Duluth CPA Teaches Starting a Business in Down Economic Times

Incorporating in Georiga

For many who are out of work and have been unemployed for some time, it make be the ideal time to start a new business as your opportunity costs of pursuing other ventures is small to non-existent as you have no present income to lose. Many who desire to start a new business have to think long and hard about forgoing their job and quitting their present employment before looking to start a new business venture. However it was at such a time that my own CPA practice was formed, for it is often when God finds us at our weakest that He can use us to accomplish His ultimate will for our lives. Recently I had a call from a Believer in Texas who was facing such difficulty and we discussed such issues to which I forwarded the below response:

It was a pleasure to talk with you today. I will keep you and your family safe in my prayers. 

One of favorite verses is Matthew 6:34 to which I recommend you meditate and reflect on often. If you decide to start your own business hopefully the below article will be insightful. 

Keep me apprised of how events progress. In His Will, John

 Marketing Statistics for Your Georgia Business

 Starting a new business is a very difficult emotional and financial struggle. Striving to develop your business, its plan, and establish a client base are all critical ingredients of getting your new business started. As a business owner, perhaps even more valuable than the business plan itself is to determine, track, and re-evaluate their marketing efforts. In doing so a wise business owner will determine if they are on track and can take immediate corrective action well before negative financial results occur. A good tracking and monitoring process of your company’s business will be the precursor of what is to soon happen in the company’s business structure.

Key Marketing Statistics  

Each and every business will be a bit unique to a company itself, however there will be many key marketing statistics which all businesses should track, monitor, and evaluate. The wise and judicious use of this process will result in any necessary efforts being re-targeted doing away with less successful methods of reaching your customer base and focusing on more efficient and opportune strategies to reach your full market potential. Examples of key marketing statistics will vary substantially and working with your CPA, SBDC/Small Business Development Center, and your banker are all good sources of information to discover what might work best for your business and in your locale. 

Organizations/Chambers of Commerce/Rotary/Kiwanis 

Business organizations, chambers of commerce, Rotary, and Kiwanis are all good examples of the various business organizations to consider joining. Finding one which best suits your business style, schedule, and perhaps most importantly has a good networking base from which to find the clientele you are seeking is of tantamount importance.  

Marketing Your Business on the Internet

Using the Internet has enabled many businesses to substantially broaden their geographic appeal well beyond their states borders, the U.S. as a whole and even beyond. It is not uncommon for a good website to attract a broad based appeal of potential visitors. Initially a good web presence is critical, as you will want your first impression to be a good one. Keeping your site up to date with advice, information, and products is a good first step towards this endeavor. Ensuring that your site is easily navigable and that your contact information is readily assessable are critical to your sites success and productiveness. However, having the best site in your industry is not enough if people are routinely finding it as search engines look not only to key words, but also content, and for the presence of a Blog bringing to readers/users current news and topical events. Finding a professional who is well versed and trained and advised in these processes is a critical first step in this process. 

We care much more about your business than just preparing your tax returns. Put our trained seasoned CPA to work for you today.

 Contact HIS CPA PC (A Christian CPA Firm) today.

To learn more about tax entities and the taxation thereof visit http://www.hiscpa.com/article2.html There you will also discover a wide host of resources for American Entrepreneurs.

John Dillard is an Christian Speaker/Author and Certified Public Accountant in Duluth, GA. To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey and a Voice of One: Nehemiah’s Prayer visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ or call John Dillard CPA today at 770.814.9304 (All Rights Reserved) Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!    

We advise clients on: IRS representation, Offer in Compromise, Tax Problems, Incorporation in Georgia, Corporate and Personal Income Tax Returns, Part-time CFO, Virtual Controller, Business Planning, Offer in Compromise, Back Taxes, Bookkeeping.

Serving Atlanta, Duluth, Gwinnett, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, Atlanta GA, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, Cherokee County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Smyrna, Marietta, Cumming, Grayson, Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Decatur. Sandy Springs, Peachtree City, Douglasville, Newnan, Griffin, Woodstock, Carrollton, Forest Park, Canton, College Park, Cartersville, McDonough, Riverdale, Fayetteville, Covington, Stockbridge, Conyers, Clarkston, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Dawson, and Douglas.

 Atlanta CPA Teaches Understanding the Incorporation Process of Your Georgia Based Business 

So you have started a new business and now need tax advice to take your business to the next level and to ensure that you set up as the correct/best legal entity type for your new Georgia business. Choosing to incorporate your business as a corporation  will do much to protect your personal assets from legal liability issues while potentially shrinking your overall year-end tax obligation while also providing benefits for yourself, as well as your employees. We are here to serve you as you make this important decision. Over the decades we have helped thousands pursue the dream of owning their own business and helping them understand and utilize the entity choice that is best-suited for their business. 

Incorporating in Georgia

 Incorporating in Georgia requires that you file for the company Articles of Incorporation with the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office. Corporations should also be sure to prepare a legal posting/announcement for the legally authorized newspaper in the county’s paper, establishing bylaws, election a Board of Directors, Officers and the issuance of stock. 

Georgia Entity Requirements 

Georgia law requires that you essentially disclose that entity type your business is as part of the name of the business such as adding to the end of your business name one of the below entity types. These names acknowledge to the public what entity type you have selected and for identification purposes with the GA Secretary of State. Types include: 

Incorporated 

Company 

Inc. 

LLC 

LLP 

Selecting a Name for your Georgia Business 

Georgia law requires you to select a corporate/business name that is easily distinguishable from other names so that the public will be able to readily identify and recognize businesses from other companies. 

