The Ultimate Guide on how to take your Personal Training Business Online Successfully.

Hey there! Are you a personal trainer looking to take your business online? Look no further – we’ve got you covered with our ultimate guide on how to do it successfully! We know that transitioning to an online business model can be intimidating, but we’re here to help make it easy and fun. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to get your online personal training business up and running. From setting up your website and developing an online training program to marketing and promoting your business and maintaining engagement with your clients, we’ve got you covered. We’ll also share with you some of our best tips and tricks for success, and provide you with valuable resources and support materials to help you along the way. We believe that with the right tools and guidance, anyone can take their personal training business online and achieve the success they desire. So don’t wait – let’s dive in and get started! We can’t wait to see what you achieve with your online personal training business.    

 Benefits to taking your personal training business online

There are numerous, here are a few key advantages to consider:

1. Wider reach: An online platform allows you to reach a much larger client base, as you are not limited by geography. This means you can work with clients from anywhere in the world, greatly expanding the potential of your business.
2. Convenience for clients: For many people, it can be difficult to find the time and energy to visit a gym or studio for personal training sessions. By offering online training, clients can easily access your services from the comfort of their own homes or anywhere else they have an internet connection.
3. Greater flexibility: With an online personal training business, you have the freedom to work from anywhere and set your own schedule. This can be especially appealing for trainers who may have other commitments or want more control over their work-life balance.
4. Increased profitability: By offering online training, you can potentially serve more clients in a shorter period of time, leading to increased profitability. An online platform also allows you to offer different pricing tiers and packages, providing additional opportunities for revenue generation.
5. Personalized and customized experience: An online platform allows you to provide a more personalized and customized experience for your clients. With the use of technology, you can offer individualized workout and nutrition plans, as well as real-time feedback and support.

The internet will also provide endless opportunities for growth and expansion for your personal training business. Here are a few ways in which an online platform can help you scale your business:

1. Offer a wider range of services: With an online platform, you can offer a variety of services beyond just traditional in-person training sessions. This can include online workout and nutrition plans, virtual training sessions, and other resources and support materials. By offering a broader range of services, you can attract a wider audience and increase your revenue streams.
2. Utilize automation and technology: An online platform allows you to leverage automation and technology to streamline and optimize your business operations. This can include automating tasks such as scheduling and payment processing, as well as utilizing technology to provide a more personalized and interactive experience for your clients. More on this later in this blog.
3. Implement an online membership program: An online membership program involves offering access to your personal training services through a subscription-based platform. This can provide a consistent stream of income for your business and allow you to build a loyal client base.
4. Collaborate and partner with other trainers and professionals: An online platform provides the opportunity to collaborate and partner with other trainers and professionals, both within and outside of the personal training industry. This can help you tap into new markets and expand your reach and influence. More on this later in this blog as well.

An online platform can provide numerous opportunities for growth and expansion for your personal training business. By leveraging the power of technology and utilizing strategies such as offering a wider range of services, automating tasks, implementing an online membership program, and collaborating with others, you can effectively scale your business and reach a wider audience of potential clients.

Setting up your online personal training business

Setting up an online personal training business involves a few key steps to ensure a smooth and successful launch. Here are some key considerations when establishing your online presence:

1. Create a website: A website is essential for any online business, as it serves as a central hub for your services and information. When creating a website for your personal training business, be sure to include information about your services, pricing, and contact information. You may also want to include a blog or resources section to provide valuable content for your clients.
2. Choose the right online tools and platforms: There are numerous tools and platforms available to help you run your online personal training business. This can include scheduling and payment systems, messaging and communication platforms, and tools for creating and delivering workout and nutrition plans. Take the time to research and choose the tools that best meet the needs of your business and clients.
3. Set up payment and scheduling systems: In order to start accepting clients and payments, you’ll need to set up a payment system. This can involve integrating with a payment processor such as Stripe or PayPal, or using a tool such as Acuity Scheduling to manage appointments and payments.
4. Create content and resources: To provide value to your clients and attract new business, it’s important to create content and resources that showcase your expertise and provide valuable information. This can include blog posts, videos, and other materials that demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in the field of personal training.

Carefully planning the setup of your online personal training business, you can effectively establish your online presence and start reaching and serving clients. With the right tools and resources, you can build a successful and sustainable online personal training business.

Developing an online training program

Developing an online training program involves creating and delivering workout and nutrition plans, as well as offering virtual training sessions, to your clients through an online platform. Here are some key considerations when developing your online training program:

1. Create workout and nutrition plans: One of the main components of your online training program will be creating workout and nutrition plans for your clients. These plans should be tailored to the specific goals and needs of each individual client and should be regularly updated and modified as needed.
2. Offer virtual training sessions: In addition to workout and nutrition plans, you may also want to offer virtual training sessions as part of your online training program. This can involve using video conferencing tools such as Zoom or Skype to conduct live training sessions with your clients.
3. Provide support and guidance: As a personal trainer, it’s important to provide ongoing support and guidance to your clients to help them stay motivated and on track with their fitness goals. This can involve regular check-ins and communication through messaging or email, as well as providing additional resources and support materials.

By effectively developing and delivering an online training program, you can provide a comprehensive and personalized experience for your clients. 

 

Online Group session for members

Providing paid online group training sessions can be a great way to offer an additional service to your clients and generate additional revenue for your business. Here’s how to go about it:

1. Determine the format and structure of your online group training sessions: Will you be leading a live group workout session via video conferencing? Or will you be providing pre-recorded sessions for clients to complete on their own time? Determine the format that best meets the needs of your clients and your business.
2. Set the price for your online group training sessions: Consider the value of your sessions and how much time and effort you will be putting into them. You may want to offer discounted rates for group sessions compared to one-on-one training, but make sure to still price your sessions fairly.
3. Promote your online group training sessions: Use your website and social media platforms to promote your online group training sessions. You may also want to reach out to your email list or current clients to let them know about the new service you are offering.
4. Deliver high-quality sessions: Make sure to put in the time and effort to deliver high-quality, engaging online group training sessions. This can involve creating a well-structured workout plan, utilizing technology to enhance the interactive experience, and providing support and guidance to your clients.

There are several reasons why offering paid online group training sessions can be beneficial for your business. First and foremost, it can provide an additional stream of income. Group training sessions can also be more cost-effective for clients, which can help you attract more business. In addition, group training sessions can provide a sense of community and accountability, which can be motivating for clients and lead to better results. By offering paid online group training sessions, you can provide value to your clients and grow your business.

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Are you considering starting your own business as a mobile notary? If so, you’re in luck! The demand for on-the-go notarization services is on the rise, and with the right education, planning, and tools, you can successfully launch and grow your own mobile notary business.

But what exactly is a mobile notary, and what does the job entail? A mobile notary is a notary public who is able to travel to a client’s location to perform notarization services. This can include verifying the identity of a document signer, witnessing the signing of a document, and administering oaths or affirmations. Mobile notaries serve a wide range of clients, including individuals, businesses, and organizations, and can offer a variety of services depending on their expertise and target market.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to starting a mobile notary business, as well as provide tips for thriving as a mobile notary. From becoming a notary public and setting up your business entity, to building your mobile notary toolkit and marketing your services, we’ve got you covered. We’ll also discuss the importance of providing excellent customer service, staying organized and efficient, building your network, staying up-to-date on notary laws and regulations, and using technology to streamline your business.

So if you’re ready to turn your notary public license into a profitable and fulfilling career as a mobile notary, read on for all the information and inspiration you’ll need to get started.

Starting and thriving as a mobile notary business can be a rewarding and lucrative career path. But what exactly is a mobile notary, and why is it a great business opportunity?

A mobile notary is a notary public who is able to travel to a client’s location to perform notarization services. This can include verifying the identity of a document signer, witnessing the signing of a document, and administering oaths or affirmations. The demand for mobile notaries is on the rise, as more and more people prefer the convenience of having notarization services come to them, whether at their home, office, or other location.

Now that you have a better understanding of what a mobile notary does, let’s dive into the steps you’ll need to take to start your own mobile notary business.

