Business Start-ups

Expenses directly allocated to the home office such as painting the office or buying furniture for the office are 100% deductable. Other expenses indirectly incurred are deductable at a business expense allocation percentage. These would include Real estate taxes, mortgage interest, depreciation, utilities, rent, insurance, snow removal and security.

IRS publication 587 explains the details of deducting a home office.

To deduct home office expenses you must prove that you use the home area "exclusively" and on a "regular" basis as a place of business to meet or deal with clients, patients or customers in the normal course of your business or if you spend most of your working time there and most of your business income is attributable to your activities there. Also it must be a seperate structure with no personal use. Exclusive use means soley for business so spare bedrooms or use of a den have been challenged by the IRS.

Yes. The IRS has developed a web site to help small business and self-employed persons at www.irs.gov/businesses/small/index.html.

Your personal credit history is considered for a business loan because it gives the lender or bank a history of your personal money management, demonstrates repayment of debts and it lets the lender know of existing debts including delinquencies, bankruptcies, references, liens, student loans, etc. It is also important because if your business is a sole proprietorship or individual, there in no difference in credit history for loan purposes. Generally, if you business is a corporation, LLC, partnership, trade company, etc., then the bank or lender looks at the business history.

A board of directors should be comprised of people who are interested in the development and the success of the business as well as community minded individuals. The board of directors shall constitute the selected governing body of the corporation. The initial board shall be appointed and afterwards elected by other members of the board. All operational and managerial authority regarding the corporation shall reside with the board of directors. Generally, the board of directors includes a president who acts as the CEO, vice president, secretary and treasurer.

Forecasting is a projection of the anticipated financial performance of a company. Forecasts typically include a projected income statement,a pro-forma balance sheet and a cash flow statement. In order to arrive at projected figures, extensive research should be done to including statistical information on the competition, product trends and client demographics. This information will help you obtain reasonable estimated sales amounts. You should also get quotes from suppliers and realtors to obtain estimated expense amounts. Projections are not a picture of what you would like to see happen to your company, but carefully calculated, realistic numbers. Speak to your local CPA to assist you in this process

Generally, it is not the type of business that matters, but the credit worthiness of the guarantors, the financial performance of the business and the collateral pledged. The real issue is that often service based businesses have very few hard assets such as inventory, equipment or accounts receivable to pledge as collateral, but banks and the Small Business administration require some form of collateral. Business owners often pledge personal assets to obtain a loan.

W-2 forms should be furnished to your employees by January 31. It is your responsibility as an employer to file Forms W-2 with the Social Security Administration (SSA) for your employees which will show the wages paid and taxes withheld for the year. You must send Copy A to the SSA with Form W-3 by February 28. Form W-3 is a summary form that shows the total of all W-2's being sent. Go to the IRS website or get Publication 15, Circular E, Employer's Tax Guide or Forms and publications can be requested by calling 1-800-829-3676.