Business startup, taxes, and technology

What questions do you have about your business taxes?

I’d like to do a series of articles this month and next to help small business owners like you to better understand their business taxes.

Rather than write only about what I think is important, I’d like to hear what’s on your mind.

Leave a comment below, and I’ll do my best to address your question—before you have to file your return. If you’re not comfortable going “public” with your question, email it to me.

You don’t have to think like Einstein, belong to Phi Beta Kappa, or even have a high school diploma to start a successful on-line business. It’s OK if you do, but credentials aren’t the most important thing you need.

You don’t even have to be especially creative.

What do you need to get started working for yourself?

1. An open mind
2. A willingness to learn
3. The ability to take action
4. The discipline to follow directions
5. A no-excuses determination to be successful

There’s a ton of information on the Internet about how to get started in Internet marketing. Much of it is free. But how do you know which articles are truthful and which not? Which programs are scams and which are based on well thought out and sustainable business models?

Who can you trust?

That’s a judgment call you’ll have to make on your own. But I will offer you some tips to get you started and hopefully shorten your learning curve and make your research a bit easier.

My CPA firm has had an on-line presence for over a decade. For the past two years I’ve spent a lot of time working on-line (my sweetheart would tell you I practically live on the Internet), investigating opportunities in affiliate marketing and integrating them into my business.

During that time I’ve got a sense of who’s authentic, reliable, and trustworthy. Who shares useful information, produces quality content, and guarantees their products. Here are some of my favorites and I recommend that you pay close attention to them as you begin your education in the field of Internet marketing.

1. Brian Clark
2. Paul Myers
3. Lynn Terry
4. Ed Dale

Brian Clark founded Copyblogger (my absolute favorite blog, besides my own, of course) in 2006.  He has a wonderful team of associate editors and guest bloggers.  His web site has a wealth of  wonderful articles on copywriting and marketing.  He’s one of the most successful guys in the blogosphere and is considered by many on the planet to be one of the most influential ones as well.

Paul Myers has been publishing TalkBizNews for a dozen years and is a veteran Internet marketer.  Be sure to read his free “Need to Know” manual.  It’s 112 pages and definitely worth the time.

Lynn Terry is a full-time super affiliate marketer with over 12 years experience in on-line business.  She blogs at ClickNewz and has a great getting started on-line article.  Lynn also runs a free discussion forum called Self Starters Weekly Tips.

Ed Dale is one of the founders of the Thirty Day Challenge which I wrote about here.

Time to get started on your reading now! Lots of good stuff to learn from, all free.  There goes your “I’m not smart enough” excuse.

What are you waiting for?