Establishment of an Incorporator 

Georgia law requires that as a business legally registering to transact business in the state have a named incorporator who is responsible for all of the initial incorporating paperwork. A company’s Articles of Incorporation should be included in the initial paperwork filed with the Secretary of State’s Office with the initial filing fees. 

Corporate Directives/Setting up Your Corporate Bylaws 

Over the years of serving Georgia business owners have often struggled with “what’s next” in the establishment and setting up of their new business. To help clarify and assist owner in addressing these issues we work with taxpayers be providing the below Incorporating Checklist:           

This is to confirm that we went over the rules of being an S Corporation and that you have opted to become same. You are aware of the need to have an annual Board of Directors, Officers, and Shareholder’s Minutes meetings and that each year you should pay the annual fee with the Secretary of State’s Office to renew your corporations annual registration.  

Please be aware that you need to get a business license and always list your corporate title when signing any agreement and conduct all corporate business in the corporate name.  

In your corporate book you will find several forms: Employee forms – W-4, G-4, and I-9 and independent contractor forms W-9. After they complete these forms, you should keep these in their permanent files. There is also information on the Georgia New Hire Reporting Act and forms relative to that information. You are aware of the need to pay a reasonable salary and that you are going to retain a payroll service for your entire payroll and 1099 needs. Please be reminded that as long as you pay yourself a reasonable salary, you may also pay yourself shareholder distributions, which are devoid of FICA and Medicaid taxes.  Per your advice you will not be required to file sales tax reports. 

The following are recommendations to better manage your business:Turn in a monthly expense report to the business and keep a daily log to track and support business miles.I suggest we tax plan twice every year.  Your corporate returns are due March 15^th of each year.You will need to trademark your business name to ensure that the name will always be yours. 

Please forward a copy of your last year personal return along with a copy of the S Corporation acceptance, when it is received. 

To learn more about tax entities and the taxation thereof visit http://www.hiscpa.com/article2.html   There you will also discover a wide host of resources for Atlanta Entrepreneurs.

John Dillard is an Christian Speaker/Author and Certified Public Accountant in Duluth, GA. To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey and a Voice of One: Nehemiah’s Prayer visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ or call John Dillard CPA today at 770.814.9304 (All Rights Reserved) Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!    

We advise clients on: IRS representation, Offer in Compromise, Tax Problems, Incorporation in Georgia, Corporate and Personal Income Tax Returns, Part-time CFO, Virtual Controller, Business Planning, Offer in Compromise, Back Taxes, Bookkeeping.

Serving Atlanta, Duluth, Gwinnett, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, Atlanta GA, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, Cherokee County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Smyrna, Marietta, Cumming, Grayson, Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Decatur. Sandy Springs, Peachtree City, Douglasville, Newnan, Griffin, Woodstock, Carrollton, Forest Park, Canton, College Park, Cartersville, McDonough, Riverdale, Fayetteville, Covington, Stockbridge, Conyers, Clarkston, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Dawson, and Douglas.

Duluth CPA Illustrates Addressing S Corporation Status with the IRS for a Georgia S Corporation

Determining Your Entity Type Will Affect Both Your Tax Bill and the Way You Operate

Frequently we are asked to follow-up after either a taxpayer or a prior accountant has filed a return in error to fix a prior misstatement or filing. Below is a sample letter one might use if you had inadvertently filed as a C Corporation when the business was an S Corporation and should have filed as a flow-through entity or an IRS Form 1120S:

IRS
Atlanta, GA 39901 

Dear Sir or Madam 

I am writing to follow up on your IRS Letter dated 10-10-09 (copy enclosed). Please note I have enclosed a copy of the S Corporation return, as well as the S Corporation acceptance effective 1-1-09. Please note the company was not a C Corporation for the tax year noted in the enclosed tax notice and accordingly should and should not file a Form 1120 for 2009. Accordingly the tax monies assessed in the attached notice are incorrect as the company was an S Corporation for the 2009 tax year, as further reflected on the enclosed Form 1120S. If there had been a previously filed Form 1120 for 2009 for the company, please void it as it is invalid. Please fix your records accordingly to show that the client was an S Corporation for the tax year in question. 

Accordingly please refund any monies previously paid. 

I appreciate your attention to this matter and please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions. 

Very Sincerely Yours, John C. Dillard, CPA, President

When looking at what type of entity your business should be, we strive to balance the legal protection issues vs. the tax savings. Over the years, we have developed the mindset that there is no perfect election but there are ones that are better than others. To read more visit http://www.hiscpa.com/article2.html  

Contact HIS CPA PC (A Christian CPA Firm) today.

To learn more about addressing IRS Tax Issues and Back Tax Returns visit http://www.hiscpa.com/working-with-the-irs.html  

John Dillard is an Christian Speaker/Author and Certified Public Accountant in Duluth, GA. To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey and a Voice of One: Nehemiah’s Prayer visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ or call John Dillard CPA today at 770.814.9304 (All Rights Reserved) Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!    

We advise clients on: IRS representation, Offer in Compromise, Tax Problems, Incorporation in Georgia, Corporate and Personal Income Tax Returns, Part-time CFO, Virtual Controller, Business Planning, Offer in Compromise, Back Taxes, Bookkeeping.

Serving Atlanta, Duluth, Gwinnett, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, Atlanta GA, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, Cherokee County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Smyrna, Marietta, Cumming, Grayson, Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Decatur. Sandy Springs, Peachtree City, Douglasville, Newnan, Griffin, Woodstock, Carrollton, Forest Park, Canton, College Park, Cartersville, McDonough, Riverdale, Fayetteville, Covington, Stockbridge, Conyers, Clarkston, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Dawson, and Douglas.