-Up Companion
1: Choosing the Right Business for You
	The Realities of Entrepreneurship
	Top Considerations for Developing Your Business
	Maintaining Work/Life Balance
	Mixing Business and Kids
	Developing Business Systems
	The Role of Business Owner
2: Targeting a Profitable Market With a Winning Idea
	Choose the Right Business Idea
	Target a Profitable Market
	Do Your Homework: Market Research
	Government Contracting Opportunities for Women
3: Making the Financial Transition to Self-Employment
	Business Start-Up Costs
	Personal Costs of Living
	Health Insurance and the Affordable Care Act
	Child Care
	Funding Sources
4: Drafting an Effective Business Plan
	Why Write a Business Plan?
	How Detailed Should a Business Plan Be?
	The Narrative Sections of a Business Plan: Describing Your Business and Yourself
	Financial Projections: Showing Your Business Will Profit
	Finalizing Your Business Plan
5: Understanding and Choosing a Legal Structure
	Overview of Business Types
	Sole Proprietorships
	Partnerships
	Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
	Corporations
	Benefit Corporations, L3Cs, and Emerging Business Structures for Socially Conscious, Mission-Driven Businesses
	Choosing the Best Legal Structure for Your Business
6: Your Business Location: Working From Home or Renting Space
	Running Your Business From Home
	Sharing Outside Office Space
	Renting Your Own Office or Commercial Space
7: Dealing With Start-Up Requirements and Bureaucratic Hurdles
	Step 1:	File Organizational Documents With Your State (Corporations, LLCs, and Limited Partnerships Only)
	Step 2:	Obtain a Federal Employer Identification Number
	Step 3:	Register Your Fictitious Business Name (FBN)
	Step 4:	Obtain a Local Tax Registration Certificate
	Step 5:	Obtain a State Seller’s Permit
	Step 6:	Obtain Specialized Licenses or Permits
8: Getting the Word Out: Cost-Effective Marketing
	Start by Knowing Your Market
	Develop a Strong, Authentic Brand
	Choosing Winning Names for Your Business, Products, and Services
	Establish Excellent Customer Service Policies and Practices
	Plan Marketing in Advance
	Networking
	Engaging in Media Relations
	Holding Special Events
	Collaborating With Other Businesses
	Listing Your Business in Directories
	Joining a Professional or Trade Organization
	Sponsoring Events, Groups, and Public Media
	Sending Postcards and Other Direct Mail
	Giving Out Free Samples
	Establishing Customer Loyalty Programs
	Preparing Print Materials
	Publishing Articles and Newsletters
	Advertising Your Business
9: E-Business: Conducting and Marketing Your Business Online
	Start With Your Business Strategy
	Promotional Emails
	E-Newsletters
	Blogging
	Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, and More
	Local Search Listings
	E-Commerce
	Traffic Building and SEO
	Planning a Website Project
	Choosing and Working With a Web Developer
	Creating Your Website
	DIY Websites: Do or Don’t?
	Domain Names and Hosting
	Intellectual Property: Who Owns Your Website?
10: Keeping Your Books and Managing Your Finances
	Bookkeepers and Accountants: Which Do You Need?
	Financial Management: The Big Picture
	Cash vs. Accrual Accounting: Which Method’s Right for You?
	Step 1:	Keeping and Organizing Income and Expense Records
	Step 2:	Entering Receipts Into Bookkeeping Software
	Step 3:	Generating Financial Reports
	Using Technology to Manage Money, Inventory, and Projects
11: Federal, State, and Local Tax Basics
	Tax Basics
	Minimizing Taxes Through Deductions
	Child Care Expenses: Deductible?
	Federal Income and Self-Employment Taxes
	Estimating and Paying Your Federal Taxes Quarterly
	State Income Taxes
	City and County Taxes
	Sales Taxes
12: Building Your Business and Hiring Employees and Other Workers
	Developing Systems to Run Your Business
	Hiring and Managing Staff
	Using Technology to Manage Staff
	Employees Versus Independent Contractors (ICs)
	Required Rules, Paperwork, Filings, and Taxes for Employees
	Rules for Hiring Independent Contractors (ICs)
	Hiring Your Kids and Other Family Members
13: Lawyers and Accountants: Building Your Family of Professionals
	Working With Lawyers
	Doing Your Own Legal Research
	Working With Accountants, Bookkeepers, and Tax Professionals
Appendix: How to Use the Downloadable Forms and Access Interviews With Women Entrepreneurs on the Nolo Website
	Editing RTFs
	List of Forms and Interviews With Women Entrepreneurs Available on the Nolo Website
Index
Book Registration
Additional Small Business Resources at Nolo.com