   starting a business
  I am thinking about running my own business (not a game development studio) as a computer repair guy. So I am going to put my phone numbers on flyers and I will come to my client''s home/office to repair computers. So, for those you have done this before, what are the stuff/paperwork I have to do so that I can run my business safely (I do not want watchful lawyers sue me because I don''t have such and such license). Do I need to go to city hall and fill out forms or something? I am not going to have an office or anything or a company name, everything will go by phone. 
  Here (in Canada) a personnal company (where you are still liable for everything, if you go bankrupt personnaly too) only require a little paperwork at the city all and that's it.  Dunno about other places.EDIT: fuckt parenthesis   [edited by - xMcBainx on July 31, 2003 5:29:28 PM];  I wouldn''t register a personal company (or however it is called in the US), if I were you. Far too dangerous, especially in the hardware support sector. If something goes wrong, and a customer sues you, then this can easily ruin your entire life, as you will be personally liable for everything, with everything you have.I''d definitely go with a limited liability company, even if there''s more paperwork involved. It''s a lot safer that way.;  LLC isn''t that much harder than anything else. I would also have them sign a contract that says your not liable for anything. To start an LLC just call your local city hall and find out where you need to go. Then fill out paperwork and pay a really small fee and your all set. For Southern California Orange County area I had to go to Santa Anna. Also I would have a lawyer make a master copy of the contracts that you want done.   ------------------------------p.s. excuse me english. im from L.A. ;  Let me give you a bit of realistic (and bad) advice. Post a DBA with the county you intend to operate in, run 90% of your first year off the books and be sure and show a loss on your 1040. California taxes will nail you long before you get off the ground if you play fair. Dont bother insuring, and if you get sued in your first year just skip out on it. I know that sounds ridiculous but after a bit of research you may find it justified. If you have any employees make them post their own DBA and define the relationship as a contract laborer, which will skirt employer liability clauses, workmans comp, and FICA.Be sure to pay them pre-tax(meaning dont withold anything, including any equipment you purchase for them), and deduct 100% of their salary as a flat operating deduction ;  uh..do I really need a lawyer? That''s too much work :/ I realize how risky it is repairing client''s computer and end up damaging it, but I am not really serious about this business (that''s why I don''t even have a company name for it), I just need some extra cash because I cannot work in the next few months. ;  If thats the case then it doesn''t matter. All you have to do is keep receipts and claim your income from the "business" with the rest of your taxes. If its a solo operation, its not that big of a deal. It only gets drastically more complicated when there is more than one person. Its its justa side thing I''d say don''t worry about it, its when you want it to be your full fledged job that you need to some paperwork.There are plenty of books out there that outline how to form a corporation and/or LLC. It can be as complicated or uncomplicated as you want it to. Visit mycorporation.com for a breakdown of what the different business types offer.   ---------------------------------------------------laziness is the foundation of efficiencyretrospiral.net | llamas! | megatokyo | FreeBSD | gamedev.net | google