Starting a small business

Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act:

Information society services—essentially any service provided electronically for a fee upon an individual user's request. This encompasses everything from online retail and digital advertising to search engines, data hosting, and intermediaries that facilitate network access or store user data via electronic networks.

The part that actually impacts your business:

When a legal entity providing information society services registers with the appropriate authorities, its business activity must be officially designated as: information society services.

I was just browsing through the e-government portal and I honestly can't figure out which occupational category this falls under.

If you’re looking to launch your own business, make sure you register under 63.1—Data processing, hosting services, and related activities, including web portals.

I need some guidance here. I'm looking to launch a seasonal small business in the food and beverage industry, but there’s a catch—I haven't completed any formal culinary or hospitality schooling. Some people suggested I just go through the motions and take the master's certification exam, but from what I hear, the waiting period to even sit for that is endless. I don't have that kind of time; I need to get this business off the ground immediately. Then I stumbled upon the idea that I could just hire someone who actually holds the necessary credentials to cover for me. My question is about the logistics: if I bring someone on like that, do I have to officially register them through the unemployment office and handle all their payroll taxes and benefits, or is there some other workaround? Keep in mind, this is strictly a seasonal operation. If anyone has navigated this before, I'd appreciate some straight talk.

Thanks!

And I’m honestly just asking anyone with half a brain to please explain the difference between a standard small business and a seasonal one to me.

Since when did businesses start footing the bill for monument rent and those kinds of fees? As far as I can tell, that's usually something companies handle on their own...

George Wilson4 said:Since when did businesses start footing the bill for monument rent and those kinds of fees? As far as I can tell, that's usually something companies handle on their own...

Ever since 2003.

Greetings!

So, here’s the deal: I’m currently mulling over the idea of launching a small business—specifically a sandwich bar or a kebab shop—somewhere along a busy boardwalk during the peak summer tourist season.
I’m curious to hear your thoughts on the viability of this venture and whether it actually pays off in the long run. Most importantly, I’m looking for guidance on the easiest way to get the wheels turning and how to manage the day-to-day operations without losing my mind. If anyone happens to have any helpful links regarding starting a small business or general entrepreneurship tips, please, by all means, drop them here. Much appreciated.👍

Just type "opening" into the search bar and you'll see a ton of identical or nearly identical threads popping up everywhere. Seriously, just do a little digging 🙂
.

So, I’ve been doing some reading—deep dives, if you can call them that—and I figured I’d start with something a bit more specific. I was looking over the regulations regarding opening a seasonal business (since I’m thinking about working strictly during the summer months), and I have to wonder... is it actually impossible to set up a seasonal operation for this specific field? I think the technical term is hospitality, or maybe food service? And, for heaven's sake, am I required to pass some sort of official server certification exam or something similar just to get started?

Why on earth is it always kebabs? It feels like we don't have a single culinary identity left to our names, for instance 🤷

Well, it’s because nothing quite like that exists here in the States—it's a global staple, easy to whip up, and honestly, the price point is hard to beat... so, please, feel free to throw your own suggestions my way.

Jamie Howard3 said:Why on earth is it always kebabs? It feels like we don't have a single culinary identity left to our names, for instance 🤷

Nah, it's true though, we don't have anything that's truly "ours"... if you can actually think of something uniquely American, let me know

Maybe just stick to pizza?

fried calamari

Just because you see squid everywhere along the coast doesn't mean they aren't thriving in other oceans too... and honestly, thinking fried calamari is the absolute peak of our culinary game is a bit of a stretch, don't you think?

I remember there were even those little roadside stands trying to sell roasted chorizo, but they just couldn't make it work and went bust.

Patrick Castillo4 said:Just because you see squid everywhere along the coast doesn't mean they aren't thriving in other oceans too... and honestly, thinking fried calamari is the absolute peak of our culinary game is a bit of a stretch, don't you think?

I remember there were even those little roadside stands trying to sell roasted chorizo, but they just couldn't make it work and went bust.

