Starting and managingyour business
Resources on launching and managing a day to day operations of business venture.
There are multiple factors and services that need to be considered when starting and managing your business. Below you will find information that can guide your decision making on key elements, like funding your business, various structures, licenses and permits, and day-to-day management concerns such as payroll, as well as information specific to non-profits and independent contractors.
Funding
Check out the links below for information on accessing your credit rating and the various financing options available to you.
Small Business Administration
Learn how your personal credit rating will affect the credit your business can secure. Remember, your business does not have a credit history but you do.
http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/start/financestartup/SERV_PVSB.html
NYC Business Solutions
Ensure that you are receiving financing from the appropriate lenders with the NYC Alternative and Commercial Lender Guide.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/nycbiz/html/financing/raising.shtml
Foundation Center
If bootstrapping isn’t cutting it, seek out grants from this center’s comprehensive database on US grant makers and their grant offerings.
http://foundationcenter.org/
US Small Business Administration – Assess Your Own Credit Rating
Learn how your personal credit rating will affect the credit your business can secure. Remember, your business does not have a credit history but you do.
http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/start/financestartup/SERV_PVSB.html
US Small Business Administration – Financing a Start-up
Check out articles how to secure start up financing and the basics of financial forecasting including calculating costs and breaking even for your business.
http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/start/financestartup/index.html
Legal and Regulatory
There a number of legal implications when you start thinking about launching a new venture. The links below guide you through the process of securing legal aide and your necessary licenses and permits.
NYC Business Express
Use NYC Business Express to identify the City, County, State, and Federal requirements to start, operate and expand your business. Based on your unique business plan, NYC Business Express provides a customized list of your requirements, potential incentives and other useful resources. The website currently provides information for businesses operating arts, entertainment, and recreation; food services; and retail services
http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/businessexpress
Small Business Administration
Learn the legal implications of launching your new business, including state and federal requirements for specific licenses.
http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/start/index.html
NYC Business Solutions
Get an overview of different types of business structures; patent, trademark, and copyright law to help you make informed decisions about your business. Visit a local NYC Business Solutions Center and they can even connect you to a network of pro-bono attorneys who can help you choose a legal structure, register your business, and/or assess a business lease.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/nycbiz/html/business_planning/legal_matters.shtml
US Internal Revenue Service -New Business Owners
As a new business owner you need to know your federal tax responsibilities. This page provides links to basic federal tax information for people who are starting a business.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=99336,00.html
HG.org-Legal Business Center
A one stop shop, legal business center that has resources and information on everything from registering your business name to starting your own franchise.
http://www.hg.org/busstarting.html
Business.gov – Starting a Green Business
Business.gov is the U.S. Government's official website for small businesses. Business.gov provides access to Federal, state, and local information that helps business owners successfully start and operate while staying compliant with laws and regulations. The following link provides serveral resources like guides, case studies, tools and tips for starting a green business.
http://www.business.gov/start/green-business/
Administrative and Operations
The links below highlight the services and tools availability to help manage the day to day operations of your business.
SCORE
A great resource if you are seeking business counseling and invaluable advice from a group of seasoned individuals already owning and managing their own businesses.
http://www.scorenyc.org/
US Small Business Administration-Marketing
Check out the SBA’s portal to help you navigate through the various aspects of marketing including conducting market research and creating marketing plans.
http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/manage/marketandprice/index.html
Inc. Magazine-Marketing
Browse through Inc’s Marketing and advertising “how to guides” on how to build your website traffic and market through grassroots marketing techniques.
http://www.inc.com/resources/marketing/
US Small Business Administration-Human Resources
With employees being your key asset, learn how to attract the best talent through job descriptions and the interview process on SBA’s site.
http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/manage/manageemployees/index.html
Inc. Magazine-Human Resources
Research appropriate benchmarks for compensation in your field of work and ways to hire and manage your employees through Inc’s How-to-Guide on Human Resources.
http://www.inc.com/resources/recruiting/
Small Business Administration-Using Technology
Get up-to-date on the latest federal policies around advertising and getting your business online.
http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/manage/technology/index.html
Inc. Magazine-Technology
Learn how to use technology to help set up and grow and manage your new business with Inc’s How-to-Guide on Information Technology.
http://www.inc.com/resources/technology/