Saturday, October 12, 2013

Good Business Practices – Finding Professionals

When choosing professionals to help you, it is a good idea to interview several candidates and ask questions about their qualifications, fees, and references before deciding to work with one.

Lawyers


Most people check the yellow pages when seeking a lawyer, or ask a relative or friend to recommend someone. This may not be the best way to locate a skilled lawyer.

Look for someone who has experience advising businesses of similar size, ideally in your industry. Many bar associations have excellent referral services that can help you find a qualified lawyer, usually for a small.

Accountants


It’s important to find a good accountant for your business. Even if you maintain all your business records yourself, at some point, you will probably need to consult a professional about tax laws, loan applications, or other matters that affect your business finances.

Look for a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). You can get referrals from business friends. You can also locate such individuals through national or local CPA associations, which you can find through the Internet or phone book.

Licensing


Smart business owners understand that they have to obtain a license to operate when the law requires it. Since you are putting a lot of money and effort into your business, you don’t want to endanger it by failing to get something as simple as a license.

How do you learn about licensing? Consult a business adviser or the local association for your industry. You are likely to find information through the following government agencies:

City: Department of Consumers Affairs, Mayor’s Office, Economic Development or Business Development office

County: County Clerk or County Executive

State: Department of State, usually located in your state’s capital

Federal: Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and other federal agencies

How have you gone through the process of hiring professionals in the past?

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