The Steps to Starting a Mobile Notary Business

Step 1: Become a Notary Public

The first step to becoming a mobile notary is to become a notary public. This typically involves completing an approved notary education course, passing a notary exam, and submitting a notary application to your state’s notary commission. Requirements for becoming a notary public vary by state, so be sure to check with your state’s requirements before getting started.

Becoming a notary public is the first and most crucial step to starting your own mobile notary business. A notary public is a public official who is authorized to witness the signing of documents and administer oaths or affirmations. In order to become a notary public, you’ll need to complete an approved notary education course, pass a notary exam, and submit a notary application to your state’s notary commission.

The process for becoming a notary public varies by state, but generally involves the following steps:

1. Complete an approved notary education course: Most states require aspiring notaries to complete a notary education course before applying for a notary commission. These courses cover topics such as notary laws, procedures, and ethics, and are typically offered by community colleges, universities, or private notary organizations.
2. Pass a notary exam: After completing a notary education course, you’ll need to pass a notary exam to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of notary laws and procedures. Exams are typically administered by the state’s notary commission or a private testing organization.
3. Submit a notary application: Once you’ve completed an education course and passed the notary exam, you’ll need to submit a notary application to your state’s notary commission. This application typically requires personal information such as your name, address, and contact information, as well as information about your notary education and exam scores.

It’s important to note that requirements for becoming a notary public vary by state. Some states may have additional requirements, such as a background check or bonding, or may have different requirements for the notary education course and exam. Be sure to check with your state’s notary commission for specific requirements and guidance on becoming a notary public.

Once you’ve successfully completed the process to become a notary public, you’ll be authorized to perform notarization services and can begin the process of starting your own mobile notary business.

Step 2: Determine Your Target Market and Services

Once you’ve become a notary public, it’s time to start thinking about who you’ll be serving and what services you’ll be offering. Some mobile notaries choose to focus on serving a specific clientele, such as real estate professionals, while others offer a wider range of services to a more general audience. Consider your own strengths and areas of expertise when deciding on your target market and services.

Determining your target market and services is an important step in starting your own mobile notary business. Your target market refers to the specific group of people or businesses that you’ll be serving with your notarization services. Some mobile notaries choose to focus on serving a specific clientele, such as real estate professionals, while others offer a wider range of services to a more general audience.

When deciding on your target market, consider your own strengths and areas of expertise. For example, if you have a background in real estate, you may choose to focus on serving real estate professionals with services such as mortgage loan signing and property closing services. 

On the other hand, if you have a more general background in notarization, you may choose to offer a wider range of services to a general audience, such as document signing, oaths and affirmations, and loan document services.

In addition to deciding on your target market, you’ll also need to determine the specific services you’ll be offering. Some common services offered by mobile notaries include:

• Document signing: Mobile notaries can witness the signing of documents such as contracts, deeds, and wills.
• Oaths and affirmations: Mobile notaries can administer oaths or affirmations, such as for affidavits or depositions.
• Loan document services: Mobile notaries can assist with the signing of mortgage loan documents and other financial documents.
• Property closing services: Mobile notaries can assist with the closing of real estate transactions, including the signing of deeds and other documents.

When deciding on the services you’ll be offering, consider your target market and the specific needs of your clients. For example, if you’re targeting real estate professionals, you may want to focus on offering property closing services in addition to document signing and oaths and affirmations. On the other hand, if you’re targeting a general audience, you may want to offer a wider range of services such as loan document services, power of attorney documents, and other types of document signing.

Overall, determining your target market and services is an important step in starting your own mobile notary business. By focusing on your strengths and the specific needs of your clients, you’ll be able to build a successful and fulfilling career as a mobile notary.

Step 3: Set Up Your Business Entity and Obtain Necessary Licenses and Insurance

Next, you’ll need to decide on a business structure and obtain any necessary licenses and insurance. This can include setting up a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation, as well as obtaining a business license and liability insurance. Again, requirements for business licenses and insurance vary by state, so be sure to do your research and consult with a professional if necessary.

Once you’ve determined your target market and services as a mobile notary, the next step is to set up your business entity and obtain any necessary licenses and insurance. This involves choosing a business structure and obtaining the necessary licenses and insurance to operate your business legally and protect yourself and your clients.

There are several different business structures to choose from, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Some common business structures for mobile notaries include:

• Sole proprietorship: A sole proprietorship is a business owned and operated by a single individual. This is the simplest and most common business structure for small businesses, including mobile notaries.
• Partnership: A partnership is a business owned and operated by two or more individuals. Partnerships can be either general partnerships, in which all partners are equally responsible for the business, or limited partnerships, in which some partners are only responsible for contributing capital.
• Corporation: A corporation is a business entity that is separate from its owners. Corporations can be either “C” corporations or “S” corporations, and offer more complex tax and liability protection than sole proprietorships or partnerships.

When deciding on a business structure, consider your personal goals, financial situation, and level of risk you’re willing to take on. You may also want to consult with a professional, such as an attorney or accountant, to determine the best business structure for your mobile notary business.

In addition to choosing a business structure, you’ll also need to obtain any necessary licenses and insurance. This can include obtaining a business license, which is typically required to operate a business in your city or county, and liability insurance, which protects you and your business from legal and financial liability. 

The requirements for insurance and licenses for a mobile notary business vary by state. In general, however, mobile notaries are required to obtain liability insurance to protect themselves and their business from legal and financial liability. This can include errors and omissions insurance, which covers mistakes or omissions made by the notary, and general liability insurance, which covers claims arising from injuries or damage caused by the notary’s business.

In addition to liability insurance, mobile notaries may also be required to obtain other types of insurance, such as bond insurance or health insurance, depending on their state’s requirements. It’s important to research the specific insurance requirements for your state and consult with an insurance professional to determine the best coverage for your business.

In terms of licenses, mobile notaries are typically required to obtain a business license to operate their business legally in their city or county. This is typically obtained through the local government or chamber of commerce. In addition to a business license, mobile notaries may also be required to obtain other licenses or permits, depending on their state’s requirements and the specific services they offer. Be sure to research the specific licensing requirements for your state and consult with a professional if necessary.

Overall, obtaining insurance and licenses is an important step in starting and operating a mobile notary business legally and responsibly. By understanding and complying with your state’s requirements, you can protect your business and provide excellent service to your clients.

Step 4: Build Your Mobile Notary Toolkit

A mobile notary’s toolkit should include all of the supplies and equipment necessary to perform notarization services on the go. This can include a portable notary seal, identification verification tools, a certificate of authenticity book, and any other supplies specific to your state’s requirements.

As a mobile notary, it’s important to have a well-stocked toolkit to ensure that you have all of the supplies and equipment you need to perform notarization services on the go. Your mobile notary toolkit should include all of the essentials for performing notarization services, as well as any additional supplies specific to your state’s requirements.

Some common items to include in your mobile notary toolkit are:

• Portable notary seal: A portable notary seal, also known as a rubber stamp or embosser, is used to stamp your notary seal onto documents. Be sure to choose a seal that is compact and easy to transport, and make sure to keep it well-stocked with ink.
• Identification verification tools: It’s important to verify the identity of document signers before performing notarization services. To do this, you’ll need identification verification tools such as a driver’s license or passport scanner, or a manual identification verification form.
• Certificate of authenticity book: A certificate of authenticity book is used to keep track of your notarization services and provide a record of your work. Be sure to choose a book that is durable and easy to use, and make sure to keep it up-to-date with your notarization services.
• Laser Printer- You will be printing contracts and documents sometimes hundreds of pages at a time. Laser printers are a secret weapon to optimize income.
• Other supplies: Depending on your state’s requirements, you may need to include additional supplies in your mobile notary toolkit. This can include a journal for recording notarization services, a bond certificate, or other forms and documents specific to your state.

By building a well-stocked mobile notary toolkit, you’ll be prepared to perform notarization services on the go and provide excellent service to your clients.

Step 5: Create a Marketing Plan and Build Your Client Base

Finally, it’s time to start marketing your mobile notary business and building your client base. This can involve creating a website, networking with other professionals, and promoting your services through social media, local advertising, or referral programs.

Once you’ve set up your business entity and built your mobile notary toolkit, it’s time to start marketing your mobile notary business and building your client base. This involves creating a marketing plan and implementing strategies to promote your services and attract new clients.

