Starting a small business

Can someone please walk me through the process of getting a new business off the ground? I’ve got this idea—something centered around health and wellness improvements, I guess—but I am completely lost on where to even begin. Specifically, I have no clue who to talk to about drafting the actual proposal or formalizing the concept—some people call it a "project prospectus" 😕. On top of that, I’m plagued by this nagging doubt about whether I’m actually qualified to pull this off—like, am I even legally allowed to launch my own venture? My background is in healthcare, and while what I’m planning falls squarely within my field, I don't exactly have a mountain of professional experience—just one year of volunteer work at a local hospital, which was basically just a prerequisite for my licensing exam.
So, I am honestly asking for some guidance on who to reach out to, especially since I was hoping to tap into those government grants or small business incentives you hear so much about—you know, the ones designed to help entrepreneurs get started. The catch is, I have zero capital to speak of, and I don't own any property or assets to use as leverage, so these kinds of programs would be an absolute lifesaver for me...
Please, if anyone has any advice, I would be incredibly grateful!

Jerry Martinez3 said:Hey everyone.

Does anyone know if there’s actually a website out there that lists everything you need to get a small business up and running? I'm looking for the whole works—everything from which specific documents I'll need to where I even go to grab them, plus the actual step-by-step process for getting the whole thing started.

Thanks!

check out: www.sba.gov

It breaks down the whole process for starting a sole proprietorship or an LLC.

p.s. you might even want to swing by a local Small Business Administration office—they usually have free brochures on how to start a business just lying around. feel free to grab one.

rustyheron22 said:Are you absolutely certain about this? Every local pet shop I know has folded lately—only the massive chains like Petco seem to be hanging on, and even they aren't exactly thriving. Honestly, I wouldn't call this a brilliant move. 😕

Dear rustyheron22,

Unfortunately, I have to disagree with you there, because it seems to me that America is a land of plenty for large-scale pet retailers.
Every little corner store sells some kind of pet food.
Maybe I'm wrong, and maybe I'm totally off base here, but it looks to me like a chain like Petco is doing quite well for itself.
Listen, they sell huge 15kg bags of dog food $100. The margins on stuff like that have to be massive, not to mention all the little plastic toys, leashes, and other gear that brings in a solid profit.
My idea might be to actually reach out to one of those big chains and perhaps work under their branding—running a location for them in exchange for a decent salary.
A major metro area like New York probably needs five more massive pet superstores, and then you have all those smaller cities that still don't have specialized, large-format pet shops. Those areas could definitely offer some real opportunity.
Anyway, that’s just my take on it, and if I'm wrong, please feel free to set me straight.

I’m just speaking from personal experience here. I know a few local pet shop owners, and they’ve all shut down—even the ones with prime locations, like places right in the heart of downtown or busy main drags. Honestly, even that one spot over in the suburbs near a major metro doesn't seem to be doing great; I think they moved to a cheaper location out there.
The only ones still somewhat hanging in there are Belugo, the villa guys (probably thanks to the saltwater aquarium niche), and Petco. But I highly doubt Alkawa is planning to open something on the massive scale of a Petco.
😕It used to be a solid business, but nowadays you can pick up dog food and all the gear you need at any suburban shopping mall. People just grab it while they're out running errands.

I actually worked in the pet food industry before—for Purina—so I know a thing or two about it. I wouldn't recommend anyone jumping into this without knowing exactly what they're getting into. Just my two cents, though. 🙂

If you're saying that, I guess it means you’ve got more experience and know-how than I do since you actually worked in that field.
Still, I find buying dog supplies at big-box retailers like Walmart to be pretty pointless, but just because pet ownership is everywhere now doesn't mean the level of care and quality people provide for them is actually any better.

Steven Martinez3 said:So, this company is basically telling me they’ll hire me on one condition: I have to set up my own LLC and work as an independent contractor. They want to pay me strictly on a monthly commission basis, which means my paycheck is going to fluctuate wildly depending on how much I actually pull in each month.

I really need someone to lay out all the hidden pitfalls here—though if there are any actual perks, I'm all ears.
Help me out, guys. This is urgent and I am honestly lost. I have no clue if I should even consider this or what kind of terms I should be fighting for before I sign anything...

Look, just trying to survive in retail these days is pure survivalism. I don't work in this specific niche, but I've got a buddy who's one of the biggest importers out there. He's an authorized distributor for a major brand here in the States, and man, in just the last five years, over 50% of the small shops he used to supply have gone belly up. All that's left are the massive big-box retailers like Walmart that basically suck you dry until there's nothing left. Honestly? It's nearly impossible to stay afloat working with those giants for more than a couple of years.

Here’s another nugget from my fifteen years in the grind. Honestly? I think retail is dead in America. The only way anyone survives is if they're running some hyper-specialized boutique, especially if they actually own their own storefront (just look at Walmart—they can afford to bleed money for five years straight just to crush the competition). If you want to make it, you have to sell brains and services instead.

Thomas Clark912 said:Here’s another nugget from my fifteen years in the grind. Honestly? I think retail is dead in America. The only way anyone survives is if they're running some hyper-specialized boutique, especially if they actually own their own storefront (just look at Walmart—they can afford to bleed money for five years straight just to crush the competition). If you want to make it, you have to sell brains and services instead.

