Starting a business can be a long and difficult ordeal. One Slate Magazine writer shared his experience of filing paperwork, paying up and investing time in making his renting business official in Washington, D.C.
Starting from scratch
Matthew Yglesias had never been his own boss before, according to his account, but when the opportunity came for him to rent out living space in his former home he jumped. Little did he know, he says, that he would have to go through a process that would cost him much more time and money than many full-time workers would be able to handle.
Difficult timing was not the only part of applying to become a business owner that Yglesias had a problem with. He notes that the walls non-English speaking entrepreneurs must run into are especially troubling. Although literature is often available to help future business owners who are not fluent in English, the lack of ease in such scenarios was harder for him to swallow than the $200 he coughed up in the process.
Yglesias’ experience would come as no surprise to existing business owners in his city of residence. According to a Thumbtack survey studying small business friendliness the district scored a passing grade in overall geniality but an F in ease of starting a company. Still, even in areas that are difficult to work with, businesses must be started, and resources are available to potential entrepreneurs.
Assistance on a national scale
Someone in Yglesias’ shoes may find the United States Small Business Administration’s (SBA) resources to be a helpful ally in wrangling startup procedures. The SBA offers a wide collection of financial investment advice and other tips to help entrepreneurs get their companies off the ground.
Most entrepreneurs know the first step in starting a business is to get an operational and financial plan on paper. What they may not realize is that there are, according to the SBA, nine more crucial steps to beginning a profitable, lasting company.
The fourth step offered is one of special interest to any business owner: finding the funds to make all the big ideas a working reality. The SBA offers advice on choosing a lender and financing a start-up, and there are numerous ways to put money under a business idea, like pitching to potential private investors.
Whatever new entrepreneurs choose to do on their way to business ownership, they can be sure it will take several steps in some direction – but help is out there when the going gets tough.