Posted by Canadian Dream on April 22, 2009
So a while back I pointed out I was planning to launch a small business and take a try at book publishing. I should also point out I intend to wrap this blog up in that company as well. So regardless of the book fails or not I intend to keep the company around.
So far I haven’t had much time to work on the venture, but I’m starting to get some of the paperwork done. I’ve filled out my company name search form and will drop this off this week. Once that is approved I can formally regisiter the company in Saskatchewan and then start using the name I’ve picked out. Then I’ll be off to get some banking setup and get a city business licenece.
I’ve also already picked up a new domain name for the first book. I’m debating about picking up a domain name for the company as well. It might be useful to hang onto for now, as I might do more than one book.
In the mean time I’ve got several items to research including:
- PST/GST: I know that if my sales are under $30,000 I don’t have to collect GST, but I don’t know the threshold for PST (or is there is one).
- Communications: Since this is micro company I don’t want to invest in a second phone line for the house. So I’m wondering how to hand faxing and phone. Any ideas? A pay as you go cell phone might handle the voice part of it, but I’m looking for faxing ideas.
- Accounting: Do I hire this out or do it myself? I’ve setup my wife’s books in the past, but this business is going to be a bit more complex.
- Expansion: I’ve also had to brain storm some issues about what if I really like this process and do I want to accept book proposals in the future.
So for all you small business owners out there, what issues do you run into? Any hints for the newbie at the game?
Posted by Canadian Dream on
Ah, I forgot to publish this yesterday. So my apologies to everyone.
Well this week was someone interesting for some bits. Here’s what I’ve been reading.
The Bank of Canada has pushed the interest rate down to a mere 0.25%.
FT writes a good post on some lessons he has learned.
On a similar note Brip Blap talks about why I spend.
CC gives a great reading list. There are even a few I haven’t read yet. Mmm, where is my library card?
Jacob over at ERE interviews a 35 year old retiree.
Moneygardener points out the banks may not be such a good buy, in fact they are looking frothy.
Posted by Canadian Dream on April 20, 2009
So for the next two days I have the rather unusual fact that my wife is in a course and I’ll looking after the kids by myself. I don’t expect any revelations out of these days as I’m already aware of how hard it is to look after kids full time. I already deeply respect and value what my wife does.
Yet this respect is hardly universal between parents. Childcare in general doesn’t get a good standing for a lot of people. Actually I keep coming across articles about trying to put a dollar value on what mom’s do in the home. A recent one in Today’s Parent I believe put the value between about $65,000 to $120,000 a year depending on weather mom worked full time or stayed at home (I’m going from memory here as I don’t have the article in front of me).
Exercises like that I find are absurd. We are trying to value something in terms of money that shouldn’t be. It’s demeaning to reduce raising your children in terms of just money. I don’t raise my children in hope of a profit so why should I assign my wife’s work with our kids with a fictitious salary.
The truth of the matter to me, is it comes down to repect. Do you repect the person that cares for your children? I think that is perhaps what these exercises are looking forward. Valuation and respect in terms that most people can relate to (even those without kids). Yet I personally don’t respect people in terms of what they make, so in that regard I find these exercises meaningless.
So why do they keep showing up? Are they signs of low self esteem from stay at home parents? Or is it a sign of how over money focused we are as a society? To be honest I’m not sure which or if it is something else entirely. What do you think?
