That was then; this is now. From the campaign trail to Capitol Hill, the government has upped the ante in how it communicates with and delivers services to citizens and business owners.

More specifically, the government’s adoption of Web services as a tool for supporting the incubation, startup and growth of small businesses is making public sector resources and information more accessible and actionable than ever before.

Here’s a list of five government agencies and government-sponsored programs that are embracing Web technology and social media to make it easier for business owners to get the information and support they need to start, operate and grow businesses.

1. Small Business Administration (SBA): Undergoing a Dramatic Transformation Online (and Offline)

Yesterday the SBA unveiled a new SBA.gov Web site that includes a host of user-friendly bells and whistles designed specifically to help small business owners find what they need quickly and dynamically. Using an interface aptly titled SBA Direct, visitors to the site are asked a few questions about their business profile (e.g. ,women-owned, home-based business, etc.), location and needs. The tool then delivers relevant and targeted information on all aspects of running a business such as the steps involved in getting started, business growth strategies, and how to stay compliant with laws.

SBA Direct also provides information on the available SBA programs that can help businesses succeed, such as financial assistance, guidance and training.

The new website is a critical part of SBA’s mission of transforming itself into “a proactive, responsive and “customer-centric” organization that better serves the needs of the nation’s more than 29 million small businesses,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills in yesterday’s press release from the agency.

The redesigned site also includes location-based maps to help small businesses find resources in their communities, improved navigation, and in 20011 will evolve to include a Lender Tool that will allow lenders to process online loan applications – speeding up the time it takes for SMBs to get the capital they need.

SBA has also been upping its social media presence, building on its YouTube channel to include a significant Facebook and Twitter following.

2. Internal Revenue Service (IRS): Tools to Shout Out About

Once just the domain of downloadable tax forms, the IRS.gov Web site has undergone a low-key, yet shout-out worthy, transformation in recent years – and this is good news for small business.

The IRS web site (www.irs.gov) is now the home of numerous online tools designed to help small businesses and the self-employed better understand their tax obligations as well as help them improve their overall financial literacy. These include the IRS Virtual Small Business Tax Workshop online training tool and a Retirement Plans Navigator that helps small employers find, compare and manage a variety of retirement plan options.

This new customer-centric approach is all about using the speed, ease and accessibility of the Web to reduce the administrative burden that can weigh so many entrepreneurs down. Read more from Business.gov in this article: IRS.gov Undergoes a Quiet Evolution – Revealing Invaluable Online Tax Tools for Small Business.

3. HealthCare.gov: Making Sense of It All

In the shadow of the Affordable Care Act of 2010, finding the right health-care plan for yourself and your employees can be quite an undertaking.  If you are shopping for self-employed or employee health insurance plans, Healthcare.gov is truly a “first-of-its-kind” site in that it brings together data from more than 1,000 insurance carriers and 5,561 open products (3,531 in the small employer health insurance market) to help you understand your options and make more informed decisions about health-care coverage.

In addition to providing clarification about the Affordable Care Act (what it means in practice and the timeline of changes), the site also aims to make comparison shopping for health insurance a whole lot easier using basic personalization features that help you determine consumer or employer plan options (and, in some instances, pricing information) and potential eligibility.

4. Export.gov: Helping Your Business Trade Overseas

Did you know the government can help target and facilitate meetings with potential partners and buyers overseas? Or that Uncle Sam provides U.S. exporters with international marketing and promotion opportunities?

Meet Export.gov.

Operated by the U.S. Department of Commerce as a collaborative effort with 19 other agencies, Export.gov is a goldmine of information, toolsand programs for anyone looking to navigate the exporting business and succeed in the global marketplace. These include webinars, exporting information, help in building partnerships and advice on marketing overseas. Explore more in 8 Reasons why Export.gov Might Just Be Your New Best Friend, and follow Export.gov on Twitter and Facebook.

Last, but not least …

5. Business.gov: Award-Winning One-Stop Portal and Interactive Forum for Small Business

Business.gov began life in May 2004 as part of a Presidential E-Government Initiative, with oversight by the SBA, in partnership with 21 other federal agencies.  Business.gov  was intended to act as a one-stop Web portal targeted at helping small and medium-sized businesses find, understand and comply with government regulation. The goal was to lessen time small business owners spent searching for information across multiple agency sites.

