Posts by Robert Kim

On a scale of one to five, I’d give this movie a solid 3.

If this weren't based on a "true story," the overall impression would have been pretty lackluster, honestly.
There were moments where the pacing just dragged—I actually found myself rewinding certain scenes because my mind started wandering off entirely. Don't get me wrong, there are some clever directorial flourishes and interesting camera work/framing techniques here and there, but that's about it.
The actual plot feels thin; it lacks that necessary tension or sense of urgency to really pull you in. So, like I said: a 3.

Manager
It’s just common sense that not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur. On average, more than half of all startups fail within their first three years—and a few more drop off shortly after—leaving maybe only one or two out of ten actually surviving past the decade mark. That's the reality in the US, and honestly, it's pretty much the same everywhere else. But like Gogo said, people should just go out there and give it a shot; let fate decide who makes it and who doesn't. Besides, it would be a lot better if we could all just collectively pretend that "under-the-table" work isn't even a thing!
The idea that everyone is going to become a business owner is frankly delusional. But look at it this way: if just one out of every ten unemployed people started a small solo operation, you'd see unemployment rates plummet by 20% overnight!!!
I can handle the red tape and the endless weeks spent drowning in paperwork, but having to pay $267 just to publish some pointless notice in the Federal Register? That is pure, unadulterated idiocy. We are dealing with far too much nonsense like that.
As for loans, I get it. It's like someone already pointed out: to actually qualify for a loan, you basically have to prove that you don't need the money in the first place.

Manager, we aren't exactly seeing eye-to-eye regarding MSPS. Just take a look at my previous response.

vividstag31, it’s always easy to talk trash when you aren't the one actually out there doing the dirty work.
There are 300,000 unemployed people in America right now—and I’m not just talking about the occasional seasonal worker. A massive chunk of that group consists of folks who are eighteen or even slightly older, just starting out. It begs the question: where exactly is the money coming from to cover their basic survival? We're talking food, rent, clothes, the whole nine yards. You can't just expect people living on the edge like that to suddenly become productive members of the workforce overnight—it's just not how reality works. $10000 Whether you're talking about setting up a full-scale corporation or just a small independent LLC, we’re looking at a $15,000 to $16,000 price tag—and honestly? It’s a joke. These people are practically begging to work for pennies. $500Look, let’s get one thing straight—they aren't even touching the money. There is absolutely zero chance they’re going to pull off a loan. It’s just not happening. No matter how much those bottom-tier small business owners try to screw them over, they won't even move the needle by half a percent.
So, you’re telling me entrepreneurship isn't for everyone? Fine, maybe that's true—not everyone has the stomach for the grind. But that’s hardly the point here. Why on earth shouldn't we give everyone a fair shot at trying to build something? It would actually take some of the weight off the shoulders of the hardworking taxpayers who are already carrying this entire country. Instead of just throwing money into a void—paying for nothing while watching the bureaucracy spin its wheels—why aren't we actively incentivizing the people who are actually out there making things happen? I’m talking about the entrepreneurs who open up new jobs, the ones who actually pay their dues, and the ones who produce tangible goods. That's where the real value is. And don't even get me started on the whole credit situation—I won't go down that rabbit hole because, let's be honest, the government doesn't call the shots on loans anyway; that's entirely in the hands of the commercial banks. My point remains: stop wasting resources and start supporting the builders.
I honestly feel like the government should step up and provide some real support during those first couple of years—just to get things off the ground—and then, once you've actually found your footing, they can go ahead and sit on your back all they want.

P.S. — You actually skipped over quite a few of my previous posts.

vividstag31 said:Robert Kim, who actually pissed you off?
You’re just rambling about things you clearly don't grasp. One of the best departments in the government is exactly the one you just dragged through the mud.
Look, let’s be real—there are requirements, just like everywhere else in the world, that you have to meet if you want to start a small business. If you don't meet them, you can't open up, period. I don't get why you're attacking people for no reason. If you actually had a solid idea, you would have figured out a way to make it work. Just shifting the blame onto others doesn't change anything; it just makes you look like you're making excuses.

Cheers!

