Starting an Online Business All-in-One For Dummies®, 3rd Edition

Book II

Legal and Accounting

Contents at a Glance

Chapter 1: Minding the Law

Keeping Your Business Legal

Zoning for Business (at Home)

Obtaining Business Licenses

Chapter 2: Choosing the Right Foundation — from Partnerships to Corporations

Strategizing for the Best Organization

Operating Alone as a Sole Proprietor

Sharing the Load with a Partnership

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Making It Official with Incorporation

Changing Your Organization As It Grows

Chapter 3: The Trademark-and-Copyright Two-Step

Understanding Why Trademarks and Copyrights Matter

Making Your (Trade)Mark

Protecting Your Investment with Copyrights

Establishing Registration Yourself

Retaining Professional Assistance

Chapter 4: Accounting for Taxes (and Then Some)

The Tax Man Cometh — Again and Again

By the Numbers: Accounting Basics

Choosing Software to Make Your Tasks Easy

Hiring a Professional

Following the Rules of Recordkeeping