Starting a small business

The real issue is how fragmented the federal bureaucracy is. You end up hunting through ten different departments just to track down a single document. Their online portals are practically useless; you can't even submit a basic request to an agency digitally.
It’s not quite an apples-to-apples comparison, but an English person can set up a small business within 48 hours and handle almost everything through a website.

Today, Secretary Maras announced that businesses will finally be allowed to register their names in English. This should hit the floor of the US Congress for a vote by June.
Up until now, you were strictly limited to using American or Latin—though Greek was also an option.🙂

When I was trying to get the scoop on the opening, I ended up trekking over to the local Chamber of Commerce office about ten times—it’s exhausting. You honestly can't wrap your head around the whole process with just one email or a quick phone call 🙂 most of the staff there act like they're perpetually on vacation.

Exactly. That’s why I spend my time reading through everyone's experiences on this forum and taking notes. I’ve been thinking about starting my own small business, but there always seems to be some new hurdle popping up.
The bigger issue is the exchange system, which makes it nearly impossible to actually get anything done. The rates and the whole structure are poorly designed, and for instance, if I need to attend a training session, I have to travel all the way to Indiana. If a seminar is held in Washington, D.C., neither I nor anyone else can participate unless we happen to live in D.C. or the District of Columbia.

It honestly feels like most of these systems are rigged to prevent people from getting off the ground right from the start.

mellowmarlin15 said:The real issue is how fragmented the federal bureaucracy is. You end up hunting through ten different departments just to track down a single document. Their online portals are practically useless; you can't even submit a basic request to an agency digitally.
It’s not quite an apples-to-apples comparison, but an English person can set up a small business within 48 hours and handle almost everything through a website.

Today, Secretary Maras announced that businesses will finally be allowed to register their names in English. This should hit the floor of the US Congress for a vote by June.
Up until now, you were strictly limited to using American or Latin—though Greek was also an option.🙂

In Canada, it takes two hours. The fragmentation exists because unqualified people are running the show. That pattern shows up whenever jobs are handed out through nepotism and connections rather than merit. In America, you can't get anything done without hitting a wall. That's why I gave up on this country a long time ago.

I’ve honestly learned more on this forum than I ever did from calling actual government agencies. It’s a massive step forward that various federal departments and even the IRS have an official presence on Facebook now, so at least you can try to get some answers there. I see people posting about all sorts of issues; everyone is trying to make things work, but progress is still pretty slow.

So, I might be asking a bit of a silly question here 😁, but I’ve been scouring the internet and I honestly can't find a straight answer anywhere regarding how long it actually takes to get a small business license set up
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I mean, I'm talking about the total timeline—from the moment you finally hand over all those official forms to the government until the day you can actually open your doors and start making money
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It takes a few days—really depends on what kind of business you’re running and if the inspectors actually need to swing by your site or not... I filed my paperwork for those SBA grants back in July, but didn't officially launch until September. When it came time to actually get moving, they let me pick my own start date—I ended up taking an extra couple of days just to breathe, though I could have started immediately if I wanted to.

What’s the legal minimum pay an independent contractor should be drawing to stay fully compliant?

I mean, if someone is receiving $6167 in contributions through their business, that amount just ends up being cycled right back to the government via taxes. I'm trying to figure out how much actually needs to hit the bank account each month. I've heard some talk that it should basically match the contribution amount—like, maybe $1,800 from the state and another $1,800 earned directly from the business itself.

You don't actually have to pay yourself a formal salary through your small business.
I cover the payroll taxes for some $567 and don't run a regular paycheck, but I can always pull cash from an ATM whenever I need it.

I get the whole thing about taxes, but I recall seeing a statement from Secretary Mršić suggesting that whatever incentive the IRS provides should be paid out alongside the actual salary amount.
And that would happen every single month.

That’s why I’m asking; if I don't have to pay out a salary, then fine. 🙂

My main priority is just settling my obligations to the government so I know I'm totally squared away, especially since monthly earnings fluctuate so much. Sometimes they're higher, sometimes they're lower.

I'll probably check in with the unemployment office to see what they have to say about it.

Apologies if this has already been asked—I think it was back in 2010, but I’m sure the rules have shifted significantly since then. Since I’ve been on unemployment for over six months, I qualify for a self-employment incentive. My caseworker suggested I start a small business using the simplified tax method.
My questions are as follows:
1. What are the startup costs for launching a sole proprietorship?
2. Does this type of business require paying local tourism district fees?
3. I live with my in-laws and don't own any property in my own name. Since this is a field-based business, am I required to own real estate to qualify?
4. How can I check if the business name I want is already taken?
5. Aside from income tax and social security, what are my monthly overhead expenses?
Please get back to me as soon as possible. Thanks in advance!😉

I didn't say we were talking about a small local business or a cleaning service...

Tyler Allen14 said:Apologies if this has already been asked—I think it was back in 2010, but I’m sure the rules have shifted significantly since then. Since I’ve been on unemployment for over six months, I qualify for a self-employment incentive. My caseworker suggested I start a small business using the simplified tax method.
My questions are as follows:
1. What are the startup costs for launching a sole proprietorship?
2. Does this type of business require paying local tourism district fees?
3. I live with my in-laws and don't own any property in my own name. Since this is a field-based business, am I required to own real estate to qualify?
4. How can I check if the business name I want is already taken?
5. Aside from income tax and social security, what are my monthly overhead expenses?
Please get back to me as soon as possible. Thanks in advance!😉

Since I went through the exact same process a few days ago for the same line of work...

