Im in the process of legitimizing myself as a Mobile Dj, since it seems im slowly turning from club/radio to a Mobile Dj service. Ive been getting more and more requests to do weddings/private events (which pay a ton more) and id like to get myself offcially set up.

Ive already got information on a business license, and insuring myself and equipment but what i dont have is information on how to deal with tax/book keeping.

I havent looked into software like quicken yet, id actually like to get some first information from people who have actually started up a small business and figure out what else i need to become offcial.

any reference websites and any info would be appreciated

Im in the process of legitimizing myself as a Mobile Dj, since it seems im slowly turning from club/radio to a Mobile Dj service. Ive been getting more and more requests to do weddings/private events (which pay a ton more) and id like to get myself offcially set up.

Ive already got information on a business license, and insuring myself and equipment but what i dont have is information on how to deal with tax/book keeping.

I havent looked into software like quicken yet, id actually like to get some first information from people who have actually started up a small business and figure out what else i need to become offcial.

any reference websites and any info would be appreciated
this might help http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/general/doing_business.html

i had a small business. i just got software that printed receipts and it kept track of everything for me....i also kept all receipts from taking payments. thats helped also. but ca i am sure is different than here in NY

yeah been all over that site just looking for anymore information thanks!

convince the parties to pay cash. My buddy plays in a band that does all sorts of weddings and they broker a deal for cash only payments.

No taxes, no worries.

convince the parties to pay cash.

No taxes, no worries.

Here Here. :cheers

Do not screw around trying to dodge taxes. Your first instinct was correct: do it right. The important thing to remember is to "sterilize" your business - no intermixing of business and personal expenses. Set up a checking account. Tell the bank what it's for. "I, DBA" seems to be common terminology, which means "me, doing business as...". Pay all of your expenses, buy all of your equipment, pay for insurance, etc., out of that account only. Use money you have on hand to start the thing up, but once it's up and running, make it pay for itself - otherwise it's a hobby, not a business.

Set money aside in a savings account for an emergency fund, or "cash reserve" as it's known. Pay for unexpected repairs or further equipment acquisitions out of this fund. When you get paid, deposit the money in the business checking account before you run out and buy Gixxer parts with it. Set aside 25% of the income for taxes and keep up with your quarterly tax estimates. Two things kill small startup businesses: getting behind on your taxes (you DO NOT want to get cross-wise with the IRS) and debt. Avoid both by not screwing it up to begin with.

Once the cash reserve is built up and you're paying for the business expenses out of the business, it's time to bring home some of the money in the form of a salary for yourself. THAT is the money you get to spend on Gixxer parts and groceries.

Without doing any of that stuff you risk never really knowing if you're "making it" or not. Who knows? With a disciplined business model and full control over your income and outgo, you'll be free to concentrate on marketing and advertising. If you reliably know how much the thing makes on a given gig, you'll be in a position to concentrate on growing it into something much larger than you may even be imagining.

Best of luck to you as you pursue your dream. A highly-respected career coach here in Nashville named Dan Miller says that the best business idea is one you can be passionate about - where "work" is something you love instead of a "Jay-Oh-Bee". If you pursue your passion, the money will follow.

Dorkfish, as always has layed out some very good information. I ran a business years ago and did everything opposite of what has been mentioned. By doing so, I may have missed one of the best oppertunities to generate good income.

First and foremost, take a few courses on business, accounting and economics. Not only will you learn about credit's and debit's, you will learn how what depreciation is and how to use it accordingly. Do your finances at least monthly, know what is/ are Liabilities, Assets and Equity. Just because you recieve money for every job doesn't mean you are "making money."

Lastly, if this is your sole source of income, consider where and how you're going to spend your money. Save money, invest money (especially retirement). Having money in your pocket now doesn't gurantee money later down the road. Create a plan and stick to it.

I would also consider getting incorperated. Likce LLC (Limited Liability Corperation) to avoid some of the headaches of running a business that deals directly with the customer. I also ran a very nice business and sold it to my partners. But the point is I went LLC and had a CPA heh. If you are not thinking of growing your business or you don't turn over that many accounts then you should be fine without a CPA.

I have 3 companies. One is a cabling company, one is for rental houses and the other is my photography. I use Quickbooks software. Lets you keep track of everything and categorizes everything by income, expense, cost of goods sold, etc. Also, get an accountant to help you out. They know all the lasted regulations, etc. and can help you out immensely. If you use one to just do your tax returns, it's somewhere between $200 - $400 for a fairly simple company but it's worth it if they can find you money and help you out with advice on what to do and what not to do.