Starting a small business

Nathan Cox25 said:There was some talk about this recently.
If you’re looking at the job market, you really need to be with them for at least six months first.
The incentives hover somewhere around $29k–$34k $0.00—give or take—depending on your degree. I’m not entirely sure if they're still handing those out; they seemed pretty active until last November.
Now, we're waiting on those federal and state grants to kick in. They usually expect you to actually be turning a profit and have had your LLC registered for at least a month before you even apply for the tender.

So, I’m technically employed, but I’ve been on long-term disability for three years now due to health issues. It looks like I might get my severance and be let go soon. Any chance I could qualify for any kind of grant?

Look, if you get laid off and qualify for unemployment benefits, you can actually pull that whole lump sum at once if you're planning to kick off your own small business or whatever. It really just comes down to how many months of benefits you're eligible for and what your average paycheck looked like—basically, how much cash we're talking about here. I saw this mentioned on their official website, but honestly, I have no clue how it works in the real world. Like, does the government drag their feet for months, or is the payout actually fast? I don't know.

Can you run something like a stationery shop alongside this kind of work (photocopying and digital printing)?

I’m pretty sure you'd need to register a small retail business too—not 100% certain, though.

Does the process drag on for months or is it pretty fast?

The government tends to drag its feet—always. They paid me one portion of my grant, but now they're stalling on the rest even though I've checked every single box they asked for. Still waiting.

So, regarding unemployment grants, you can't grab those unless you've been at the job center for six months—as for the benefit increase, honestly, I have no clue.

So, I finished high school, but my degree has absolutely nothing to do with the hospitality industry—I was trained as a logistics technician. Now I’m wondering where one actually goes to take the master's certification exam, how long the training lasts, and what the damage to my wallet will be. Also, do I actually need to hold that certification myself to open a small business, or is it enough to just hire someone who already has it?

from the law

Section 1.

(1) A sole proprietorship under this Law means the independent and continuous performance of permitted business activities per Section 3 of this Law by individuals aiming to generate profit through production, trade, or providing services within the market.

Section 5.

(1) An individual may operate a licensed trade if they meet the general requirements in Section 4 of this Law as well as specific professional qualification requirements or have passed a master's exam.

(2) An individual who meets the general requirements in Section 4 but fails to meet the specific professional qualification or master's exam requirement can still operate a licensed trade if they employ a worker who does meet those criteria.

just assume you'll be paying payroll taxes for at least two people then.

Section 6.
...

(4) Licensed trades may also be operated by individuals with the appropriate high school vocational diploma if the business is located in areas designated by the Law on Special State Care Areas and the law on islands.

(5) Individuals mentioned in paragraph 4 of this section must pass a master's exam to obtain the appropriate master title within one year of meeting the requirements in Section 56.

a bit about the master's exam

Master's exams are state-recognized tests regulated by the law on sole proprietorships and the Regulations on the procedure and method of taking master's exams, as well as professional qualification exams. They can be taken for titles on the list of licensed trades, the programs for which were established by the Secretary of Commerce.
Exams may be taken by individuals who have completed junior and senior high school vocational training and have at least 2 years of work experience in the profession for which they seek the master title.
Individuals with non-matching high school vocational diplomas may also take the exam if they have at least 3 years of work experience in the profession on the day they apply.

If I'm reading this right, you basically have to work somewhere as a pizza apprentice first before you can even think about the master's exam.

There is no upper age limit for applying for an exam.
The exam is applied for and administered at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce - local chapter.
To access the exam, you need to submit:
An exam application form
Junior and senior high school diplomas
Proof of meeting work experience requirements (a copy of your employment records and a certificate of work experience in the relevant profession)
A birth certificate

Work experience certificates are issued by the employer and must be notarized.
The journeyman exam is administered by a board from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. These panels usually consist of seasoned master tradespeople and various industry experts.
The exam breaks down into four specific parts:
A hands-on practical assignment and/or a work trial,
A theory test covering the essential skills needed to actually do the job right,
A business check—basically making sure you understand economics, bookkeeping rules, and the law on sole proprietorships,
And fundamental knowledge required for training apprentices.

You’re on the hook for the exam fees. Once you pass, you get issued a Master's Diploma. Having that credential lets you open and run your own small business, manage one for someone else, or just makes getting hired a lot easier. This certification gets recorded in your employment record. There’s no mandatory prep course, though you can always find accredited vocational schools if you want some extra study time.

