Getting Started | Forms of Businesses | Business Taxes | Licenses & Permits

I. Start-Up Guides

The advantages of operating your own business are quite obvious -- being your own boss, independence, the opportunity to reap the rewards of your own efforts, personal satisfaction, and so forth. The disadvantages are often not considered until after the business is underway: substantial financial risk, the possibility of working very long hours for very little or no financial return, lack of steady income, mountains of paperwork, etc. Whichever system you choose, carefully considering the pros and cons will help you decide "with your eyes open," whether to proceed.

You may find additional help in determining whether you are suitable to start your own business in consulting this book on vocational guidance:

Bolles, Richard Nelson. What color is your parachute?: a practical manual for job hunters and career changers. Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press, [Annual]. [ 658.339 B6915]

(A section of this very popular book is now available on the web, with a subtitle "The Job Hunters Bible." It offers information on internet job search strategies and linkages to other career guidance.)

Two resource guides at the Reference Desk of the Business & Economics Department offer invaluable information about start-up services and assistance available for small businesses:

• The Business Resource Guide . Los Angeles, CA: Economic Development Corporation of the Los Angeles County. [Annual Publication] [ R 658.03 B9775-1 (at the Reference Desk)]

Abstract: Lists financial, educational, and other assisting programs available to Southern California business owners. It is also available through online through the website of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation

• Small Business Sourcebook. Detroit, MI: Gale Co. [Annual Publication] [ R 658.03 S6355 (at the Reference Desk)]

Abstract: Lists information services and sources provided to 100 types of small businesses by associations, consultants, educational programs, franchisers, government agencies, reference works, statisticians, suppliers, trade shows, and venture capital firms.

Additionally, the following books offer step-by-step guides to starting a business:

• Start, Run & Grow a Successful Small Business Chicago, IL: CCH Incorporated, 2002. [ 347.7 H916].

Abstract: Offers legal & practical advice in starting a business in California.

• Stolze, William J. Start Up: an entrepreneur's guide to launching and managing a new business. 4th Edition. Hawthorne, NJ: Career Press, 1999. [ 658 S876 1999].

Abstract: Offers a comprehensive list of do's and don'ts in starting up a business. Includes sample business plans.

• Talamo, John. How to Start a Business in California: With Forms. Naperville, IL: Sphinx Pub., 2001. [ 658 B514-1].

Abstract: Provides answers to questions about the steps required in starting a California business.

II. Name Your Company or Product

Naming your business is an important decision you will make about your new business. You will need a trade name under which you conduct your business. You will probably need a trademark or service mark for different product and service you want to market.

Fictitious Name (Trade Name)

The fictitious name (or trade name) is defined in the California Business and Professions Code (Sections 17900-17930) as:

1. In the case of an individual -- a name that does not include the surname of the individual, or a name that suggests the existence of additional owners;
2. With partnerships or other associations of persons not on file with the Secretary of State as a domestic or limited partnership -- a name that does not include the surname of each general partner, or a name that suggests the existence of additional owners;
3. With a corporation -- any name other than the corporate name stated in its articles of incorporations; or
4. With a domestic or foreign limited partnership filed with the Secretary of State -- any name other than the name of the limited partnership as on file with the Secretary of State.

All enterprises within Los Angeles County that operate a business for profit must do so under a fictitious name. A fictitious business name statement must be filed no later than 40 days from the time business commences to be transacted.

Filing the Fictitious Business Name Statement

1. Check the online database from the County Clerk's Office to make sure the name you proposed for your new business is not already in use;
2. Complete the Fictitious Business Name Statement, available from the County Clerk's Office or its website;
3. Make sure that the County Clerk's Office certifies one copy of the Statement and returns it to you;
4. Within 30 days after filing the Statement, you must publish the statement in a newspaper of general circulation in your area. The notice must appear once a week for four successive weeks, a partial list of papers is available on the County Clerk’s website;
5. Within 30 days of the last publishing date, you must file an affidavit of publication of the notice with the County Clerk's Office.

This statement is good for five years. You may even complete the process through the mail for an additional fee. To register the fictitious name of your business in the County of Los Angeles, please contact:

Los Angeles County Clerk
Business Filing & Registration Section
12400 East Imperial Highway
Norwalk, CA 90650
(800) 815-2666

If your new business is incorporated, you will also need to register the fictitious name of your business with the State of California. To register your business in the State of California, please contact:

Secretary of State
Business Programs
1500 11th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
The website will also give you information on local offices near you.