Since then the site has evolved into a content-rich, interactive online media hub. In 2009, the Business.gov Community was launched as a forum for business owners to interact with government, industry experts and each other through discussion boards, idea exchanges and blog articles. The Community was the first government-sponsored online community for small businesses and later that year was featured on the White House Innovation Gallery as an example of open government at work.

Today, the Community has over 15,000 members and includes renowned guest bloggers including Anita Campbell, Rieva Lesonsky and Joel Libava, among others.

Many of the resource-based small business guides on Business.gov can now be found on the new SBA.gov Web site. And, come January 2011, the Business.gov site, its discussion boards and blogs will be fully integrated into SBA.gov – creating a one-stop portal for small business owners to find all the answers they need, at one URL.

Additional Resources

Other notable government and government-sponsored websites that support the needs of small business include:

• USA.gov Business Portal
• Grants.gov
• Minority Business Development Agency
• VetBiz.gov

The post 5 Ways the Government Is Using Dynamic Web Services to Better Serve Small Business appeared first on Small Business Trends.

And while “employee-friendly” business practices have traditionally been perceived as frivolous or a distraction, when structured and managed effectively they not only boost morale, but produce motivated teams dedicated to the success of your business.

A formal employee incentive program, or even elements of it, needn’t break the bank. Here are five ways you can incentivize your employees.

1. Introduce flextime.

Allowing your employees to enjoy more flexible schedules is a great incentive for attracting and keeping high-performing employees. It doesn’t mean that they work less time; it just means they have the benefit of working the hours that you mutually agree on outside the traditional confines of a 9-to-5 work day. Flextime won’t work for all businesses or all employees. Here are some tips for balancing your business needs with those of your employees:

• Determine who is eligible for flextime: If you want to offer this benefit but are concerned about rolling it out to all employees, consider establishing eligibility based on performance or tenure.
• Set acceptable and universal guidelines: Start by consulting employees on their needs; then develop and communicate a set of guidelines that is realistic for all. For example, you might choose to offer your employees the option of starting or leaving work one or two hours early on certain weekdays.   If you do so, make sure your employees can make up those hours during the rest of the week.
• Establish procedures: Ensure that your flextime policy includes a process for reviewing requests, scheduling and ensuring coverage.
• Monitor the program: Once  your flextime program is under way, take time to adjust it and iron out any kinks. Assess whether performance has been affected or the program been abused.

2. Offer employees corporate memberships.

Whether it’s a discounted gym membership or access to an executive suite at your local sports arena,  corporate membership programs can help promote employee well-being as well as help to facilitate business relationships when used as vehicles for client entertainment.

Before you rush into buying the membership that appeals to you, consult your managers or employees and try to gain consensus on their preferences. Again, you may want to offer these perks based on performance or tenure.  Don’t forget,  if you do use corporate memberships for any form of client entertainment, you can claim customer entertainment expenses (including meals) as a business tax deduction, as long as there is a clear business purpose and substantial business discussions are held before, during or after the entertainment. The tax deduction is generally limited to 50 percent of the expenses incurred. Read more about business tax deductions at Business.gov. Also talk to your accountant about other deductions you can gain by implementing employee incentives.

3. Look after those that matter to your employees.

Show your appreciation for your employees by involving their families in their work life and work-related social activities. From family movie nights to “bring your child (or pet) to work days,” these activities can go a long way to making good on your commitment to, and appreciation of, your employees and those who support them.

4. Spiff your team.

Just as sales teams get “spiffed” or compensated for closing a major deal, why not incentivize employees across all your business functions for completing critical projects or reaching certain goals? Incentives aligned with individual achievements or team-based success can go a long way to aligning and motivating your employees around your business objectives.

5. Show you take your employees’ wellness seriously.

For a small business, losing just one employee to frequent sick days or a prolonged illness can be frustrating and a drain on resources. Consider implementing a workplace wellness program. Not only will it help educate your team about all aspects of wellness (physical, mental and even fiscal), it will go a long way to showing you’re investing in them for the long term, and make for a more empowered and happier work force.

Workplace wellness programs don’t have to be all about posters, flyers and doctrine about how and how not to live your life.  If you tie them to other incentives and perks – for example, extending the lunch hour once a week to allow employees to take a “30-minute power walk,” or offering prizes for quitting smoking – they can be inclusive and something to get excited about. You might even come up with a calendar that emphasizes a weekly wellness initiative, such as “greening” your work space one week or changing your snacking habits the next!

