There are a number of issues concerned, not the least of which is the need to be financially prepared for the transition.  Here is a checklist of basic needs with which you want to be at the ready when the time comes to launch your new self-employment campaign.

Business Plan and Budget
You should never embark on a business venture without a clear, precise plan and a budget.  Flying by the seat of your pants may sound exciting, but it is no way to run a business.  You are simply setting yourself up to fail if you have no idea how much money you are going to spend or in what direction you intend to take your business.  Since you’ll either be contributing personal capital to fund your new business or hoping to receive a paycheck from it your personal finances are tied to the planning and budgeting of your business.

Insurance Coverage
As an employee of a corporation, you were probably provided with health, dental, vision, and life insurance for yourself and your family.  Now, as an entrepreneur, you can no longer take this provision for granted.  It will be your responsibility to make sure you have coverage for your own needs as well as your family’s needs.  Also, if you have any partners or employees, you will need to make plans for their insurance benefits as well.

Vacation Time
Again, as a part of a large company, benefits for employees include paid vacation time, holidays, and personal time or sick days.  However, as your own boss, you will find that if you don’t work, you don’t get paid.  Part of your business plan should include company holidays and the hours you intend to keep, and you should budget ahead for times when you intend to take a vacation.

Retirement Planning
Here is yet another service you have probably been provided with and taken for granted as just another employee in the service of a corporation.  However, you will no longer have a company that matches your contributions to or manages an account for your future retirement.  Any 401K or other retirement account you intend to have will be your sole responsibility, and again, if you have employees, you will need to provide something for them as well.

Emergency Funds
While working capital is required for you to make any progress toward building your entrepreneurial campaign, you may not realize the amount of time and effort it takes to get a new business off the ground.  In addition, more than 80% of all small businesses fail in the first few years.  For these reasons, it is important to have emergency funding as a backup, both to care for you and your family should your business take longer than you expect to get going and in case you need to infuse your business with additional funds to get it off the ground.

Contingency Plan
If, for some reason, you were to meet a roadblock to your success, you should not only have backup funding but also a contingency plan that will help you and your family survive the rough times.  Perhaps you can maintain close relations with your previous employer and either take up a part time position there or continue consultation work with them to help bring in a salary until you begin to profit from your business venture.

As you can see there’s a lot to consider when striking out on your own.  Although you’ll likely establish a business separate from your personal finances, they are still closely intertwined with your small business and heavily dependent on it’s success. After spending years working in the role of an employee and depending on benefits offered by a corporation you mustn’t forget to address these things as part of your self-employment plan.  Make the time to research the options that are best for you and it could help determine the success of your business.

Step 1 – Navigate to your Personal/Business Information Page

Once you’ve logged into your PayPal account navigate to the following page, My Account -> Profile -> Personal/Business Information.

Step 2 – Click the Upgrade Button

Step 3 – Enter Your Business Information

In this step you provide PayPal with your physical address, contact information for customer service reasons, and some data regarding what type of business you run and how much money you make.

Step 4 – Upgrade Completion & Business Account Confirmation 

You’ll know you’ve successfully entered your business information once you reach the page shown below, however, you’re not finished yet.

When you go back into your account the screen below will show up above your Account History section on the My Account -> Overview page.

Click the Go button and you’ll be taken to the confirmation page.

Step 5 – Submit Your Debit or Credit Card

When you click the Save & Continue button shown in the image below you authorize PayPal to place a small charge on your card that you’ll use in the next step to verify you’re the owner of the card. 

You’ll know you successfully submitted your information when you’re taken to the following page.

You should then receive an email that looks something like the one below:

Your card ending in XXXX has been charged $1.95 USD on Apr. 1, 20XX.

Check your card statement in 2-3 days and find the 4-digit PayPal code for the charge.

Return to PayPal and enter the 4-digit code to confirm your credit card.

The charge will be refunded to your PayPal account after you confirm your card. When you confirm your card, your Sending, Receiving and Withdrawal limits will be lifted and you will be a Verified member.

If you access your card statement online, you will see the number within 2-3 business days. If you don’t have online access to your statement, please wait for your printed statement to arrive by mail.

Step 6 – Confirm Your Debit or Credit Card

The charge will appear on your credit or debit card statement as shown below.  You’ll see a four digit code that PayPal associated with your transaction.