1. roughly $267
2. I haven't a clue, but my guess is no.
3. I was told it isn't necessary.
4. You can check here:
5. Well, around $233 once you factor in the accountant... plus various other fees. Your overhead for Social Security and Medicare stays fixed—from what I've heard, it's the same for everyone.

And honestly, if you're trying to set this up in San Francisco or Washington, D.C., don't bother—the red tape is endless.

I didn't take the government incentives because they won't cover equipment purchases; I ended up dropping about 50k just on machinery and tools alone.

😉

When you're first setting up an LLC, don't forget to budget for the official seal and that wall plaque for the office
I can't quite recall if I shelled out any cash when I launched my business—honestly, I don't think I did

Thanks for the feedback. To clarify, I’m not looking to open shop in downtown Chicago, but rather in one of the surrounding suburbs within the metropolitan area. From what I’ve gathered, there's plenty of demand out there, but almost no legitimate repair services—most people just hire someone under the table. My plan isn't to drop a fortune on heavy machinery right away; I intend to rely solely on my own hands and tools for now. Finances are tight since I've been unemployed for over seven months, and my husband is relying on sporadic disability checks every few months. How did you all handle your initial marketing? I was thinking about printing flyers and posting them on apartment buildings, local bars, etc. Does it even make sense to jump into this if I don't want to drown in debt? Please, share your experiences so I don't make any costly mistakes. Thanks a million for the answers and for bearing with me!

I'm honestly not sure how you'll manage without at least a decent wet/dry vac... then again, you don't necessarily need a top-of-the-line industrial machine right out of the gate. My business mostly revolves around government contracts—think municipal offices, state agencies, or large residential complexes like those managed by big property groups.

But hey, give it a shot—you've got nothing to lose.

For advertising, flyers are probably your best bet.
I’m planning to run some spots on local radio and TV stations in a few days myself.
You could also look into group buying cooperatives.

As for restaurants and cafes... honestly, just walk in, find the owner, and pitch them directly. In my experience, face-to-face interaction beats any other method every single time.

The golden rule here: don't price yourself out of the market, but for heaven's sake, don't work for free either.

If you have more questions about the process, feel free to ask. 😉

To start, I was thinking about focusing on stairwells, hallways, and other areas where heavy machinery isn't really necessary. I have a new vacuum that works wonders, though it's strictly for dry use. It’s not industrial grade, but for getting things moving 🤷it should get the job done.
I don't want to charge too much, but I can't work for free either... how do you actually set a price?🤷On various cleaning service websites, they list rates $10per apartment for stairwell cleaning, but I can't tell if those include sales tax or not. How do I structure my pricing so everyone walks away happy? My goal isn't a quick buck; I just want to make enough so that after all my expenses are covered, I’m left with a decent paycheck of about $833, at least initially. In this economy, finding a job and still pulling a real wage is a feat worthy of Copperfield.😢😢

Tyler Allen14 said:To start, I was thinking about focusing on stairwells, hallways, and other areas where heavy machinery isn't really necessary. I have a new vacuum that works wonders, though it's strictly for dry use. It’s not industrial grade, but for getting things moving 🤷it should get the job done.
I don't want to charge too much, but I can't work for free either... how do you actually set a price?🤷On various cleaning service websites, they list rates $10per apartment for stairwell cleaning, but I can't tell if those include sales tax or not. How do I structure my pricing so everyone walks away happy? My goal isn't a quick buck; I just want to make enough so that after all my expenses are covered, I’m left with a decent paycheck of about $833, at least initially. In this economy, finding a job and still pulling a real wage is a feat worthy of Copperfield.😢😢

Those quotes are pre-tax..

With a small business, once you cover your expenses, whatever is left is yours..
You just have to put in the work and maintain a professional standard..
And if you have to kiss a few extra asses to land a contract... well, that's just part of the game..

I’ve spent years working retail, so getting sucked into the grind isn't anything new to me.🤣 As for professionalism, I’d have to be delusional not to take this seriously—my entire livelihood depends on it. Plus, since I'm running my own business now, the math is simple: more work equals more profit. Thanks to everyone for the input and the help. This Monday, I’m heading over to the local Chamber of Commerce to figure out the logistics, and then I'll sit down with my accountant for some consultations. We'll see how it all unfolds once the dust settles.🤷 Thanks again, best regards.😁😁😁

Tyler Allen14 said:I’ve spent years working retail, so getting sucked into the grind isn't anything new to me.🤣 As for professionalism, I’d have to be delusional not to take this seriously—my entire livelihood depends on it. Plus, since I'm running my own business now, the math is simple: more work equals more profit. Thanks to everyone for the input and the help. This Monday, I’m heading over to the local Chamber of Commerce to figure out the logistics, and then I'll sit down with my accountant for some consultations. We'll see how it all unfolds once the dust settles.🤷 Thanks again, best regards.😁😁😁

If you have any other questions, just ask. 😉

Your best bet is to head straight to the Secretary of State's office—once that's settled, you can sleep easy.

As for family—siblings, spouses, whatever—they can help you out without needing to be officially on the payroll.