This article from Dawn Rivers Baker offers more ideas: “10 Steps to a Microbusiness Wellness Program.” The CDC’s Healthier Worksite Initiative offers more information, resources and step-by-step toolkits to help you improve the health and morale of your employees through workplace wellness programs.

The post 5 Ways to Incentivize Your Employees – Without Breaking the Bank appeared first on Small Business Trends.

Whether you operate a hot dog concession stand on the Jersey shore or run a B&B establishment on the ski slopes of Vermont, choosing to make the bulk of your profits during certain times of the year requires a particularly innovative and tenacious small business owner who knows how to ride the highs and optimize the lows of running a seasonal business.

Whether you are interested in starting, or already own a seasonal business, here are some tips for getting the most out of your business year-round.

1. Manage Cash Flow and Credit

Regardless of whether you keep your doors open, or close for the quiet season, it’s critical that you manage your cash flow and maintain good credit during off-season.  There are a number of strategies you can employ to help you achieve this:

• Manage Cash Flow – Managing accounts receivable and accounts payable can help you ensure that cash flow isn’t compromised at any time of year. Seek to secure a percentage of customer payments upfront as often as possible.   This will ensure you have cash-in-hand as soon as possible and also help mitigate the problem of slow-paying clients. To help manage the amount of cash that is going out, try to negotiate extended payment terms from suppliers so that you can spread out the amount owed on goods that you purchased before peak season and haven’t sold yet.  Get more tips on Understanding and Expanding Cash Flow from Business.gov.

• Consider a Seasonal Business Loan – Another option for addressing seasonal requirements for short-term and cyclical working-capital needs is to consider a government-backed business loan. The SBA offers a Seasonal Line short-term working capital loan program which provides advances against future inventory. The loan is offered under SBA’s CAPLine umbrella loan program. Read more about loan amounts and eligibility requirements here.

• Find Alternative Sources of Income – Many seasonal business owners are able to diversify their core offering to help them do business throughout the year. For example, landscaping companies often morph into snow clearing businesses in the winter. Alternatively, consider re-training and acquiring new skills.  For example, if your core business is building decks and patios, could you diversify in the winter by expanding your portfolio to include interior construction? However you choose to diversify, be sure to get the right licenses and permits. Business.gov’s Permit Me tool can point you to what licensing you may need based on your zip code and profession.

2. Get the Most out of your Seasonal Workforce

While hiring temporary employees can provide low-cost help during peak season, this labor model does have its down side in that hiring, training and retaining good employees can get resource intensive for a small business. One step you can take to help overcome this is to encourage employees to return next season. A quality work environment with incentives and soft benefits can make your business a place that seasonal workers will want to return. Continued outreach and incentives during quiet periods will also help you maintain relationships with your best workers even when they aren’t on pay roll. For more tips, read Get More from Your Team – 5 Employee Incentive Program Ideas that Pay Off.

3. Use Off-Peak Seasons Productively

Whether you “close shop for the season” or just engine along at a slower pace, use your off-season productively so that when your peak season comes round again your customers are there with you.

Take stock of your business plan; review your product line-up and market positioning; assess and develop a plan for dealing with any competitive threats, and so on. Use this perspective to start planning and executing your marketing activities and do whatever it takes to maximize the small seasonal window of opportunity that you have to realize the fruits of your labor. Even during quiet seasons there are still ways to stay in front of customers and help keep your business top of mind when it comes time for them to make their purchasing decisions.

Related Resources

• Small Business Loans and Grants Guide – Federal, state and local governments offer a wide range of financing programs to help small businesses start and grow their operations. This guide from Business.gov can help you understand your options and find the right financing for your needs.

Related Articles

• 7 Tips for Finding and Hiring the Right Employee – The First Time
• Need a Small Business Loan? Tips for Researching Lenders and Preparing a Winning Loan Proposal
• Taking Stock of the Business Year – How to Conduct a Year-End Review & Plan for the Year Ahead
• Five Holiday Marketing Tips to Help your Small Business Stay Profitable & Top of Mind this Year!
• Five Hot Small Business Summer Marketing Tips

The post 3 Tips for Running a Successful Seasonal Business – Year Round! appeared first on Small Business Trends.

For example, many small business owners are quick to think that the government provides grants to small businesses to help them start their business.

This post explains away some of the myths about government loan and grants for small businesses and also helps build a picture of the available financing for which you might be eligible.

Can I Get a Government Grant?

First let’s dispel the myth that government grants are available to business owners. If you are a for-profit business, then you do not qualify for a government grant. This article on Business.gov – “The Truth About Grants” – provides the official word on government grants, from the government.

