[thelist] New Design Firm

[Richard Bennett]

Hi,
This site helped me a lot recently:
http://www.nolo.com/lawcenter/faqs/index.cfm/catID/19B45DBF-E85F-4A3D-950E3E
07E32851A7

We opted for a LLC, which is pretty flexible, protects your assets, and is
cheap to set-up.
Make sure you have some money on the side before you start. One difference
between freelance, and a company (co)owner is that as company (co)owner you
get paid last. Any advances customers might pay will go up in bills and
start-up costs, so you only start earning when the company starts making a
profit, which if you're lucky is 6 to 12 months from now.

Make a (realistic) business-plan.
Don't skimp on the layer-costs. (Don't try to do it all yourself)

Trust is of the utmost importance between partners. If someone laughingly
tells you how they charged a customer $2000 for 10 minutes work, don't work
with them.

Cheers,
Richard.

----- Original Message -----
From: "John D Bloise" <jbloise1 at nc.rr.com>

I and a few wonderful friends are putting together a design firm. We're new
to starting a new business.

We realize that there is a procedure to starting a business. There will be
at the most, 4 of us. Suggestions on the type of business (liscense?) we
need to get? I've been told that getting a "doing business as", would be the
way to go. Thanks to all.

Jack
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