The Small Business Start-Up Kit for California

by Peri Pakroo J.D.

Overview

If you dream of starting a business, but fear that, without an MBA, you'll get lost in the maze of government red tape here's the handbook you need.

The Small Business Start-Up Kit for California outlines how to set up your enterprise in the Golden State quickly and easily, pointing out the hurdles, fees and forms along the way. Clear and straight to the point, the book explains how to:

• choose the best business structure
• write an effective business plan
• file the right forms in the right place
• price, bid and bill your projects
• draft and use contracts, online and off
• manage your finances
• be prepared for, and file, required taxes
• reach customers online
• and much more

The 7th edition is completely updated, and includes new chapters on e-business and doing business from home. It also covers the latest California-specific business information, including sales tax rates by county, registration forms and fees. Updated forms and business-planning spreadsheets are included on CD-ROM.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781413322316
Publisher:	NOLO
Publication date:	02/29/2016
Edition description:	Eleventh Edition
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 10.70(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Peri Pakroo is a business consultant and coach specializing in strategies for small ventures and solopreneurs. She is an active advocate for sustainable economic development and is the founder of Pyragraph, an online resource for career-focused creatives. For more than 20 years Peri has helped small operations develop websites and digital media products through her company P-Brain Media. She produces the Self-Employed Happy Hour podcast as well as other streaming media aimed at entrepreneurial indies. She and her family live in New Mexico where she plays in a number of bands, including her own project, Peri & the FAQs. Peri received her law degree from the Universityof New Mexico School of Law. She is the author of The Women's Small Business Start-Up Kit,The Small Business Start-Up Kit (national and California editions) and Starting & Building a Nonprofit (all from Nolo) and has been featured in numerous national publications including Entrepreneur, Real Simple, Investors Business Daily, and BusinessWeek.

Table of Contents

1. Choosing a Legal Structure 2. Picking a Winning Business Name 3. Choosing a Business Location 4. Drafting an Effective Business Plan 5. Pricing, Bidding, and Billing Projects 6. Federal, State, and Local Start-Up Requirements 7. Risk Management 8. Paying Your Taxes 9. Laws, Taxes, and Other Issues for Home Businesses 10. Entering Into Contracts and Agreements 11. Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Financial Management 12. Small Business Marketing 101 13. E-Business: Selling and Marketing Online 14. Planning for Changes in Ownership 15. Building Your Business and Hiring Workers 16. Getting Professional Help Appendixes A. California Small Business Resources and Contact Information B. How to Use the Interactive Forms C. Interactive Forms for California Businesses Index

Interviews

I love helping people who want to take their careers into their own hands by creating their own ventures. From studying law and small business to being self-employed for 20-some years, I have developed a systematic approach to building ventures big and small. In this book I break down the major systems that every business person needs to master, and offer strategies to grow your business in line with your own goals and vision. There’s no one-size-fits-all formula to starting a business, so I try to offer guidance that does not assume what your goals are and provide tools that empower readers to pursue their vision, on their terms.

Editorial Reviews

Author comments: I love helping people who want to take their careers into their own hands by creating their own ventures. From studying law and small business to being self-employed for 20-some years, I have developed a systematic approach to building ventures big and small. In this book I break down the major systems that every business person needs to master, and offer strategies to grow your business in line with your own goals and vision. There’s no one-size-fits-all formula to starting a business, so I try to offer guidance that does not assume what your goals are and provide tools that empower readers to pursue their vision, on their terms.

"Provides step-by-step instructions for setting up a small business in California and guiding it safely through its first year and beyond." Reference & Research Book News

"Excellent advice ... for would-be small-business owners, and heeding it can help you avoid many early mistakes." Los Angeles Times

"An excellent resource for beginners... written specifically for entrepreneurs who want to start their own business in California." startupjournal.com

"A good-to-have, step-by-step to starting a business in California: forms, licenses, business plan, taxes and more." San Francisco Examiner

From the Publisher

A good-to-have, step-by-step guide to starting a business in California: Forms, licenses, business plan, taxes and more.

San Francisco Examiner

The Small Business Start-Up Kit for California puts all the California-specific information you need to begin your business -- right at you fingertips.

San Francisco Chamber of Commerce

Provides step-by-step instructions for setting up a small business in California and guiding it safely through its first year and beyond.

Reference & Research Book News

Excellent advice... for would-be small-business owners, and heeding it can help you avoid many early mistakes.

Los Angeles Times

The perfect one-stop publication for any group or individual that wants to start a business.

Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce

An excellent resource for beginners... written specifically for entrepreneurs who want to start their own business in California.

StartupJournal.com