When you log back into your PayPal account, the “Verify Your Information” screen below will show up above your Account History section on the My Account -> Overview page.

Click the Go button and you’ll be taken to the page below. Enter your PayPal code and click the Submit button. If you lost the PayPal code you can request it be emailed to you again with the “Resend PayPal Code” button.

Upon submission of your PayPal code the $1.95 charge is refunded and you’re taken to the screen below.  Click on the Account Overview link.

Step 7 – Choose Your Payment Solution

You’ll see the last part of the business account setup on your Account Overview page shown below.  Click the Go button.

PayPal will ask you a few questions regarding your business needs on accepting payments online, processing credit cards, sending email invoices, and merchant bank account access.

Based on your answers, PayPal will suggest which of their payment solutions that should would work for your business.  Don’t worry about answering all the questions appropriately the first time, you can always go back through the Recommendation Wizard to review the options.

The different methods of receiving payments offered by PayPal are:

• PayPal for your eBay business
• PayPal as an Additional Payment Option
• Virtual Terminal
• Email Payments
• Website Payments Pro
• Website Payments Standard

Business Account Upgrade Complete

Now your business can use PayPal to let your customers pay for your products or services with a credit card, electronic checks, or their PayPal balance.

Risks Of Not Providing Health Insurance
One of the largest risks any employer takes when they don’t provide health insurance to employees is losing those employees.  As the costs of health care rise, more people than ever simply have to have health care coverage.  Therefore, people often leave one job to go to another where they can secure health insurance to protect themselves.

The Benefits Of Insuring Employees

Group Health Insurance
The good news is there are options available that can help most small business owners provide health insurance.  First, realize what the government considers a small business in terms of health insurance.  A business with between two employees and 50 is considered to be a small business.  Most often, if you have one employee, providing small business health insurance will be cheaper than the two of you getting individual health care plans.  When you have a group like this, you’ll have lower premiums and you’ll have a more expansive coverage. 

Tax Deductions
In addition to this, most businesses will qualify for tax deductions from the federal government (as the employer) for their contributions to small group health insurance.  Often times the portion of the employee’s health insurance plan that you are covering is tax deductible for the business. Therefore, it is often advantageous to actually get some type of plan in place.

Employee Retention
In addition to the business reasons, offering a health plan, even if your business does not pay for much of it will help your employee retention and your employee satisfaction rates. Sometimes something as simple as having the option available can cause employees to be more content with where they work.  Employee retention can lead to better productivity, which has an impact on the bottom line and can potentially make the cost of insurance a little more feasible.

Strategies for Reducing Employer Insurance Costs

Increase Employee Payments
If you have a health insurance policy in place for your employees, and you simply can’t make the required payments, you have some options, though limited.  You can rework the program with your insurance company to have employees pay more of the costs than they are currently paying.  There are options available to small businesses that will offer health care plans for their businesses for as low as $250 per month on the part of the employer. Although this will reduce the investment you specifically have to make, it may not sit well with your employees.

Price Shop
Another option you have is to do some shopping around.  Many small businesses benefit from changing insurance companies every few years.  Introductory prices are often lower.  This is an option for you, but it can also hurt employee morale, especially if their current doctor isn’t available on the plan. 

Offer a Health Savings Account
Finally, you may wish to go with something all together different.  The HSA is an option for small businesses looking for an alternative to traditional health care.  HSA, or Health Savings Accounts, are designed to allow employees reduce the amount of money they have to pump into health insurance.  This plan is a consumer directed health coverage plan that allows for a high deductible and provides for tax free savings.  Employees and employers can contribute to the set amount.  The funds are used to pay for medical expenses by the employee.

Look at the facts.  According to The Kaiser Family Institute and The national Association of Health Underwriters, health care costs have risen 15 percent in the last five years, each year.  The current cost of insuring an employee is $700 a month.  47 percent of small business owners no longer provide health care to their employees due to this.  The HSA is an alternative solution for many of these businesses.

Finding Affordable Health Insurance for Your Business
As you consider health insurance as an option for your small business, start with considering the types of employees that you have and whether this is something that they expect and could afford to pay for if they were offered the option.

Next, consider the financial benefits and costs to your business if you choose to offer health insurance. If you decide that you would like to move forward, be sure to quote multiple health insurance providers so that you can find the best match for your small business.