Vocational competency exams are available for simpler trades listed under the official program guidelines. Those include...?

To sign up, you'll need to submit:
An exam application form
Proof of citizenship
A birth certificate

Registration and testing take place through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce - local chapter.
The exam is overseen by a commission from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, made up of veteran tradespeople along with experts in business and legal regulations.
The process involves:
Performing practical work and/or a work trial
And proving you have the knowledge to run a business independently.

Candidates cover their own costs.
If you pass, you receive a Certificate of Vocational Competency. This certificate gives you the green light to open and operate a business in your specific field.
This qualification is noted in your employment history.
Prep courses aren't strictly required, but they are available at accredited training centers.

The real question is whether you even need a journeyman's license for Halo Pizza. Just try sending them an email or giving them a call.

Nathan Cox25 said:

Can you run something like a stationery shop alongside this kind of work (photocopying and digital printing)?

I’m pretty sure you'd need to register a small retail business too—not 100% certain, though.

Does the process drag on for months or is it pretty fast?

The government tends to drag its feet—always. They paid me one portion of my grant, but now they're stalling on the rest even though I've checked every single box they asked for. Still waiting.

So, regarding unemployment grants, you can't grab those unless you've been at the job center for six months—as for the benefit increase, honestly, I have no clue.

Yeah, I've heard that too—they really tend to stall when it comes to that stuff. But word on the street is that this one-time boost to the benefits is supposed to move fast. Now, whether that's actually happening or just talk? Who knows. I'm totally lost on that one.

Nathan Cox25, thanks for the deep dive. Seriously, thanks. I’m really hoping you’re right about me not needing a master's license to open up a Halo Pizza shop—because if this law is actually taken literally, someone with my credentials wouldn't even be allowed to start a business. That seems to sit somewhere right on the edge of common sense—or rather, a total lack thereof. Anyway, I’m heading over to realtor.com on Monday to figure things out, and once I have the full story, I’ll post an update here. Peace

You probably won't get the full story there. From what I read, people really struggle dealing with them—it's a headache. Your best bet is to just head down to the local municipal office or the county clerk's building. Find the one closest to you and they'll give you the actual facts.

Nathan Cox25 said:You probably won't get the full story there. From what I read, people really struggle dealing with them—it's a headache. Your best bet is to just head down to the local municipal office or the county clerk's building. Find the one closest to you and they'll give you the actual facts.

well, I guess I'll start with them and see where it goes. also, does anyone know if there's an actual course for making pizza?

I hear people are waiting a month just to get their paperwork processed over there—stuff you’d wrap up at the DMV in half an hour. Maybe once traffic hits a total standstill, things will finally slow down. Good luck.

Nathan Cox25 said:I hear people are waiting a month just to get their paperwork processed over there—stuff you’d wrap up at the DMV in half an hour. Maybe once traffic hits a total standstill, things will finally slow down. Good luck.

So, I was there this morning—the lady totally misread me, thinking I was going to be whipping up square homemade pizzas and tossing them outside, haha. Anyway, I need to head back to the office. It's just like you said—they tell me what the minimum technical requirements are, then their inspector comes out to the site to decide if it actually passes. Honestly, I'm a little worried about some shady business—we all know how much fun American bureaucracy can be. Heading back to City Hall tomorrow morning, so we'll see. Won't stop me, though.

So, I’m getting ready to launch my own small business—basically a boutique shop selling school and office supplies, toys, and a bunch of other fun stuff.
I did some quick digging on some government websites, and it looks like I don't need a specific trade degree or anything to get the ball rolling. Plus, I've already got the physical storefront and everything meets the basic requirements.
The one thing that's tripping me up is this whole national business classification system. How many categories am I actually allowed to pick, and how much freedom do I really have there?
Here’s the deal: besides just selling pre-made goods, I’d love to be able to make my own custom greeting cards, invitations, hair bows, and things like that, then sell them right there in my own shop. Is that legally doable under one setup?

Yeah. It’s all paper-thin—you don't even need retail for this. Anything you churn out is basically sold before it's even finished.
If you actually want to run a shop, though, you need people who know what they're doing: sales reps, someone with an Econ degree from a state school, maybe an admin assistant or a clerk.
Don't just take everything at face value from some random blog—head down to the local Chamber of Commerce and get the real story.