Well said. 👍
So, basically, a small business has to be hyper-specialized to even stand a chance.
If I were in your shoes, I’d find someone in a major US city who has run similar shops and just copy their best strategies. A pet shop isn't anything groundbreaking on its own. You need to come up with, as you put it, that layer of intelligence and service—something the big retail chains completely lack, but your business can provide to set itself apart from everyone else.

says:
If you say so—you clearly know more about this than I do, seeing as you actually worked in the field.
Personally, I'm not big on picking up dog supplies at big-box retailers, but just because everyone owns pets now doesn't mean they all provide the same level of care.

A guy I know actually opened one of the first pet shops back in the day—he was a vet by trade and even ran a grooming salon on the side.
Now? It’s just a coffee shop.

As for shopping, I don't think you'll find many places where you can cram this many stores into a single block. Around my place, within a couple of blocks, I've got three 7-Elevens, two specialty food spots, and two local shops. I usually just hit up a Walmart once a week to get everything at once—it's not worth paying an extra couple of bucks per item elsewhere.
Not to mention, I just order my drinks online with delivery for basically the same price. 🙂

Hey everyone,

I’ve been falling down internet rabbit holes for days trying to figure this one out.

Here’s the deal:

I’m about to pass my journeyman exam to become an electrical contractor, and the plan is to launch my own electrical services business. Along with the service side, I want to sell electrical supplies, hardware, paint, varnish, stuff like that—assuming I get a decent retail space set up.

So basically, my business will cover both installation services and retail.

Now, here’s my question:

Since running a retail shop falls under a specific type of licensed trade, do I actually need to hire a separate specialist on staff? Or does being a licensed master myself cover all the bases?

🙏 thanks for the help 🙏

later,

Eric Richardson69

It’s necessary. Back in the day, they used to turn a blind eye if someone was just selling something related to their own profession without a formal commercial license. If you want an official opinion, you should reach out to the Department, but honestly, you’ll get the most practical, boots-on-the-ground information by heading down to your local Department of Commerce.

Can someone point me toward where I can find info on setting up a sole proprietorship for computer consulting in New York City? Is it a pretty straightforward process, or am I going to need a physical office space and all that other stuff?

vivideagle6 said:Can someone point me toward where I can find info on setting up a sole proprietorship for computer consulting in New York City? Is it a pretty straightforward process, or am I going to need a physical office space and all that other stuff?

Check out the Fidelity website or just do a quick search...
You’ll definitely need a physical location that meets local zoning requirements to actually run the business...
Some industries require you to pass a professional licensing exam, but for most things like yours, you shouldn't have to worry about that...
Basically, if you already have an office or a setup ready to go, it's not a huge mountain to climb—it just takes a bit of time and some serious patience! But if you don't have a space yet...

Thanks for the info. Just one more question: how "easy/feasible" is it to convert part of a house or apartment into a commercial space—specifically when it comes to the paperwork?

vivideagle6 said:Thanks for the info. Just one more question: how "easy/feasible" is it to convert part of a house or apartment into a commercial space—specifically when it comes to the paperwork?

If you're just working on computers or something similar, there isn't really much pressure to have dedicated commercial space. I guess it's mostly just about having some kind of proof that you're allowed to operate from there.

If you own the place, you probably just need to show your deed or ownership papers. If it belongs to your parents or someone else, you'd likely just need their written permission to run a business out of their property, along with proof that they actually own it.

vivideagle6 said:Can someone point me toward where I can find info on setting up a sole proprietorship for computer consulting in New York City? Is it a pretty straightforward process, or am I going to need a physical office space and all that other stuff?

The registration for computer consulting should be right up your alley 🙂

I was looking into registering as an IT engineer, but apparently, that specific category doesn't exist in our national business registry—whatever you want to call that mess. Instead, they have this incredibly detailed list for things like carpenters, blacksmiths, masons... or tailors and seamstresses. (Hopefully everyone realizes how big a difference that makes...)

brisknomad6 said:man $600 a month just to cover social security, pension funds, workers' comp, plus those self-employment taxes and prepayments... I think I haven't even forgotten everything yet 😁

...so what are the monthly costs for a small family farm, and how does that actually differ from running a standard LLC?

Hi there,

I'm looking to start my own small business—a mix of retail and services!

What's the full checklist for getting this off the ground? I actually completed my training as an auto body painter over in Germany and have my certification ready to go.

Is there a specific agency here in the States that handles all the red tape and paperwork? If such a service exists, or if anyone knows who I should reach out to regarding the requirements, I’d really appreciate it if you could shoot me an email at ***obrisan e-mail***

Thanks in advance!

Best, Vlad

Can you check the info over at www.google.com

I’m not sure if this topic already exists, but I could really use some advice or even just an outside opinion...

An old college buddy and I are looking into starting a business together—IT consulting, specifically. I'm trying to figure out if it makes more sense to launch a joint LLC right out of the gate, or if we should each set up our own individual businesses and just formalize our partnership through a contract later on.

The plan is to work side-by-side, but honestly, neither of us is the type who enjoys having a boss over their shoulder 🙂 or anything of that nature...

Is there a third option I might be overlooking?