I'm thinking about starting a (very) small business

[Fraggable]

I have a full time day job working at a school as a network admin/help desk. I basically am the IT department on my own.

I've been thinking about starting my own business for a couple years now, and think this is the time for me to start seriously looking into what's involved. I am not planning to buy or rent a building or even to employ anyone, I just want to start it on my own and see what kind of interest there is. In June, when I'm done at my current job, I'll see where I am and determine if I can expand enough to make it a successful business. At the moment I don't have at ton of time to devote to it, I work 8-3:30 every weekday, so I'll have to start this using evenings and weekends when I find time.

I plan to provide IT services, everything from server setup and management to networking (and wireless) to PC repair. I think that there are a lot of small businesses who need IT services but can't pay a full-time staff member to provide it, and I would be able to provide some of those services at a much lower cost than a full time employee. I like to think that I will be able to present 'new' technologies such as Smartphones and PDAs to business owners to make them more productive. I've talked to more than 1 small business owner who has mentioned that they know there are things out there that can help them but they don't have a clue where to start.

I plan to charge $60 - $75 an hour + travel time to start out.
My qualifications are 3+ years of Windows server management, 8+ years of PC repair experience, and I'm finishing my associates' in PC Support and Administration with an emphasis on network administration.

So, I don't think I need to apply for a business license, but maybe I do? I'm not sure how the IRS views this, I assume there's a certain amount that I can make before I have to start reporting it as a business?

Oh, also, I'd like to find a listing of email addresses for small businesses but they're hard to find. I could call around and advertise that way but it's hard to describe everything I can offer that way. I might end up driving around and handing out flyers.

 

[DarkKnight69]

Originally posted by: Fraggable
I have a full time day job working at a school as a network admin/help desk. I basically am the IT department on my own.

I've been thinking about starting my own business for a couple years now, and think this is the time for me to start seriously looking into what's involved. I am not planning to buy or rent a building or even to employ anyone, I just want to start it on my own and see what kind of interest there is. In June, when I'm done at my current job, I'll see where I am and determine if I can expand enough to make it a successful business. At the moment I don't have at ton of time to devote to it, I work 8-3:30 every weekday, so I'll have to start this using evenings and weekends when I find time.

I plan to provide IT services, everything from server setup and management to networking (and wireless) to PC repair. I think that there are a lot of small businesses who need IT services but can't pay a full-time staff member to provide it, and I would be able to provide some of those services at a much lower cost than a full time employee. I like to think that I will be able to present 'new' technologies such as Smartphones and PDAs to business owners to make them more productive. I've talked to more than 1 small business owner who has mentioned that they know there are things out there that can help them but they don't have a clue where to start.

I plan to charge $60 - $75 an hour + travel time to start out.
My qualifications are 3+ years of Windows server management, 8+ years of PC repair experience, and I'm finishing my associates' in PC Support and Administration with an emphasis on network administration.

So, I don't think I need to apply for a business license, but maybe I do? I'm not sure how the IRS views this, I assume there's a certain amount that I can make before I have to start reporting it as a business?

Oh, also, I'd like to find a listing of email addresses for small businesses but they're hard to find. I could call around and advertise that way but it's hard to describe everything I can offer that way. I might end up driving around and handing out flyers.

In canada, as long as your are Under 30k per year revenue, you dont need to report it, however, you will typically need a business license even if you are working from home...

 

[DaveSimmons]

You can download the instructions for 1040 schedule C from IRS.gov but you need to file a schedule C as soon as you make a few hundred dollars. You don't need to incorporate or get a business tax ID though.

If you don't have homeowner or renter's insurance, get that first. The policy will often include a bit of coverage for legal costs.

If you meet with customers in a home office you probably need a business license with the city.

 

[iamme]

do a search here....there have been lots of threads about starting a PC support type business.

good luck!

 

[Fraggable]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
You can download the instructions for 1040 schedule C from IRS.gov but you need to file a schedule C as soon as you make a few hundred dollars. You don't need to incorporate or get a business tax ID though.

If you don't have homeowner or renter's insurance, get that first. The policy will often include a bit of coverage for legal costs.

If you meet with customers in a home office you probably need a business license with the city.

I don't plan to have customers coming to my house (I live with my parents still - I'm 22). If this takes off I might end up renting an office but that's pretty far out at this point.

 

[Goosemaster]

Oh, also, I'd like to find a listing of email addresses for small businesses but they're hard to find. I could call around and advertise that way but it's hard to describe everything I can offer that way.

Good way to make enemies fast.

I might end up driving around and handing out flyers.

That is a start, but you will need to have references available for contact purposes.....and it will be rough.

 

[Fraggable]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Oh, also, I'd like to find a listing of email addresses for small businesses but they're hard to find. I could call around and advertise that way but it's hard to describe everything I can offer that way.

Good way to make enemies fast.

I might end up driving around and handing out flyers.

That is a start, but you will need to have references available for contact purposes.....and it will be rough.

I have a few business contacts who would be glad to answer questions about my quality of work, etc. I've done work for a few businesses already and worked with other small business on projects and they could speak for my character. Is that what you mean?

I didn't like the idea of calling anyway, it just doesn't come across right.

 

[D1gger]

Being from Canada I can't help you with the administration of setting up your business, but a couple of things you might want to consider are:

How would your current employer think about you moonlighting. Some employers make it a condition of employment that there will be no moonlighting, or that they be notified if you start a second job.

You're correct that a lot of small businesses want access to your type of skills, but they may need to have the skills available during regular working hours, for example they come in at 8 one morning and find that the server has shut down with an error message and needs to be fixed. They may not be willing or able to wait until 3:30 when your day job ends.

 

[Drakkon]

http://www.amazon.com/Small-Business-Dummies-Second-Tyson/dp/0764554816

 

[Fraggable]

Originally posted by: D1gger
Being from Canada I can't help you with the administration of setting up your business, but a couple of things you might want to consider are:

How would your current employer think about you moonlighting. Some employers make it a condition of employment that there will be no moonlighting, or that they be notified if you start a second job.

You're correct that a lot of small businesses want access to your type of skills, but they may need to have the skills available during regular working hours, for example they come in at 8 one morning and find that the server has shut down with an error message and needs to be fixed. They may not be willing or able to wait until 3:30 when your day job ends.

My current employer couldn't care less about it. Some of the employees (teachers and staff, including the principals and president) have had me do work for them personally so that's not an issue.

I had thought about the time issue, it's kind of a problem now but I'm hoping that if I get this started now and make some contacts, I can at least see if there's enough interest to cut back to a part time job in June and make this my first priority. I just can't wait until June, then expect to me able to get up and running in a week or so and start making money.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Fraggable

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Oh, also, I'd like to find a listing of email addresses for small businesses but they're hard to find. I could call around and advertise that way but it's hard to describe everything I can offer that way.

Good way to make enemies fast.

I might end up driving around and handing out flyers.

That is a start, but you will need to have references available for contact purposes.....and it will be rough.

I have a few business contacts who would be glad to answer questions about my quality of work, etc. I've done work for a few businesses already and worked with other small business on projects and they could speak for my character. Is that what you mean?

I didn't like the idea of calling anyway, it just doesn't come across right.

That's fine. Getting to the point where people will ask you for references is what I am talking about, now that you've said that you have some.