Essentially, “Federal and state government agencies do not provide grants for starting a business, paying off debt or to cover operating expenses. Government agencies do not provide ‘special’ grants for women, minorities, veterans or disabled entrepreneurs.”

However, the government does provide grants to “…nonprofits, educational institutions, (and) associations … but rarely are these available to small businesses, and they are never available to cover startup costs, debt and operating expenses.”

What Are Government-Backed Loans and How Do They Work?

While the government does not actually lend business owners money, it does provide a guarantee to banks and lenders for money lent to small businesses (through the SBA). This loan guarantee mitigates the risk for banks and lenders and makes them more inclined to provide SBA-backed loans to small business owners who don’t qualify for traditional loans.

Whatever your capital needs are there are literally hundreds of government financing programs that can benefit your business – from very small loans for start-ups (known as microloans) to export assistance loans, energy efficiency loans, loans for veterans and loans for businesses needing disaster assistance.

How to Find the Right Financing for Your Small Business

There are quite literally hundreds of government-backed loans, administered by the SBA, each developed to suit the needs of your particular business – whether you need to finance your startup,  get help expanding into exports, are seeking disaster assistance funds, and so on. This SBA Loan Guide on Business.gov explains the ins and outs of the most requested SBA loan programs.

To find the right loan for which you might be eligible, use this Loans and Grants Search Tool, developed by Business.gov, which matches your business profile and objectives to potential SBA loan programs, as well as other non-government sources.

Applying for an SBA Loan

Although the SBA administers loan programs, the application and eligibility determination are handled by your bank or lender. Most lenders will ask for the same information from you. Before you apply for a loan, do your research to understand what kind of documentation you will need to back up your application. This SBA Application Checklist lists what you need to prepare in advance of your loan application. Read “How to Prepare a Loan Proposal” for more tips.

Additional Resources

• Five Tips for Finding Small Business Friendly Banks
• Business.gov’s Small Business Loans and Grants Guide

The post Getting Beyond the Myths: Government Small Business Loans, Grants Explained appeared first on Small Business Trends.

If you are passionate about a cause and can find a like-minded group of people to help you share the significant responsibilities of operating a non-profit, then the philanthropic and entrepreneurial rewards can be significant – if you know what you are doing.

Starting a non-profit is very similar to starting a for-profit business – and requires a solid understanding of business planning, tax law, marketing, financing options and leadership.

Here is a basic checklist for how to start a non-profit organization (NPO), while ensuring you pay attention to important legal and regulatory processes:

1. Define Your Mission

To ensure that everyone is singing off the same hymn sheet, it’s critical that you define your mission statement, (i.e. the purpose of your non-profit and the need it addresses) early on in the start-up phase. At the same time, realize that it will evolve over time as other stakeholders take shape and provide input – so keep your mission statement reasonably high level for now.

2. Research Your Niche

Business planning involves understanding the marketplace, the market opportunity, and so on.   It’s much the same for planning a non-profit.  Connecticut Non-Profits (PDF) offers some useful examples of questions you should be asking yourself to help identify your niche and whether there is a market need. You can also research the existing non-profit landscape at Guide Star.

3. Write a Business Plan

A business plan is essential for procuring non-profit funding from donors and the government, and can also help you recruit volunteers and board members. The Free Management Library (an online library for non-profits) is a great resource and walks you through the process of writing a business plan.

4.  Set up a Board

While your board will likely grow and change over time, during the start-up phase it’s a good idea to start-out by selecting a board with individual members that serve a functional need. Select members who are interested in your mission; can dedicate time as well as useful and applicable expertise; have previous Board expertise; and have no conflict of interest with you or your staff.

The status of your board is also closely linked to the legal structure of the non-profit. Some states require that at least one or more directors are appointed to make major decisions in the corporation. Other states require that you appoint directors before filing your articles of incorporation. (Check individual state requirements with NASCO.)

5. Incorporate Your Non-Profit and Register it with Legal Entities

Becoming a non-profit corporation requires some paperwork, but for many groups the benefits of non-profit status – such as 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status – outweigh the complications. Incorporating a non-profit is similar to creating a regular corporation except that you have to take the extra steps of applying for tax-exempt status with the IRS and their state tax division.

Refer to this guide from Business.gov which explains the process of Forming a Non Profit 501(c)(3) Corporation;  how to apply for non-profit federal and state tax exemptions; how to create corporate bylaws; and register for the necessary licenses and permits.