There are several ways to market your mobile notary business and build your client base, including:

• Create a website: A website is a great way to showcase your mobile notary business and provide information about your services and experience to potential clients. Your website should include contact information, pricing information, and a description of your services.
• Network with other professionals: Networking with other professionals, such as attorneys, real estate agents, and financial advisors, can be a great way to build your client base. These professionals may refer clients to you, or collaborate with you on projects.
• Promote your services through social media: Social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram can be effective tools for promoting your mobile notary business. Use social media to share updates about your business, highlight your services, and connect with potential clients.
• Local advertising: Local advertising, such as through local newspapers, radio, or TV stations, can be a great way to reach potential clients in your area. Consider investing in targeted advertising to reach your specific target market.
• Referral programs: Referral programs, such as offering discounts or incentives for clients who refer new business to you. This can be an effective way to grow your client base. Consider offering incentives to clients who refer friends, family, or colleagues to your mobile notary business. This can be a great way to not only attract new clients, but also show appreciation to your current clients and build strong relationships.

In addition to the strategies mentioned above, there are many other ways to market your mobile notary business and build your client base. Some more advanced ideas might include:

• Participating in local events or community organizations: Joining local events or organizations can be a great way to meet potential clients and promote your business. Consider participating in local business fairs, networking events, or community organizations to build connections and showcase your services.
• Offering special deals or promotions: Offering special deals or promotions, such as discounts or bundle packages, can be a great way to attract new clients and stand out from the competition. Consider offering promotions for new clients or for certain services to encourage people to try your business.
• Providing excellent customer service: Providing excellent customer service is essential for building a successful mobile notary business. By going above and beyond for your clients and delivering high-quality service, you’ll not only build strong relationships, but also increase the likelihood of receiving positive reviews and referrals.

Overall, creating a marketing plan and building your client base is an important step in starting and thriving as a mobile notary. By implementing a variety of strategies and focusing on providing excellent service, you’ll be able to grow your business and turn your mobile notary career into a rewarding and successful enterprise.

Tips for Thriving as a Mobile Notary

Starting a mobile notary business can be a rewarding and fulfilling career, but it’s important to keep in mind that it takes hard work and dedication to thrive in this field. Here are a few tips for thriving as a mobile notary:

1. Build a strong reputation: Your reputation as a mobile notary is crucial to the success of your business. Focus on building a strong reputation by providing excellent service to your clients, being punctual and reliable, and maintaining high professional standards.
2. Stay up-to-date with laws and regulations: It’s important to stay up-to-date with laws and regulations related to notarization, as these can change over time. Keep abreast of any updates or changes to notary laws and procedures in your state, and make sure to follow all guidelines and requirements.
3. Invest in your business: Investing in your business can help you thrive as a mobile notary. This can include investing in quality equipment and supplies, such as a portable notary seal and identification verification tools, or investing in marketing and advertising efforts to promote your business.
4. Build a network of professionals: Building a network of professionals, such as attorneys, real estate agents, and financial advisors, can be a great way to build your client base and grow your business. Consider networking with other professionals and building relationships to find new clients and opportunities.
5. Provide excellent customer service: Providing excellent customer service is essential for thriving as a mobile notary. Focus on going above and beyond for your clients, responding promptly to inquiries and requests, and delivering high-quality service to build strong relationships and positive word-of-mouth.

By following these tips, you can set yourself up for success as a mobile notary and build a thriving business.

Use Technology to Streamline Your Business

As a mobile notary, using technology to streamline your business can help you work more efficiently and effectively. Here are a few ways to use technology to streamline your business:

1. Use online scheduling and payment systems: Online scheduling and payment systems can make it easier for clients to book appointments and make payments, and can also help you keep track of appointments and manage your schedule.
2. Use electronic document signing: Electronic document signing tools, such as DocuSign, can make it easier to get documents signed remotely and reduce the need for in-person meetings.
3. Use cloud storage: Cloud storage solutions, such as Google Drive or Dropbox, can help you store and access documents from anywhere, making it easier to manage your files and documents on the go.
4. Use project management tools: Project management tools, such as Asana or Trello, can help you keep track of tasks and projects and collaborate with clients and colleagues.
5. Use mobile apps: Mobile apps can help you manage your business on the go, such as by tracking expenses, creating invoices, or scheduling appointments.

Overall, using technology to streamline your business can help you work more efficiently and effectively as a mobile notary. By adopting the right tools and technologies, you can improve your productivity and provide better service to your clients.

How to Scale Your Notary Business

Scaling a mobile notary business can be a challenging but rewarding process, and requires careful planning and strategy. Here are a few tips to help you scale your mobile notary business:

• Expand your services: Consider expanding the types of services you offer to your clients in order to increase your revenue and reach a wider market. For example, you might offer additional notarization services, such as loan signing or document authentication, or you might offer related services such as document preparation or translation.
• Hire additional notaries: If your business is growing and you’re having trouble keeping up with demand, consider hiring additional notaries to help you handle the workload. This can help you serve more clients and grow your business more quickly.
• Partner with other professionals: Partnering with other professionals, such as attorneys or real estate agents, can be a great way to expand your client base and increase your revenue. Consider reaching out to other professionals and building relationships to find new opportunities for collaboration.
• Use marketing and advertising to reach new clients: Marketing and advertising can be effective tools for reaching new clients and growing your business. Consider investing in targeted advertising campaigns or building your online presence through social media and a website to reach more potential clients.
• Invest in technology: Investing in technology can help you streamline your business and work more efficiently, freeing up time and resources to focus on growth. Consider adopting tools such as electronic document signing or project management software to improve your productivity.

Overall, scaling a mobile notary business requires a strategic and proactive approach. By expanding your services, hiring additional notaries, partnering with other professionals, using marketing and advertising, and investing in technology, you can successfully scale your mobile notary business and achieve your growth goals.

Starting a mobile notary business is a challenging but rewarding endeavor, and with the right education, planning, and tools, you can set yourself up for success. In order to launch and grow your own mobile notary business, you’ll need to become a notary public, determine your target market and services, set up your business entity and obtain necessary licenses and insurance, build your mobile notary toolkit, and create a marketing plan to build your client base.

However, simply starting a business isn’t enough – you need to thrive in order to truly succeed. This means providing excellent customer service, staying organized and efficient, building your network and collaborating with other professionals, staying up-to-date on notary laws and regulations, and using technology to streamline your business. With dedication and hard work, you can turn your mobile notary business into a thriving and successful enterprise.

So if you’re ready to take the first steps towards starting and thriving as a mobile notary, consider taking one of our business courses. Our courses are designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in this exciting and rewarding field. With the right education and training, you can confidently launch and grow your own mobile notary business, and make your entrepreneurial dreams a reality. So, take the first step towards your future today and enroll in one of our courses!

A Detailed Guide to Growing Your Personal and Professional Network

Networking is an essential skill for personal and professional growth. Having a strong network can help you find new opportunities, gain valuable insights and advice, and expand your horizons. However, building and maintaining a network can be challenging, especially if you’re not sure where to start.

In this blog post, we’ll explore some strategies for growing your network and making the most of your connections. By following these tips, you can build a diverse and supportive network that can help you achieve your goals and succeed in your career.

Identify your goals and target audience

Before you start networking, it’s important to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and who you want to connect with. Are you looking for new job opportunities, seeking advice from industry experts, or looking to expand your business? By setting specific networking goals, you’ll be better able to identify the types of people who can help you achieve them.

For example, if you’re looking to find a new job, you might want to connect with hiring managers or recruiters in your field. If you’re seeking advice or mentorship, you might want to connect with experienced professionals or industry leaders. And if you’re looking to grow your business, you might want to connect with potential clients or partners.

Once you’ve identified your goals and target audience, you’ll be better able to focus your networking efforts and make the most of your connections.

• Setting specific networking goals
• Identifying the types of people you want to connect with (e.g., colleagues, industry experts, potential clients)

Building your network in person

One of the most effective ways to grow your network is to attend industry events and conferences. These events are a great way to meet new people, learn about the latest trends and developments in your field, and make valuable connections.