® Trademarks or Service Marks

The registration of patents, trademarks, and copyrights are voluntary. The benefit of registering your invention and mark is to establish your claim on the invention and ownership. Patents protect inventions - whether part of a product, or a complete product. Trademarks protect your logos, advertising slogans, or other symbols that represent your company. Copyrights protect the artistic and literary works such as books, motion pictures, visual and performing arts, computer software and sound recording. The registration of patents and copyrights is only available at the federal level. For further information on patents searching and registration, contact the Science, Technology & Patents Department of the Los Angeles Public Library's Central Library at (213) 228-7220.

Patents Registration

U. S. Patent &Trademark Office
Washington, D.C. 20231

© Copyright Registration

Copyright Office
Library of Congress
Washington, D. C. 20402

Registering of trademarks and service marks can be done either with the state government or federal government. To qualify for registering your mark at the federal level, the mark must:

1. Be distinctive enough to really operate as a trademark or service mark
2. Be in use in commerce across state, territorial or international lines.

Before you can register your trademarks or service marks, it is best to conduct a search at the Science, Technology & Patents Department of the Los Angeles Public Library's Central Library (213) 228-7220 to make sure the mark you want to use has not been registered before. For further information, contact:

U. S. Patent & Trademark Office
Washington, D.C. 20231

If your mark is used only on a local service business, it probably does not qualify for federal registration. To protect your mark and prevent others from infringing upon your mark, you may want to obtain a state registration certificate for your mark. To register your mark within the state of California, contact:

Secretary of State
Trademarks & Service Marks Unit
1500 11th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 653-4984

For further reading on naming your business and registering your trademarks or service marks, you may wish to consult books like this or visit the Science/Technology/Patents Department of Central Library for more assistance:

• Elias, Stephen. Trademark: legal care for your business & product name. 6th Edition. Berkeley, CA: Nolo Press, 2003. [ 608.1 E142 2003]

Abstract: Provides step-by-step guide for new businesses to register trade names and trademarks.

Warda, Mark. How to register your own trademark. 2 nd edition. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks, 1997 [608.1 W264-1 1997]

III. Select Your Location

Choosing a right location is one of the most important deciding factors for the success of your business. Consider the following important factors when choosing a location for your business:

• Pick a convenient location;
• Identify your target market;
• Understand your community;
• Find who are your competitors;
• Consider size and cost of space;
• Beware of planned development.

The following sources will help you gain a better understanding of your community and competitors:

• ReferenceUSA (formerly American Business Disc). Omaha, NE: infoUSA. [Annual] This database is available through the “Databases” link on the left hand side of the page and is free for all LAPL cardholders.

Abstract: Includes over 12 million companies from nationwide yellow pages. The database is searchable by name, industry (or yellow page headings), and by geography (state, city, or zip code).

• Dun & Bradstreet's Million Dollar Database New Providence, NJ: Dun & Bradstreet. [Annual] [DATABASE]. This database is available at the Central Library and all LAPL branch libraries.

Abstract: Includes more than 1,000,000 U.S. companies having sales greater than $1 million dollars or more than 20 employees. The database is searchable by name, industry code (Standard Industrial Classification [SIC] or North American Industrial Classification System [NAICS]), and by geography (state, county, city, or zip code).

• Demographics USA. County Edition. New York, NY: Market Statistics. [Annual Publication]. [ R 658.7 S963 (at the Reference Desk)]

Abstract: Provides demographic information by county. Also includes statistics on buying power, and consumer expenditures by county.

• Dun's Regional Business Directory. Los Angeles County. Parsippany, NJ: Dun's Marketing Services. [Annual Publication]. [ R 658.03 D9263-4 (at the Reference Desk)]

Abstract: Lists companies of Los Angeles County in three different arrangements. The sections that list companies by zip code will easily allow you to find your competitors in your community.

• The Lifestyle Market Analyst. Wilmette, IL: Standard Rate and Data Service. [Annual Publication]. [ R 339.4 L7255 (at the Reference Desk)]

Abstract: Provides demographic information, including population, market survey, and consumer behavior, of various metropolitan areas in the United States.

• The Sourcebook of County Demographics. Fairfax, VA: CACI Marketing Systems. [Annual Publication]. [ R 339.373 S7245-1 (at the Reference Desk)]

Abstract: Provides demographic information, including population, average household income, age, race and education distributions by county of the United States.

• The Sourcebook of Zip Code Demographics. Fairfax, VA: CACI Marketing Systems. [Annual Publication]. [ R 339.373 S7245 (at the Reference Desk)]

Abstract: Provides demographic information, including population, average household income, age, race and education distributions by zip code.