I spent the morning driving downtown around a one block radius desperately trying to find the building for the SW TX Women's Business Center. Ummmmmm, the address that they had listed as where they had moved to didn't exist. After parking in a random parking lot and making several phone calls. I finally got a person. She told me to just send her an email requesting to speak to a counselor and she'd get me set up in the next couple weeks (insert chirping crickets). So I did and now I wait.
I then decided that I might as well stop in the Small Business Administration office and see what info I could gather. Luckily it was easy to find and not busy and I was able to actually sit down with a real live person! After about 30 minutes of conversation, I think I ended up a little less confused. I know I want to register as a LLC, but I also have to file a DBA with the county courthouse. He gave me the address to the office where I find out what licensing I need. I almost went straight there, but it was going back to where I had just come from and I had to go pick up paperwork from the pediatrician and had a doctor's appointment myself. Glad I didn't go, when I got home I got on the computer and found out that licencing office had moved... So, I'm going to just plan on making another trip downtown next week.
I'm kinda stuck with my business plan right now, but there's a workshop next week that I'm hoping to attend to help with working out the kinks. I think the next really important step is locating a kitchen that I can bake in. No matter what I do with all the legal aspects of forming the company, if I don't have a certified kitchen to bake in it does me no good. So it's time to step up the search.
That IS a lot of work, but I know you'll hang in there. There is an excellent book called "Business Plans for Dummies" which I highly approve of. For my Master's thesis I had to write a business plan. DUDE, if you need help, ask me! I'm more than happy to help.
ReplyDeleteIt is a lot of work, but it will be worth it! This is not a sprint, its a marathon! One step you should definitely take is to reserve your business name in the online world, if you haven't already. Reserve your domain name so someone else doesn't get it! Ecommerce is e-ssential now!
ReplyDeleteOmg, I'm sooooo excited for you!! Congrats on your business! I love reading about people starting up their businesses :D You go girl!!
ReplyDeleteMy blog is actually all about business, if you want to check it out! If you need any help with anything-marketing, blog or website design, I'd be glad to help. I'm working on starting up my business as a freelance marketing consultant- Girl Entrepreneur-a bit of graphic design, web design, brand design and marketing all in one. Since I'm just starting, I'm really just trying to get practice in, so anything would be free of charge. Practice for me and help for you. If you're interested I'd love to work with you! If not that's okay, too!
I'm totally bookmarking your blog-can't wait to see where you go with this! Good luck!