| Are you contemplating starting a business in | | | | outset so that this doesn't become a problem. |
| California? This is a guide to setting up a | | | | |
| business in the sunny paradise of | | | | Find advertising spaceAny good business |
| California.California is a fantastic place to | | | | owner knows that the flow of customers into |
| start a business, with several enormous | | | | their store is the lifeblood of their |
| cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco and | | | | business. But not all business owners know |
| San Diego. | | | | where and how to advertise their services. |
| | | | Here are a few ideas:OfflineSet up business |
| The population and diversity of the state is | | | | in a high traffic areaBe sure your signage on |
| enough to begin just about any business you | | | | the front of your business makes you easy to |
| could imagine, and thrive.Here are a few | | | | see. It should be big enough to be easily |
| things you should consider when starting your | | | | read from the road, and bright enough to |
| California business: | | | | stand out from those around it.Your signage |
| | | | should make it immediately clear, to someone |
| Where in the city is your market | | | | driving by with only a second to glance at |
| demographic?The cities of Los Angeles, San | | | | it, exactly what your business does.Yellow |
| Francisco and San Diego are enormous, with | | | | pagesBillboardsBus benchesPoster boardsHand |
| many different pockets of demographics. Even | | | | out flyersHost groups and clubs at your |
| the smaller communities in California like | | | | businessAttend local business networking |
| Sacramento, Stockton, Bakersfield and Palm | | | | functionsLocal newspapers like the la times ( |
| Springs are large communities by any other | | | | Angeles Citysearch ( Francisco Citysearch ( |
| state standard. You may want to research in | | | | Angeles Craigslist ( Francisco Craigslist ( |
| what location of the city your particular | | | | can find a version of the above web sites for |
| business would be best suited. | | | | almost any of the larger cities in California |
| | | | by putting the city name at the front of the |
| What does business space cost in your | | | | url.PPC ads on Google ( or Yahoo ( ads can be |
| desired location?Different parts of the city | | | | targeted to a very localized area. You can |
| will have wildly varied monthly lease costs. | | | | ensure that only people surfing the internet |
| For example, in Los Angeles, Melrose Avenue | | | | in the Los Angeles area (for example) will |
| or Downtown LA will have much higher rates | | | | see your ads. They will appear only when |
| than Culver City or North Hollywood would. | | | | they're actually looking for your product, or |
| | | | reading something similar to what you offer. |
| What kind of business entity should you | | | | |
| form?Learn how to set up a California | | | | Stay current on your California Tax Laws.One |
| Incorporation ( about places to form a DBA, | | | | thing that can ruin a new business quickly is |
| or "Doing Business As". | | | | falling behind on taxes. Make sure you don't |
| | | | make that mistake! Make a solid effort to |
| Get a Federal EIN numberYou can file for an | | | | understand what you need to know about |
| EIN as soon as you get your EIN from the IRS | | | | California taxes - talk to your accountant |
| ( or you can have your incorporator get it | | | | about it! |
| when you file your incorporation. | | | | |
| | | | Set up a web siteCustomers expect to be able |
| Get a business licenseGet a Los Angeles | | | | to find you on the Internet.Without a web |
| business license ( in Google for the term | | | | site, you take away a potentially lucrative |
| "(city name) business license" and you will | | | | advertising avenue (see the Internet |
| be presented with results for your particular | | | | advertising tips above).Many places like |
| city. | | | | Yahoo ( make it easy to setup your own |
| | | | website, with your own domain name.Find a |
| Set up a bank accountYou need your EIN and | | | | domain name. I always use GoDaddy ( to |
| Incorporation (or DBA) paperwork before you | | | | register my domain names. I've found that |
| can open a bank account and deposit checks | | | | DomainsBot ( is a great tool to find a cool |
| made out in your company's name. Once you | | | | domain name. Once you find it with |
| have this paperwork, it's a fairly easy | | | | DomainsBot, you can register it with GoDaddy. |
| process. You just walk into your local | | | | |
| branch, and they should help you get set up. | | | | They say that 9 out of 10 businesses fail |
| The only bank I don't recommend is Washington | | | | within the first 5 years. Most businesses |
| Mutual, who wanted original copies of | | | | are not financially or legally ready to |
| paperwork that the state of California had | | | | succeed. If you follow the simple steps in |
| kept. I had the certified copies from the | | | | this article, you'll be better prepared to |
| state of California, but Wamu would only | | | | run a long-term and profitable business. Los |
| accept the originals. I've had better luck | | | | Angeles is ready for you - you need to be |
| with California National Bank, they have very | | | | ready to handle Los Angeles!Oh yeah, and have |
| good customer service. | | | | fun!Travis Giggy is a business specialist and |
| | | | one of the Founders of A website dedicated |
| Find an accountantLack of bookkeeping is one | | | | to reviewing and listing the best services |
| of the top reasons new businesses fail. As | | | | that provide online legal services like |
| the owner of the business, you'll be very | | | | incorporation, forming an LLC, getting your |
| business running your operations, and the | | | | last will and testament, or getting a |
| books will fall behind. Be sure to set up | | | | divorce. See our special California |
| your books, and hire a good accountant at the | | | | Incorporation portal here. |