IDEA help: I recently had an idea for a home-based online crafts business that I would like to start. - Help.com

smilexifuluvjoker
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I recently had an idea for a home-based online crafts business that I would like to start.

Unfortunetely, all the websites I’ve gone to, and all the books I’ve read on the subject are far far too general to help.
I am a complete novice when it comes to this, and wish to do things properly and legally and I don’t even know the first step! Books and websites will only tell you that you need a name and to do taxes, but they aren’t specific about where to go, what things you need, or in what order you need to complete these things.
What legal paperwork must be filled out before i begin to sell things? Where do I register my company name…what paperwork is necissary? What things are require to properly do my taxes… when?What order to do these things in? etc.
As a (very) young person with little experience I find even the “Dummies” books to be too vague. can anyone help?

Emilia

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sekhem offline Verified User (3 years, 1 month) Long Term User Shouts: 10 #
An Unknown Location | 3 years, 1 month ago (22 hours, 45 minutes after post)

Emilia,

You need to get yourself a business license first and foremost.
You will want a “Doing Business As” or “Ficticious Business Name” license, if you are doing a Sole Proprietorship, which is the easiest icense to get. If you do not plan on having any employees at first then you do not the federal license, since you will claim all the money on your taxes.

You can go to your local court house and they will tell you if you need a local license in addition to the state lisnces, and they should have the paperwork there for the state.

Once you recieve the proper licenses you are ready to legally start your business.

Now if you sell to anyone within the state you live in, or the goods are being purchased by someone outside of the state that aare shipping it somewhere in your state, you need to charge, and pay the State Sales Tax. If they live outside your state, then you just pay federal taxes on the income you make, and nt state tax.

The fun begins with designing your website, the ecommerce software you want to run, deciding on html, php, perl etc type scripts, find a webhost ect, then build your site. Afterwords, you will need to work on promotion and page rank, which is the difficult part to do.

If you visit my site at www.sekhemonline.net you can see how I have my business set up, if you want advice or assistance, us the “contact me” option at my website to email me and I will help with what I can.

Regards,

Sekhem

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aleish offline Verified User (3 years, 1 month) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
An Unknown Location | 3 years, 1 month ago (1 week, 2 days after post)

there are site that gives tips on how to start your business. Try this site, http://homebasedbusinessbooks.com/.

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