Three words: Harvard Business Services.

For almost 30 years HBS has been forming and filing companies for entrepreneurs like you all over the world. We will make the incorporating process so easy and painless that in less than ten minutes you will officially have your own company. Below are a few answers to some FAQs.

How easy it is form a company in Delaware?

The hardest question we’re going to ask you is what you want to call the company. After that we will explain your options so you can decide between an LLC and an Incorporation. All we need is your contact information and payment. No signatures and No passports are required.

Is any of my contact information available for public record?

None of your contact information is available for public record and no one will know who is behind this company as we will file your company anonymously and we will not sell or release your information unless legally obligated to do so.

Do I need a physical address in Delaware or have to open a bank account in Delaware?

All you need is a Delaware Registered Agent like Harvard Business Services, Inc. No physical address is required in Delaware as HBS will be your Registered Agent to receive and forward service of process and other government documents, such as franchise tax reports, and notices. It is a legal requirement to have a Delaware Registered Agent.

Your company’s bank account can be opened anywhere in the world and is not required to be opened in Delaware.

Are there any taxes in Delaware or annual fees?

There is no sales tax in Delaware, there is no state income tax for corporations that operate outside of the State of Delaware and there is no inheritance tax. To maintain your company in Delaware there are two annual fees. The annual Franchise Tax is simply what you pay the State of Delaware for the right and privilege of owning a Delaware company and our annual Registered Agent fee – the lowest in the industry — is only $50 per year.

Does Delaware need to know the nature of business or where you are conducting business?

Delaware doesn’t need to know the nature of business or where you are conducting business. With a Delaware company you can operate business lawfully all over the world.

Graduates this year will not find a friendly market for jobs, yet opportunity is everywhere. Many successful entrepreneurs became mega-rich because they improved an industry they knew well. They followed their instincts. They invented something new or better than anyone else had ever thought of, so maybe you should consider forming your own company instead of looking for a job.

You could have the next million dollar idea such as the original whiz kids like Bill Gates or Steve Jobs. Put your own spin on success and maybe you will make a lot of money along the way like these folks did. For a list of successful young millionaires click HERE.

Want more information on “Why Delaware?” click HERE.

Want to know what makes Delaware so appealing? click HERE. 

Ready to start your own business? To get started click HERE or call 800-345-CORP (2677).

The cost-cutting actions employers have made to deal with the economic crisis have left businesses with fractured teams of disengaged employees. Studies show that employee engagement levels have dropped significantly since 2008. According to Gallup, more than two-thirds of American workers are “not engaged” or “disengaged” in their workplaces in response to the brutal economic and workplace changes over the past two years.

“People are disillusioned with the economy and the fact that many of them are having to do more work with fewer people, thanks to layoffs,” says Dianne Durkin, president of Loyalty Factor LLC, which consults with businesses on change management, employee loyalty and customer loyalty programs. “You would think employees would be more engaged because of the economy, but I don’t think anybody is.”

And a lack of engagement among employees is costly for small business, leading to high turnover rates, shaky leadership and a dearth of good ideas. “What happens is you don’t get the creativity and the innovation,” Durkin says. “People [who are unengaged] aren’t going to speak up about issues they encounter, they’re not going to bring new ideas, and productivity really suffers.”

So how do you get employees engaged in unsettled times? Click HERE to find out.

First, you want a mental map of what a basic business plan includes. Check out www.myownbusiness.org/s2, a website that provides outlines of the business plan and some business plan writing tips. If you decide you want to purchase a few books on the topic, check out http://www.planigent.com/html/books.html, which includes helpful, thorough reviews of some of the more popular how-to-write-a-business-plan guides.

Generally, business plans are at least three sections: one on the business itself, the second on financial data and projections, and finally, a section that includes documents that support the prior two sections. Typically, you will also include a one-page version of your business plan, known as an executive summary or a plan summary. Many advise that you write the summary last. This one-page document includes everything that is in the business plan, but in a succinct version that communicates who you are, what you want to do, how much money you will need, and how much money you project that you can make.

You do have some creative license in designing your business plan. If you decide to maintain the three-section model, the content within each section and the order of that content can vary. In other words, there is not one right structure for a given business plan, but several possible structures. Many books include examples of business plans. You can also go to http://www.bplans.com/sample_business_plans.cfm for a wide range of good-looking business plan models by industry. You may find it most effective to combine several models, to create a structure tailored for your unique business and purposes.

Finally, depending on your strengths and skill set, you may want to seek additional resources to simplify the process and help you make more informed decisions. Specifically, you may decide to look into business plan software programs or professional consultants. Software programs can range from $20 – $150. They are designed to walk you through the writing process and to create a professional-looking finished document. For reviews of business plan software, visit http://www.diybizplan.com/software. As for consultants, don’t be afraid to consult a professional writer and editor, or an accountant. The quality of the finished business plan, like a resume, should be flawless, especially if you plan to share it with outside parties. Equally as important are the numbers, specifically the projections for the first year. If accounting is not your area of expertise, it is may be helpful to find someone you trust to consult.

Ultimately, you and only you can make the creative and intellectual decisions that hold the best business plan results for you. Although the thought of writing a business plan can be daunting, the good news is that there will be no one right answer, but several.

Answer: The ITIN number or “Individual Taxpayer Identification Number” is similar to that of the Social Security number. The ITIN is for individuals that cannot acquire the SSN but have tax filing requirements with the IRS. The ITIN is 9 digits in length just like a SSN, but it will always start with a 9. The number was created 13 years ago to assist individuals without a SSN to comply with Federal tax law. The thought process is if income is earned here, then filings need to be made with the IRS, whether you are here legally or not. Not just anyone will receive an ITIN number, the IRS stipulates that the individual requires a filing of a federal return in order for it to be issued. Possession of an ITIN does not indicate permission to work in the US or obtain benefits from the Social Security Administration, it is simply a number to identify an individual to the US tax system.

I was surprised to learn that the IRS is not allowed, by Federal Law, to share any of this information with any of the other US Agencies. This was enacted to encourage filings with the IRS without the fear of retribution, such as deportation. The goal of the legislation was to allow illegal immigrants to pay their fair share of taxes. More than 1.5 million applications for the ITIN were processed in 2008. A recent study by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration took a sampling of 510 ITIN applications and found that 78% of these contained errors, but they were processed anyway. In addition, the government also admitted that more than 55,000 ITIN’s were used multiple times on different returns within a year, with refunds totaling over $202 Million!

If you need an ITIN don’t let the lengthy application deter you from proceeding, as the statistics above show, even if you mess up the application they will still issue the number…..

If you would like information on how to obtain the ITIN number visit http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96287,00.html