To find events that align with your interests and goals, you can search online for industry-specific events, or check out the calendar of professional organizations or groups that you belong to. You can also ask your colleagues or contacts for recommendations.

Once you’ve found an event that you want to attend, make the most of your time there by networking with speakers and attendees, following up with new contacts, and exchanging business cards or contact information.

In addition to attending events and conferences, you can also grow your network by joining professional organizations or groups. These organizations often host events and meetings, offer networking opportunities, and provide access to valuable resources and expertise.

To find organizations or groups that align with your interests and goals, you can search online or ask your colleagues or contacts for recommendations. Once you’ve found an organization that you want to join, consider volunteering for committees or projects to get more involved and make the most of your membership.

• Attend industry events and conferences
• Join professional organizations or groups
• Volunteer for projects or committees within your organization

Building your network online

In addition to building your network in person, you can also use the internet to connect with others and expand your network. There are many online communities or forums related to specific industries or interests, where you can meet new people and engage in discussions about topics that you’re passionate about.

To find online communities or forums that align with your interests and goals, you can search online or ask your colleagues or contacts for recommendations. Once you’ve found a community that you want to join, make an effort to engage with others by sharing valuable content, asking for advice, and commenting on others’ posts.

You can also use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook to follow and connect with people who are in your field or have similar interests. By following and engaging with these people, you can build relationships, stay up-to-date on the latest developments in your field, and make valuable connections.

In addition to participating in online communities and using social media, you can also use LinkedIn to connect with others and grow your network. LinkedIn is a professional networking platform that allows you to connect with others in your industry or field, share your expertise and experience, and find new job opportunities.

To make the most of LinkedIn, it’s important to keep your profile up-to-date and complete. This includes adding a professional photo, writing a compelling summary that highlights your skills and experience, and listing your current and past positions and education. You should also consider adding any certifications or achievements that are relevant to your field.

In addition to updating your profile, you can also use LinkedIn to connect with others and engage with their content. You can follow influencers and thought leaders in your field, share articles or blog posts that you find interesting, and comment on others’ posts. You can also use LinkedIn’s search function to find and connect with people who are in your field or have similar interests.

• Participate in online communities or forums
• Follow and engage with people on social media
• Keep your LinkedIn profile up to date and actively use it to connect with other professionals

Staying in touch with your network

Building a strong network is only half the battle – the other half is maintaining and nurturing those relationships over time. To stay connected with your network, it’s important to make an effort to keep in touch with the people you’ve met and stay up-to-date on their career and personal developments.

One way to stay in touch is to follow up with people after you meet them to exchange contact information and set up a time to connect again in the future. You can also reach out to old colleagues, classmates, and mentors periodically to check in and see how they’re doing. By staying in touch, you’ll be able to build stronger relationships and increase the likelihood of future opportunities or introductions.

Another way to stay in touch with your network is to ask for recommendations or endorsements from people in your network. These recommendations can help you stand out when applying for jobs or seeking new business opportunities, and they can also serve as a testament to your skills and expertise.

To ask for a recommendation, consider reaching out to people who you have worked with or who have seen your work firsthand. Make sure to explain why you are asking for a recommendation and how it will benefit you. You can also offer to write a recommendation for them in return, which can help to build a reciprocal relationship.

• Stay in touch with old colleagues, classmates, and mentors
• Follow up with people after you meet them to stay connected
• Ask for recommendations or endorsements from people in your network

Expanding your network

Once you’ve built a strong foundation of connections, you can start expanding your network by reaching out to new people and making introductions. One way to do this is to ask for introductions from people in your network. If you have identified someone that you want to meet, consider reaching out to a mutual connection and asking for an introduction. Be specific about why you want to meet the person and offer to follow up with the introduction after the initial contact.

Another way to expand your network is to offer to help others in your network. By offering your time, skills, or resources, you can build stronger relationships and create new opportunities for yourself. When offering to help, be specific about what you can do and make sure to follow through on any commitments you make.

You can also expand your network by sharing your expertise and offering to give talks or presentations. Whether you’re speaking at an industry event or writing an article or blog post, sharing your knowledge and insights can help you build credibility and establish yourself as an expert in your field.

In addition to sharing your expertise, you can also expand your network by offering internships or mentorship opportunities. By mentoring others, you can share your skills and experience, and also learn from your mentees. You can also consider seeking out mentorship or coaching opportunities to learn from more experienced professionals.

• Ask for introductions to people you want to meet
• Offer to help others in your network
• Share your expertise and offer to give talks or presentations
• Offer internships or mentorship opportunities
• Network with people outside of your immediate industry or field

Seeking out informational interviews

Informational interviews are a great way to learn more about a specific industry or company, and they can also be an effective way to expand your network. To conduct an informational interview, you’ll need to identify someone who you want to interview and why. This could be someone who works in a field or company that you’re interested in, or someone who has expertise or experience that you want to learn more about.

Once you’ve identified someone you want to interview, you’ll need to prepare for the conversation by doing some research. This might include learning about the person’s career path, their company or industry, and any current developments or trends in their field. You should also come up with a list of open-ended questions that will help you learn more about their experience and insights.

To ask for an informational interview, consider reaching out to the person via email or LinkedIn and explaining why you are interested in speaking with them. Be specific about what you hope to learn and offer to follow up with them after the interview.

During the informational interview, be sure to listen attentively and ask open-ended questions that will help you learn more about the person and their field. You should also be prepared to share a bit about yourself and your goals, as this can help the person get a sense of who you are and how you might be able to help each other in the future.

After the informational interview, be sure to follow up with the person to thank them for their time and insights. You can also consider staying in touch with them and reaching out in the future if you have any additional questions or if you think you can help them in some way.

• Identify people you want to interview and why
• Prepare for and conduct informational interviews

Hosting events or gatherings

Another way to expand your network and strengthen your relationships is to host events or gatherings for people in your network. These events can be as simple as a casual meet-up at a local coffee shop, or as formal as a conference or workshop.

To host an event or gathering, you’ll need to identify an opportunity and a purpose. This might be an opportunity to bring together people in your network to discuss a specific topic or issue, or to celebrate a milestone or achievement.

Whatever the purpose of your event, it’s important to be clear about it and make sure that it aligns with your goals and the interests of your attendees.

Once you’ve identified an opportunity and a purpose, you’ll need to plan and prepare for your event. This might include finding a venue, inviting attendees, and arranging for refreshments and entertainment. You should also consider any logistics, such as transportation and parking, and make sure to communicate all necessary details to your attendees.

When hosting an event or gathering, it’s important to be inclusive and invite a diverse group of people. This might include colleagues, friends, and contacts from different industries or fields. By bringing together a diverse group of people, you’ll be able to create new opportunities for networking and collaboration.

In addition to planning and preparing for your event, it’s also important to be a good host and make sure that your attendees are comfortable and engaged. This might include making introductions, facilitating discussions, and being available to answer questions or provide assistance.

By hosting events or gatherings, you’ll be able to strengthen your relationships with your network, create new opportunities for collaboration, and establish yourself as a leader and connector.

• Identify opportunities to host events or gatherings for people in your network
• Plan and host successful events or gatherings

Advanced networking strategies

As you become more experienced in networking, you may want to consider some advanced strategies to further grow and strengthen your network.

One such strategy is collaborating with others on projects or initiatives. By working on a project or initiative with someone, you’ll be able to build a stronger relationship and create new opportunities for mutual benefit. You can seek out collaboration opportunities by offering your skills or resources, or by asking others if they have any projects or initiatives that you can help with.

Another advanced networking strategy is seeking out mentorship or coaching opportunities. By working with a mentor or coach, you’ll be able to learn from more experienced professionals and get guidance and support as you navigate your career. You can seek out mentorship or coaching opportunities by asking for recommendations from your network, or by researching and contacting potential mentors or coaches directly.

Finally, you can use referrals to build business relationships and expand your network. When you have a strong relationship with someone and they recommend you to a potential client or partner, it can be a powerful way to establish credibility and build trust. You can seek out referrals by offering excellent service or products to your clients or partners, and by asking for referrals when appropriate.