True, but at least you can market that stuff as "local" (even if the squid is actually an import from Patagonia or wherever else.

There's this fast food joint that just opened up in Cleveland recently that basically only serves fries, and honestly? They're killing it.

http://www.izlasci.net/rijeka/20-03-...ri-u-gradu.php

Look, squid isn't a bad concept, but I honestly think it’s a much bigger headache than just grabbing a gyro... though, I suppose it does feel a bit more approachable and mainstream to most people, I guess.

To start things off, just one phrase: "If you haven't put in the work by now, you aren't going to succeed"...
It’s pretty obvious from your post that you haven't got a clue what you're talking about, so honestly, you'd be better off just staying out of this whole thing... I'm really not feeling this...
So, I’m hoping I managed to steer clear right from the jump of avoiding those people who lead with lines like that...
They just copy and paste everything, honestly... they don't have the guts or the capital to actually try building anything original on their own, they just...
They’re basically selling us out for a quick buck... and honestly, I'm not even losing sleep over the current smoking laws, because...
It’s not even about the crisis right now, I’m just focused on other things entirely...

Alright, let's get this show on the road, since neither my colleague nor I have actually wrapped up anything related to...
I know we’ve been talking about this, and I truly believe one of us here could actually pull off opening our own restaurant or cafe without...
That being said, we’d pretty much have to bring on a third person who actually holds a valid certification...
I’m still weighing my options regarding professional certifications and what kind of credentials would actually carry weight if I decided to step up as a cafe manager... I honestly just don't know...
So, I was wondering about what happens if I decide to actually pull the trigger and start my own business... like, does that change things regarding whether I still need a third party involved or if that whole requirement just disappears once I'm officially an owner...
Can one person actually wear two hats at once, like being both the manager and an employee... I mean, is that even allowed in practice...
So, I’ve been sitting here staring at my bank account and thinking about this whole coffee shop idea, and honestly, I can't decide if it's better to just start as a sole proprietorship or go through all the extra paperwork to set up an LLC... because when you really dig into the legalities and the tax implications, the decision feels so much heavier than just picking out espresso machines and bean roasters... It's like you're trying to balance the simplicity of being your own boss against the massive safety net that comes with corporate protection, especially once you start worrying about liability and how much of your personal savings might be on the line if things don't go exactly according to plan...

Could my mother be considered a third party if she’s spent over thirty years working at...
Trying to balance the hospitality industry while simultaneously grinding away at my own business and trying to be an effective manager... it’s a lot to juggle all at once...
So, are we talking about opening up a coffee bar? If that’s the case, I’m really wondering how you’re planning to navigate the whole situation with payroll, social security taxes, and all those inevitable headaches that come with running a small business in the States...
What kind of trouble could she actually get into at work...?

I had a whole bunch of other questions lined up too, but they just completely slipped my mind while I was typing this out... 🙂
Thanks in advance for all the help and the answers...

Let’s dive in—neither my colleague nor I have any formal training in
hospitality. I realize one of us could technically launch a small business without
having the credentials, but we'd then be required to hire a third party—someone with a
professional certification to act as the manager of our coffee shop. I am also unclear
on how things work if I set up a corporation instead. Would I still need that third
person, or could I serve as both the owner and the manager myself? Generally speaking,
is it wiser to go with a sole proprietorship or an LLC when opening a cafe?

Could that third person be my mother? She has over 30 years of experience in
the service industry and could theoretically keep her current job while acting as the manager of my
coffee shop. If that is an option, how would the payroll, social security, and potential legal
complications work out...?

I had several other questions, but they slipped my mind while typing this out. 🙂
Thanks in advance for the help!

For a sole proprietorship, you'll need a qualified employee... but with an LLC, you can operate without those specific credentials.
In my opinion, an LLC is always the better route—your liability is limited to your initial investment if things go south....
An LLC doesn't require that third person....
If you do end up going the sole proprietorship route, you should check with a legal aid clinic regarding your mother's situation. There is a lot to consider.
Best of luck.👍