Enjoy Legal Counseling at 40% Off Normal Lawyer Fees!

The Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates has partnered with the New American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) and the African American International Chamber of Commerce (AAICC), to implement a Small Business Solutions Program. As a NACC or AAICC Chamber member, for as little as $299.40 annually (non-Chamber members $799.40); the Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates can be retained at 40% off normal lawyer fees.

To better understand this project, please review our Small Business Solutions Introduction, the NACC and AAICC Legal Club Description and a sample Small Business Solutions Retainer Agreement.

Remember, as a NACC or AAICC member, you pay only $299.40 annually to benefit from the Small Business Solutions Program; as a non-Chamber member the annual cost of this program is $799.40. For small businesses, new or old, we suggest that you register for the free seminar series, The Small Business Boot Camp, in conjunction with the NACC and AAICC Chambers. The Small Business Boot Camp is a five-part series of seminars: Business Plan Basics, Financing Your Business, Marketing and Social Media; Legal, Tax and Accounting Issues and Minority Certification of Your Business.

To register for the Small Business Boot Camp, go to: www.mynacc.org.


Evaluate and Develop Your Business Idea

Step	Description Resources
1.	Determine if the type of business suits you.
2.	Use a break-even analysis to determine if your idea can make money.
3.	Write a business plan, including a profit/loss forecast and a cash flow analysis.
4.	Find sources of start-up financing.
5.	Set up a basic marketing plan.
	Decide on a Legal Structure for Your Business
6.	Identify the number of owners of your business.
7.	Decide how much protection from personal liability you'll need, which depends on your business's risks.
8.	Decide how you'd like the business to be taxed.
9.	Consider whether your business would benefit from being able to sell stock.
10.	Research the various types of ownership structures: Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, LLC, C Corporation or S Corporation.
11.	Get more in-depth information from a self-help resource, and from NACC meetings, before you settle on a structure. If you are unsure, talk to a lawyer.
	Choose a Name for Your Business
12.	Think of several business names that might suit your company and its products or services.
13.	If you will do business online, check if your proposed business names are available as domain names.
14.	Check with your county clerk's office to see whether your proposed names are on the list of fictitious or assumed business names in your county.
15.	For corporations and LLCs: check the availability of your proposed names with the Secretary of State or other corporate filing office.
16.	Do a federal or state trademark search of the proposed names still on your list. If a proposed name is being used as a trademark, eliminate it if your use of the name would confuse customers or if the name is already well know.
17.	Choose between the proposed names that are still on your list.

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Create Your Business Plan - Create Your Website

A business plan is an essential roadmap for business success. This living document generally projects 3-5 years ahead and outlines the route a company intends to take to grow revenues. Your business plan is also reflected in your website.

Therefore, when you have a well-constructed business plan, it will lead to a well-constructed website. The components that required for a business plan are:

Executive Summary
Your executive summary is a snapshot of your business plan as a whole and touches on your company profile and goals. Read these tips about what to include.

Market Analysis
Before launching your business, it is essential for you to research your business industry, market and competitors.

Company Description
Your company description provides information on what you do, what differentiates your business from others, and the markets your business serves.

Organization & Management
Every business is structured differently. Find out the best organization and management structure for your business.

Marketing & Sales
How do you plan to market your business? What is your sales strategy?

Read more about how to include this information in your plan.

Service or Product Line
What do you sell? How does it benefit your customers? What is the product lifecycle? Get tips on how to tell the story about your product or service.

Funding Request
If you are seeking funding for your business, find out about the necessary information you should include in your plan.

Financial Projections
If you need funding, providing financial projections to back up your request is critical. Find out what information you need to include in your financial projections for your small business.

Appendix
An appendix is optional, but a useful place to include information such as resumes, permits and leases. Find out what additional information you should include in your appendix.

How to Make Your Business Plan Stand Out
What makes your business unique? Determining this could help you stand out from the crowd and give you advantages over your competitors.

To start discussions on how to Create Your Business Plan and Create Your website, then join our Small Business Solutions Program.

Small Business Solutions

Enjoy Legal Counseling at 40% Off Normal Lawyer Fees!

Join the New American Chamber of Commerce Small Business Solutions "Small Business Plan" for as little as $299.40 annually to get access to our partnership with Figeroux & Associates for all your business legal needs. Includes unlimited phone consultations, attorney review of up to 5 documents per month, letters written on your behalf and 40% off hourly rates!