Free Never Get a ”Real„ Job by Scott Gerber Page B

not to take advantage of their time, but do ask all of the questions you need answered. Make it clear to them that they are investing in your growth, and you’ll be happy to hire them once your start-up begins generating revenue.
     
2. Choose a structure . Consult with your lawyer and accountant about the most advantageous way to structure your business to protect it from liability, as well as the best approach for tax purposes. Ask them to lay out the pros and cons of each option based on the type of business you plan to start, how you plan to generate and receive income, and the city and state where you plan to incorporate.
     
3. Research permits or licenses . Research your town, city, and state’s government Web sites to see if you will need any permits to operate your business. Some permits are free or relatively inexpensive, but others can cost a fortune. Know what you are getting into before you throw away money on incorporation.
     
4. Name your company . Your company name will serve a vital role in your sales and marketing efforts. Later in the book, I offer you a few strategies about how to go about naming your company.
     
5. Incorporate with LegalZoom.com . This service is by far the most inexpensive and the easiest way to incorporate your business. However, keep in mind that you do not need to incorporate right away. If you lack the funds to do so, test out your idea as a freelancer and have customers pay you directly until you have the necessary funds to form a legal entity. The only thing to remember is that you won’t be able to open a business bank account or receive payments made out to your company name until you have been issued an EIN number by the government.
     
6. Open a bank account in a local bank . I always suggest working with local banks rather than regional or conglomerate ones. Local banks are much more willing to invest time into building personal, long-term relationships with community business owners. Once you prove that you can generate revenue, being on a first-name basis with local bank representatives might help you secure credit lines and loans more easily.
     
7. Use DocStoc.com for agreement templates . Before you even consider hiring a lawyer to draft any agreement from scratch, visit the document-sharing service DocStoc.com to see if free or inexpensive templates exist. This allows you to save a fortune by eliminating legal drafting fees and only having lawyers examine final drafts for approval.
     
     
     
    WHAT DO YOU KNOW, ANYWAY?
     
    There are many factors about which you’re unaware when you start a business. However, there are also several things you know for absolute certain—things that will help you to plan a solid starting point for your business.
     
    Know who you are . What do bleach companies with “green” product lines, fast-food companies promoting healthy exercise, and politicians kissing babies all have in common?
     
    They’re all bad liars who insult your intelligence by masquerading as something they’re not.
     
    Misleading business pitches and phony gestures are not going to fool anybody. Authenticity is vital to your success. The only result of trying to be something you’re not is attaining a reputation as a snake oil salesperson or con artist. It can also wreak havoc on your start-up by causing you to lose consumer confidence faster than you can give a wink, click your tongue, point your imaginary hand gun, and sleazily say, “Trust me.”
     
    Don’t try to be everything to everyone, or you’ll end up being nothing to anyone. If you’re a Star Trek –obsessed tech geek, wear Vulcan ears to meet your computer repair appointments. If you’re a beach bum numbers guy, wear shades and flip-flops to your bookkeeping gigs.
     
    Be true to yourself and own who you are. Customers need to trust, like, respect, and relate to you. You’re already launching a start-up with little to no credibility, so avoid adding kindle to the fire by giving people a