SESSION 6: Structures & Systems
Legal & Accounting Considerations
CO.STARTERS Legal Supplements (U.S.)
Business Structures By Type
Look at the advantages and challenges of each structure.
Nonprofit/For Profit Comparison Chart
Use this chart to understand the real difference between for profit and nonprofit entities.
Legal Tools and Advice
SBA Guide to Business Structures
The Small Business Administration’s guide to the various legal structures and the pros and cons of each.
Socially-Minded Entities
What is the L3C?
This short paper by Americans for Community Development explains what an L3C is and why it was created.
B Corporation
This website is full of information on the potential of B Corps.
Creating a Socially Responsible and Profitable Company
Olivia Khalili shares her research and insight on how to build a company that does both.
Registering A Business
Choose and Register Your Business
The Small Business Administration shares articles on naming and registering your business.
Registering a Business: A Step-by-Step Guide
The folks over at Square lead you through the registration process in an accessible format.
Licenses & Permits
Intellectual Property Myths
This article explores the most prominent fallacies regarding IP among entrepreneurs.
Federal Licenses and Permits
This article from the Small Business Administration gives an overview of federal licenses and permits needed, by industry.
State Licenses and Permits
For your convenience, this page has links to every state’s licensing and permits website. Just click on your state to get started.
SBA’s Business License and Permit Tool
Just enter your zip code and industry and the SBA will connect you to what you specifically need to file.
Understand Intellectual Property and How to Protect Your Business
This business guide from STOPfakes.gov is an essential starting point for understanding your intellectual property rights and finding the right protection for your business.
Applying for a Patent
Learn more about how to apply for a patent through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Registering for a Trademark or Service Mark
Find out how to file for trademark or service mark protection for your business name, symbols and logos.
Copyright Your Work
Books, movies, digital works, and musical recordings are all examples of copyrighted works. Refer to this guide from U.S. Copyright Office for more information on what protection copyright affords and the process of copyrighting your work.
Hiring Staff
8 Real Reasons Why Good Employees Quit
Good employees don’t quit their jobs. Find out what they do quit.
SBA Hiring Guide
Everything you need to know – from background checks and employee handbooks to determining whether you have an employee or contractor – explained by the SBA.
Hiring Your First Employee: 13 Things You Must Do
The bureaucratic steps, paperwork, and red tape necessary for hiring that first staff member (other than yourself, of course).
7 Keys to Hiring Your Startup’s First Employee
Some general advice on who to hire and how.
Understanding Employees vs. Contract Workers
Depending on your needs, you may want to settle for a contract worker instead of onboarding a new employee.
Accounting
FINSYNC
What is it? All the software and services you need to start, scale and succeed on one platform. Banking, payments, payroll, projects, accounting, and cash flow management software backed by partner services, including checking, CollectEarly, financing, accounting, insurance, coaching, and more.
Who is it for? Entrepreneurs seeking to run their business on one platform with less time.
How much? Starts at $0 per month. Complete Solution is $95 per month. Transactions fees additional.
Quickbooks
What is it? QuickBooks offers financial management tools, including invoicing, bill management, payroll processing, and inventory tracking. It helps generate reports for planning, tax filing, expense tracking, and financial analysis.
Who is it for? The QuickBooks interface and features suit more experienced users seeking advanced functionality.
How much? QuickBooks offers various pricing tiers, depending on the features and scale required. The basic plan, QuickBooks Simple Start, is $30/month and goes up to Advanced, which is $200/month.
NetSuite
What is it? NetSuite provides a business management suite encompassing ERP/financials, CRM, e-commerce, inventory management, and more. NetSuite is highly customizable and well-suited for handling complex, multi-national operations and provides real-time visibility into various business metrics.
Who is it for? NetSuite targets medium to large-sized businesses and fast-growing enterprises, especially those operating on an international scale.
How much? Potential users must contact a sales associate to negotiate a yearly price.
Sage 50
What is it? Sage 50cloud Accounting provides limited features for micro and small businesses. It includes basic functionalities like project management, inventory tracking, and reporting capabilities.
Who is it for? Sage 50cloud Accounting is ideal for micro-businesses and small enterprises that require a reliable accounting solution without needing advanced features.
How much? Sage 50cloud Accounting offers three pricing plans – $58.92, $96.58, and $160 /mo, plus an extra $993/year minimum for payroll.
Xero
What is it? Xero offers a straightforward, intuitive dashboard that aligns with the minimalist aesthetic of its product range. It comes with tools for reports, basic inventory tracking, and a simple layout.
Who is it for? Xero is suitable for small to medium-sized businesses that value simplicity and are comfortable with an app store for adding additional features. Customer support is primarily via email; no phone or live chat. So you need to be comfortable with technology.
How much? Xero’s plans start at $15 per month. Pricing tiers increase with the addition of more features and capabilities.