• Collaborate with others on projects or initiatives
• Seek out mentorship or coaching opportunities
• Use referrals to build business relationships

10 tips for improving your social circle

1. Make an effort to get to know new people. This can be as simple as striking up a conversation with someone you see regularly or joining a club or organization that aligns with your interests.
2. Be open to trying new things and stepping outside of your comfort zone. This can help you meet new people and expand your social circle.
3. Seek out activities that align with your interests and passions. This can help you meet like-minded people who share similar hobbies or goals.
4. Be open to making new friends through your existing social circle. Ask friends to introduce you to their friends, or suggest group activities that allow you to meet new people.
5. Be proactive in reaching out to others and making plans. Don’t be afraid to ask people to hang out or suggest group activities.
6. Be genuine and authentic in your interactions with others. People are more likely to want to be friends with someone who is genuine and authentic.
7. Practice good communication skills, such as actively listening and being open to hearing others’ perspectives.
8. Be open to meeting new people in a variety of settings, including formal events, informal gatherings, and online communities.
9. Consider joining a club or organization that aligns with your interests or hobbies. This can be a great way to meet new people and expand your social circle.
10. Keep in touch with the people in your social circle, and make an effort to stay connected even when you’re not physically together. This can help you build strong, lasting friendships.

10 good lines to pick up new friends

It’s generally not a good idea to try to “pick up” new friends using lines or techniques that are meant to be used for romantic or sexual purposes. Making new friends should be about building genuine connections and mutual respect, not about trying to manipulate or impress someone. Here are 10 more appropriate and respectful ways to start a conversation and build a friendship:

1. “Hi, my name is [Name]. I noticed that we have a mutual interest in [shared activity or topic]. Do you want to talk more about it?”
2. “I saw that you’re involved in [club or organization]. How did you get involved and what do you like about it?”
3. “I’m new to this area and looking to meet new people. Do you have any recommendations for fun things to do around here?”
4. “I saw you at [event or location]. I thought your [comments or actions] were really interesting. Can I buy you a coffee and hear more about your thoughts on [topic]?”
5. “I’m trying to get better at [activity or skill]. Do you have any advice or want to practice together?”
6. “I really enjoyed [shared experience or conversation]. Do you want to hang out again sometime?”
7. “I’m looking for someone to [activity] with. Do you want to join me?”
8. “I noticed that you’re interested in [topic]. I’m interested in it too. Do you want to talk more about it?”
9. “I saw that you’re involved in [cause or charity]. That’s something I’m passionate about too. Do you want to talk more about it or get involved together?”
10. “I noticed that we have a mutual friend. How do you know [friend’s name]?”

11 Ice-breakers that get new friends

Observational statements or questions are a great way to start a conversation and get to know someone new. Here are some examples of observational statements or questions that you could use to start a conversation with someone:

1. “I noticed that you’re wearing a [item of clothing or accessory] that I really like. Where did you get it?”
2. “I saw that you were reading [book or magazine]. What made you choose that one?”
3. “You seem really talented at [activity or skill]. How did you get into it?”
4. “I noticed that you have a [object or accessory] that I’ve always been interested in. Can you tell me more about it?”
5. “I saw you at [event or location]. What made you decide to go there?”
6. “You seem really passionate about [cause or issue]. Can you tell me more about it?”
7. “I noticed that you have a lot of experience in [field or industry]. How did you get started in it?”
8. “I saw that you’re involved in [club or organization]. What made you want to get involved?”
9. “You seem to have a great sense of style. Where do you get your fashion inspiration from?”
10. “I noticed that you’re fluent in [language]. How did you learn it?”
11. *“Is it just me or…”

Maintaining and growing your network

Building a strong network takes time and effort, but it’s important to continuously maintain and grow your network over time. Here are some tips for maintaining and growing your network:

• Follow up with new contacts within a few days of meeting them. This can be as simple as sending a quick email or LinkedIn message thanking them for their time and reiterating your interest in staying in touch.
• Stay in touch with your network periodically. This might mean sending occasional emails or LinkedIn messages, or reaching out to schedule a coffee or lunch. By staying in touch, you’ll be able to maintain your relationships and stay up-to-date on the latest developments in your network.

• Offer help and support to others in your network. Whether it’s offering to introduce someone to a potential client, sharing a valuable resource, or just offering a listening ear, you can strengthen your relationships by helping others.
• Keep your LinkedIn profile up-to-date and actively use it to connect with others. LinkedIn is a powerful tool for networking, so make sure to keep your profile current and engage with others by sharing articles or commenting on their posts.
• Attend industry events and conferences. These events are a great way to meet new people, learn about the latest trends and developments in your field, and make valuable connections.
• Join professional organizations or groups. These organizations often host events and meetings, offer networking opportunities, and provide access to valuable resources and expertise.
• Participate in online communities or forums. These communities are a great way to connect with others who share your interests and goals.

By following these tips, you can continuously maintain and grow your network over time and make the most of your connections.

Network Marketing

Network marketing, also known as multi-level marketing (MLM), is a business model in which a company distributes products through a network of independent distributors. These distributors earn money by selling the products and also by recruiting and training other distributors. The income of a distributor is based on their own sales as well as the sales of their recruits, creating a downline. Network marketing is also sometimes referred to as referral marketing, because the distributor can earn money by referring others to the company.

In network marketing, the company typically provides training and support to the distributors, and the distributors are responsible for finding and interacting with customers. Network marketing companies often sell a wide range of products, including health and wellness products, beauty and personal care products, and household goods.

Network marketing is a popular way for companies to reach new customers and for individuals to start their own business with a relatively low investment. However, it has also been the subject of criticism, with some people alleging that it is a pyramid scheme, where the focus is on recruiting more distributors rather than on selling the products. It is important for individuals considering joining a network marketing company to research the company and its products and ensure that it is a legitimate opportunity.

There are many benefits to joining a LEGIT network marketing company. One of the biggest benefits is the opportunity to earn a passive income. With a network marketing company, you can earn money by selling products and also by recruiting and training others to sell the products. This means that as your team grows, so does your income.

Another benefit of network marketing is the sense of community and support that you can find within the company. Many network marketing companies have a strong focus on personal development and helping their team members succeed. This can be extremely motivating and inspiring, as you have the opportunity to work with and learn from other successful individuals.

In addition to the financial and personal development opportunities, network marketing also allows for a flexible schedule. As a member of a network marketing team, you have the freedom to work as much or as little as you want, fitting your business around your other commitments and responsibilities.

Overall, joining a network marketing company can be a great decision for anyone looking to earn a passive income, grow personally and professionally.

Don’t underestimate the power of networking! By investing time and effort into building and maintaining a strong network, you can open up endless possibilities for personal and professional growth. The tips outlined in this blog post will help you make valuable connections and create a network that will support you in achieving your goals.

So don’t wait – start building your network today and watch your career soar to new heights. The opportunities and insights waiting for you are invaluable, and all it takes is a little bit of effort to create a brighter future for yourself. Make the most of your potential – start networking now!”

If you don’t file your business taxes on time and become delinquent, you may face fines, penalties, and back taxes, so it’s important to know when they are due. Here are some of the most important business tax due dates for the upcoming year:

January 15, 

• Sole proprietors:
  • File and pay quarterly estimated tax for the last quarter using Form 1040-ES.

February 1, 

• All businesses:
  • Deadline to provide information statements (for example, Forms 1099 and 1099-NEC) to recipients of certain payments. See IRS General Instructions for Certain Information Returns.
  • Deadline to provide employees with W-2.
  • Deadline to file Form W-3, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements, including copy A of all W-2s issued.
  • File and pay Federal Unemployment Tax using Form 940.
  • File and pay any Withheld Income, Social Security, and Medicare Taxes for the fourth quarter using either Form 941 or Form 944. (If you made all payments on time and in full, this deadline is February 10).

• Sole proprietors, in addition to the above, may choose to:
  • File and pay income tax if you did not make a final quarterly payment of estimated income tax by the due date of January 15. Filing and paying any amount due by this date will avoid a penalty for late payment. Use Form 1040 or 1040-SR. File a separate Schedule C for each business or a separate Schedule F for each farm business.