6. Incorporation Options for Hybrid Business/Non-Profits

A relatively new form of incorporation that is gaining in popularity is the L3C (low-profit limited liability company).  This hybrid legal structure combines the legal advantages of the LLC, with the financial benefits of a non-profit. The goal of the formal entity is to make it easier for businesses with a social mission to receive investments, including loans and grants, from charitable foundations. L3C entities are, as yet, only recognized in five states. Read more about L3C businesses in this article from CNNMoney.com: For L3C companies, profit isn’t the point.

7. Start Fundraising

Now that your NPO is officially established you’ll need to pay attention to its bread and butter – fundraising. To succeed in fundraising, you’ll need to diversify your fundraising efforts to strike a balance between episodic and ongoing activities. This will ensure multiple streams of income for the medium and long term. To achieve this you need a long term plan.

Read Going Beyond the Shot Gun Approach – 5 Tips for Optimizing Your Non-Profit’s Fundraising Efforts for insight into important strategic steps including telling your story, targeting your marketing efforts, developing a fundraising campaign plan, leveraging social media, and using the resources of other NPOs to help fund your efforts . For more information on how to find sources of ongoing and episodic funds, check out this article from Business.gov: Tips for Finding the Right Blend of Funds for your Non-Profit.

8. Leverage Governments Grants and Other Resources for Non-Profits

Non-profit entrepreneurs are eligible for certain benefits including grants, government surplus, and tax exemptions. Take a look at Business.gov’s Non-Profit Organization Start-up Guide. The site includes links to programs and services that help non-profits find resources available to them from the federal government including grants and financial assistance, tax information, government sales and surplus, and more.

Remember! There are Alternatives to Starting an Non-Profit

If this all sounds a little more than you wanted to take on, consider volunteering your services to a non-profit that has a similar mission or is not yet established in your locality and is looking to extend its reach.

Alternatively other non-profits might be willing to act as your fiscal sponsor, which means you will be able to seek grants and solicit tax-deductible donations under your sponsor’s tax exempt status.  Read more on finding a fiscal sponsor in this guide from the Foundation Center.

The post 8 Essential Steps to Starting a Non-Profit Organization appeared first on Small Business Trends.

Why? Consider this – assuming you optimize your Web site, post your business on local online listings, develop a social media strategy, and deliver a great service,  your business name and all that it represents will go viral (and hopefully in a good way).

And, of course, once it’s out there – there is literally no going back. The impact on search engine rankings of changing your business name and the necessary efforts to re-brand all of your online and offline materials and update your domain name, can incur troublesome and time- consuming business penalties.

So back to our first point, getting your business name right the first time – is critical. Once you are happy with your choice, it’s also important that you take steps to protect your name against trademark infringement and register it with the right regulatory bodies for the purposes of taxation, incorporation, licenses, and permits.

Here are four tips to help you choose and manage your business name throughout the lifecycle of your business:

1) Choose a Name that Reflects Your Plans for your Business

How do you intend to use your business name? Many start-ups (especially freelancers, sole proprietors and family businesses) operate their businesses under their personal name. However, if you want to present a professional image you might want select a business trade name that can scale with you and this means doing some research. Consider how your potential name will look (on the Web, with a logo, etc.), sound (make it easy to pronounce), what connotations it will evoke, and how it distinguishes you from the competition.

2) Conduct a Trademark Search

While a quick Google search will help you avoid picking a name that implies association with other business entities, you should also conduct a trademark search – this Business Naming Guide from Business.gov walks you through the process of checking for potential trademarks infringement.

3) Pick a Name that is Web-Ready

There are several aspects to selecting a business name that will work on the Web – and you should do all these before you finalize your business name. Consider the following:

• Search for a Domain Name – This will help you identify whether you can actually set up a Web site with a domain name (essentially your future URL) that is clearly affiliated with your business and is keyword rich (e.g. www.virginiadecking.com is better than www.psmithcarpentry.com). To determine whether your preferred domain name is available, do a quick search in the WHOIS database.  If it is available you will benefit from claiming it as yours early in the business naming process – long before you get around to creating a Web site. To learn how to do this is, read this quick Register Your Domain Name Guide from Business.gov.
• Is your Business Name Social Media-Ready? – In addition to checking availability of domain names, take time to conduct a search of Twitter and Facebook to ensure that no other businesses or brands are operating in the social media-sphere with your preferred name. Even if you don’t intend to use social media marketing to promote your business, any defaming or controversy that can arise online may potentially tarnish your brand.
• Don’t Overlook your Email Naming Policy – There is nothing worse than a lengthy and hard-to-spell business email address. So take some time to determine your email naming policy. Should you abbreviate your company name for email purposes? Will email addresses contain first and last names? There is no right or wrong answer, as long as you make it easy for your customers to communicate with your business. 

