Welcome to Part 3 of our 6-Part article series. In this article we will discuss: 1. Choosing Your Right Business Form; 2. Creating A Great Website; and 3. Setting Up Your Home Office. Let's get started!

Choosing Your Right Business Form: Are you confused about how to set up a business properly? Setting up the proper business structure can be confusing and overwhelming. You may ask yourself if you should incorporate, and if so what type of corporation should you set up? Maybe an LLC or create a partnership is the right way to go. If you are a solo act, is it better to go Sole Proprietor? What are the tax ramifications? It can be very confusing, to say the least.

While the answer to these questions cannot be finitely answered here, you can at least begin to research information and gain ideas. You will want to consult your CPA or financial advisor for assistance, but first do some research on your own to get familiar with your choices. One of my favorite business resource websites is Entrepreneur.Com. It is a cornucopia of fantastic information, and in particular, I have located a fabulous article (listed below), entitled: "Business Structure Basics." It's an excellent write-up and will offer you valuable business insight. These are, of course, structural choices based on the U.S. market. Keep in mind each city and state have their own structures and laws, so make sure to get help from financial professionals.

Creating a Great Website: You've created the foundation for your new business. Now it's time to build a fabulous website! But what to build? Who to build it with? You may find this step gets a little trickier than you may have imagined. With web designers and website services on every corner, it's overwhelming and confusing to know what to do, how much money to spend, and who to trust. My advice to you is to trust your instincts. Use logic and common sense to choose the right designer or design company. High end custom work can be very expensive and unnecessary, especially when starting out in a new business. But nowadays, with so many low cost, even free solutions available, that is no longer an issue. With online solutions such as WordPress, Joomla, Yahoo Small Business, Homestead by Intuit, Webs.com, and many others, there are some fantastic pre-designed sites and templates available to you at little or no charge. If you aren't sure about getting a website, you can always start with creating a free Facebook or Twitter social network page. These services are a part of today's business culture and they are free of charge. You can't get much cheaper than free!

One big tidbit of advice is to make sure you purchase a great domain name, which best fits your business model. I still feel the.COM designation holds the most value, however, this doesn't mean it's a deal breaker to get another designation if necessary. And make sure it is YOU who owns the domain name! Don't let web designers and services providers take your domain name hostage. You must retain control of your business and domain name ownership is a big part of that. Think of domain names as you would the title on your home or car. Domain names are intellectual property that have value. Services like Go Daddy, Network Solutions, Name.com, Yahoo and many others offer domain name and other web services as their staple business. You usually can't go wrong with these companies. So make sure to do your homework and carefully check it all out. You'll be glad you did.

Setting Up Your Home Office: I am a huge fan of the home-office set up. It saves time, gas, and wear-and-tear on your body. Whether you work for a Fortune 500 firm, or you are a small business entrepreneur, it really becomes a universal model for nearly anyone today. What I really love about the home office is how it has offered moms, seniors, and those with disabilities, the ability to work a paid job or business with greater ease! It has allowed these important members of society to become productive, efficient, valuable people, which was unavailable as little as ten years ago.

As technology changes, so does the rule of law, government and business protocols. It wasn't long ago the television was nothing but a "mindless entertainment device," which certainly didn't "belong in the workplace." Today, both network and cable television serve as working business tools in many offices around the globe. From stock market quotes, to news and politics, to retail and graphic media, all of these television programs are intertwined with the Internet, and a part of the regular business day.

Now, that office machines are a fraction of the size of yesteryear, the home office can be sleek, easy to maintain and easy to access. Throw in a Feng Shui look and feel, and you've created a household fashion statement! The best part is the home office is very easy and inexpensive to create. Wireless routers and hubs create instant Internet network connectivity to your laptop or desktop; cell phones are slowly replacing land lines; the fax machine is now replaced with all-in-one scanner/printer/fax-to email systems, and these devices will easily fit onto a small office desk, cabinet or table. With services like FedEx, UPS and your local post office, you can pick up or drop off packages as needed, just like you would for any business. Some people even qualify for in-home pick-up/delivery courier services. Check with your local providers for details.

With so much focus on technology negatives, many people take for granted the positives it offers, which we all rely on. For those of us who are proactive in social networking, chat venues and other online media, it has become a necessity for everyday communication and a way of life.

Stay tuned for my next article, Part 4 of this series. We will discuss: 1. Setting up A New (Non-Home) Office; Hiring Your First Employee(s); Seeking Investors.

REFERENCE: Entrepreneur.com article: "Business Structure Basics." You may view the article at:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/startupbasics/businessstructure/article75118.html

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