How to start local web business?

How to start a Web Design Business?

• I was wanting to start a business where I could sell the service of web page design and development. Is there any legal things I need to do regarding taxes, starting a business, etc? ...show more

• Answer:

  Check with your local government (town, city, etc.) to see what they require of businesses. It can be different for 2 neighboring towns. Your clients would have to sign contracts. (Search the web for examples, or packages you can buy.) You have to be 18 or over, or you can't be held to a contract, so no one will do business with you. You'll need a federal EIN and possibly a state tax ID number. You'll need a business bank account. A merchant account (so you can accept credit cards) wouldn't be a bad idea. To start, I'd offer free design and development service to local businesses. They pay for hosting and a domain name, you create the site for free. (And make sure, in the contract, that they're getting the initial site for free, not modification and update services for the rest of your life. That costs extra.) Then you'll have some actual business sites to add to your portfolio. (Put a little "designed by <your website address>" in a bottom corner of each site page.) But before you get started, write a business plan. (A business without a plan is a business that's going to fail. You can't get there if you don't know where "there" is.) Ask a librarian for books to help you.