Does anyone know about setting up a small business?

[bananiem]

Specifically, how do I go about getting the ability to have people use a credit card to pay me in person or on a website?
Any other words of wisdom would be welcome as well. I'm thinking of selling handmade jewelry at craft shows, street fairs, and online.
Thanks!

 

[Chicago526]

On a website, you could use Paypal, that would be the easiest way to go, although I don't know if it would be the cheapest. In person, you'd have to get a merchant id and stuff like that, I beleive you have to go through a bank, but I'm not really sure. Someone else here may know!

 

[bananiem]

Anybody else?

 

[Feralpeg]

Once you get a business license, you will get at least one card each day from different places more than willing to set it up for you!

 

[bananiem]

That's great! Now how do I get a business license?
I'm REALLY clueless.

 

[Kermit]

I'd highly recommend finding a local small business person to help you out. Find someone who has a small business similar in size to your own but in a different field. Offer to take him out to dinner and pick his brain. That will be the best way for you to find out about the required local licenses, where to get them, what you'll be allowed to do in your own home, what your state requires in the way of sales taxes, etc.

 

[safetymom]

I agree about finding someone to help you. The best piece of advise is to make sure you have taken care of all the legalities of having a business. Such as registering your business name, get a tax id, get a permit if you are working out of your home, etc.

 

[DVCJEN]

Also be sure to consult a tax advisor and an attorney. Your business may be starting out small but it you don't have the right advice in the begining you can run into all sorts of problems later on.

 

[mickeyboat]

http://www.firstdata.com/index_flash.jsp

I think this is the credit card service we use where I work.

Denae

 

[Feralpeg]

That's great! Now how do I get a business license?
I'm REALLY clueless.

It is easy to get a business tax id. Just go to the IRS tax site and you will find information on applying for a business tax id. You will definately want this because it will allow you to buy business supply wholesale. Most cities have a website. On the website, you should see something about applying for a business license. I live in the Orlando area. I had to go to the City Hall to get mine. You will need a copy of your business tax id number, a description of your business and money. It cost me $30 to open a home-based business. You may want to apply for a business name. All of that was explained on the city website. Also, decide in advance how you will maintain your business records. There are many accounting places that will be more than willing to set you up on something like Quickbooks. Good luck!

 

[DVCindy]

bananiem -

Check your PM box ... my DH can help you. He works for a company that does this !

Cindy

 

[Lynn CC]

You can also run your small business as a DBA and give yourself a separate checking account and run everything out of that. You can get a tax ID with a DBA (doing business as) as well.

Good Luck, I hope it flourishes!

 

[golfgal]

WHen you get ready to set up the credit card machine, read all the fine print. I was helping a woman in town set up her new business-putting stuff on the shelves, etc and her credit card machine came in. She learned then that she was leasing/renting the machine for $600 a year or something like that. She thought the machine was free.