With the economy still fragile, more and more people are considering self-employment. Chances are you probably know at least one person who has started his own business. Being your own boss can give you more freedom, job security and personal satisfaction. However, turning an idea into a fully functioning and legally registered company often involves a lot of work and questions. A professional tax and accounting service can help you get your business off to a great start, whether it’s a one person operation or a full-fledged corporation.

Getting Started

Having a well-thought out-business plan is essential for any new company. With it, you can identify your objectives, relevant marketing strategies and any short-term and long-term financial plans, all of which are keys to success. In addition to these services, business formation experts can give you a leg up on the competition when it comes to sourcing potential avenues for financing. Having enough capital at the start of your business will give you the financial resources you need to properly advertise, buy equipment or rental space or even meet payroll. Utilizing a professional will also allow you to accurately assess the amount of capital you have access to, preventing you from making costly financial mistakes during this critical startup step.

Company Structure

Determining the right structure for your business requires information that many entrepreneurs don’t readily know. In addition, each tax structure comes with its own unique benefits and potential drawbacks, specifically when it comes to taxes, asset protection and ease of operation. Professional tax and accounting professionals have years of experience helping new business owners and can quickly and painlessly help you figure out which structure is right for you. Likewise, if you think you might want to expand your business to other states, you’ll want to choose a very different structure than that of a company set on staying in one place. The structure you choose for your company will have financial and legal ramifications that may be difficult to undue so you want to be sure to choose wisely from the start.

Finances

More than 80 percent of all new businesses fail within the first 18 months. Financial mismanagement is often related to this failure. Once your company is up and running, there will be a lot of moving parts that need to be managed. Having a well-thought out business model is important, but the little everyday things can just as easily contribute to your undoing if not properly addressed at the onset. Reliable and easy-to-use accounting software sand a close relationship with a bookkeeper can save you hours of headache and prevent costly business errors. A cash flow budget is similarly important to day-to-day operations and will make sure that you have a clear understanding of what it takes to keep your company afloat during those challenging first few months and years. Expert guidance will give you the tools and information you need to become a success and not a statistic.

Starting your own company can be both exhilarating and frightening. There are many factors to consider, some of which you may not even realize. With professional insight and knowhow, you can get your business of to a strong start and enjoy a long a profitable future.