Nathan Cox25 said:Yeah. It’s all paper-thin—you don't even need retail for this. Anything you churn out is basically sold before it's even finished.
If you actually want to run a shop, though, you need people who know what they're doing: sales reps, someone with an Econ degree from a state school, maybe an admin assistant or a clerk.
Don't just take everything at face value from some random blog—head down to the local Chamber of Commerce and get the real story.

That’s actually not true. Since the regulations changed last October regarding small business licenses, you don't need the specific professional qualifications you mentioned. Any standard high school diploma will do. I actually went ahead and checked with the local Small Business Administration, and even got a written confirmation from the Department of Commerce.

So now, here's what I'm trying to figure out: if I set up this small business, can I manufacture my own stuff—like custom wedding invitations—and then sell them through my own retail outlet? What kind of NAICS code should I be looking at? And how does the tax declaration work for that? etc.
I'm still a bit fuzzy on that part. Do I have to register as both a manufacturer and a retailer, or is there a way to combine them? 🤷

If that’s what they told you—well, fine by me. 😁
I didn't open mine until 9:00 AM—so, yeah, I was still waiting around.

Regarding NKD: — just my two cents.

17.2 Paper and paperboard manufacturing.
17.21 Corrugated paper, paperboard, and paper packaging manufacturing.
This class covers:
Just another day in the corrugated paper and cardboard manufacturing business—nothing ever really changes.
Just more corrugated paper and cardboard packaging manufacturing—nothing groundbreaking there.
Just more paper and cardboard packaging production—it’s a grind.
Manufacturing rigid board packaging—just another day at the office.
Just some paper and cardboard packaging production—nothing fancy.
Just making paper bags and pouches—nothing fancy, just the usual grind.
Manufacturing office binders and that sort of thing.
This category is off the table—just my luck.
Check the envelope production specs—see section 17.23.
Manufacturing molded and pressed cardboard items—think stuff like egg cartons or shipping inserts—is a whole different beast.
die-cut cardboard bases—check out 17:29.
Household goods, hygiene products, and paper supplies—just more stuff filling up warehouses.
This class covers:
Manufacturing paper goods for household and personal hygiene—basically just cellulose products.
vate:
Cleaning checklist—just some notes to keep things from falling apart.
Paper towels, napkins, hand towels—just the usual stuff.
The toilet paper situation—just one more thing to worry about.
Sanitary pads and tampons, diapers, and baby wipes—the usual stuff.
A glass, a plate, and a serving tray—just the basics.
Manufacturing textile batting and various cotton goods—think hygiene towels, tampons, and that sort of thing.
This class is excluded—just a heads-up.
Cellulose wadding production—check the Dec 17th update.
17.23 Paper office supply manufacturing.
This class covers:
Just manufacturing some ready-to-use paper for printing and writing—nothing fancy.
Manufacturing printer paper—the ready-to-use kind.
We’re looking at manufacturing self-copying paper—ready to go—for 41 units. Just another day at the office.
Carbon paper duplication dies—ready to go.
Manufacturing ready-to-use, gummed, and adhesive paper—just another day at the plant.
Just making envelopes—standard mailers and stuff. Nothing fancy.
We manufacture school and office supplies—you know, things like notebooks and binders.
Accounting ledgers, business templates—all that stuff—it doesn't really matter when you aren't relying on hard copies to get things done.
characteristics—just one more thing to track, I guess.
We manufacture boxes, pouches, and notebooks—all filled with a specific selection of premium writing paper.
This category is out—just doesn't fit.
Printing on paper products—take a look at section 18.1.

Manufacturing of other paper and paperboard products—just another line item in the industrial sector.
This class covers:
Label production—just another way to spend money—is a headache I don't need.
Manufacturing filter paper and cardboard—just another cog in the industrial machine.
We manufacture paper and cardboard components—things like coils, spools, lids, and whatnot.
Just manufacturing egg cartons and other molded pulp packaging—standard stuff.
Just started messing around with some paper prototyping—trying to churn out some new designs. It’s a bit of a grind, honestly.
Manufacturing paper or cardboard punch cards for use in Jacquard looms.
This category excludes:
Playing card manufacturing—it’s sitting right at 32.40.
Paper and cardboard toy manufacturing—take a look at that 32.40 figure.

