HOW TO START A BUSINESS IN DONALSONVILLE - SEMINOLE COUNTY, GEORGIA (Information for New or Prospective Business Owners)
 
The Donalsonville/Seminole County Chamber of Commerce and the Development Authority of Seminole County and Donalsonville have developed this document to provide basic start-up information for persons starting their own businesses. This site also provides new business owners and entrepreneurs with suggested internet sites that provide a wealth of valuable information.

As a prospective business owner, your first step is to write a well-conceived Business Plan. Once your business plan is written, the closest source of detailed information on starting your own business is the Small Business Development Center Office located in Albany, Georgia. Our Donalsonville/Seminole
County Chamber of Commerce & Development Authority Office will be glad to set up a meeting for you with a SBDC agency member or you can call the Albany Office directly. The Small Business Development Center Office is located in Albany, Georgia, 230 South Jackson Street, Suite 333, Albany, Georgia 31701-2885, phone 229-420-1144;web: www.sbdc.uga.edu. Also, please see the SBDC Resource Guide for small businesses that is also posted to our website as a separate link. The Resource Guide provides additional excellent and detailed information that is critical for new business or prospective business owners.

CHECKLIST FOR NEW BUSINESSES:

(Please note: this list is not intended to be all –inclusive nor is it written in any particular order of priority. Further, all items may not pertain to you depending on the type of business you plan to operate. Please contact your nearest Small Business Development Center for assistance in starting a new business. The SBDC network in Georgia is a partnership between the federal Small Business Administration and the University of Georgia, and they provide new business start-up information at no cost.)

• Write a well-conceived Business Plan. Consult your accountant and attorney when finalizing your Business Plan. All financial institutions will require a well-written Business Plan. A good Business Plan will include an analysis of your product or service market, a break-even analysis, financial projections for your first three years of business, and financial reports (income tax returns) of the owners(s).
  
• Determine if your company will operate as a Corporation, a Partnership, a Sole Proprietorship, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or a non-profit organization.
   
• One of the most difficult steps is to find the means to finance your business. There are basically three ways to finance start-up costs: use your own money, obtain a loan(s), or find investors. Visit your area’s Small Business Administration Office for a list of possible sources of Small Business Loans or Grants. In Donalsonville, the nearest Small Business Development Center Office is located in Albany, Georgia, 230 South Jackson Street, Suite 333, Albany, Georgia. 31701-2885, phone 229-420-1144, web: www.sbdc.uga.edu
  
• If your business will be an LLC or a Corporation, you must obtain the proper applications from the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office. If your business is already operating in another state contact the Secretary of State’s Office to receive the proper application to do business in the new state that you wish to operate. Georgia corporations, limited liability companies and limited partnerships are formed by filing with the Corporations Division of the Office of Georgia Secretary of State. Registration forms from the Georgia Secretary of State can be downloaded from this website: www.sos.state.ga.us/corporations.
   
• Decide on your business name. You must register your business name. You must register your business trade name with the clerk of the Superior Court in the county in which your business is licensed. The Seminole County Clerk of the Superior Court phone number is 229-524-2525.
   
• If you as the business owner have any employees, you must apply for a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) by filling out the Form SS-4. You may also call the local IRS TELE-TIN hotline service, or visit the IRS’s web site:www.irs.gov. Also see the following IRS site for documents and booklets on income taxes required and Self Employment Tax information: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0..id=99336.00.html
   
• Also, see IRS Publication 15 (Circular E), Employer’s Tax Guide that includes instructions for withholding and paying federal employment taxes and filing the proper forms. (see http://www.irs.gov/publications/p15/index.html) Most prospective business owners find that a Certified Public Accountant is necessary to insure that all federal employment and income tax laws are followed correctly.
   
• Apply for a State Sales Tax Number if you plan to sell a taxable product or service. (http://www.etax.dor.ga.gov/CorpTax.shtml or call 404-417-4477) If you have employees, you can apply for a state withholding ID# on the same form (CRF-002). Also, the State of Georgia Department of Revenue has an Employer’s Tax Guide on their website: www.etax.dor.ga.gov/taxguide/empirTaxGuide2005.pdf that includes instructions for state income tax withholding.
  
• Contact the Georgia Department of Labor to find out about unemployment regulations that all employers must follow. Employers normally must pay a state unemployment tax (SUTA) and a federal unemployment tax (FUTA). See http://www.dol.state.ga.us/ui rules.htm for SUTA guidelines. See http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/international/article/0..id=104985.00.html for federal information.
   
• Contact the Georgia State Board of Workers Compensation http://sbwc.Georgia.gov/02/sbwc/home/0.2235.11394008.00html to determine what’s required for compliance with the Workers Compensation Act. (This is not necessary for a sole proprietorship without employees.)
   
• If your business is within the City of Donalsonville, you must file for an Occupational Tax Certificate which is the Business License required for Donalsonville. The cost of the Tax Certificate will be based on the projected revenue and number of employees in your business. Contact Donalsonville City Hall at 229-524-2118 for more information concerning business licenses Additional state licenses may be required for some types of businesses such as nursing homes, child care centers, restaurants, hotels, etc. Contact the Georgia Secretary of State’s office if you are starting one of these businesses.
  

STARTING A BUSINESS IN DONALSONVILLE AND SEMINOLE COUNTY:

• Occupational Tax Certificate:
  
  Prior to opening your business it is important to contact the City of Donalsonville at 229-524-2118 and Seminole County at 229-524-2878 to apply for an Occupational Tax Certificate. In some cases, you may not need a license.
   
  This document assures the proper business is conducted in the appropriate zoning location of the City. It is an annual certification that having been filed once continues to be renewed and billed until further notification.
   
• Inspections:
   
  City of Donalsonville, Marty Shingler – 229-524-2118
  Seminole County, Bill Kennedy – 229-524-2878
  Health Department – Edwin Irvin - 229-524-2577
   
• Utilities:
   
  Gas, City of Donalsonville – 229-524-2118
  Water/sewer, City of Donalsonville –229-524-2118
  Garbage, City of Donalsonville – 229-524-2118
  County, Seminole Sanitation – 229-861-2064
  Electricity, Georgia Power Company – 201 Woolfork Ave. - 1-888-655-5888
  Three Notch EMC – 229-524-5377
  Telephone/Internet, Windstream- 1-800-501-1776
   
• If you plan to operate your business from your home, check with the City of Donalsonville if you live within the city limits (229-524-2118) or the Seminole County Commissioners Office (229-524-2878) if you live in Seminole County but outside the city limits to ensure compliance with all local requirements
   
• Contact the Bureau of Labor Standards office to determine what is necessary for compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). http://www.osha.gov/
   
• Contact the Georgia Department of Revenue http://www.etax.dor.ga.gov/CorpTax.shtml to request the proper paperwork for Business Registration and to receive instructions on withholding and paying state income taxes, sales tax, excise tax, etc.
  

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS WHEN STARTING YOUR NEW BUSINESS:

• Whether to lease, buy, or rent your business location. Check with your zoning office. Setup your utilities, internet, and phone services efficiently. Don't overpay for services that you don't need.
   
• Hiring employees. Make sure you start off on the right foot with the required taxes, paperwork, and preparation.
   
• Plan your advertising and marketing strategies.
   
• Open your business!
   
• Join your local Chamber of Commerce for networking opportunities, referrals, and access to valuable resources.