Start a Small Business in San Antonio in 3 Steps
Texas is a state with a low tax burden, lots of people, and lots of tacos. No wonder it was ranked the #1 state to start a business in the US! Read on to discover the steps you should take when starting a small business in San Antonio!
1. Write a Mission Statement for Your San Antonio Company
Before you open up shop, write a mission statement. I know most people usually start with a business plan but without a mission statement, your business won’t have anything to work towards.
Your mission statement is the roadmap to your success. It will help you stay on track with what’s important such as who you are, what you do, and why. Moreover, figuring out what you’re going to sell is the most crucial component in starting any business.
As a new business owner, you need cash. To clarify, you need to know where you’re going to get cash and how you’re going to get it. Who’s going to pay you? Why should they pay you? Writing out your mission statement will keep you on track with what you should focus on.
2. Business Structure
After drafting your mission statement, you can begin structuring your business that best fits your needs. There are four different ways to structure your business: Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Limited Liability Corporation, or a Corporation (S or C). Here is how you can register for either entity:
Sole Proprietorship/Partnership
To register your business in San Antonio and the IRS, you need to determine which business structure is best for your company. If you decide to be a Sole Proprietorship or Partnership, you can register at the Bexar County Clerk’s office and follow these steps.
Ideally if you’re creating a Sole Prop, you’re an individual establishing a business. That is, you’re the sole founder of your company. Whereas a Partnership is typically at least two individuals establishing a business.
Limited Liability Corporation (LLC)/S or C-Corp
You can get incorporated at the Texas Secretary of State’s website by creating an account with the SOSDirect to set up a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or a Corporation (S or C-Corp).
Deciding on your business structure depends on your tax and legal situation. Furthermore, incorporating your company requires more compliance such as appointing a registered agent, creating an operating agreement, and much more. Please consult a professional to educate you further or have someone knowledgable to do it for you!
Name Your San Antonio Business
The name of your San Antonio business is very important as it will be your brand and image. You could use your name to describe your product or service you offer to make it memorable and understandable to your ideal customer.
If you decide to operate as a Sole Proprietor or Partnership, you can get your DBA through the Bexar County Clerk’s office.
On the other hand, as an LLC or corporation you would need to submit your DBA through the Texas Secretary of State through the SOSDirect platform. Submitting a DBA isn’t required if you’re going to be operating as your entity’s name.
For example, if I had an entity named “NP Landscaping LLC” I could easily open up shop as a landscaping business and get right to work.
However, if my entity name was “NP Operations Inc.” and I wanted to operate a barbershop and an auto shop, then I would need a DBA for both businesses and name them accordingly in anyway I want.
For instance, I could make the barbershop “SA Town Cutz” and the auto shop “Turbo Automotive”. The name of the business doesn’t have to relate to the entity name and the business doesn’t necessarily need a DBA as long as the entity is the desired business name.
Once you land a name, you should definitely register a domain and create your social media accounts!
Get an EIN
In any case, you will be needing an EIN (if you’re operating as anything other than Sole Proprietorship) which you can get directly from the IRS for free. If you’re operating as a Sole Proprietor, you can use your Social Security if you wish. Other than that, an EIN will be best!
Open a Business Checking Account
As an accountant by trade, I cannot stress the importance enough of separating your finances! Failing to separate your business funds can affect your liability protection if you’re incorporated and could make you lose more hair during tax season.
You can get an online business checking account at Novo with $0 monthly fees, no minimum balances, and so much more! However, since this is an online bank account, you cannot deposit cash. Other than that, Novo is an excellent option for business owners in San Antonio!
3. Market Your San Antonio Business
Once you’ve got your Mission Statement down and your business structure in tact, you’re ready to market your business!
Marketing in San Antonio can be a difficult without a proper strategy. There are three ways to market your business for free in San Antonio: social media, web design, and SEO.
Social Media
With social media, you can build your brand and engage your followers. Social media gives you a platform to share your thoughts, make connections, and share what you’re passionate about.
New studies show that nearly 70% of Americans use Facebook and 40% use Instagram. This means your business could benefit from the large audience social media provides.
Creating weekly social posts will benefit your business in many ways such as reminding customers of your existence, notifying your audience of new products or deals, and directing them to your website. At Curious Laiman Digital, we can help with social media management.
Web Design
A beautifully designed website can be useful for your prospective clients and your business because you can inform, entertain, and persuade visitors about your products and services. If you need help with your San Antonio Web Design, we are here for you!
Coinciding with web design, SEO is arguably the best digital marketing strategy.
SEO
Search Engine Optimization is a powerful marketing strategy to utilize. When done correctly, SEO allows business owners to create user-friendly websites that are fast, smooth, and robust.
Furthermore, business owners can take advantage of their Google My Business listing by using local SEO to focus on their local customers.
On the topic of SEO, we help businesses with SEO in San Antonio to rank on the 1st page of Google for numerous keywords!
Key Takeaways
If you’re looking to start a business in San Antonio, these three steps should be your guide to get started. Establishing a mission statement keeps your business focused on who, what, and why. Then creating a business structure for professionalism and accountability. Lastly, marketing your company on social media and your website to bring and engage customers.
At Curious Laiman Digital, we can help manage your social media, design your website, and provide SEO services. Contact a digital marketing consultant today!
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