Credit History Factors
If your business is a sole proprietorship, you may be denied based on your personal credit history.  If your credit history is bad, you’ll need to work on improving it in order to qualify for a credit line, just as you would with your personal situation.  If you have a larger organization and you’ve incorporated it, the business has its own independent identity and therefore will apply for credit on its own.

Why Was I Denied Credit?
As with any credit card application, you’ll get a notice in the mail about why you’ve been denied credit.  Generally, this takes several weeks to go through.  If you are very anxious, you could call the company’s customer service line (usually provided in the Terms of Service on your application) to inquire about the reasons.  Most often, the reason is either you don’t make enough money through the business or your personal credit is not stable enough.

Improving Your Business Credit
The best way to get yourself out of this picture is to work on improving your business’s credit identity or improving your own.  Pay down debts you have, improving your long term credit history by using smaller lines of credit you may already have, and pay your bills on time.  If possible, secure a pre-paid business card using the business’s federal tax id number to begin building its credit if it is not yet established.

These factors show that you are a responsible borrower and help the company to insure you’re worth the risk.  If your personal credit is getting in the way, you may wish to contact a lawyer about incorporating your business which will give it its own identity, free from your own.  Talk to your attorney about the benefits of doing this for your business.

Ways to Raise Capital
If you are in need of capital for your business, you may not have months or longer to wait for improvements on your credit score to happen.  There are several options available to you. 

Borrow from a Local Bank
Get a loan from a local bank that you’ve done business with in the past.  Request a line of credit through them, but first outline a business plan to them, showing the executives exactly where your income comes from and how reliable it is.  While you can’t haggle with the internet companies, you can do so by picking up the phone, too. 

Apply for a Secured Credit Line
You may be able to get a credit line based on the value of assets you have in your business.  If you have expensive equipment that is bought free and clear, secure a loan on its value.  If you have property that is for the business that you own, you may be able to tap into the equity there.  Lines of credit like this are often affordable and they often give you the opportunity to prove your value to other lenders over time.

Apply for Another Business Card
Just because one credit card company turned you down doesn’t mean another will.  However, be cautious as you consider applying for other business credit cards.  Applying for too many will negatively affect your credit rating because it shows a pattern of being denied credit, which can raise a red flag.  Instead, apply for one or two, find out why you weren’t approved and look for another option for borrowing.

Equipment Leasing Program
If you are still having trouble obtaining capital and you have equipment that you own, you can consider an equipment leasing program. Depending on the type of equipment, the leasing company will purchase it from you, allowing you to keep it while you pay the lease payments.

Peer to Peer Lending
Another option if you need a short term loan is to try peer to peer lending using either Lending Club or Prosper. These companies allow you to post a profile requesting money. A pool of potential lenders will view your profile and potentially fund your loan request. If your loan request is funded, you will be told the interest rate and given the choice to accept the loan. If you choose to accept the loan, you will pay the site back directly on a month basis until the loan is repaid in full.

Factoring – Selling Your Invoices
If you have accounts receivable, you could consider factoring. Factoring involves selling your invoices at a discount so that you can obtain your company’s cash quicker. The factoring company will purchase your invoice from you, typically paying you 80% of the total up front.

From there, they will manage the collection of the invoice. Once the invoice has been paid, the factoring company will pay you the 20% remaining on the invoice minus their fees. Factoring companies charge anywhere from 1%-5% of the invoice total based on a variety of factors.

Step 1:  Consider the Costs

What costs are there to consider?  See how well these apply to your business.

• Sale Costs:  Your products, your materials, the equipment you’ll need, shipping costs, packaging, and a place to store everything…all factor into this category.  What products do you need to have on hand? What costs will it take to market your products? What budget will you need to provide to your sales team? How much will it cost to send out samples?

• Professional Service Costs:  Incorporating your business, copyrights, legal fees from your attorney, trademarking costs, professional consultations, getting an accountant, setting up contracts…are all included here.  Which professionals do you need? It will generally cost between $2000-6000 to set up a corporation and then you need to budget for annual fees to your attorney and for your accountant as these are typically on an ongoing basis.

• Administrative Fees:  You’ll need business insurance to cover liabilities and your property if you own or rent a workspace.  You may pay be required to pay rent on a facility or retail space as well, so it is important to factor in these costs within your business plan.  Be sure to also consider any deposits that will initially be required for your insurance or your workspace.

