Thinking About Starting a
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Starting a business in a small town is quite an adventure.
No, really.
You'll find there are a lot of entrepreneur-types in rural areas, because for one thing, rural people are independent by nature. Second, if there's a need, someone's bound to jump in.
If you're thinking about starting a business in Blanco or some other small town, there are a few things you might want to consider:
1) Do you have a passion for this activity? Because in a small town, you might not make a load of money (or at least, probably not at first
), so you better be enjoying yourself.
2) Is there a sufficient need for your product or service in your area?
3) Is there room for profit in your chosen small business?
Assuming you already know what sort of business you'd like to have, there's still the matter of setting up your business.
How do you want to organize? Sole proprietor (most small businesses start this way) or do you want to incorporate? These are questions that only you can answer, but I can direct you to some tools.
What kind of licensing or permits are required? Will you need employees?
Do you want a home-based business? Starting a business from your home can be a real moneysaver if it will work for you.
But no matter if you will be working from home are not, there are certain things you'll probably need.
You may want to hire an accountant or a bookkeeper (to count all that money you'll be bringing in), or maybe all you will require is some accounting software.
You'll most likely need some office equipment and furniture - a desk, good chair, filing cabinet, computer, phone, maybe a fax machine, and then all the little odds and ends that make an office.
After your office is properly equipped, the needs for your business will diverge from the "herd" because having your own business is just as much an individual thing as you or I. And diversity is the spice of life.
There are a number of plusses to starting a business - there are some tax advantages, and your time is your own (HA! you didn't fall for that one, did you?). And, there are a lot of challenges.
For better or worse, there was never any question about me starting a business. With my personality, I really need to be my own boss. I've created a lot of responsibilty for myself, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Internal Revenue Service on Starting a Business
You can learn a lot from this site; I wish it had existed when I first went into business for myself.
I've enjoyed using this online legal sevice for simple tasks that require an attorney. They are quite handy when it comes to ; I've used their services to incorporate a non-profit organization I work with. And I plan on using them again.
You'll probably want to get a website for your business, too. There are lots of choices here: you can have someone build a site for you, or you can build it yourself. You can do a "three page, build it tonight" kind of site, or have a regularly updated, informative website.
I find sites that are self-built to be the most interesting, because there's a real person involved, and personality comes through the page just as though I were speaking directly with the proprietor.
Of course, it's up to you to decide, 'cause it's your business.
After starting a business (in Blanco, at least), you'll also want to come back to this site and submit your information, so I can add your entrepreneurial project to the free business directory.
