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Legality Question

by Dan R
9 replies
As you can see Im fairly new here but have absorbing tons of useful information from you guys so thanks for that.

Im currently taking my first stabs at offline and just had a few questions about "my business". In the past I have done ppc and affiliate programs where I just operated through google or clickbank as myself. Now that I am venturing into offline and going and selling my services to real local companies, I feel its a little unprofessional asking for a check or payment made out to my name. What would be the next step I should take as far as being the most legit as well as protecting myself.

I have looked into a sole proprietorship/DBA or an LLC. but again, Im fairly new and would just like any info or advice.

If it helps to know; Im selling two different monthly services, one online and one offline, both under different brands.

Thanks in advance for any help.
-Dan
#legality #question
  • Profile picture of the author Mwind076
    Until you learn more or get more situated, asking for a check in your own name is fine. Most people have no issue writing that. I would suggest you get a way to accept paypal or CC so no one has to write a check and you don't have to wait for a check to clear! Then it doesn't matter if you have a business name or not!

    Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan R
    Thanks for the advice. I looked into a few ways to accept cc with ipad scanners when doing b2b sales but didn't want to commit to anything before figuring this out.
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  • Profile picture of the author vndnbrgj
    I would form an LLC.
    You could use that as your parent company.
    Then you can have two DBA's for your parent company.
    One for online and one for offline.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mwind076
    There are SO many ways to accept a CC now. Even paypal has a "no sign up" way for people to pay you (where they don't have to have an account). There is also the square that goes on a cell phone, etc. I'll be honest, I don't know all the names of CC options, we just use paypal.
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  • Profile picture of the author Red Kaiser
    Get a DBA first from your local court (pretty cheap), then go to your bank and open a business account with your new DBA letter. You can then ask clients to write the check to your business account, which has your DBA listed on it.

    At least that's what I did.
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  • Profile picture of the author deu12000
    For several years I ran as a sole proprietorship and I just had payments made in my name. Over the last three years or so I created an LLC so accept payments through it now. You can do whichever you want. A lot of the small mom and pop shops like dealing with other small businesses.
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    • Profile picture of the author markstonepublishing
      I would definitely form an LLC and then use DBAs for your two brands. Here's the thing though. I would NOT worry about doing this before starting your marketing etc...The danger for many people is that they can get carried away with all these preps, spend several hundred dollars on LLC formation, business licenses, and the like, and then never launch, or find out they do not have a viable model. The answer?

      Always get things in motion with your marketing etc...first. Start talking to people. Walk the walk a bit in your business model, make sure it's viable, then go legit with the LLC and DBAs etc...

      You can very easily sign up with Paypal and Square to accept payments that way in the interim. You're only talking about a couple clients as you get started. After a short time you'll file and be fully legit. Just get moving first! Best of luck to you!
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan R
    good info, going to get the ball rolling some more then worry about this.

    Thanks
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  • Profile picture of the author newfriends
    Well I am sure you guys might have heard of square up

    If you have an iphone then this will impress your customers as well. What do you think IM's..?
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