beanside | (no subject)

(no subject)

Okay, so, among the rest of the weekend, which involved Jess' mauling by a feral curb and my attempt to rescue a wee mouse at the supermarket (who showed it's gratitude by biting my finger--I got mugged by Mickey) we actually had the kernel of a idea.

We're considering forming a home business which will offer in home pet holistic health sessions. Reiki, Crystal Healing, and eventually Pet herbalism.

Now, we just have to get things set up. So, anyone who has experience--any suggestions? How much was it? did you go through a lawyer, or an online service?

Any help is deeply appreciated.

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I'm just a first-year law student, but I know some people trying to start up businesses. They're all trying to work things out. Where are you planning to be incorporated? If this is an online business, you could choose where. If it's going to be at home, I'd suggest going to your local chamber of commerce and talking to them about it. You can also register there.
Indus

you should probably make sure your city/county doesn't have any laws about a home business needing to be zoned a specific way. Or if you're in an association, that there are no by-laws prohibiting it.

Good luck. That sounds like a dream come true for me!! I've been studying canine accupressure and massage for our Danes andI just want to help all the dogs and cats that are in pain, ya know!?

Nolo press has some good books (some you can even download) and a few free online articles about setting up a small business. Then many states have small business bureaus that have info online or in person. They may also have Small Business Development Counselors

here is a good place to start (you may not need all the necessary steps - a sole proprietorship may be all you need))
http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/starting/startchklst.html

Nolo Press (legal and business basics)
http://www.nolo.com/article.cfm/ObjectID/BD13C3AA-19E8-4EB3-97A29AE1586860A7/catID/1745D9A3-D50D-4AAD-BFB3ED609A4EE3F5/111/ART/

And the Small Business Org
http://www.sba.gov/

IRS weighs in
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=155239,00.html

another tip - find someone who is doing a similar business (or in fact any home based business involving pets) in your state/area and contact them for how they went about it.

Thoroughly practical unrelated to the legal/relevant subject...

I started a business with four friends, four years ago. It's paid off more than we ever dreamed. But, and this is not meant as a downer but as an observation on business growth, for the first year, you're likely to get out about a quarter of what you put in. The business literally owned my 24 x 7 for two and a half years. I finally own it, and I'd change nothing, but I'm still catching up on my sleep. ;)

I go by it's easier to get forgiveness than permission. Yeah you could check for permits and what not, but it's time consuming and costly.

I've mentioned corps. before. You can still file the income as sole-proprietor and make uncle sam happy w/o being incorporated. You might want to start off that way until you can afford the $300 to start.

The State of MD now charges $300 for a corporation (take your pick LLC, s-corp, c-corp) and you have to pay for it every year. There are some real estate investors that would get corps. in NV or RI. But they started cracking down on RI. Plus, then you have to file taxes in a separate state :P (I'd rather not pay for the second software package, and it's in the gray area of the law (plus fuzzy knowledge on my part) on how to have a corp. when you don't live in that state)

If you own stuff (a house), then yeah you want to be protected. I would just make sure people sign a waiver. I know, and you know that you have no intention to harm, but you just want to have that nice signed piece of paper. Plus that you're not treating medical stuff that should really be looked at by medical specialists. *nod* Just my two cents.

Overall I think it's a great idea. I've been trying to get D to go into a dog walking business in the neighborhood. Leave flyers in houses that have barking dogs, they need to be walked ;) Also with your medical background, you can also offer pet sitting of diabetic animals :) I would imagine that would be difficult to come by. Good luck.

I'm sorry I don't have any advice on starting up a new business, but I'm wondering if you got my emails about sweet charity?

Ihave no idea but good luck!

Also, make sure you know what regulations you have to follow regarding the animals. Sometimes special permits and laws have to be obeyed and the fines can be a real bitch.
That said, good luck! Sounds like a plan to me.^^

also, especially vis a vis the herbalism - you're going to want to do a lot of research before you go there, and possibly talk to vets and herbalists. effects on animals can be very different to humans and also between animal species. not that you haven't already thought of that or wouldn't, just a reminder really.

Good luck on your new business venture!

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