Start Up Costs - Fees and Forms

Most state require training and certification (experience or exam) it can add up pretty quickly.
After all the qualifications when you are going to start a business you need to look at the requirements and costs in your local state, county, and city. You'll be amazed how many of these minor fees and forms there are. Behind every form and fee is another person's job. Remember, bureaucracy feeds on paper. You're already helping the economy to grow.

Some states divide up the various requirements for registering as a business between state and local agencies. It's good to check with agency personnel and always ask one more question, "Is there something else I should do?" You'll be amazed. About half the time the staff person will have never even heard of the other local requirements and tell you are all done (according to their little niche.) The other half of the time they'll quickly mention something else. Often, it will be something at another agency that you didn't even know about. Very few states have a comprehensive single source for doing everything to get started, even when their website or forms booklet claims to be the comprehensive "one stop" resource.

If you have a friendly accountant or lawyer they can give a ton of tips. If not, a call to the nearby Small Business Administration Office. It will provide you with an array of business startup details. SBA offices usually deal with businesses seeking loans, but they are very helpful. These offices often have free brochures, classes, and staff or trained volunteers that can provide free consultations by appointment. Sometimes they are connected with local universities or agriculture agencies. (That just means they are familiar with small business in your area.)

A quick paperwork and fees checklist for someone going the lowest cost route as as sole proprietor with a trade name in my area would include: Federal IRS SS-4 form (free) (to get a federal ID number to open bank account and file all federal tax forms), a "doing business as" certificate from the county ($75) (a memorable name of business that is different than mine), a license to do business form from my city ($50), sales tax exemption certificate (free)(to buy your business equipment that is not being resold to customers), a resale sales tax certificate (free) (to collect sales tax when you do sell something to retail customers), Bank account ($50) opening balance and ($50) business checks, advertising stickers for car ($100), business cards ($100), standard invoice/receipts ($20), rubber stamp ($12) (to personalize the invoice/receipts), etc., etc. The whole thing is a bit of a scavenger hunt. After a short while you'll have everything that really matters.