February 16, 

• All businesses:
  • Provide information statements to recipients of certain payments using Forms 1099-B or 1099-S.
  • Begin withholding income tax from any employee who did not give you a W-4.

March 1, 

• All businesses:
  • File information returns for payments made (certain Forms 1099). Use Form 1096 to summarize and transmit these payments. See General Instructions for Certain Information Returns.

March 15, 

• Partnerships:
  • File income tax return using Form 1065.
  • Provide each partner with Schedule K-1 (Form 1065).
  • File Form 7004 to request an automatic six-month extension.

• S corporations:
  • File income tax return using Form 1120-S and pay any tax due.
  • Provide each shareholder with Schedule K-1 (Form 1120-S).
  • File Form 7004 to request an automatic six-month extension and pay the estimated tax owed.

March 31

• All businesses:
  • File 1099 and similar forms electronically. For information see IRS Publication 1220.

April 15, 

• Sole proprietors:
  • File and pay your personal income tax using Forms 1040 or 1040SR. File a separate Schedule C for each business or a separate Schedule F for each farm business.
  • For an automatic six-month extension, file Form 4868 and pay the estimated amount owed.
  • If income was more than $400, pay self-employment tax. Use Forms 1040 or 1040SR, Schedule SE.
  • File and pay the first quarter estimated income tax using Form 1040-ES.

• Corporations:
  • File income tax return using Form 1120. Pay any tax due.
  • File for automatic extension using Form 7004. Deposit estimated taxes.
  • Deposit first quarter estimated income tax. Use worksheet 1120-W.

April 30, 

• All businesses:
  • File and pay withheld Social Security, Medicare, and Income tax for the first quarter using Form 941 (If you made payments on time and in full, the deadline is May 10).
  • Deposit Federal Unemployment tax if the amount owed through March is more than $500.

June 15, 

• Sole proprietors:
  • File and pay the second quarter estimated income tax using Form 1040-ES.

• Corporations:
  • Deposit estimated income tax payment.

August 2, 

• All businesses:
  • File and pay withheld Social Security, Medicare, and Income tax for the second quarter of Form 941 (If you made payments on time and in full deadline is August 10).
  • Deposit Federal Unemployment tax if the amount owed through June is more than $500.
  • If you have an employee pension, profit-sharing, or stock bonus plan, file Form 5500 or 5500-EZ. Consult IRS.gov for information on this form.

September 15, 

• Sole proprietors:
  • File and pay the third quarter estimated income tax using Form 1040-ES.

• Partnerships:
  • File an income tax return using Form 1065 if you requested a six-month extension.

• S-Corporations
  • File your income tax return using Form 1120-S if you requested a six-month extension.
  • Provide each shareholder with a copy of Schedule K-1 Form 1120-S.

• Corporations:
  • Deposit the third installment of estimated Income tax using Worksheet 1120-W to estimate.

October 15, 

• Sole proprietors:
  • If you filed for a six-month extension of income tax, file and pay using Forms 1040 or 1040SR. File a separate Schedule C for each business or a separate Schedule F for each farm business.

• Corporations:
  • If you filed for a six-month extension of income tax, file, and pay using Form 1120.

November 1, 

• All businesses:
  • File and pay withheld Social Security, Medicare, and Income tax for the third quarter using Form 941. (If you made payments on time and in full deadline is November 10).
  • Deposit Federal Unemployment Tax if the amount owed through September is over $500.

December 15, 

• Corporations:
  • Deposit the fourth installment of estimated Income tax using Worksheet 1120-W.

Business Tax Mastery Course

Determining which of these dates apply to your business, adding in your state and local deadlines, and setting reminders will help your business avoid costly penalties and help you avoid unnecessary worry.

Be sure to check out our Business Tax Mastery Course which will show you how to turn your business taxes into a business tool.

The average lifespan of companies today has decreased by more than 50 years over the last century. In the 1920s a successful company typically lasted for an average of 67 years, compare that to the 15 years that a successful company usually survives today. 

Fortunately, there are still organizations today that have the passion and desire to build a company vision that will carry on for multiple generations and ages, with more and more emerging. 

However, unlike many of these externally financed companies, most companies have to ultimately learn how to stay in business, and your Internet business is no exception. 

Learning how to survive and thrive in today’s constantly changing environment requires you to develop a robust strategic business plan that will set you up for success. A strong strategy and your roadmap, along with the critical ingredients for success, will help you navigate the ever-changing and complicated business world and help you focus on the business activities that will allow you to build and maintain a long-lasting Internet business. If you don’t have a plan for exiting the market, then you need to have a strategy for continually evolving, creating, and sustaining growth year after year. If you are looking to build an Internet Business that will last for a century or more, here are six key actions that you need to take to get you ahead, retain your competitive advantage, and build a long-lasting business.

1. Build Out a 12-Month Sales Pipeline Cycle

In order for your business to last, you have to have a continual flow of qualified leads and be able to close the sale. The best way to do this is to build out a 12-month sales pipeline cycle by bringing your sales and marketing teams together. When you bring these two valuable teams together, you allow your marketing department to build their marketing qualified leads (MLQs) at least a quarter in advance. This then allows your sales team to take the leads and work on turning the MQLs into qualified sales leads (SQLs).

For this to work, you have to have clear product positioning and messaging. The best way to ensure this is by interviewing your customers, carefully studying the market and your buying persona so that you can clearly understand how you can find and convert consumers into potential buyers. This means that you will need to have a clear understanding of the structure of your resources to your potential revenue, whether this comes from sales mining and hunting, inbound marketing efforts, the growth of new and current customers, partnerships or referrals, and so on. You will need to take the time to project your potential revenue and then allocate the budget and resources to each source of revenue and have a clear way to track them accordingly. Setting up a 12-month sales pipeline cycle will set your business up to continue to have a steady flow of new customers that you can sell your products and services.

2. Develop a Strategy to Keep Up with the Competition

It doesn’t matter what business you are in; there will always be competition. To build an Internet business that can go the distance, you’ll want to make a list of your ten biggest competitors, as well as a list of the smaller ones. When you’ve completed your list, sit down and thoroughly study your competition. Learn about the products or services that they are offering their customers, analyze their positioning in the market and the messaging their delivering. Take the time to learn about their target customers and the total contract value or average sales that they are going after and how they are marketing their products. If you want to get ahead, you have to know everything you can about your competition.

From here, you should gain a thorough understanding of how your company and product offerings are different from your competition. Figure out how to emphasize the unique value that you can bring to your customers that your competition can’t. You need to take the time to figure out what sets you apart from your competition. Is it that you are in a particular niche that you can do better than everyone else? Is it the excellent customer service and personal attention that you provide your customers? You must make sure that both your marketing and sales staff know these differences and your employees need to embody this knowledge as well.

From time to time, refresh your list of competitors and relearn everything you can about these businesses. To keep things fresh, try to do this exercise every six months. Another thing that you can do is try to find out which competitors you can befriend and see if there are any complimentary offerings that you can partner with them on.

3. Develop a Business Model and Product Innovation Cycle to Adapt to Changing Market Conditions Quickly 

Business models and product offerings are a lot like fashion. They go in and out of style every few years. To stay on top of this, you need to carefully study the trends in the market and have a laser focus on your customer’s buying behaviors. Study them carefully and try to learn how their buying journeys change throughout the years. You’ll also need to look at how your competition offers similar products and services to yours in a different way. When you are trying to build an Internet business that is long-lasting, you have to assume that every two years your business model is going to change and you have to sit down and figure out how to improve your business model for continued growth. 

To stay ahead of the changing markets, you’ll want to allocate some company resources to researching the market and changing trends and figure out how you can innovate your products and service ahead of their time, which will allow your business to emerge as a leader in your industry with industry best practices, as well as industry-leading practices. The two-year cycle of change can empower you to architect a period of innovation, which means you’ll want to strive to embrace the inevitable change rather than trying to fight it. When you can develop an innovation cycle within your business, you can allow your products and services to be introduced to the market before your current products reach the end of their life, which will give you a distinct advantage over your competition and allow you to continue to grow and build a business that will be around for years to come.

