Ironically increasing unemployment rates may end up with more entrepreneurship as laid off workers struggle to find jobs and on the margins create their own companies instead.
At Kauffman, we've taken to calling that phenomenon of entrepreneurship spurring recovery as E = R.
For people looking to streamline the process of starting your own company, here are some links from the private sector and the non-profit sector. Enjoy!
LegalZoom is a legal document service developed
by attorneys. Entrepreneurs looking to form a new business answer questions
online and documents are be prepared and shipped within 48 hours. The
company also offers to review answers on the forms. LegalZoom is available
24/7 to provide guidance. It also offers help with registering IP. Its
staff of legal experts includes retired judges and law school professors.
Their website passes the FBI's stringent Internet Security Vulnerabilities
Test. The company was been rated "A" by the Better Business
Bureau and has been praised by NY Times, WSJ and other media.
In terms of fees, the company
claims to have a "lawyer-free" service which saves customers
up to 85% off the rates an attorney would charge for the same procedure.
Fees are upfront and "per project" (economy LLC pricing is
$149)
Nolo.com This company offers corporation and
LLC services. Prices are per service package, starting at $99. All services
have 3 steps for the client wanting to form a company. It starts with
answering to a generic questionnaire. Nolo also offers excellent HR
advice and services, such as a detailed page on “Hiring
Your First Employee:
13 Things You Must Do.”
IncFile.com This firm a similar online order form
for those seeking to form a business entity. Once the order is processed,
IncFile drafts formation documents and forwards them to the appropriate
state agency for filing. As soon as the business entity is formed by
the state, filed documents are forwarded to the client. Services start
at $49.
Rocketlawyer.com offers incorporation services. The
cost is $99.95, plus filing fees. As the above company, service starts
with the client completing an online form and then rocketlawyer deals
with the state filing process. The service includes other perks like
an online account with a "minutes keeper" to keep the corporation
in compliance
Findlaw.com This company offers packages of forms
by state. Purchasers fill them out themselves. Assistance is available,
if needed. It partners with LegalZoom for other services.
Microsoft
Startup Center
is a well-organized list of the tasks to consider in starting a business,
with help, resources and of course, information on how Microsoft products
and services can help. "The Rules" tab, for example, has advice
on selecting a business structure, getting licenses, understanding tax
responsibilities and buying a bar code. User can download a free business
plan template and free small business accounting software.
The
Company Corporation
helps with business structure (corporation, LLC, etc.)
BizFilings.com BizFilings makes business incorporation
easier and faster. Rush incorporation services makes it possible to
file a corporation or LLC in as little as 24 hours. The company is headquartered
in Madison, Wisconsin with satellite operations around the country.
Basic packages start at $115 + state taxes.
AllBusiness.com This site sells legal forms. It's also a blog for entrepreneurs.
My Own Business Inc.
This non-profit organization offers online a free course of instruction for small-business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Score.org
SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). It's basically free counseling through its 389 chapters and 10,500 volunteers nationwide. Both working and retired executives and business owners donate time and expertise as business counselors. SCORE was founded in 1964.
E-Vem The purpose of the e-VEM project is to provide a suitable electronic support for the future entrepreneur. It enables a one-stop-shop registering of a company into the Court Register and carrying out of other formalities. All procedures are available online or at physical entry points. The system has been operating since July 2005.
Incorporation is a wise decision for many businesses, and yet many shy from taking the necessary steps, for fear of the costly and arduous process involved.
* To provide an ongoing weblog featuring editorial opinions, commentary on the business aspects of emerging communications, product and service reviews, as well as tips for using Skype and other IP-based and mobile communications offerings
* To encourage constructive and informative dialogue that engages Voice On The Web readers, initially through Comments.
* To provide a reference guide for the implementation of Skype and other IP-based communications tools and services
Posted by: Barkri | March 03, 2009 at 04:14 AM
I have dozens of people in my friend network. I think I'm neither incredibly popular nor unpopular for a dude in my late 20s.
Exactly one friend is trying to start a business. We all think she's crazy.
Every day the US government announces how it's about to do Something Big, how "those [bad old] days are over," how the new rules are better than the old ones.
Are they right? Maybe. Who knows?
And that's a problem. The economy is transforming itself. Not to mention imploding.
The government is adding to, not subtracting from, the massive uncertainty.
Aside from a sense of patriotic duty or a love for one's fellow man, what reasonable, self-interested person would start a business today? Why would they think now is a good time, except perhaps that there might be some unemployed talent or idle talent that could be acquired on the cheap?
When searching for reasons to be confident about the future--or just confident in having a reasonable expectations about the future--all I find is...nothing.
Am I missing something?
Posted by: pmp | March 03, 2009 at 12:11 PM
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Posted by: Air Jordans | November 11, 2010 at 06:33 PM
oh so funny!
Posted by: Air Jordan | November 11, 2010 at 09:56 PM
Drinking strong drinks fly the boy in this global warming and the dark days of waste disposal, we are concerned about the environment need a savior to clean our world
Posted by: Jordans 7 | November 16, 2010 at 12:18 AM
I guess the point is to give and save as much as you can and make your money work for you like the good servant we should strive to be.
Posted by: MBT Shoes Uk | December 24, 2010 at 12:09 AM