4) Take Care of the Legalities

Once you have chosen a business name, you will need to register it with the right regulatory bodies and protect it against trademark infringement.

If you are operating your business under a trade name you are required by law to register that name with your local government and obtain a “Doing Business As” (or DBA) permit from your local government. Until then, the legal name of your business essentially defaults to your given name. Find out how to register your business name in your state.

Trade marking your business name, logo or other mark is optional – but it can be your most valuable business asset. If you only do business in one state you can register for a trademark at the state level; if you operate in more than one state you can register for a federal trademark via the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.  To understand more about trademark protection refer to this Patents, Trademarks and Copyright Small Business Guide from www.business.gov.

Additional Resources

• Changing a Business Name
• Trademarks: Legal, Financial, and Tax Points You Need to Know
• Protect your Business Name or Risk Losing It
• How to Legally Protect Your Business Name on a Local, State, National, and International Level

The post 4 Tips for Choosing a Business Name that is Brand-Appropriate, Web-Ready, and Protected appeared first on Small Business Trends.

Business incorporation (which, by the way, is an umbrella term for a number of business structure options) may be right for some business owners, but it isn’t for all. So it’s worth doing some stepping back and ascertaining whether incorporation is right for you.

Here are some points to consider:

What is Business Incorporation?

As mentioned above, business incorporation is a loose umbrella term that covers a variety of options for legally structuring your business.  These options include becoming a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, S-corporation, non-profit 501(c)(3), cooperative, and so on.

Whatever business structure you choose needn’t be set in stone, and can be changed as your business matures. For example, many small business owners start out as sole proprietorships or partnerships with formal incorporation taking place at a later date.

Of the many business entities that owners consider, LLCs and Subchapter S Corporations (S-Corps) are two of the most popular. Read “Should My Company be an LLC, an S-Corp or Both?“ to determine which features are most important to you and your company.

The Benefits of Incorporation

Here are some of the benefits you can realize if you decide to incorporate your business:

• Personal Liability Protection – An incorporated company affords protection from any personal liability for your business debts and obligations. For example, if someone sues your company they can only go after your company’s assets, not your own (although there are exceptions – see below**under “The Disadvantages of Incorporation”).
• Tax Benefits – If you incorporate you may gain tax benefits, although only under certain circumstances. This is one area to discuss with an accountant, as the marginal tax rates for corporations with taxable incomes in some cases can be higher than those for an individual in the same scale. Read more about the tax implications of incorporating from the government here.
• Corporate Identity – Incorporating can give a greater sense of credibility to your business.
• Raising Capital – You can raise capital more easily through the sale of stock and securities if your business is incorporated.
• Unlimited Life – Your corporation can have an indefinite life and outlive you. Do note that LLCs have a limited duration. Get more information on business structure differences from the SBA.

The Disadvantages of Incorporation

Some of the disadvantages of incorporation, particularly for the small business owner, include:

• Paperwork - Depending on the structure you choose, you may need to file two tax returns (one for you, one for your business) and keep good records.
• Cost - The fees associated with initial incorporation and ongoing maintenance can put a strain on start-ups. However, LLCs (a hybrid-type of legal structure that provides the limited liability features of a corporation and the tax efficiencies and operational flexibility of a partnership ) can be a more economic alternative to incorporation.
• **Liability may not be as limited as you think – The limited liability advantages of incorporation can be challenged by personal guarantees and credit agreements. For example, when a corporation has insufficient assets to secure a loan, banks often insist on personal guarantees from the business owner. This can result in personal liability for repayments if your corporation can’t meet its obligations.

Is Incorporation Right for My Business?

At the end of the day, choosing the right business structure for your small business comes down to several factors such as your risk of liability, your tax obligations, business objectives, and so on.

Because the needs of every business are different, and the law varies from state-to-state, it’s worth an hour or two with a knowledgeable attorney to investigate all of the issues that will affect your decision.

Getting Started with the Process of Incorporation

All business incorporations must be filed with your state government. Whether you choose to pursue this through an attorney or choose an online legal service is up to you. But try to get referrals and recommendations from other businesses that have been through the process.

