1 HOW TO LAUNCH A BUSINESS IN DCBROUGHT TO YOU BY THE TRUSTED PROFESSIONALS OF BNI GEORGETOWN NETWORKING

2 FLIGHT PATH FOR A DC BUSINESS LAUNCHProtect your business Create a physical identity Create a virtual identity Set up the books Get a bank account Register with DC Choose an entity Describe your business

3 IT TAKES A TEAM TO LAUNCH A BUSINESS!NEED NAVIGATION? IT TAKES A TEAM TO LAUNCH A BUSINESS! THE TRUSTED PROFESSIONALS OF BNI GEORGETOWN NETWORKING CAN HELP! CLICK ON ANY STEP BELOW TO LEARN ABOUT HOW A PROFESSIONAL CAN ASSIST YOU. Describe your business Choose an entity Register with DC Get a bank account Set up the books Create your digital presence Create your physical identity Protect your business

4 Describe your business (Business Coach)GEORGETOWN NETWORKING PROFESSIONAL- Debbie Parker JD, CFP® You have a vision for your business, but you might need help filling in the details. A business coach can help you clarify why you’re starting your business, make strategic goals and decisions, and ensure that you’re balancing your professional goals with your personal life. As a small business coach, strategist, and mentor, Debbie helps her clients define and be clear on their goals consistent with their core strengths and values, to strategize their business operations based on high-payoff priorities, and be held accountable for the actions and time frames they set.

5 Choose an entity (Lawyer)GEORGETOWN NETWORKING PROFESSIONAL- Mary W. Thuell Legacy Law Firm PLLC A lawyer who works with small businesses can help you evaluate what type of entity is right for your business. There are pros and cons to running your business under different structures. You can make this decision yourself using information you find online, but a lawyer is trained to evaluate what entity makes sense for your unique business. You can work with a person who cares about your success and will support you and answer questions. Mary is a lawyer licensed in DC and MD who loves to help entrepreneurs get their businesses started on the right legal foundation. For a flat fee, you can consult with Mary to get specific legal advice about which business entity is right for you. You can learn more at our business launch event!

6 Register with DC (Lawyer)Generally, a new business needs to register with three different DC offices: Entity registration with DCRA Tax registration with OTR Business license registration with DCRA. You can go through this registration process yourself, but it’s common for business owners to make errors if they don’t get help from a professional who understands the process. GEORGETOWN NETWORKING PROFESSIONAL- Mary W. Thuell Legacy Law Firm PLLC Mary is a lawyer licensed in DC and MD who loves to help entrepreneurs launch their businesses with the right legal foundation. You can get started with your business registration at our business launch event! At the event, Mary will help you register your business entity with DCRA.

7 Get a bank account (Business banker)When you launch your business, it’s crucial to have a place to deposit your money from your sales! You can make sure that the financial side of your business is off to the right start by creating a personal relationship with a business banker when you open your business account. There are many options to navigate when opening your business account, and a business banker will be able to make sure you have the solution that’s right for your business. The friendly business banking professionals at the flagship TD Bank branch located at the corner of 14th and F St NW in downtown DC (605 F St NW) will be available to help you open your business banking account at our business launch event!

8 Set up the books (Bookkeeper)When you launch your business, it’s crucial to have your financial records in order! Keeping track of your finances can be one of the trickiest parts of managing your business. Many entrepreneurs neglect or make mistakes when setting up their financial records. A seasoned bookkeeper can make the process simple, straightforward, and more importantly, make sure it’s done correctly to save you heartache and expense later! GEORGETOWN NETWORKING FRIEND- Amy Bradbury Amy has more than a decade of experience providing bookkeeping services to business owners. She now offers expert virtual bookkeeper services to a variety of entrepreneurs. You can schedule a virtual meeting with Amy at her website to learn more about how to set up your books and how she can help you.

9 Create your digital presence (Digital strategy professional)In today’s marketplace, if your business doesn’t have a digital presence, then you haven’t really launched your business! There is no shortage of options for building a website or a Facebook page to help establish your business’ online identity, but it can be hard to identify the right digital strategy partner to help you get off on the right foot with the right presence. GEORGETOWN NETWORKING PROFESSIONAL – Epion epion.co The creative minds at Epion are dedicated to helping local businesses succeed online. Their mission is to make digital marketing easy so you can focus on doing what you do best – your business, not your business’ marketing. You can meet with Epion at our business launch event to learn more about their services.

10 Create your physical identity (Promotional Marketer)When you’re networking for your business, you need a physical identity to help new connections remember who you are. Whether you have business cards, a giveaway product like a pen or mousepad, custom shirts for the office, or an informational brochure, you want your in-person materials to make the right impression. While there are many DIY services available, a professional printer can help you get your presence right the first time and provide personal service when you need it. GEORGETOWN NETWORKING PROFESSIONAL – Bob Walsh Dynamic Advertising Solutions Bob is a brand architect with Dynamic Advertising Solutions, a top-to-bottom promotional marketing firm providing the perfect promotional solutions at wholesale prices. Bob can help you create beautiful and effective marketing materials. DAS has a special offering for our business launch event – register to learn more!

11 Protect your business (Insurance broker)Once your put yourself out as a business owner, you open yourself up to the unexpected! Depending on the type of service or product you’re offering with your business, you may need to protect yourself. The right insurance coverage can give you peace of mind that you and your business are never exposed to catastrophic risks. GEORGETOWN NETWORKING PROFESIONAL- Max James, LUTCF, RICP® State Farm Insurance Max has years of experience protecting small business owners’ property in DC. He and his staff provide warm, personal service and pride themselves on making sure you have adequate protection. The best time to make sure you’re properly insured is before anything happens. You can learn more about insurance options at our business launch event!

12 JOIN US FOR A BUSINESS LAUNCH EVENT!MARCH 1 2-5 TD BANK 605 14TH ST NW REGISTER AT

13 BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE TRUSTED PROFESSIONALS OF GEORGETOWN NETWORKING