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