Open for Business
7 tips on How to Start your small business from where you are.
How did you get started? How did you know what to do to get your business off the ground? These are a few of the questions, I get asked a lot.
Here are a few tips that hopefully will make it easier for the next person. Before we dive right into it, let me preface this with a disclaimer. This in not to be construed in any way as legal advice. Now that we have that all squared away, lets get right into the fun stuff.
1. Research and Register. Do that for both your business name and domain name. A few sites to check out include GoDaddy, ICANN's WHOIS, the United States Patent and Trademark Office website. Google.com and Trademarkia. to check for the availability of a domain name. Trademarkia.com can search for trademark, domain and corporate legal records. The WHOIS lookup allows you to lookup any generic domains, such as "icann.org" to find out the registered domain holder. Identify the requirements for doing business in the state and the type of business entity that best fits your situation, be it a Sole Proprietorship, single member LLC, multiple member LLC or even a corporation. You may want to consult an accountant on that issue. Register your business entity with the State and also inquire about any annual business filings in addition to the annual business tax returns associated with the business entity. Register your domain name as a first step in establishing your online presence. This can be done through most webhosting services which are able to register a domain name for you.
Web hosting is a service that allows organizations and individuals to post a website or web page onto the Internet. A web host, or web hosting service provider, is a business that provides the technologies and services needed for the website or webpage to be viewed in the Internet. Websites are hosted, or stored, on special computers called servers. When Internet users want to view your website, all they need to do is type your website address or domain into their browser. Their computer will then connect to your server and your webpages will be delivered to them through the browser. - website.com
The hosting services all work with the ICANN database, which is in charge of keeping track of all domain names, so they should all turn up the same information.
2. Post Box Rentals and EIN and Bank Accounts - Some businesses in addition to providng packaging and printing services, also offer mailbox rentals for receiving mail. An EIN (Employer Identification Number) also known as a Federal Tax Identification is like a Social Security number for a business and you can get one for free and it can be done online. This information will be required by the bank for opening a business account. Credit unions, community banks and regional banks that understand the needs of a small business should not be overlooked.
3. Comparison Shop for an E-Commerce site for your store - Determine the template (SquareSpace, Shopify, Etsy,) for your online store for displaying and selling your products or services. Compare based on the types of templates, pricing, transaction and credit card fees, customer service accessibility, room for customization of the templates. Limits on the number of administrators or authors and payment gateways based on geographic location of your business. For example, a particular payment gateway associated with your e-commerce shop platform may accept payment from anybody in any country; but can only sell using it if the buyer is based in certain countries. Some e-commerce platforms may offer discounts and custom domains with the purchase in full of an annual subscription.
4. Seek out recommendations or referrals for consultants or vendors. For a t-shirt brand this could include working with graphic designers, web designers, social media or and public relations consultants, photographers, videographers, copywriters, attorneys, bookkeepers, accountants, printers and t-shirt wholesale companies. It is critical to do your due diligence. Check out their social media presence and you may even reach out to those who have worked with them to ask questions that may be specific to your particular needs. A professional web designer who pays attention to details, understands your vision and can capture the visual aesthetic and brand messaging in their web design is key. Delegation is helpful especially if you have the budget to cover it. The benefits are numerous including protecting you from easy and quick burnout and allowing you to channel the time and energy savings towards other tasks.
5. Pictures and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) are 1000 words plus - Professional looking photos which enhances user engagement paired with an SEO make it easier for your site to be located in a search. Providing a Frequently Asked Questions section that addresses the most commonly asked questions and other information your visitors will find helpful makes for a more pleasant user experience. Link all your business social media platforms to your E-commerce site.
Illustrators are artists. Not all Artists are Illustrators.
6. Who has Rights to the original or Copy? Depending on the nature of the services rendered, it is also worth the investment to have in place Non Disclosure Agreements and Legal contracts that clearly outline the scope of work, fees for services rendered and rights to the works for example where you have a "work for hire" relationship with the graphic artist or web designer.
"Only the author or those deriving rights from the author can rightfully claim copyright. There is, however, an exception to this principle: “works made for hire.” If a work is made for hire, an employer is considered the author even if an employee actually created the work. The employer can be a firm, an organization, or an individual." -
Next Step…Open for Business.
ICANN WHOIS Lookup - https://whois.icann.org/en Chris Singleton, Shopify vs Squarespace (April 2019) - A Comparison Review - https://www.stylefactoryproductions.com/blog/shopify-vs-squarespace Web Hosting - https://www.website.com/beginnerguide/webhosting/6/1/what-is-web-hosting?.ws Works Made for Hire - https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ09.pdf
