CobraA1 Member Posts: 926 From: MN Registered: 02-19-2001 |
I've been going around, trying to figure out how to srtart a business so I can sell games for a profit - but I'm not quite understanding how it all works in Kansas. AFAIK, all I need for a sole proprietership is to start selling stuff. Unfortunately, there's a name issue - Kansas doesn't require registering names, but I want a name, but I can't seem to find the place to register it at :\. Anybody here with some business experience? Starting a sole proprietership seems a little too simple. Am I missing something? ------------------ |
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TheManFromGanymede Member Posts: 14 From: Boulder, CO Registered: 06-21-2003 |
Try looking at http://www.businesstown.com . It has a variety of useful information and advice including stuff on getting started. At the very least, it could probably tell you where to go for further information. ------------------ |
D-SIPL Moderator Posts: 1345 From: Maesteg, Wales Registered: 07-21-2001 |
I'm not sure about US or Kansas laws at all. But in the UK we can be a sole proprieter and we only have to let the Inland Revenue know, so that they can tax us occordinaly. We also have to do a tax self assesment each year. But you can trade as whatever name you want, but it doesn't have the same credibilty as a ltd or plc company. Being a sole propieter also makes it harder to get a credible merchant account to be able to trade online. World Pay will help out here, but this comes with it's price. Hope you find this helpful. --D-SIPL ------------------ |
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CobraA1 Member Posts: 926 From: MN Registered: 02-19-2001 |
If I can't figure out where to do a "fictitious name filing", I'll have to create a bank account under my own name, which means "CobraA1 Software" will probably become "Jeremiah's Software" or "Mossware" (my last name is Moss), or something like that . . . I'm going to try to email Kansas Business Center to see if I can get more information. They've got "Name Reservation", but I dont know if it's the same thing as "Fictitious name filing". ------------------ |
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CobraA1 Member Posts: 926 From: MN Registered: 02-19-2001 |
OK, did a bit more research - THIS pisses me off . . . http://www.kssos.org/resources/resources_faq_business.html Kansas does NOT have DBA or fictitious name filing! No wonder I'm having trouble finding it. US Bank owes me an explanation now. ------------------ |
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graceworks Member Posts: 455 From: Corvallis, Oregon, USA Registered: 03-03-2001 |
Hey, Some useful resources: http://sba.gov/ - for small businesses http://www.score.org/ - a collection of retired business people that you can ask free advice of May God bless your business. ------------------ |
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CobraA1 Member Posts: 926 From: MN Registered: 02-19-2001 |
Thanks  Got that business account - I just went under my name, which can be done for a sole proprietership. I figure that "name reservation" is the same thing, except you have to pay every 3 months Now I await PayPal verification . . . ------------------ |
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CobraA1 Member Posts: 926 From: MN Registered: 02-19-2001 |
Now selling my first product . http://www.cobraa1.com/products.html ------------------ |
ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
fa shizzle! ------------------ |
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graceworks Member Posts: 455 From: Corvallis, Oregon, USA Registered: 03-03-2001 |
Hey, Add some screenshots or something - description of game. You need to entice people to download and run the demo. -Tim ------------------ |
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CobraA1 Member Posts: 926 From: MN Registered: 02-19-2001 |
OK, I've added a screenshot. That, and figure out sales taxes, as well as whether to sell it or just give it out as freeware - after all, it's just a simple puzzle game. A few people on the GameMaker forums didn't like the fact that I was actually trying to sell it. ------------------ [This message has been edited by CobraA1 (edited August 08, 2003).] |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
hmmmm... well, I don't know the statistics, but I would guess freeware would travel along further better than a selling game (with the exception of major line games, etc.) almost use it as an advertisement for bigger stuff.. getting a name, etc. I personally would probably go freeware.. and sell the bigger games. ------------------ |
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CobraA1 Member Posts: 926 From: MN Registered: 02-19-2001 |
I think the consensus is give it away as freeware. I guess I'll do that, then. I had everything ready to go - a small business bank account, PayPal, PayLoadz, etc. I even had it available to sell for a few hours! Oh well, I guess I'll make something sellable . . . I hope someday . . . ------------------ |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
cool... if you want, I got a decent list of sites to submit games too... if you ever wanted. ------------------ |
. In any case, just having it under my own name is fine.