Need Capital? Grants? Loans for Start up Business? Start Here
When investors evaluate the opportunity you present, they will look at the following factors:
The people who will manage the company; this includes your management team and your advisors.
The concept value. This is the opportunity you present to them. It includes many of the following:
What need does your business satisfy? What is your business model? What [...]
Wed, October 3 2007 » Angel Investors, Find Investors, Tips » 12 Comments
Although most of the venture capitalists in the United States invest in technology companies—and the industry gets a lot of attention for these investments—they also invest in business services, construction, industrial products, restaurants, retailing, and socially responsible companies. The following are different stages of a company development that VCs will invest in and why:
Early-Stage, Expansion, [...]
Tue, October 2 2007 » Find Investors, Tips, Venture Capital » 7 Comments
One of the most talked-about forms of financing, venture capital was popular in the nineties. Venture capitalists raise money from investors in order to manage a portfolio of privately held companies. In short, they are intermediaries. Venture capitalists fund companies that are in early-stage development, expansion, or for special cases such as turnarounds or leverage [...]
Tue, October 2 2007 » Find Investors, Tips, Venture Capital » 4 Comments
Points to keep in mind
Determine whether you actually need venture capital. Can you run your business with other forms of financing such as loans, friends, or relatives?
Prepare a business plan—a must for venture capital funding.
Research your target venture capitalist. Find out what his or her investment criteria are.
Network your way into an introduction with a [...]
Mon, October 1 2007 » Find Investors, Tips, Venture Capital » 2 Comments
Loans are a time-tested way of raising capital for your business. We would love to tell you that it is as easy as going to the bank and asking for money, but as you probably know by now it is quite the opposite. Some banks, however, have streamlined the application process to make it easy [...]
Sat, September 29 2007 » Business Loans, Tips » 4 Comments
Sole Proprietorship
Pros:
Easy to start and manage
Inexpensive
No separate tax returns, business gains and loses are reported in your personal income tax returns
Flexible to manage, it gives you complete control
Business expenses and loses are tax deductible
Cons:
Unlimited personal liability for business debts and lawsuits
Illness can endanger your business
Difficult to find investors
May be at a disadvantage attracting employers [...]
Wed, September 26 2007 » Business Structures, Tips » 5 Comments
As a small business owner, it is important that you understand how the tax system works—it will have a direct affect on how much money you take home. Even if you choose to hire an accounting professional to prepare your taxes, you should know the general principals of taxation.
What Items or Expenses are Deductible?
Any assets [...]
Wed, September 26 2007 » Taxes, Tips » 1 Comment
For a single-owner LLC, you just need to add a Schedule C, “Profit or Loss from Business,” (available at http://www.irs.gov) and submit it with your tax returns. For a multi-owned LLC, you will need to file Form 1065, “U.S. Return of Partnership Income” (same as with partnerships). Furthermore, the members of the multi-owned LLC need [...]
Wed, September 26 2007 » Business Structures, Limited Liability Company, Taxes, Tips » 1 Comment
Maintaining Corporate Identity
It is important to separate the identity of the corporation from its owners. This will help you protect your limited liability status. Ensure that you:
Make all annual filings with the Secretary of State.
Operate the company under its name, making sure that the people doing business with your company know that the company is [...]
Wed, September 26 2007 » Business Structures, Limited Liability Company, Tips » 1 Comment
As with corporations, there are certain exceptions to the limited liability protection afforded by the LLC:
· The LLC defaults on a loan that an owner personally guarantees.
· The managers do not deposit the taxes withheld from employee wages.
· A member injures someone.
· The owner does not separate the corporation as an independent entity; that is, [...]
Wed, September 26 2007 » Business Structures, Limited Liability Company, Tips » 1 Comment
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