| Although this article provides information for | | | | available, including a certified copy. You will need |
| starting an online small business, the information | | | | your certified copy to open a business bank |
| can also be used for starting a brick and mortar | | | | account. |
| small business in any industry. | | | | Be sure to check with your county for their |
| The first step in starting your online or offline | | | | exact requirements as they may vary from the |
| business is to name it. When considering the name | | | | aforementioned, which are based on the |
| of your business, make sure it reflects the | | | | requirements of San Diego County. |
| products or services you will be offering. Take | | | | You will also need a business license, which is |
| into consideration not only the products you will | | | | required by your city and is renewable annually. |
| offer today, but also the products or services | | | | When you renew, there is an administrative fee |
| you could possibly offer in the future. Once you | | | | plus $.05 on every $100 ($.0005 x gross receipts) |
| have named your business, it is a hassle to | | | | you earned in the previous year. Different cities |
| change it; especially, if you have done extensive | | | | may have different formulas to determine the |
| marketing. | | | | fee for a business license. The City of Oceanside |
| If you choose a name for your business that is | | | | uses the previously mentioned formula. Again, |
| different than your surname, you have to file a | | | | check with your city for their exact requirements. |
| FBN (Fictitious Business Name) Statement with | | | | After you have taken care of all the |
| your county. For example, if your business name | | | | administrative tasks, now the real work begins. |
| is Brown & Baker Associates or Brown | | | | Marketing your small business is a lot of work. |
| & Baker Sons, you are required to file a FBN | | | | However, majority of the marketing tools |
| Statement. Although, your surname is Brown, as | | | | available to small business owners today are online |
| well as Baker being the surname of your partner, | | | | and cost little to no money, but they are very |
| associates' and sons' surnames are unknown; | | | | time-consuming to implement. |
| therefore, filing a FBN Statement is necessary. If | | | | You may want to consider working with a Virtual |
| the name of your business is Sally Brown | | | | Assistant, who is also a small business owner. You |
| Business Services, then you are not required to | | | | can think of virtual assistants as your online |
| file a Fictitious Business Name Statement, because | | | | administrative assistants. Chances are they are |
| you are conducting business under your legal | | | | using the same internet marketing tools and |
| name, Sally Brown. | | | | strategies to market their business; therefore, |
| Once you have filed your statement, it is | | | | they will know how to apply the same marketing |
| effective for five years and will need to be | | | | strategies to your business. They can also help |
| renewed at the end of that time period. You are | | | | you with your other administrative tasks. |
| also required to publish your FBN Statement with | | | | Overall, operating a small business has its pros and |
| court-approved newspapers once a week for | | | | cons. It is your company. No one can fire you or |
| four consecutive weeks. If your business is | | | | lay you off. However, it consumes a lot of your |
| located in San Diego County, the county clerk's | | | | time and it takes discipline. Becoming a successful |
| office provides you with a list of newspapers for | | | | small business owner doesn't happen overnight. |
| you to make your selection. If at the end of your | | | | Working with a Virtual Assistant will free up a |
| five-year period you haven't changed your | | | | great deal of your valuable time, as well as help |
| business name, ownership, or business location, it | | | | you to be organized. This will allow you to focus |
| is not necessary to publish your renewed | | | | on your products and/or services, in addition to |
| statement. Copies of your filed statement are | | | | gaining clients. |