How to Start a Small Business

An advisor for the New York State Small Business Development Center, Prof. Brian Yeung will discuss some of the basic information future entrepreneurs need to know when starting a small business.

Choosing your business structure – For liability and tax reasons

  • Sole Proprietorship
  • Partnership
  • Corporation
  • Limited Liability Company

Local, state, and federal business regulations – Know the rules of the game

  • Business Formation
  • Business License
  • Business Insurance
  • Employer Identification Number
  • Sales Tax Certificate of Authority

Writing a business plan – Putting your ideas on paper

  • Introduction
  • Marketing
  • Financial Management

Government contracting – SBA helps to increase the small business share of government contracts

  • Minority Business Development -8(a) Program
  • SDB Certification Program
  • CCR Registration

Financing your business – Finding financial assistance programs

  • Loan Guaranty Programs
  • Loan Maturity
  • Use of Proceeds
  • Terms, Interest Rates and Fees
  • Collateral
  • Eligibility

The New York State Small Business Development Center (NYS SBDC)–the premier business assistance organization in New York State–provides expert management and technical assistance to start-up and existing businesses across the state. The NYS SBDC is administered by State University of New York and funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of New York, and host campuses.

URL: www.nyssbdc.org

Online Notes

Author Bio

Brian Yeung is a business advisor for the New York State Small Business Development Center and a adjunct lecturer at York College. With over 10 years of diversified experience and expertise in small businesses development, Prof. Yeung focuses on small business counseling, business plan development, and business financing. Some of the entrepreneurs that Prof. Yeung assisted include the 2007 NYS SBDC Minority Entrepreneur of The Year and the 2005 NYS SBDC Start Up Company of The Year. His client also includes the 2001 Queens Success Story - World Trade Center Disaster Small Business Recovery Loan.

Prior to becoming a business advisor, Prof. Yeung was a loan officer at the Abacus Federal Savings Bank, a small community bank in New York City’s Chinatown. Prof. Yeung holds a M.B.A. in Computer Information System from Baruch College, and a B.S. in Business Management and Finance from Brooklyn College.

In addition to his full time duty as a business advisor, Prof. Yeung has been teaching as an adjunct lecturer for the past three years. He teaches a class in business management and one for marketing at the York College Accounting and Business Department in Jamaica (Queens), New York.

Prof. Yeung is a member of the Queens Chamber of Commerce Minority Business Development Committee. He is also a Member of the York College Parking Committee, which makes recommendations to improve the college’s parking facilities so that the college can provide more educational opportunities and services to the college community.