Accordingly, an important step in starting your business is to engage competent professionals.

Selecting an Accountant

The most important piece of information about accountants is that not all accountants are equally trained. Bookkeepers may or may not have a college education or any formal training. That may or may not be appropriate for your business depending on your needs and the accounting requirements of your business. Conversely, the designation of a CPA does require advanced education, passing the CPA examination and certification by the Florida Division of Certified Public Accountants. Most businesses have a bookkeeper that handles day-to-day transactions and hire a CPA for review of those books and/or tax assistance.

The Florida Division of Certified Public Accountants offers this advice in selecting an accountant (http://www.myflorida.com/dbpr/cpa/index.html):

“When you choose a CPA we have the following suggestions you may find helpful:

• Check the license status from our online search at http://www.myfloridalicense.com or call the Customer Contact Center at 850.487.1395.
• Specifically, make sure the license is current, and check for any disciplinary actions against the licensee.
• Check to see if the license is active and how long the individual has been licensed.
• Interview the prospective CPA either by telephone or in person. Find out what type of accounting work they typically perform. Compare the CPA's experience to your service needs.
• Ask about the office hours of the CPA; determine whether the office is open year round; inquire if the CPA is available to take telephone inquiries.

It is important to make certain before any work is done by the CPA that you receive an engagement letter detailing the work to be performed for you, who specifically will be performing the work, and cost of the services.”

When starting a business, there is nothing more critical than protecting your business assets and ideas from theft from competitors. There are several basic ways to protect your tangible and intangible assets and/or ideas.

Patents:

What is a Patent? Patents are specific grants of property rights to an inventor that are issued by the United States government or corresponding international organizations.

The business plan is your roadmap to success for your small business. It describes who you are, what you intend to do, how you intend to do it, and what possible things can get in your way. By taking the time to make a complete business plan, you may save yourself a lot of time and money later on. Additionally, a good business plan is essential for obtaining financing.

What is Included in a Business Plan?

A business plan needs to be a well thought out, honest, appraisal of the business and opportunity. The following outline is meant to be used for your road map. It should be a living document that is updated periodically to reflect changes in the environment.

A good business plan should contain the following basics:

“Is starting a business right for you?”

This question is critical, because you, as a new business owner, need to be fully and completely committed to running your own business and fully and completely willing and able to do so. So, ask yourself the following questions.

Note: The following information is duplicated from http://www.score.org/

Are You a Self-Starter?

Nothing in business happens by itself. As the owner, you are responsible for everything from establishing your firm’s vision to setting the daily work schedule. The fact that you are exploring small business ownership and asking questions is a good sign.