how do i form a Ltd company, do i need a accountant?
604928
If it's in the UK suggest you go to the Companies House website www.companieshouse.gov.uk.,  You do not need an accountant to register as a company although one of the Forms (Form 12) will have to be sworn in by a Commissioner for Oaths or Notary Public, or Justice of the Peace or Solicitor.  You will however have to file annual accounts and you may well need an accountant then.
71344
That depends on the function of your organization.  You seem to have everything underway, so I would suggest you petition for a 501-C3 tax form so you can be tax excempt after you incorporate and be on your way.
801832
For corporation tax purposes a company includes a limited liability company incorporated under the Companies Acts (plc or limited) as well as members' clubs and unincorporated associations.\n\nA company for these purposes does not include a partnership, a local authority or a local authority association.
672108
You can start your business with out an LLC. You will probably want a name, but you can just use a DBA until you start the actual LLC or INC entity.
48316
I posted some links to a couple of articles about business structures & how to figure out which is best for your needs.\n\nFor the actual incorporating, contact your Secretary of State -- that link is also below.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your endeavors!
437526
As a sole prop, you first need to decide whether you will be doing biz as yourself, i.e., Jane Doe, or with a fictitious business name (aka DBA, doing-business-as).\n\nIf you will do business as yourself, then you just need to find out if there are any licensing requirments for your type of biz in your city/county/state.  Your local county recorders office can most definitely give you guidance on that.  If needed, obtain the necessary license, genrally by paying a reasonable fee.\n\nThen you need to open a bank account for your business.  Although you can use your current personal checking account (as a sole prop, you are allowed to do this), for accounting and business record purposes, not to mention taxes, it is adviseable you open a seperate account for the biz.\n\nIf you want to do biz under a fictitious biz name, you must pay a visit to your county recorder's office and file a DBA.  Once you have the DBA, you can open a checking account under the DBA name, i.e., Quality Window Cleaning.\n\nThose are the basics.  However, there is one very important thing you should do that is not technically "required".  And that is preparing a sound biz plan.  Put your ideas in writing.  Take the most important elements and come up with strategies on how you will market, finance and grow your biz.  Too many people fail to take this VERY important step and end up failing.  There are many business plan resources out there, many of them free.  Visit the web site for the SMall Business Administration for some free resources on this topic.\n\nGood luck on your endeavor and feel free to contact me at aizadpanah@yahoo.com with any questions.
540029
Setting up a corporation is not necessary to get recognized as a business.  Most small businesses are proprietorships (i.e., not corporations).  And having a corporate structure will not help you in most ways anyway.  The main reason to have a corporation is to separate your assets and liabilities from those of the business.  But frankly, an artist is not likely to have a lot of liabilities as a result of the business.  The bottom line on this is that I think you are wasting your money to set up a corporation.\n\nHowever, if you are determined to do it, you can either go to a lawyer and have him arrange it, or you can go to a publisher of legal forms (most office supply stores will have them) and see if you feel comfortable filling out the forms yourself.  For the little bitty corporation that you would form, it is not that difficult or expensive, although it can be a pain in the butt to get everything you need together.  After you have the forms, they are filed with the Secretary of State for the state in which you want to work. I can't give you an address, because I don't know which state you will settle in, but the Secretary of State's address should be on the Web, and may even be on the forms themselves.\n\nGood luck.  But think again if you really need the inconvenience of a corporation (two tax returns to fill out, a board of directors, various reports, etc.)
