Should I start an actual "business"?

Sadly, I won't really have a shop until I hit it big and such, but I would like to get into the phone book, etc etc etc.

So I was wanting yall's OPINIONS on the matter (I have no intent of following anyone's OPINION unless I personally find this is a suitable path to venture down on my own free will....aka I won't sue you).

I'm planning on stopping by Barnes and Noble tomorrow and getting a "How to Start your own business for Dummies" book or something.

The only advice I can give you is find an excellent accountant. That person will be able to answer about LLC, sole, subchapter s, etc. And while you are there, that person needs to teach you how to set yourself up in accounting. If you are lazy in that department, count on spending long frustrating hours fixing everything. I learned the hard way.

Yeah, was trying to decide which way to go.

Luckily, my only friend/coworker from my other job has a degree or dipolma or some sort of formal education for accounting.

I just wasn't sure if LLC or incorporated was the better way to go. I don't know the statistics on people trying to sue tinters.

Hey, they can take my personal assests. I have no house, a few large credit card bills (please....take them!), 2 crappy cars and 1 nice one. =)

I'm really paranoid about being sued. =)

I say...Learn how to tint first, or you're going to be paying for those mistakes big time. And a dozen cars or so doesn't make you a tinter. No idea on your experience, but the more, the better if you actually want to make it. It's rough out there, and not getting better.

in what ways can a tinter be sued, just scrathing up a back window?

Well I wasn't planning on opening up shop tomorrow. =) I have until like June before the new phone books come out.

I've got about 50 cars under my belt. I have my good days and my bad.

So far that one intrepid, a 3000GT, and a TBird were the only ones that really kicked my bottom.

You open up a business you better be able to tint ANYTHING. Including high-end cars with various issues. None of those cars you mentioned have any real issues. Once you start charging REAL money, the game changes. If you're a low-baller, experience doesn't really matter, you'll get your share of stress free beaters, but you'll be chasing your tail getting nowhere.

Luckily, I live in a tiny little town (22k people) and everyone is broke. So I won't be do any lambos.

Plus, I reserve the right to tell the beatles to go somewhere else. =)

I was just wondering if it's worth all the trouble to go LLC or just do a SP and save myself a lot of paper work.

A small town where everyone is broke puts the bullseye right on your back.

Remember this...If you ain't got nothing, you've got nothing to lose....Go SP, you can always incorporate later when you build assets.

One other problem will be health insurance, unless you're married or something. The cost is insane. And don't forget Biz insurance, that can be a real joy to obtain at start-up.

Luckily, the only employee I have is me. =)

I also don't plan on hiring anyone.

I agree with OT. I became Inc. this year but have been a sole prop. for 3 yrs. Unless you have to be Inc. it may not be worth it to you. The only reason I am is cause of the military bases I tint. I have to pay for w/c , inc cert. annually, not to mention all the taxes. You are just starting out. Get registered in your county or whatever you have to do to work for yourself in your county/city and nothing more until you have more experience or can risk some money in a shop. Give it time.
Keep your overhead low!!!

my advise is too only do it if you are fully comfortable and confident.

Man,

Every state is different and every market has it's own types of problems. No advice a friend or family member can give you will truely benefit you in a courtroom.

What can you get sued over? ANYTHING .... There are people that make a living doing just that.

Take the time to interview a few lawyers annd CPA's, shell out the money and pay them for their time. Then do what they tell you to do.

In the long run, you will save yourself a lot of headaches and protect yourself and your family.

You would be suprised how much money most small businesses THROW away every year without setting up their books and companies properly from the start.

don't do what I did.

I think I'm going to do a SP for a year or two or until I really start getting a lot of business.

I've just heard too many horror stories from my brother so I'm paranoid.

Not to sound negative here and all the best to you but with only fifty cars under your belt, you may be a bit premature in trying to go at it full tilt, I think that when you are confident that you can tint anything that rolls up to the door is when you are maybe ready to go it on your own, It is way too easy to open a tint shop today with no qualifications and that is part of the reason the industry is in the shape it is today, from reading your posts it seems you have your heart in the right place, starting to advertise and set up a buisness this early in your game you may be setting yourself up for dissappointment.

again just my .02 no offence intended

All good advice, basically if you have no partners and (from what it sounds like) you are undertaking a somewhat low risk venture (ie. not much of your own money invested) an LLC is probably unneccessary. What is important is that you get a lawyer to draft all of your business forms, receipts,..etc in a wording that will hold your liability to a minimum. This will certainly insulate you from frivolous lawsuits (to a degree). Also NEVER SKIMP ON AN ACCOUNTANT

We own a car audio shop and are getting into tinting more. We started out as an LLC, but our accountant is telling us to switch over to an S Corp. With an LLC, all the profits of the business are taxed and when you pay yourself you don't take any taxes out. With the S Corp. you don't pay taxes on the profits of the business, just when you pay yourself. If you're keeping alot of the profits in the business to build it up then an S Corp. is better.

This is just what our accountant told us. So, I would recommend speaking with your friend (the accountant) and see what he has to say.

One other advantage no one has mentioned about LLC or INC is that you are an employee, not an owner, in the eyes of the financial world. That is a great advantage if your getting a loan on anything. You can do the paperwork yourself once you find out what direction you want to go in. Do a search online for the papers, buy the package, follow the directions and your incorporated, for the cost of the filing fee and the forms. But first, I'd get the beetle down!