Resources - Chapter 10

Chapter 10 - Business Start-Up

General Business Start-Up

• Sohnen-Moe Associates, Inc - Article: The Practice of Massage in the Millennium by Cherie Sohnen-Moe
• Insights for Acupuncturists - Use Insights For Acupuncturists practical guidance and information to integrate "Healer Mind" with "Business Mind", and build a strong foundation for your Successful Acupuncture Practice.
• Practice Insights Online - A leading provider of acupuncture news, information and research in the world
• Internal Revenue Service (irs) - Small Business and Self-Employed One-Stop Resource
• Small Business Administration (sba) - Information and resources for any stage of the business lifecycle
• Official Business Link to the us Government - A single access point to government services and information to help the nation's businesses with their operations
• us Chamber of Commerce - Small Business Toolkit
• About.com: Small Business Information - Article: Angel Investors vs Venture Capitalist by Daryl Zahorsky
• Entrepreneur.com - Information on starting a business, marketing, sales, advertising, home based businesses and management
• Business Owners Tool Kit - Small Business Guide. Information and tools to help you start, run and grow a successful small business
• Business.com - Information small-business startup strategy, finance, incorporation and more
• All Business - Business advice, professional journals, forms and agreements, tools and services
• About.com: Financial Planning - Article: So You Want To Be Your Own Boss?
• Bplans.com - Sample business plans, tools and advice on starting a business
• My Own Business - A non-profit organization helping people succeed in business. They offer a free course on how to start your own business as well as articles, tips and resource links
• Small Business Administration (sba) - Infomation on starting, financing and managing your own business
• Steps in Starting Your Own Business - Places to go for assistance setting up your own business
• The usa Homebased Business Information Super Highway - Provides business development services
• Business Mastery - Book: Business Mastery by Cherie Sohnen-Moe, SMA INC
• Book: The Complete Legal Guide For Your Small Business by Paul Adams, John Wiley & Sons. 1982
• Business & Human Resources - Book: The Legal Guide for Starting & Running A Small Business by Fred S. Steingold, Nolo Press. 2006

Where to Start - Marketplace Research

• NetMBA Business Knowledge Center - Article: Target Market Selection
• Home Office Association of America - The Home Office Association of America site is set up to help those who operate small businesses or offices in their homes. The site provides news, ideas, opportunities, savings, and links to other sites that would be helpful to those who operate small business or offices out of their homes

Competition

• King's School - Article: What is a competitor?
• Wisconsin Technology Network - Article: Are you gathering information or intelligence about competitors? by Troy Janisch
• OnStartups - Article: Startups: Tips for Talking About Competitors

Determine the Business Feasibility

• National Institute of Health - Article: Complimetary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Adults: United States 2002 [PDF]
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Quick statistics on the percentage of adults aged over 18 years who used complementary and alternative medicine (cam) in 2001
• us Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Outlook Handbook that includes career information, designed to provide valuable assistance to individuals making decisions about their future work lives
• Association for the Advancement of Retired People (aarp) - AARP press release dated 1-18-07: Older Americans Not Discussing Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use with Doctors (includes statistics of CAM use)
• American Massage Therapy Association (amta) - Massage Therapy Industry Fact Sheet (2005)
• Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (abmp) - Massage Therapy Fact Sheet (2007)

Start-Up Financing

• Small Business Taxes & Management - Tax and management guidance for small and medium sized businesses
• Small Business Administration (sba) - Programs and services to help you start, grow and succeed in business
• Small Business Administration (sba) - Information on how to plan, start and manage your business
• Business Know-how - Help for small businesses, home businesses, careers and self-employment. Profitable ideas for home offices and small businesses
• Entrepreneur.com - Article: Raising "Patient Capital" for Your Business: How to attract funding from people who don't expect an immediate return by Asheesh Advani
• Business Reference Services - Article: Financing Small Business Enterprises: Sources of Information. A Business Brief Compiled by Angela Wilson, Carolyn Larson, Shari Jacobson

Buying a Practice

• International Business Brokers Association (ibba) - The largest international non-profit association operating exclusively for the benefit of people and firms engaged in the various aspects of business brokerage and mergers and acquisitions
• Institute of Certified Business Counselors (i-cbc) - A professional association that is devoted to enhancing the knowledge and professionalism of business advisors

Legal Status

• Power Home Biz - Article: Choosing Your Legal Structure by Isabel M. Isidro
• Business Town - Website that links you to articles explaining types of business legal structures
• Internal Revenue Service Publications - Publication 542 about forming Corporations
• Internal Revenue Service Publications - Publication about tax issues for Limited Liability Companies [PDF]
• Sohnen-Moe Associates, Inc - Article: The Anatomy of a Contract by Cherie Sohnen-Moe

Incorporation Services

• The Company Corporation - They help you research and form corporations, as well as offer other business services
• MyNewCompany.com, Inc - Founded in 2001 with one simple mission: to make starting a business as simple, fast and inexpensive as possible. They also offer free general business tools and resources

Business Name

• United States Patent and Trademark Office - Information about how to research and register trademarks
• Internal Revenue Service - Information about applying for an Employer Identification Number (ein)
• Nolo - Answers to commonly asked questions about choosing and registering a successful business name

Location, Location, Location

• About.com: Entrepreneurs - Article: Choosing a Location for Your Business by Scott Allen
• Small Business Notes - Article: Choosing a Business Location
• Sohnen-Moe Associates, Inc - Article: The Successful Home Office by Cherie Sohnen-Moe
• Sohnen-Moe Associate, Inc - Sample Home Office Bill of Rights
• Entrepreuner.com - Article: Is Your Home Zoned for Business? by Karen E. Spaeder, 2004. How to research, comply with and change local zoning laws in your homebased business's favor
• Entrepreuner.com - Article: Business Licenses and Permits. Compliance is key when starting a business. Find out which permits you need to obtain for your new venture.
• Feng Shui Institute International - Feng shui consultant referral service
• Feng Shui Directory of Consultants and Schools - Directory of Feng Shui Consultants
• Sterling Publishing - Book: Feng Shui Your Life by Jayme Barrett and John Cooledge
• The Crown Publishing Group - Book: Feng Shui and Health: Using Feng Shui to Disarm Illness, Accelerate Recovery, and Create Optimal Health by Nancy SantoPietro. 2002
• Penguin Group - Book: Interior Design with Feng Shui by Sarah Rossbach. 2000

Licenses and Permits

• FindLaw for Small Business - State guide to obtaining licenses & permits
• u.s. Government - Where to obtain business licenses
• Small Business Administration (sba) - Information on how to plan, start and manage your business
• Power Home Biz - Article: Yes, Virginia, Your Home Business Needs Permits and Licenses by George Rodriguez
• Massage Magazine - Laws and Regulations For the United States and Canada: Licensure, certification and registration for Massage Therapists
• The Bodyworker - Article: Licensing and Legislation Issues in Massage Therapy

Insurance Coverage

• My Own Business - Information on insurance coverage for small businesses
• Massage Today - Article: Liability Insurance: You Do Have a Choice by the Editorial Staff of Massage Today. 2001
• About.com: Business Insurance - Article: Will Your Christmas Party Be Holiday Cheer or a Potential Lawsuit? An article about business insurance types and terms

Setting Your Fees

• Setting Massage Rates - Article: Setting Massage Rates by Larry Swanson
• Home Office Computing - Article: The essential way to set your fees: a step-by-step guide to calculating what you must charge by Daniel P. Dern, Home Office Computing, Oct, 1991