If you operate in multiple states, read “Which State is best for My Small Business?” to determine which state is the friendliest to corporations and incorporate in that state.

Additional Resources

Business.gov Incorporation Guide – This Web guide draws information from across government to provide small business owners with vital information and resources about what incorporation is and how it can work for your business.

Related Articles

• Differences in Legal Structures – Which Structure is Right for You?
• The Better Choice for Entity Selection: LLC or S Corporation?
• Small Business Structure – Is Business Partnership Right for You?
• Legalizing Your Small Business: Permits, Licenses, Certifications, Oh My!
• How to Register Your Small Business in Five Steps
• Three Ways to Lose Personal Liability Protection — And What to Do About It
• LLC Operating Agreements – The Basics
• How to Register Your Small Business in Five Steps

The post Forming a Business Structure – Is Incorporation Right for You? appeared first on Small Business Trends.

But for many small business owners, the Internet is more than tool - it’s a lifeline that has helped them survive and prosper through the current economic climate.

Just think back to last year’s holiday shopping season, for example.  Despite the recession, 2009 saw the heaviest-ever online shopping day (December 19) with $913 million in recorded sales. The U.S. Census Bureau also reports that e-commerce sales continue to grow by 23.1 percent per year compared with 5 percent for total retail sales.

Starting an Online Business – One Step at a Time

But for many small businesses, micro businesses and sole proprietors, taking their business online (whether e-commerce is involved or not) is easier said than done. Yep, anyone can secure a domain name and subscribe to a $5.99 monthly Web hosting plan. But an online business is merely a vehicle for the product or service you are selling. So starting a Web-based business – and making it a success – will take more than just “getting online”.

Which is why this question comes up time and time again on small business forums: “I’m starting an online business – where do I begin?“

In response to this question, Business.gov has compiled 10 Steps to Starting an Online Business. This guide walks you through the basic fundamentals of getting started – such as registering a domain name and  finding a host – and offers advice for following the rules of the road that regulate online marketing and e-commerce (think sales taxes, etc.)

Starting an Online Store

If e-commerce is your goal, read this valuable primer on making a successful move to e-commerce: Getting Started with E-Commerce – An Entrepreneur’s Checklist.

Generate Traffic to Your Site

Starting your online business is one thing, generating traffic and making it a success is another. But without a store front or obvious physical business location, let alone any kind of physical signage, generating traffic is one of the biggest challenges of starting an online business.

Take time to write an integrated marketing plan that maximizes both online and offline channels – and delivers a consistent brand message through both.  Read Starting and Growing an Online Business: An Entrepreneur’s Checklist to get tips on promoting your online business through online channels such as social media, pay-per-click advertising, and optimizing your site for search engines such as Google.  The Checklist also offers tips on leveraging offline channels in your market place or community.

Get Blogging

Once you have optimized your site – keep it that way. Search engines love good organic content, and one of the most effective ways of keeping your site fresh and search engine-friendly is to incorporate a blog into your site.

Blogs provide business owners with unprecedented ways of reaching and engaging with large audiences in a way that the traditional one-way information push of a company Web site could never do.

Additionally, blogs can help put a human face to your business while showcasing your knowledge and passion for your chosen field. Just about anyone from a landscaping business to an IT security company can share tips of the trade that connect them with their customer base. For example, restaurant owners can share recipe secrets; hair salons could blog about hair care and the review the latest hair products; and tax specialists could offer tax tips.

And unlike the static content of a business Web site, blogs are collaborative and invite comments – a great way to engage with and solicit feedback from your customers!

Read more about setting up a blog, choosing blog software, and planning your blog strategy in Thinking of Starting a Blog? Tips to Help You Start, Maintain & Grow a Small Business Blog!

Additional Resources

Ready to dig a little deeper into making your online business a success? Here is just a sampling of other great articles and resources from across the Business.gov Community of small business experts and entrepreneurs.

Domain Names

• All About Domain Names – Explains the ins and outs of selecting, registering and managing a domain name.
• Tips for Choosing a Business Name that is Unique, Web-Ready, and Legally Yours! – Explains the basics of choosing a business name that works for your small business venture in a Web-savvy world.

E-Commerce

• Online Payment Services – Explains e-commerce payment options such as PayPal and Bill Me Later and helps you understand if they’re realistic for your small business.
• Making Money Online – When Are You a Business? – Explains the regulatory and tax obligations involved in the various stages of e-commerce from selling on eBay, to affiliate marketing, to opening your own online store.