4. Plan for Turnover to Stay Talent-Current

As your business grows, it is inevitable that you will need to improve the capabilities of your leadership team. The founding executives that are currently loyal to you and your business might not have the capacity to grow along with your company. This can lead you to finding yourself in a bit of a conundrum of having to choose between loyalty and competence. While you will want to reward the dedication of these team members by allowing them to keep their job, if they don’t have the expertise to perform their duties in the manner that you need, it could eventually damage your business. It’s inevitable that as your business grows, you will experience turnover and you will need to replace employees and leadership team members that have been with you since the beginning. 

To keep your business moving forward and growing, you’ll need to spend some time determining what your executive dream team will look like. Once you decide this, you’ll need to look at your current team and identify the gaps that exist compared to your dream team. As you determine the gaps, start to develop a plan that will allow you to maximize your leadership talent. When you feel like your plan for building your dream executive team is completed start to incrementally execute the plan to bring on the right leadership talent for your business while minimizing business and cultural disruptions.

5. Create an Elastic Workforce

If you’re running a business that’s seasonal and requires ramping up and down, then you need to build a flexible workforce to meet the seasonal demands. This will require you to carefully consider the roles of each of your employees and how you can supplement these roles when needed to ensure that you are meeting the demands of your customers. One easy and efficient way to do this is by outsourcing some of the positions in your company or hiring independent contractors to help pick up some of the slack during your peak seasons. These are two very effective ways to solve the elasticity issues that often come with seasonal businesses and can help you stay on top of the continual ramping up and down that comes with seasonal work.

Fortunately, just about every function in your company can be outsourced. Everything from software testing and development, marketing, HR, finance, IT, administration, and others can be handled effectively by an independent contractor or temporary employee. In order for this to work and enable you to build a long-lasting Internet business, you need to take some time to determine the critical positions in your company that you will always need and want to keep in the house, and then outsource the rest. Keeping your company elastic with independent contractors and outsourcing will allow you to quickly ramp up and down when things get busy, without having to spend the time and money to train seasonal employees. Creating a flexible workforce can help you on your way to building a business that will last for years.

6. Balance Growth vs Profitability

As you continue to grow your business, there will be times that you will need to raise capital for improvements and other business-related expenses. If you’re self-funding your business, then your sources of money might be substantially limited. While you might be able to use the funding that comes from the positive cash flow that your business is currently generating, there is going to come to a point when you will need more cash to grow your business. One way that you can accomplish this is through a business line of credit, which is an example of an affordable cash source for growing your business. However, getting the banks to approve your application for this can be tricky.

This is where a healthy balance sheet will come in handy. Maintaining a healthy balance sheet will allow you to anticipate better when you will need the money to grow your business. Your balance sheet is what will provide the banks and other investors a glimpse into your company’s financial condition and can help you endure economic downturns and keep your business growing. When you can present a healthy balance sheet, banks and other investors will compete for your business.

In Conclusion

Too many of the businesses today aren’t posed to last. With most companies these days lasting no longer than 15 years, it is essential for you to set yourself up from the start for success. These six strategies can help you create a business model that will allow for continual growth. Companies that can last for 100 years or more can be more financially stable, allowing them to experience fewer ups and downs, which helps them to endure less stress and worry about the possibility of loss and layoffs, and can make a more significant contribution to the economy and society.

These simple strategies can help you build a brand and company that lasts and that will provide you and future generations with the stability and prosperity you dreamed of when you first started your company. If you want your Internet business to be long-lasting, it’s important to start taking the necessary steps today and enjoy your success for many years to come.

As a small business owner, you are responsible for paying taxes on all income generated by your business. Even if your business does not generate income during the year, it is necessary to report the lack of income to the Internal Revenue Service. The exact documents needed to file your business taxes vary, depending upon the structure of your business.

Without properly managing your tax payments to the local, state, and the federal government could result in massive fines, persistent bank liens, or even the government stepping in to shut you down.

Whether you’re starting a new business at the turn of the new year or looking forward to your first quarterly tax payment, this moment is critical for a small business owner. Depending on how your business is organized, you may have different tax requirements from other companies. Whether you’re an LLC, a partnership or an S corporation, you’ll always be paying taxes as you go, reporting income as you earn it throughout the tax year.

While there are countless experts and professionals to help you navigate your business’s fledgling months, we collected some tips and federal forms you can address right now to make sure your first or next quarterly tax payment goes smoothly.

Business Tax Forms for Sole Proprietorships

The federal government doesn’t consider sole proprietorships to be individual legal entities to be taxed. Sole proprietors report any business earnings on their individual tax returns — that’s the only financial reporting they must do.

Most sole proprietors file their business tax obligations as part of their individual 1040 tax return by using the additional two-page form Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Business

Form 1040, U.S. Individual Tax Return 

This is used to file your individual income tax return. Business owners will need to complete additional Form 1040 ‘schedules’ to itemize deductions, expenses and claim tax credits.

Schedule A to Form 1040, Itemized Deductions

Some personal expenses are “deductible” from your gross income to potentially lower the amount of taxes you have to pay. 

If your total deductible personal expenses are greater than the standard deduction amount set by the IRS, you can itemize them using Schedule A.

The schedule has seven categories of expenses, including 

• Charitable Donations
• Medical and dental expenses
• Mortgage Interest
• Interest paid
• Taxes paid
• Losses due to casualty and theft
• Job expenses

Strict rules apply for calculating and claiming these deductions, however. In some cases, you might not be able to deduct the full amounts.

You also don’t have to complete every line of the schedule. If you don’t have expenses in a certain category, simply skip over it. Once you’re finished, your total deduction amount is then added to Form 1040.

If you had over $1,500 in taxable interest or ordinary dividends from your bank accounts and investments, you might have to file Schedule B to report the amounts.

Additionally, if you have any foreign bank or investment accounts or receive distributions from certain foreign trusts, you must report that information on this schedule. Once completed, these totals also transfer over to Form 1040.

Schedule C to Form 1040, Profit or Loss From Business 

(Sole Proprietorship Or Single-Member LLC)

If you are a sole proprietorship, or single-member LLC you will file a Schedule C to report the gross profit or loss from your business. 

Categories of expenses include costs like: 

• Insurance
• Travel
• Meals and Entertainment
• Taxes
• Office Supplies
• Wages
• Other business-related items.

Self-Employment Tax

• If you make over $400, you must pay a Self-Employment Tax
• For Sole Proprietorship and LLC Members
• Taxed on your profit, for social security and Medicare taxes.
• Roughly 15%

A simplified explanation of how self-employment tax is calculated:

• Enter your business net income
• Multiply this income by 92.35% (0.9235)
• Multiply this number by 15.3% (the self-employment tax rate) to get your self-employment tax liability amount.

You can deduct one-half of the self-employment tax to reduce your adjusted gross income for the year.

A tax software program or tax preparer can calculate this tax for you, or you can run the calculation yourself using Schedule SE.

Form 1099-MISC for Miscellaneous Income

This is for the self-employed, freelancers, and independent contractors. You Must report earnings received from your clients, sponsors, and financial institutions.

This form replaces a Form W-2 you receive working for a traditional employer.

Form 1099-MISC is also a catch-all for other types of income, such as prizes, awards, and fishing boat proceeds.

Business Tax Forms for LLCs

Determining which IRS business forms you’re responsible for as a limited liability company, or LLC, is a little more complicated. 

For tax purposes, the IRS can consider an LLC as a:

• Disregarded Entity

Considered part of the LLC owner’s personal tax return. In this case for your LLC, you, as a single owner, will report the income and expenses of your LLC using Form 1040 Schedule C or E,  along with your personal tax return.

• Regarded as a partnership 

If your LLC has at least two members, it’s considered a partnership, and you’ll have to file Form 1065, as well as a Schedule K-1 for each partner. 

LLCs filing partnership returns generally pay self-employment tax on their share of partnership earnings, which means adding Form 1040-ES or Form 1040-SE to your individual return.

Form 1040-ES

This IRS business form is used to calculate and pay your estimated taxes. Estimated tax is the method used to pay tax on income that is not subject to withholding, in this case, due to self-employment. Because you have no employer withholding taxes for you, you’re responsible for paying estimated taxes on a quarterly basis.