Other costs that could fall in this area include office supplies (including everyday costs and furniture) as well as parking costs, licenses, shipping costs, and utilities.  In this category, list anything that you’ll need to have access to on a daily basis to run your business. If you can get accurate estimates through research, this will help to ensure the overall accuracy of your business plan.

• Electronics/Technology Costs:  Will you need to invest in computers, IT professionals, website development, internet costs, and security needs. Should you lease or purchase? What cost cutting strategies might you be able to implement?

• Marketing Costs:  What type of marketing will you do?  You’ll need advertising budgets, trade association membership costs, public relations costs and material materials (don’t forget to have business cards done). With each of your marketing efforts, consider the actual cost of the marketing plus the graphic design, copy and printing.

• Employee Costs:  If you hire employees, you’ll need to consider their wages, benefits, payroll taxes as well as the costs of keeping them, such as workers compensation. Also, if you plan to use a payroll company, be sure to include these costs in your business plan.

Step 2:  Estimate the Startup Time

The amount of time it takes you from starting the development of your business until you begin selling products should be considered.  You’ll need funds to cover all expenses you have during this time of “no income” where you’ll be running at a deficit for sure. 

Determine how much money you’ll need during this start up time period and set it aside. Keep in mind that under capitalization (not having enough cash) is one of the top reasons for business failure. This is why it is essential to look at every aspect of your business financial plan before you get started.

Step 3:  Consider Initial Sales

No one knows about your business and therefore sales will be slow at first.  As you start building a clientele, the sales will increase, but you still may not make enough to truly draw a profit.  As you consider setting up your business, consider the money you’ll need to run your business during the first months when you aren’t making a significant income.  While it may be hard to get an accurate figure here, do your best to get as accurate as you can based off of the costs you estimate for the first months of no income.

As you consider the amount of money you need to have for start up, always look toward the projected income carefully.  It is often best to be ultra conservative, as you can always pay down the loan if you have more money in, but if you don’t have enough, you could jeopardize the entire foundation. 

Advanta, a leading credit card provider, offers several business credit cards ideal for the small business owner.  Their main cards include the Advanta Platinum BusinessCard with Rewards and the Advanta Life of Balance Platinum Card.  There are various benefits to choosing Advanta for your credit line needs.

Business Credit Card Versus Standard Credit Card
A business card is often the best choice for business owners rather than standard credit cards.  Many of these lines of credit are based on the income the business has rather than your personal income.  Additionally, as you grow your business, you can differentiate your credit history and credit score for the business from your personal credit score. 

This will allow you keep your personal finances separate from your business accounts, making it easier for accounting and for tax time.  Another difference between business credit cards and regular credit cards is their flexibility.  Business credit cards often offer lower interest rates and fewer fees, and many offer travel rewards. 

Consider the Card Benefits

A look at Advanta’s Platinum Business Card with Rewards is a great way to see the benefits of using a business credit card for your small business.

• Low APR: Many cards offer an introductory period of 0% financing for balance transfers as well as new purchases.  Most APR’s are fixed rate, which gives your business flexibility to borrow without having to worry about current rates.

• No fees:  The Advanta card does not have annual fees, reducing the cost of borrowing to the small business owner.

• Rewards:  Most business credit cards also have a rewards program, such as a travel reward program.  This is an excellent opportunity to cut down on the expenses of sending your employees from one location to the next.  Cash back programs are also available on the Advanta credit card, too.

• Multiple users:  If you like to provide your employees with a spending limit every month to pay for their travel expensive or supplies, these business lines of credit will allow you to do just that.

• Organization:  Make payments on all of your incoming invoices.  Pay them to keep clients happy.  At the end of the month, you can tally expenses easily by your statement or monitor them online.

Obtaining A Business Account
Can anyone get a business credit card account?  In the application for any credit card, credit scores are taken into consideration.  In some cases the credit card companies will accept the business’s credit score, but most often your personal credit score will be required. For new business owners, this may require that your personal credit score be in good standing. 

In addition to this, you’ll need to show proof of your business’s income and net worth.  The credit card company wants to be sure your business line of credit isn’t more than you can afford to pay.

Should You Go With Advanta?
When shopping for a business credit card account, you definitely want to take Advanta into consideration.  The company has several benefits to offer to you.  If you are considering other business accounts, be sure to compare them to these standards. 

One reason to go with Advanta is the low interest rate offered for initial card holders.  Rates on the Advanta Platinum BusinessCard with Rewards are great, starting under 8%, but rates vary from person to person. 