Marketing Your Online Business

• Google AdWords Explained – Growing Your Small Business with this Cost-Effective Marketing Tool
• Getting Started with Social Media Marketing
• Small Business Marketing: Making Social Media Pay Off for your Brand and Your Bottom Line
• Getting Started with Email Marketing: “The Most Powerful Tool in Your Relationship-Building Toolbox”

Protect Your Customers and Your Online Content

• Creating a Privacy Policy for Your Online Business
• Understanding Intellectual Property Law and How it Can Protect Your Online Business

Online Advertising Law

• The Basic Rules of Online Advertising Law – From the CAN SPAM Act to customer privacy laws, this guide covers all the obligations you need to be aware of when you operate online.

The post Tips for Taking Your Business Online – Build It, Optimize It, Spread the Word appeared first on Small Business Trends.

Business.gov, which has long operated as the government’s official website for small business, not only brings together resources from across government to help small businesses start-up, operate and grow, it also operates an online Community (with more than 8,000 members) that enables business owners to interact directly with government and industry professionals, while sharing information about starting and running a successful business with each other!

The Community provides a forum for you to connect with other business owners for advice, camaraderie, and even potential partnerships.

Each month we hope to bring you a round-up of what small business owners are talking about in the Community, what our experts have to say, and answers to common questions.  We’re kicking off this month with tax season tips and resources!

Tax Season is Here – Get Answers to Common Small Business Tax Questions

No one says that doing your taxes is easy, but a little preparation and planning can make the process less painful. Here are some essential resources and tips from the Business.gov community of small business experts to help you get your arms around your business tax preparation and avoid common pitfalls.

New Tax Laws for the 2009 Filing Season

As you prepare to file your small business tax return, you’ll need to be aware of several new tax laws that went into effect in 2009. Read “Before you File your 2009 Tax Return – Take Note of Major Tax Changes that Apply this Year!“.

Business Income Tax Filing Tips

Small business owners have many questions about filing taxes, but here are answers that address some of the more common areas of confusion:

• A Primer in Taxable Business Income – When filing your business income taxes, you must report all income – not just income from the sale of goods, services, or property. Check out this easy-to-read guide on what is taxable income and what is not.
• Cash vs. Accrual Accounting for Taxable Income and Expenses – Are you filing your taxes and are confused about how to record your business income and expenses? Read on to learn which cash vs. accrual accounting method can work better for your small business.
• An Intro to LLC Tax Law – Whether you are newly registered LLC or have been established for some time, this 101 in LLC Tax Law can help you navigate the constantly changing tax laws that apply to your business structure.

Tax Deductions and Expenses

Tax deductions are tricky to navigate and the laws that govern them are often misinterpreted. Get the facts with these quick reference articles:

• Home-Based Business Deductions – Run your business out of your home? 52 percent of small business owners do.  Read “Do you Run Your Business Out of Your Home? You May Qualify for a Tax Deduction” to get the lowdown on whether you qualify for this deduction. And get tips on how to file for this deduction in “How to Claim the Tax Deduction for Business Use of Your Home“.
• Personal Vehicle Deductions – Another important deduction to understand is how to claim a deduction for business-related use of your personal vehicle. Read “Using Your Personal Vehicle for Business Purposes – Tax Deductions, Insurance and the Like!” to help you understand how the deduction works.
• Charitable Donations – The IRS enforces strict tax laws around charitable giving, read “Charitable Giving and the Tax Benefits for Small Businesses” to understand what you can and can’t deduct.

Avoiding Tax Audits

When Avoiding a Tax Audit – the Best Offense is a Good Defense – Though fewer than 1% of taxpayers are selected for a tax audit, business filings that report year-after-year losses, large charitable contributions, or claim large tax deductions may raise red flags for the IRS. Here is some guidance to file your tax return in a way that minimizes your chances of getting audited.

Additional Resources

Visit the Small Business Tax Center on Business.gov. This one-stop shop portal helps business owners stay abreast of tax requirements, tax changes and a whole range of tax tips to help you prepare for the year ahead.

If you have tax questions or tips you want to share with other small business owners, post them on the Business.gov Filing and Paying Taxes Discussion Board.

The post Introducing “Business.gov Insights”: Tax Season Preparedness; Tips for Avoiding Filing Pitfalls appeared first on Small Business Trends.