Who pissed me off? Try putting yourself in the shoes of an average citizen trying to kickstart some entrepreneurial venture. What exactly constitutes a sole proprietorship versus an LLC? What paperwork do I need? What kind of physical space is required? What qualifications am I looking at? Where am I supposed to file these documents, who issues them, how much is this all going to cost, what are my tax liabilities, social security hits, or membership fees for the US Chamber of Commerce...
Those are the questions I was looking for answers to! And where else am I supposed to find them if not at that damn Department of Commerce or the Small Business Administration? One of the whole points of those agencies existing is to encourage entrepreneurship and make it easier to launch new businesses. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a single damn useful piece of information from them. The most helpful stuff I found was on the SBA website, the local Chamber of Commerce site, and the IRS (though their "Small Business Guide" was already outdated).
I'm not exactly a lawyer, so I shouldn't have to wade through twenty different federal statutes just to open a simple shop, yet that’s exactly what this department expects of me. I couldn't care less if they have special partnerships with certain big players or if they have some "business development program" running until the year 2145—I won't even have my business by then (to repeat myself).

You say the law is the law, and fine, I respect that. But I looked into the feasibility of starting this business, and right now, it's just not worth it. Period. The issue is that I wasted a massive amount of time just trying to figure out the prerequisites—time that could have been saved if they had simply posted all the relevant info on their website or in a basic brochure. I could have cleared up my doubts in fifteen minutes instead of wasting days.
Is it really okay that in my first year, regardless of how much I actually earn from my work, I have to set aside roughly $5000 for social security and taxes? I don't know if that's "fair," but I know it's a huge chunk of change for me, even with my engineering salary. Roughly speaking, for this business to even break even, I’d need a monthly income of about $3333. If I were pulling in that kind of money, I wouldn't be working for someone else; I’d be doing this full-time.

vividstag31, please, enlighten me—what exactly am I "not understanding"? Tell me where I'm wrong. Maybe I really am delusional and just haven't realized it yet.

At the end of the day, I'm still moving forward with my idea, but the government is going to see less of my money, and I'll have to deal with clients differently than if I had a formal corporation backing me up.

Who benefits from this outcome? Not me. And certainly not the government, which is losing out on a potential honest taxpayer because the barrier to entry is just too high.

Then there’s the whole mess of paying Social Security and Medicare taxes again (another 20% plus 15%). They calculate it based on the average salary in your specific industry—though plenty of people get hit with a 0.65 coefficient—and they tack those contributions right on top. On top of that, you're dealing with monthly tax withholdings (which fluctuates depending on what you actually do) and that mandatory "fee" for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce ($33). To make matters even more complicated, your company has to provide official proof that all payroll taxes have been settled and sign off on you actually performing the work. It can get incredibly messy because, in my case, my contract explicitly states I can't engage in any business activities that compete with my employer.
The startup costs are exactly what I mentioned earlier.

If there is one silver lining at all, it's the rumor that these contributions are just advances—meaning if you overpay, you can eventually get the money back. I’ve been waiting forever for someone on this forum to give me a straight answer on this, because nobody seems able to explain how that mechanism is actually supposed to function. Check this thread:
http://www.teme.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4719

I’m running into a nearly identical headache myself, and honestly, I think I’ve thrown in the towel on trying to do things "by the book" as a sole proprietor because the math just doesn't add up. Lately, I've been looking more into forming an LLC instead.

God, I love our beautiful country and how much it "encourages" entrepreneurship! I mean, what is the point of that damn Department of Commerce and Small Business existence? Their eBay pages are nothing but self-congratulatory nonsense that offers zero actual guidance for anyone thinking about starting a business. I couldn't care less about their partnerships, their "visionary" plans stretching out to 2067, or some fluff piece interview with their director. They are nothing but parasites that we feed, and we'll only be feeding them more if we dare to step into the world of small business.😠 😠 😠
Anyway, I might be getting a bit carried away here. Cheers...

Monthly estimate:
$400 in taxes (this fluctuates based on what industry you’re actually in—think roughly 65% of the average salary for your field, then split that up: 35% total, with 20% going toward Social Security and 15% toward Medicare)
+ $33 for the local Chamber of Commerce fees
+ $67 estimated tax prepayments (mind you, this can skyrocket much higher later on, though it's usually more manageable during your first year of business)

+ 100 lbs of pure stress while dealing with bureaucrats at the local municipal office during the registration process.😛