You also want to look for low fees, such as no annual fee.  Look for a long term grace period (the amount of time you can hold a balance without being charged finance charges.) 

Finally, if you want to have a rewards program, be sure the company offers one.  The Advanta line does offer them, giving you two options.  One is a travel reward and the other is a generous cash back offer.

Busy entrepreneurs, look no further. The Advanta credit cards are an ideal choice for those in a small business looking for flexibility, great rewards, no fees, and low rates.

Great small business card for entrepreneurs that are carrying a credit card balance. Get a low rate on all balances transferred to your card within 3 months, Advanta Life of Balance Platinum Card.

• 2.99% APR for Life on Balance Transfers
• Business Branded Card
• 6% Cash Back or Travel Rewards
• No Limit on Earnings
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There are many mistakes that are easily made and can often be overlooked, however, in order to avoid them you’ll need to know what they are.  Here’s a closer look at four common tax mistakes and how you can stay away from them on your small business tax return:

Not Hiring an Accountant
Even if you have a small business with just yourself working in it, having an accountant is one of the best ways to protect yourself, ensuring that you get the most accurate tax returns year after year.  Many people simply grab a piece of tax software and hope for the best.  Yet, every business is very different and you are likely missing large deductions you could be taking. Also, it is always best to leave a professional to do professional work.

An accountant will not only be able to help you with your annual tax returns, but they will also help you to manage your quarterly tax returns, sales taxes required and your franchise taxes. In addition, an accountant will be able to provide you with certified financials in the event that you decide to seek capital financing.

Most finance opportunities will request audited financials, and having an accountant that is familiar with your business situation and who already has the necessary documents will make the whole process quicker and simpler.

Not Tracking Your Business Expenses
Officially, the IRS doesn’t require that you have receipts for anything that’s under $75.  If you don’t have a receipt, you’ll still need to have some sort of proof that you’ve spent this money, including the time, date and amount.  If you can’t hold onto a receipt for some reason, be sure you have a calendar that keeps track of all of your activities that includes where you went and how much you spent.  This includes lunches with clients!  Most of the time, it’s easier to simply keep the receipt.

In addition to receipts for each purchase, make sure that you use accounting software when possible. This will allow for not only allow you to keep better track of your business, but it will make it easier to prepare your end of the year accounting.

Also, choose business credit cards that provide an annual summary statement. You probably have more expenses that can be claimed as business expenses on your taxes that you aren’t keeping track of.  Do you use a credit card or cash to pay for things during business hours?  A good way to avoid this mistake is to have a business credit card used solely for business that allows you to make all purchases for your business and gives you a convenient transaction record to keep track of them. Give one linked card to each of your employees who you pay expenses for, too.

This will also help you when you are preparing your business tax returns as these annual statements work for an easy reference point to compare against receipts and for the items that you don’t have receipts for.

Not Understanding Automobile Deductions
Auto deductions are complicated, and with good reason, so you’ll need to go through the process carefully.  You can select from a standard mileage deduction or you can go with the actual mileage deduction.  If you go with the standard mileage deduction, you can’t claim the depreciation of the actual expenses. 

If your business owners the vehicle, you can get 100% of the costs deducted, but if it is used for any personal needs, you’ll need to include this as taxable income for that employee. Also, with your automobile, be sure to evaluate the benefits of a lease versus a purchase option as there are advantages and disadvantages for each.

Not Writing Off Equipment Correctly
Equipment is an important part of your business.  Do you know how to file your taxes on it?  Since the equipment is a capital expenditure, you must depreciate it.  There are some rules in place here that allow you to write off $24,000 in capital expenditures for tangible personal property, like your computers, the first year you purchase them.  These still need to be reported, though.

Fewer Mistakes = Higher Profits
What happens when you don’t follow the very specific rules the IRS requires?  You’ll find yourself heavily taxed, or to be found in violation of the IRS rules, possibly facing face legal proceedings unless you can make amends in time to avoid it.  As a busy entrepreneur it’s difficult to keep track of all the ins and outs of the tax code.  That’s why the most important rule when managing your small business taxes is to hire a good accountant to keep you up to date and on track.

One of the top credit cards chosen by small business owners, American Express Business Gold Rewards Card.

• OPEN Savings Cuts Expenses 3-25%
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