Month: November 2011

Recently, I came across an entry by Brad Feld on Huffington Post that changed my perspective on social media. The line “Focus on becoming a thought leader in your space.” was the real takeaway for me.

In the old days (the 1990s), you’d have to be famous to be a thought leader. With some social media acumen, it’s fairly easy to get yourself found, read and positioned in your niche, which is a great opportunity for a new business owner.

The advent of blogs several years ago gave everyone the chance to become an author, and the evolution of social media gives every business owner a chance to promote their business. You can take it to the next level, though, by focusing your effort not on promoting the business, but becoming involved and driving conversation.

Focusing on why you do things is more important than how you do things. Social media is a great way to monitor conversations about your business and your industry. If you’re out there, responding to people, interacting on a consistent basis, you will attain that status as a thought leader.

A lot goes into starting a small business. We make it our mission to make it as easy as possible.  If you need information on incorporating your business, developing a website or creating a logo, visit our website.

Becoming a franchise owner can be profitable, if you have the right mindset. Buying into an established business plan with a recognizable name has both advantages and disadvantages.

I found an interesting article about franchises in Entrepreneur that advises asking 10 questions before entering into a franchise agreement.

In particular, the one thing that stood out was the part about the total cost of the franchise, which wisely pointed out costs of incorporation and legal fees. Each company is different, and you need to understand you will spend money franchisers will not discuss with you in any great detail.

At the risk of buying the lead, the most important thing you can do is incorporate a franchise properly. It is vital to protect yourself and your assets. Different states have different regulations, and your home state may require something vastly different that the state in which the parent company is located. Although those companies are established, and they feel comfortable in thinking their franchisees will succeed, history is no indicator of future success. Protect yourself.

If possible, speak with other franchise owners prior to committing to a franchise contract. Have your lawyer review the franchise agreement. Know your rights entering into the agreement.

Of course there are other issues you should look into before starting any business. We make it our mission to make it as easy as possible.  If you need information on incorporating your business, visit our website.

We’re visiting The Keystone State in our state incorporation series today. Our website includes a summary of our services, and what you’ll need to know to incorporate a business in Pennsylvania.

Did you know?
Quick facts about Pennsylvania:

* Pennsylvania is the world’s 15^th biggest economy, ranking ahead of Australia and Switzerland.

* Six of 10 of major U.S. markets are within 500 miles of the state capital, Harrisburg.

* It ranks #3 in the country in number of colleges and universities, and is home to four of the top 50 universities in the U.S.

Benefits of incorporating in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is a state that prides itself on business innovation and environmental issues, ranks #8 in installed solar capacity, and #6 in biotechnology strength, according to a report by Business Facilities.

According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses in Pennsylvania account for 98% of the state’s employers and 49% of its private-sector employment.

Time and cost to incorporate in Pennsylvania

The ease and speed with which a business is incorporated in Pennsylvania can vary based on the company name and category of business activity. When incorporating an ordinary corporation or LLC, the average processing time is three to four weeks. The state fee to incorporate either an ordinary Pennsylvania corporation or LLC is $125.

Direct Incorporation’s Pennsylvania incorporation services

We offer three packages to assist you with incorporating in Pennsylvania, with prices ranging from $149 to $773. For more information on our Pennsylvania incorporation services, click on a link below.

• Standard Package
• Premier Package
• Venture Package

Do you have questions about incorporating your business in Pennsylvania? Please leave a comment below and I will try to answer them. Thanks! – Becky

By Becky, Public Relations at Direct Incorporation

We’re not all work and no play here at Direct Incorporation. That’s why I’m sharing a little game we found called “The Brand Game.” How many brands can you decipher from literal symbols? Share your score with us.

Okay, back to work. Here are 3 tips to coming up with a good business name.

• Think like a customer. Choose a name that will appeal to the kind of customers you are trying to attract.
• Think positive. Choose a name that conjures up good memories in consumers’ minds.
• Think short. Delete names from your list that are long or hard to say.

For more helpful tips on naming your business, check out Entrepreneur’s article.

Need a logo for your new name? Contact Direct Incorporation for cost-effective logo creation services. Thanks!  – Becky