Advice on starting up my own business, Laser Welding to be specific?

Question

I am able to lease a laser welder and rent office space for 100.00 per month and a small up front cost of a computer and some office equipment. Install a phone system with internet for about 100.00/month. Anything else I should know?

Answer 1

Go to http://www.score.org/ to find the nearest SCORE chapter. Contact them to arrange for a free one on one meeting with a SCORE counselor about starting your welding business.

SCORE is a nonprofit organization. They provide a public service by offering small business advice and training. .

SCORE's 10,500 volunteers have more than 600 business skills. Volunteers share their wisdom and lessons learned in business. The volunteers are working/retired business owners, executives and corporate leaders.

Answer 2

I'm sure you are a very good welder, but how are your bookkeeping and administrative skills? Get a qualified accountant (in the USA, a Certified Public Accountant) if you have any doubts about your ability to keep up with the books. Doesn't have to be anyone fancy. Ask around other local businesses and find out who they use. Speak with them soon, before tax season descends upon us. Ask the CPA if there is a simple computer program you can use to record your transactions. Ask for help in setting it up and a tutorial in where to record your common transactions. If you can record it competently you will find your ongoing fees are probably very reasonable and will pay for the upfront consultancy costs over time.

If you are in the USA, you will have to consider quarterly estimated payments to the IRS and, most likely, your state.

Sorry none of this is sexy stuff, but it is a necessary evil.

Answer 3

The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.

I recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.

Research, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can. Here are some book titles that are relevant:

* How to Really Start Your Own Business, Fourth Edition by David E. Gumpert
* How to Really Create a Successful Business Plan: Step-by-Step Guide by David E. Gumpert
* What No One Ever Tells You about Starting Your Own Business: Real-Life Start-Up Advice from 101 Successful Entrepreneurs (What No One Ever Tells You About Starting Your Own Business) by Jan Norman
* Business Start-Up Kit by Steven D. Strauss
* Start Your Own Business (Entrepreneur Magazine's Start Up) by Rieva Lesonsky

There are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Answer 4

contact a company that i know well and have a great deal of respect for.... business credit services. they have helped me and my business to such a degree i feel comfortable in recommending them to anyone starting a business. they helped me develop trade credit, marketing, website development, real estate lending, auto lending the whole works. i can give you the number and the person i deal with with them in an email if you are interested. their fees are not cheap and neither is their work.

Answer 5

I received a grant when I opened my practice. It was a long process, but not that difficult (just a lot of paper work).

When I started researching how to get a grant, there was a lot of garbage information out there. One of my professional friends recommended the kit sold at http://www.alllsite.info/free-grant-money.php . It's only $3.95 including shipping (it's the exact kit that was on CNBC and USA TODAY).

Good luck!