Your Questions About Doing Business Online Government

Jere answers:

Assuming you are in the U.S. No you usually do not need a business license. If you’re from another country, I cannot answer that, as I have no experience with other countries.

I’ve owned a number of online stores over the last 20 years, first in Maryland, now PA. Neither state requires a license. Think of a license as usually applying to businesses that have special requirements and that the government needs (or thinks it needs) to regulate, such as real estate licenses, banking licenses, etc.

Thank being said, it’s best to check with your state department of labor and licensing to make sure. You never know when some state somewhere might have a requirement that I’m not aware.

A quick look online or phone call should give you the correct answer.

Tony

Jere answers:

It is hard to find grants to start a business. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for a for-profit business. You may stand a greater chance of getting grant funding if you will start a non profit organization.

Nonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov – these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture.

Even if you buy books on “how to get grants” or list that supposedly has information on grants — all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently. But still the info is the same – hardly any grants for starting a for profit business.

Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html…

“The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments.”

Here is a listing of federal grants for small businesses. See if there is any available for individuals for starting a business — THERE’S NONE.
Http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.BROWSE_BENEF_RPT.show

Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. Minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT – Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program

Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women’s Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women’s business center that will train women entrepreneurs

For private grants, you may want to check the Foundation Center’s Foundation Grants for Individuals Online. It’s a subscription based website ($9.95 per month) but their opening blurb only says that the database is ideal for “students, artists, academic researchers, libraries and financial aid offices.” Entrepreneurs are apparently not one of them, so I take it they also don’t have listings of private foundations who give grants to would-be entrepreneurs.

Jere answers:

To start a non profit you need to file a 501(c)(3) which is the government non profit documentation. Unlike most businesses, to start a non profit you need to either register your company as an LLC or a corporation(all states require one or the other, some require incorporation). Your state also determines the steps that are required to register your business and what it will cost. Registering either of these legal structures will require going through the IRS, particularly incorporation. Both the 501 and registering your business can cost you a good amount so make sure that you have the money to invest.

There are so many great non profit organizations out there that my best advice would be partnering with one of these organizations and getting them to sponsor you rather than starting your own non profit. However, if you do decide to go ahead with your idea for starting a non profit then I would certainly advise getting professional assistance to make certain that you don’t end up making any mistakes that will cost you more. Do what you think will be best for you!

Http://www.RanksIntl.com

Jere answers:

From the US to the EU or Australia/New Zealand, the most fluid option would be to acquire an Employer Sponsored visa from the UK. Essentially you set yourself up with a job by applying online through an agency or directly with an employer, and they will walk through the process of getting the visa on your behalf. It is generally very fast (withing 12 weeks or so).

Your family would travel with you listed as dependents, which the employer would also sort. These visas do not confer the right of residency, but the time you spend working will count in your favour should you choose to apply for permanent residence or citizenship.

The other option is to go for a skills based visa. In Australia this is done under the skilled migrant program, in the UK (which being an EU member is a gateway to Europe) the HSMP program is its equivalent. It helps substantially if you are a University Graduate and HSMP confers permanent residency and the right to apply for citizenship after a period of time. It is speculated Ireland is the easiest country for Americans to obtain visas to, but I do not know the Irish application system or the truth in that rumour.

There are also numerous classes of visas which are open to those with money to invest in business or relocating an established business in Europe and Australia/NZ. They require fairly significant investments.

For most places you need a good bill of health and a clean rap sheet.

When I migrated I left my stuff in the UK until I had permanent residency and then shipped it, but that is entirely a matter of personal preference and planning. Some stuff I simply replaced.

For the uk & australia if you are curious you may want to take a look at the official government websites listed in sources.

Cheers

Jere answers:

You can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov – these are two FREE sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support your purposes.

Even if you buy books on “how to get grants” or list that supposedly has information on grants — all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently.

Note though that these grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments. Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. Minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT – Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program. Individuals especially for personal purposes are not eligible for federal grants.

Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women’s Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women’s business center that will train women entrepreneurs

It is hard to find grants to start a business. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for starting a for-profit business.

One possible exception is for companies developing or exporting agricultural goods, including food and forest product. Another exception could be the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sbir/index.html , which fund the research and development of technological innovation that meets specific government needs.