*Estimated taxes

Freelancers, solopreneurs, partners, and S corporation shareholders are expected to make estimated tax payments if they anticipate owing $1,000 or more when they file their return. You pay estimated taxes quarterly, and determining just how much you must pay every quarter can be confusing for new business owners. It’s important to get your estimation right as you can receive a penalty for missing or underpaying these taxes. Visit the IRS’s guide on estimated taxes to determine if this tax applies to your business and to help calculate how much you owe.

Form 1040-SE

Schedule SE is used to determine how much you owe in self-employment taxes. Self-employment taxes are taxes you pay as your portion of Social Security and Medicare taxes since you have no employer removing them from your pay on a regular basis. Schedule SE allows you to calculate your self-employment tax liability, which you then record on your individual Form 1040.

• Regarded as a corporation

If your LLC is regarded as a corporation, you’ll complete Form 1120 or Form 1120-S.

If you want to change how your LLC is classified for federal taxes, you can complete 

Form 8832. This form allows you to specify how you’d like your LLC to be classified with the IRS, as a C corporation, partnership or sole proprietorship.

Business Tax Forms for Partnerships

If your business is a partnership, you’ll be responsible for paying taxes for the partnership as a whole, as well as the individuals that make up the partnership. 

As a partnership, you’ll have to complete Form 1065, which is an annual information return to report the income, gains, losses, deductions and credits for your business. 

To determine each partner’s share of the business income and losses, you’ll each complete a Schedule K-1. You’ll then use the calculations from Schedule K-1 to complete Form 1065.

As a partnership, however, your business does not pay income tax. Instead, this tax burden is passed on to the individual partners. 

Partnership members are usually still responsible for many of the personal tax forms discussed previously, including Form 1040, Form 1040-ES and Form 1040-SE. 

Depending on your business, you might also have to complete Form 1040 Schedule E, which reports supplemental income and loss from your partnership.

IRS Business Forms for Corporations

For corporations, the specific IRS small-business forms that you’ll need to complete for tax purposes will ultimately depend on whether you’re an S corporation or C corporation.

 C Corporation

If you’re a C corporation, your business is legally separated from you, and therefore, you’ll pay income tax for your business using Form 1120.

Form 1120 is an annual report of income, gains, losses, deductions, and credits that determines the income tax liability of a corporation.

As a shareholder of your corporation, you’re taxed on your personal tax return, Form 1040, when profits are distributed as dividends. 

If you’re a shareholder that participates in the business’s operations, you’re considered an employee. Only the salary you receive as an employee, then, is subject to self-employment taxes.

S corporation

For an S corporation, on the other hand, you’ll fill out:

• Form 1120S: Form 1120S is an annual report of the income, gains, losses, deductions and credits for an S corporation. Just as Form 1040 Schedule-C reports your business’s income or loss in relation to your personal tax return, Form 1120S affects your personal tax return. However, unlike Schedule C, it is filed with the IRS separately from your personal return.

• Form 1120S Schedule K-1: The Schedule K-1 for Form 1120S should be completed by all shareholders of your S corp business. Similarly to Schedule K-1 for partnerships, this form calculates each shareholder’s responsibility for the profit or loss of the business. Form 1120S Schedule K-1 does not need to be filed to the IRS, but instead is used by the shareholders to complete their individual tax returns.

If you’re an S corporation shareholder, you may be responsible for Form 1040 Schedule E as well as Form 1040-ES as part of your personal tax return.

Finally, Form 1120-W calculates the estimated tax that corporations need to pay on a quarterly basis. Estimated taxes can apply to both C corps and S corps and their 1120 tax forms depending on the specific circumstances.

Additional Business Tax Forms

There are many other forms that may be necessary depending on your circumstances. Some of these forms include:

• Form 8829 is used to determine if you can claim a tax deduction for any of your home business expenses. 

• Form 8283 is used to report and claim a deduction on noncash charitable gifts that your business has made of more than $500.

• Form 8825 is used to report real estate income and expenses.

• Form 1040 Schedule F is for Farm owners.

• Form 1040 Schedule EC is to make estimated tax payments throughout the year.

• Form 720 is used to report and pay your business’s federal excise tax on specific goods like gasoline, coal, and tires.

• Form 4562 is used to report the depreciation or amortization of property, vehicles, and other costs to your business.

• Form 7004  is used to request a 6-month extension to waive late fees on partnership and corporation tax returns.

• Form 4868  is used to request a 6-month extension of time to waive late fees on Personal, Sole proprietor, and single-member LLCs.

• Form 1040 Schedule A is for itemized deductions of Personal separate from business.

The sheer amount of forms, combined with the fact that forms are created, changed, and combined every year, is why professional tax experts or accountants are always recommended.

Doing research on your own business industry will help you come across any extra forms that may help.

Business Operation Tax Forms

Although the bulk of the IRS small-business forms that you’ll need to complete will specifically relate to business and personal taxes, there are some other IRS forms that you may need to file that more generally apply to your business operations. Here are some of the most common forms:

• Form 2553: Similar to Form 8832, Form 2253 is used by a corporation or other eligible entity to elect to be treated as an S corporation for taxes.

• Form 2848: You use this form to authorize an individual, like your certified public accountant or business lawyer, to represent you before the IRS.

• Form 4797: This form is used most generally to report the sale or exchange of business property. This form is also used to report other dispositions of assets and gains or losses from certain property dispositions.

• Form 8822-B: Form 8822-B is used to notify the IRS if you’ve changed your business mailing address, business location, or responsible party.

Business Tax Forms for Managing Employees

Regardless of your entity type, if your business has employees, there will be a number of IRS business forms that you may need to complete as an employer. These forms may report tax and income information for your employees, as well as employee benefits to the IRS:

• Form W-2 and W-3: Form W-2 is an annual form that must be completed and filed with the IRS, as well as given to each employee. This form reports the employee’s wages and tax withholdings for the tax year. Form W-3 is used to transmit employee W-2s to the Social Security Administration.

*Employment taxes

If you have W-2 employees, you must file and pay certain federal taxes that include social security and Medicare taxes, federal income tax withholdings, and federal unemployment tax. Furthermore, each state requires specific state employment taxes, such as unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation insurance, so make sure you get all the information you need at your state’s department of taxation.

• 1099-MISC Form: Similar to a W-2, the 1099-MISC Form is an annual form that is filed with the IRS and given to your contractors to report wages you’ve paid them and any tax you’ve withheld for them during the tax year.

• Form 1099-R: Another version of the 1099 form, Form 1099-R is used to report any distributions you’ve made for pensions, annuities, retirement or profit-sharing plans, IRAs, insurance contracts, etc. in the given tax year. Form 1099-R must be filed for each person whom you’ve made distributions for, as well as given to each of those individuals. If you maintained any IRAs for your employees, you’ll also have to complete Form 5498 for each Form 1099-R.

• Form 940: IRS Form 940 is an annual report of your business’s federal unemployment tax obligations detailing how much was owed the previous year, how much has been paid, and any outstanding balance.

• Form 941: Form 941 must be filed on a quarterly basis to report income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes that you’ve withheld from your employee paychecks. You also use IRS Form 941 to calculate your Social Security and Medicare tax responsibility as an employer.

• Form 943: Form 943 reports any wages and tax withholding that you made within the year specifically for agricultural employees.

• Form 944: If your business has a lower employment tax liability — $1,000 or less — you may be eligible to complete Form 944 instead of Form 941. Although Form 944 also reports the taxes that you’ve withheld from employee paychecks, it can be filed annually instead of quarterly.

• Forms 3921 and 3922: Both Form 3921 and Form 3922 are forms that corporations file in relation to the transfer of stock to an employee within the given year.

In addition to those listed here, there might be additional IRS forms for your business to complete in regards to employee benefits — including employee pension accounts, stock ownership plans, and retirement trust accounts — depending on the benefits you offer.

Business Tax Mastery Course

We provide tax regulation information, not official advice. As stated before, the sheer amount of forms, combined with the fact that forms are created, changed, and combined every year, is why professional tax experts or accountants are always recommended.

Be sure to check out our Business Tax Mastery Course which will show you how to turn your business taxes into a business tool.