Any info about registering a business Needed.

South Africa
April 15, 2011 2:00am CST
We are a couple starting up a guesthouse next year and I have no idea how to go about it and what the steps are. Where do you begin when it comes to registering a business and not do anything illegal?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
15 Apr 11
The first thing you should do is to get an accountant. He/she will know all that you need to do in setting up a business. Procedures will vary from country to country and South Africa will have different laws and restrictions. Your accountant will also know about tax laws and will be able to make the tax procedures simple and effective. Choose an accountant who already has some small businesses on his accounts and also one with whom you feel that you can get on. There are various ways of finding good accountants. One very good way is to talk to the owners of local businesses which are in the same line as yourself. Most will be very happy to talk about their accountants and to recommend them to you (if they think they are good, of course!)
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
15 Apr 11
for "different laws and restrictions", read "its own ...", of course!
• South Africa
15 Apr 11
thank you for your reply, that`s good advice.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
20 Apr 11
Businesses are registered in the state where it's located. Contact your local government and they will guide you in which forms you need to fill out and where to get them. Most places will allow you to go ahead and operate as a business even if your paperwork isn't completely finished (as long as you're working on it).
• South Africa
21 Apr 11
That`s great news, thank you for your reply..need all the help I can get.