875796
OK - just so you know, I have a full C Corporation and three LLCs that I am currently running.\n\nYour first statements are correct - and yes, I would suggest getting an EIN for your LLC as that adds more credence to the fact that you are doing business as a company when you file your taxes (http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=102767,00.html)\n\nOK - the very next thing you should do (even before transferring the vehicle or worrying about legal issues) is to find a really good accountant for a LLC - this will be a LOT HARDER than it sounds.  As I have already noted, I found one that is both an accountant and a tax lawyer (even more rare)!  You want to find someone who really understands a small LLC and is willing to push to get all the tax benefits for you that are legal in today’s tax code.  Many accountants do not really understand the tax codes for LLC.  This one item can save you tens of thousands of dollars in very short order!\n\nMy advice here is to read the book Rich Dad Poor Dad (if you have not already) and use that as a basis to question accountants to see if they know how the tax codes work for small C corps.\n\nThe next thing to do is start setting up your advertising to be as much word of mouth as you can possible stand (good way to use that vehicle to mentioned to get around to network and meetings).  You want to plan as best as you can to ensure that you have as much cash flow as your company will need.  Depending on the type of business you are in, there could be any number of natural ups and downs that you will need to plan for.\n\nAs for the vehicle – again the accountant should be able to advise you best.  I have been told that the safest way to have the company own a vehicle is for the company to lease one.  This then become a full write off.  Yes, you will still need to keep track of mileage and/or other information as directed by your accountant.  The LLC can also put money in a 401K or other retirement plan for you and your employees.  \n\nYou should set things up so that medical expenses are paid by the LLC.  My wife retired with a good pension and medical benefits (although the company is cutting back on retiree benefits now), so in my case, my C Corp picks up all unpaid medical that is not covered by the insurance company.  Also under medical can be health club dues for medical reasons – thus one of my LLC’s has a fitness complex that is on it’s property that my C Corp then pays dues for the use of it.\n\nYou might also want to check you local area to find out if there are other small LLC owners.  If so, you might want to ask them to join you in developing a master mind group where you can all share ideas on everything from building your organization to benefits from sharing resources (like accounting, purchasing office supplies, payroll services, etc.).\n\nThus you are right – there are a lot of tricks to the trade of learning how to run a LLC to benefit you and the company and also pay your legal (albeit small) amount to Uncle Sam – play like a big boy using their tools in a small company.\n\nGood Luck.\n\n\nAlso, you probably already know the following, but just in case, here is what I typically recommend to those thinking about starting out in business:\n\nAnytime you want to start any kind of business, there are several basics that you will need:\n\n* You should first sit down and think about what it is you want to do and then write out the scenario in detail!  This may sound tedious, but it will help you clarify what it is you are thinking about.  Also, when you talk to anyone about the business (mentor, bank, clients, prospective investor), you will have a clear vision to share with him or her.  You can check any number of books at your local library or the Internet for ideas on creating a business plan or goals list.\n\n* Is there anyone out there doing something like what you want to do already?  Can you research what it is that they do and maybe even talk with th
425575
Read your articles of incorporation and bylaws, check with your secretary of state's website, and speak with an attorney.  Your articles of incorporation and bylaws typically lay out how these are structured.  If not, the secretary of state usually has some information on how to meet general requirements.  Speaking with a local business attorney (particularly one who helped you establish your company) is the quickest way to get the right answer.
211083
To form your own corporation, you must take these essential steps.\n\n(1) Choose an available business name that complies with your state's corporation rules. \n(2) Appoint the initial directors of your corporation. \n(3) File formal paperwork, usually called "articles of incorporation," and pay a filing fee that ranges from $100 to $800, depending on the state where you incorporate. \n(4) Create corporate "bylaws," which lay out the operating rules for your corporation. \n(5) Hold the first meeting of the board of directors. \n(6) Issue stock certificates to the initial owners (shareholders) of the corporation. \n(7) Obtain licenses and permits that may be required for your business. \n\nChoosing a Corporate Name\n--------------------------\nThe name of your corporation must comply with the rules of your state's corporation division. You should contact your state's office for specific rules, but the following guidelines generally apply:\n\n(1) The name cannot be the same as the name of another corporation on file with the corporations office. \n(2) The name must end with a corporate designator, such as "Corporation," "Incorporated," "Limited," or an abbreviation of one of these words (Corp., Inc., or Ltd.). \n(3) The name cannot contain certain words prohibited by the state, such as Bank, Cooperative, Federal, National, United States, or Reserve. \n\nYour state's corporations office can tell you how to check if your proposed name is available for your use. Often, for a small fee, you can reserve your corporate name for a short period of time until you file your articles of incorporation.\n\nBesides following your state's corporate naming rules, you must make sure your name won't violate another company's trademark.\n\nOnce you've found a legal and available name, you usually don't need to file the name of your business with your state. When you file your articles of incorporation, your business name will be automatically registered.\n\nHowever, if you will sell your products or services under a different name, you must file a "fictitious" or "assumed" name statement with the state or county where you business is headquartered.\n\nAppointing Directors\n--------------------\nDirectors make major policy and financial decisions for the corporation. For example, the directors authorize the issuance of stock, appoint the corporate officers and set their salaries, and approve loans to and from the corporation. Directors are typically appointed by the initial owners (shareholders) of the corporation before business begins. Often, the owners simply appoint themselves to be the directors, but directors do not have to be owners.\n\nMost states specifically permit a corporation to have just one director, regardless of the number of owners. In other states, a corporation must have at least three directors, except that a corporation with only one owner can have just one director, and a corporation with only two owners can have two directors.\n\nFiling Articles of Incorporation\n---------------------------------\nAfter you've chosen a name for your business and appointed your directors, you must prepare and file "articles of incorporation" with your state's corporate filing office. Typically, this is the department or secretary of state's office, located in your state's capital city. While most states use the term "articles of incorporation" to refer to the basic document creating the corporation, some states (including Connecticut, Delaware, New York, and Oklahoma) use the term "certificate of incorporation." Washington calls the document a "certificate of formation," and Tennessee calls it a "charter."\n\nNo state requires a corporation to have more than one owner. For single-owner corporations, the sole owner simply prepares, signs, and files the articles of incorporat
1075580
Yes...and it is pretty complex to do so.  You need a competent accountant, or you will either end up in trouble or end up paying too much.
