Hi Erik, You might try paying a visit to SCORE, https://www.score-sandiego.org/index.asp They may be able to help as well as answer some questions, for FREE. Also, if the business is strictly an internet business, why would he have to register in California? You can get a Wells Fargo business account here, and be incorporated someplace else.
Cheri On Jun 18, 4:37 pm, Erik Pukinskis <[email protected]> wrote: > Wow, thanks everyone, this is a real wealth of information. > > I think I'll definitely be trying to do as much as I can DIY, but > there are some specific liabilities with my business that I'm going to > work with a lawyer on. I like the suggestion that I work out as much > as I can on my own though, and just get feedback from them, instead of > having them prepare the documents. > > I have an appointment with attorney Dan Beavans downtown on Monday. > He has small business experience, and at least enough tech savvy to be > advertising on craigslist, and he was pleasant and helpful on the > phone, and seems open to staying on a budget early on if it means a > reliable paying customer in the future. Does anyone have any > experience with him or with other SD lawyers they can recommend? > > Much love for all the help, > Erik > > On Thu, Jun 18, 2009 at 4:07 PM, Nathan Clark<[email protected]> wrote: > > > +1 for LLC > > > Best advice: Grab a copy of "The Small Business Start-Up Kit for > > California" by NOLO press. $20 on Amazon. It offered me the same > > peace-of-mind as a lawyer/accountant when we started our company. Our > > copy is dog-eared, highlighted, and well-read. > > > We chose LLC (taxed as a partnership) sans-accountant, sans-lawyer > > because we wanted to believe that a couple of schmucks from Kansas > > could start a business without having to shell out bucks up front for > > legal/number advice. A few forms and $70 filing fee later, we were > > golden. We've made adjustments to our partnership agreements every > > year in order to make it better, but other than that, it's been easy > > (and fun) enough to do ourselves. > > > Why we chose an LLC financially: easy to setup, easy to maintain > > (doesn't have as many annual filing requirements as some > > incorporations), and offered us the protection we needed to shelter > > our personal bank accounts from the potential crazy client who might > > file a lawsuit or something. The $800/year offers us a little > > financial security/ insurance similar to what we pay for theft/fire/ > > liability insurance on the things in our office. > > > Biz Finances: > > The LLC paid a one time up front cost for filing. > > The LLC pays an annual tax to California of $800/year for income under > > $250K and a percentage for money over that. > > The LLC pays no federal taxes, no employee-related taxes, etc. > > > Personal Finances: > > I pay normal taxes plus self employment taxes that cover unemployment > > and social security: 15% (up from 7.5% that you would be paying anyway) > > All income from the company is reported through a Schedule K (I think) > > > -Nathan > > > On Jun 18, 2009, at 2:32 PM, Jarin Udom wrote: > > >> I would definitely recommend going with an LLC, as it has the most > >> flexible taxes (you have the option to use pass-through taxation or > >> not). > > >> I'm not a lawyer, but what I *hear* is that as a software developer > >> California has much more protective (i.e. better) laws when it comes > >> to things like intellectual property and non-competition lawsuits. If > >> you're planning to do anything even remotely similar to what you did > >> at your previous employer or you may hire any of your past co-workers, > >> it may come in handy. From what I understand, if you incorporate in > >> Nevada, Delaware, or some other state, the complaining party can > >> choose to file the lawsuit in one of those states and put you at a > >> serious disadvantage. > > >> Of course, I'd consult a lawyer first before making a final decision > >> in that regard. > > >> Jarin > > >> On Jun 17, 1:07 pm, Erik Pukinskis <[email protected]> wrote: > >>> Hey friends, > > >>> I am starting a little web business, and since I've started > >>> interacting with customers it's time for me to legally get off the > >>> ground. Unfortunately, I don't have any expertise with this, beyond > >>> what I've learned from teh internets, and I could use some help. > > >>> First, can anyone recommend a good, affordable, web-savvy San Diego > >>> small business lawyer? And an accountant? > > >>> Otherwise, does anyone know anything about these things.... > > >>> 1) Should I file for my permits in CA or in somewhere with nicer tax > >>> laws, like Delaware? If I and my employees are working from San > >>> Diego, does that just mean I have to register as a business here? > >>> With city, county, etc? > > >>> 2) What international trademark classes do people use for the > >>> trademarks for web business? My site is providing instructional > >>> materials, but I'm also mailing people products and printed guides. > >>> I'll be building an iPhone app too. Should I just drop $1200 and > >>> cover all my bases, or can I get by with a trademark under one $300 > >>> class? > > >>> 3) What do people recommend for business insurance? And where do > >>> you get it? > > >>> 4) I'm leaning towards a Sole Proprietorship, since I want to > >>> maintain > >>> full control and I think the liability will be minimal. Has anyone > >>> done this? Are there any pitfalls? Should I look more closely at an > >>> LLC? > > >>> It seems like I'm definitely going to need a lawyer soon enough, but > >>> maybe I can get by for a while without it. I'm supporting the > >>> business out of pocket and am trying to keep expenses to a minimum. > > >>> Love, > >>> Erik > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ SD Ruby mailing list [email protected] http://groups.google.com/group/sdruby -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
