Formation

Starting a business and getting it going is super easy today. Your access to low cost products and services online are right at your finger tips. A simple Google search for what you need is all you need to get you going.

Today it is not a big leap to go from just a guy with an idea to a operating business from just a good idea.

One of the easiest things to do today is make your business appear professional. With the use of the internet, your online persona can be larger than you actually are. The most important thing at this stage is to put your best foot forward on all visual aspects of your business.

Incorporation

Incorporating your business is now easier than ever before. You will however need to decide on the legal structure of your business. Remember that it’s possible to change the structure of your company (i.e., from an LLC to a “S” Corporation) later on, so even if you get this wrong, you can reverse it and make it right if need be.

In order to be taken seriously by investors you will have to incorporate your business before approaching investors. So this should be the first thing you do toward commemorating the official launch of your business.

As you are putting these things together, you will also need to get a federal tax-id number from the IRS. You can either pay the incorporation service you use to do this for you or do it directly on the IRS website yourself.

Online Bios

Online Bios are great because you can simply link to them from and email you may send or even from something as simple as a linkein or Facebook profile.

People that may want to invest in you may react quickly to what they see. You want them to be able to see your plans and ideas with just a quick click of the mouse, without jamming up your introduction email or Executive Summary with a long narrative about your background.For purposes like this something like Linkedin.com will work just great and is probably the most cited professional source for people’s resumes.

If you want something a little more custom, using Word Press or a similar blog posting service can allow you to add a little bit more in the way of media and other specific assets.

Website

The Web site should include a brief overview of what you and your company are looking to accomplish. This is also a great opportunity to show off some visual assets like screen shots of your upcoming launch or pictures of your prototype product. Similar to your on-line bio, it really helps to have a quick link on the Web to point people to. People are used to clicking links to learn more, and whether you’re starting a landscaping company or a fancy restaurant it always helps to make even a short description of your company instantly available.

Business Collateral

Although it’s not entirely required, getting your visual assets like your logo, business cards, and other associated business collateral items together is always a good idea. Good looking business collateral helps put a professional edge on your business, and in many ways can be the reason why you and others think about your brand and business image the way they do. All of your logos and color schemes can be either developed by a designer or you can use stock logo libraries available online or through fulfillment shops like iStockPhoto.com.

Many of the items you would want to produce like business cards, letterhead, and other printed items can all be produced at a very low cost with services like Vistaprint.com that offer small volumes and cheap prices for these items.

Summary

These pieces of your business aren’t hard to put together and help investors see that you’ve put real time and attention into the identity and background of the business that you are trying to build.