Hi there!

I have a quick question regarding starting a small business. I am looking into opening a nail salon where I would also offer retail products, specifically importing supplies from overseas partners in Germany and Poland. Is this a viable business model under current regulations?

Thanks!

Hey there

I’ve got a question about starting a small business making and selling local goods—think honey-based treats, lavender products, stuff like that...
Does anyone here know if I need a specific certification or degree to do this, or am I allowed to just go for it myself without hiring an expert?
My plan is to sell these items from a booth or a stall—is that actually allowed, or am I forced to rent space in a formal gift shop?
And how long does the whole process take—getting a small business up and running—or is it all pretty much up in the air? :-)

Thanks in advance! :-)

Honestly, you don't need a degree for this kind of thing.
The problem is, you haven't given us enough details—are you actually growing the lavender and honey yourself, or just reselling it?

01.49 Raising other animals (bees, honey and wax production)
01.28 Growing plants for pharmacy use, aromatic, spice, or medicinal herbs
10.89 Production of other food products—the description mentions artificial honey, though I have no idea what they mean by that.
47.89 Retail sales of other goods at stalls and farmers' markets
47.91 Retail sales via mail or online

Though, if you head down to the local Small Business Administration office, they can give you the exact breakdown of activities allowed.

Setting up a small business doesn't take forever, really. You just go in to get the facts, pay the fees, fill out a mountain of paperwork—it’s endless—and drop it off. I'm not sure if you're in a rush or not; you can pick a start date a couple of months out to get your ducks in a row, or just dive in immediately. Just keep in mind, once you're live, those payroll taxes and contributions hit right away—you'll be paying them by next month.
First, you've got to pay for your official seal and that business signage for your address, then handle the bank account setup. Find a solid accountant to deal with the IRS, Social Security, and health insurance stuff—but obviously, wait until you've actually set your official start date.

Hey there! I’m seriously considering finally pulling the trigger and opening my own small business—specifically a boutique shoe store!!! Does anyone actually know how long this whole process takes from start to finish, and what kind of startup costs am I looking at to get the doors open? I need the real numbers and the timeline. THANKS

Nathan Cox25 said:Honestly, you don't need a degree for this kind of thing.
The problem is, you haven't given us enough details—are you actually growing the lavender and honey yourself, or just reselling it?

01.49 Raising other animals (bees, honey and wax production)
01.28 Growing plants for pharmacy use, aromatic, spice, or medicinal herbs
10.89 Production of other food products—the description mentions artificial honey, though I have no idea what they mean by that.
47.89 Retail sales of other goods at stalls and farmers' markets
47.91 Retail sales via mail or online

Though, if you head down to the local Small Business Administration office, they can give you the exact breakdown of activities allowed.

Setting up a small business doesn't take forever, really. You just go in to get the facts, pay the fees, fill out a mountain of paperwork—it’s endless—and drop it off. I'm not sure if you're in a rush or not; you can pick a start date a couple of months out to get your ducks in a row, or just dive in immediately. Just keep in mind, once you're live, those payroll taxes and contributions hit right away—you'll be paying them by next month.
First, you've got to pay for your official seal and that business signage for your address, then handle the bank account setup. Find a solid accountant to deal with the IRS, Social Security, and health insurance stuff—but obviously, wait until you've actually set your official start date.

Thanks, Nathan Cox25, 🙂 for the reply.
I’d be making the lavender souvenirs myself—like simple lavender sachets—but I'd be buying and reselling the essential oils, honey, and aromatic salts at the stall.
What are the actual obligations for a sole proprietor? Is it treated like any other employee where I could work part-time, or is there a fixed amount for Social Security and such? I know I still have to pay those obligations even if I already have another job.
Fine, I get that an accountant will eventually give me all these specifics, but shouldn't I have a rough idea of what I'm getting into from the start?
Specifically, I want to have my stall running this summer. If I tell the Office of Management and Budget a tentative start date—say June 1st—will they drag their feet on the processing, or if I say April 1st, will they hurry because I need the business license ready to apply for a local permit/concession? It's coming up fast.🙂
Or will they just tell me straight up if I've already missed the window for this summer?

Anyway, thanks again for the answers. 🙂