by Bernie Niemeier
• Committee forms to help select Virginia Tech’s next president
• Two new tenants sign on at Deep Run III in Henrico County
• Town Point Club renews lease at World Trade Center in Norfolk
• Advance Auto reports lower earnings
Dear Readers:
Entrepreneurial spirit creates new jobs that will drive our economic recovery in Virginia and across the U.S. In the pages of Virginia Business’ seventh annual Guide to Doing Business in Virginia, you will find just about everything you need to know to start or expand your business. Returning as distribution partners for this year’s guide are the Virginia Department of Business Assistance and the Virginia Small Business Development Centers. Each year, these two groups help thousands of businesses in all parts of our state point themselves toward a more successful future.
This year’s guide is now even easier to use. It is organized into four chapters based on company-specific needs: 1) Starting your own business; 2) Running your own business; 3) Growing your business, and 4) References. These chapters loosely simulate VDBA’s revamped online resource for business owners. Business One Stop has new functionality and is another great resource for navigating the challenges of launching and growing your own business.
Let us know if this guide helps you, or if there is additional content you’d like to see in next year’s version. Virginia Business wants to do its best to help you be successful. If you have ideas or feedback, you can contact me directly at .
As always, Virginia Business cares about your business!
Bernie Niemeier
President & Publisher
Introductions
Chapter 1: Ready to launch? Starting your business
- Do you have what it takes?
- Drafting a business plan
- Business One Stop
- 5 key startup resources
- Legal entity and business structures
- The to-do list
- Reducing risk: ease into owning a business
- “Green” businesses
Chapter 2: Nuts & Bolts: Running your business
- Stay on top of taxation requirements
- Financing your business
- Debt financing
- Financing resources
- Tips on working with a bank
- Equity financing
- Low-cost marketing can grow your business
- Find good employees
- Tips on benefits you should offer
- Legal help needed for businesses
- Risk management
Chapter 3: Are you ready to grow your business?
- Selling to the commonwealth
- Selling to the federal government
- Think international!
- Using social media
- So you want to move to Virginia?
- Virginia business incentives
Chapter 4: References