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America is one of the best countries in the world to try your luck at opening a business, but it definitely takes a combination of luck and determination to succeed. While the government keeps an eye on all official business activity, overall it is very supportive of both small independent businesses and large corporations. There are a number of legal and bureaucratic hoops you must jump through in order to make your business legitimate, but there are plenty of agencies and online sites available to help.

The Small Business Administration is a government agency whose job it is to help people get their first business started. It is a wealth of resources, advice and assistance with the myriad red tape required for different kinds of companies. Most towns in America also have their own business councils that help people get organised to open a new business.

But the truth is, before you even think of trying to start a business in America you need to carefully consider the amount of time, work and money it will cost to get set up. No matter what type of business you want to open there will always be a mountain of paperwork required by the government. But some industries are much more heavily regulated than others, so be sure you understand the scope of the undertaking before getting too involved.

Every business in America requires a license of some sort based on the regulations specific to that sector. In addition to state and local regulations there may be federal regulations as well. If you plan to start any kind of technical business such as manufacturing it is worth the money to hire a lawyer to walk you through the red tape.

Paperwork is an evitable part of running any business in America. Whether it’s keeping sales recipes from your clothing boutique for tax payment purposes or dealing with the income withholding for each of your employees there is always a mountain of forms that need to be filled out and submitted throughout the year.

And then there are the taxes. America has one of the most repressive business tax schemes on the planet, which is why the majority of new businesses fail after just one year. Basically you can expect to pay tax to the state and federal government on just about everything involved in your business, from employee wages to your actual sales.

If you think you can run a business under the table, then think again. America heavily polices its business community on every level. It is virtually impossible to open the doors a new business in any town without the local authorities catching wind. If you are not fully registered and licensed to operate that business they will shut you down immediately and possibly impose fines.

It’s a bit ironic that America is such a tough place for a small business owner to get off the ground considering the nation was basically built on entrepreneurs. But that’s the way it is, so before jumping into any business venture be sure you know all the regulations required and have plenty of cash to get it started.