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About Professional Business Entities If you are considering forming your business as a professional corporation, professional limited liability company, or professional service corporation (also called a professional association or PA), there are some things you should know before you get started. Professional business entities are created according to a state’s statutes. Their purpose is to create an entity exclusively for practicing professionals such as lawyers, accountants, or doctors. Because traditional corporations and LLCs offer liability protections, these entities were

Navigate your startup's financial planning with SCORE's Startup Expenses template. Effectively track and manage your initial costs to set your business on a path to success.

A public benefit nonprofit corporation is what people think of when they think nonprofit.  It is a charity that is advantageous to the public at large, meaning that anyone could benefit from the actions of the nonprofit. 

If your nonprofit corporation is preparing to do business in a new state, you’ll need to register your nonprofit organization as a foreign entity in every state in which you want to solicit donations or sell products and services. The act of registering your nonprofit to do business out-of-state is known as “qualifying a foreign entity,” and below you’ll find everything you need to know about qualifying your nonprofit to do business in all 50 states: 

Download this worksheet to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for your business. This information can help you outline goals and strategies for your business and marketing efforts.

All sales contracts should be in written form for delivery of products or services.  Clearly outline and detail as needed what each party is agreeing to do.  Anticipate areas of confusiton or points of potential conflict.  Provide a recourse (rememedy) in case the agreement is not followed. 

Checklist of common items that should be in Operating Agreements for LLC's and for Partnerships.   The items in the checklist must be discussed and are important to be in written agreement prior to starting a business.  They are the legal parameters of how the business will be managed and disputs resolved after the business is started.   Download a copy of Partnership Agreement Checklist  (LLC).

Business Plans can be very short in the number of pages for a start-up business and will be more detailed for an emerging and established business that needs to grow.  This outline is a short six-page version of the topics that need to be considered for your business.  Not every topic will always apply to your particular business. 

Common Start-Up Costs that would apply to most all business ventures.  These are expensed during the first 60 months of the business in equal amounts like straight-line depreciation

Follow these guidelines to develop or refine a pitch that sizzles.

This guide explains how to be successful on an ongoing basis in government contracting.