569056
You can do it yourself through the state ( http://www.stateofflorida.com/Portal/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=8 ), but the paperwork gets a bit confusing at times.  The easiest way to do it is to use an incorporation service such as: \nhttp://www.floridaincorporationservice.com/\n\nHope this helps!
758351
Form a LLC first, then open a bank account in the corporation's name.  The bank account is essential because you will spend money while getting your business started and even while you are looking for the space.
1045335
Yes! In every business they need an accountants or even in your family, understanding accounting is a very big help. Specially if you will go in to business, its not enough to know your product you should also know how & when to oil up.
767590
I would organize the business as an LLC to protect your family's assets.  Register with the state (check their site for details).  Apply for an EIN (Employer ID Number) also called a Tax ID number.  If you do it by phone it's faster than by mail or fax.  Find out if you need a local or county business license.  I only needed a dba (doing business as) form to be filed in my county (but I operate my business from my home).  Then, apply for a Sales Tax ID number as you'll have to file regularly, usually quarterly, and notify the state of your sales tax collected.\n\nTo get a local business checking account, you need all of those forms along with your Driver's License and at least one other form of ID.  Many banks offer free business checking for small businesses.\n\nGood luck.  It's a lot of work, but well worth it.
165245
?!\nWhat country/state requires a license to start a small business?!\n\nIn the US, you can run a small business as a sole proprietorship with no paperwork.  You just file your earnings as a sole proprietor along with your personal taxes.\n\nHowever, it is often in YOUR best interest to establish a trade name for your small business and get a federal ID number.  This will separate your business from your personal finances, which is especially nice if it happens to fail and you need to close up shop.\n\nExactly what is required depends on where you are doing business.  Outside the US you might need a license, but inside the US you don't.  Specifics do vary from state to state.
290721
HOW TO REGISTER\nClick here to get to the Indiana Department of Revenue:\n\nhttp://www.in.gov/dor/business/register.html\n\nIt explains how to register your partnership.\n\n\nPARTNERSHIPS\nA partnership is simply a business owned by two or more people that hasn't filed papers to become a corporation or a limited liability company (LLC). No paperwork needs to be filed to form a partnership -- the arrangement begins as soon as you start a business with another person. As in a sole proprietorship, the partnership's owners pay taxes on their shares of the business income on their personal tax returns and they are each personally liable for the entire amount of any business debts and claims.\n\nCORPORATIONS\nMost people have heard that forming a corporation provides "limited liability" -- that is, it limits your personal liability for business debts. What you may not know is that there's more to creating and running a corporation than filing a few papers. You'll need to keep good records to handle the more complicated corporate tax return and, in order to retain your limited liability, you must follow corporate formalities involving decision making and record keeping. In short, you've got to be organized.\n\nLimited Personal Liability:\n\nOne of the main advantages of incorporating is that the owners' personal assets are protected from creditors of the corporation. For instance, if a court judgment is entered against your corporation saying that it owes a creditor $100,000, normally you can't be forced to use personal assets, such as your house, to pay the debt. Because only corporate assets need be used to pay business debts, you stand to lose only the money that you've invested in the corporation.