As an entrepreneur, it is important to stay organized. Below is a list of documents that all entrepreneurs should have readily available at all times:
Articles of Organization/Incorporation: set of documents filled with a government body to legally document the creation of a corporation.
It is important to fill out the Articles of Organization/Incorporation as an entrepreneur in order for your business endeavor to be recognized as a separate legal entity which can lead to avoiding higher tax obligations, fees, and losing their personal funds.
Bylaws: a legal document setting forth key rules and regulations governing the corporation’s day-to-day operations
Bylaws document the fundamentals of the company’s operation so it must be created with board members and recommended with an attorney.
Legal document with pen.
Operating Agreements: is a key document used by limited liability companies to outline the business’ financial and functional decisions including rules, regulations and provisions
As you form an LLC, operating agreements are expected to document the company’s financials and internal operations to clarify and protect your agreements.
Non-Disclosure Agreements: a contract by which one or more parties agree not to disclose confidential information that they have shared with each other as a necessary part of doing business together.
NDAs are best to have people to sign when you have confidential information that you want to protect in meetings when running a company.
Employee Contracts/Offer Letters: formal contract and documents with important details provided such as a kind of contract used in labour law to attribute rights, responsibilities between parties to a bargain, and expectations.
When hiring a new employee to your company, they must be provided with employee contracts and offer letters so they are aware of their rights and expectations as they onboarding in the company and it is documented.
EIN Number: Employer Identification Number, also known as the Federal Employer Identification Number or the Federal Tax Identification Number, is a unique nine-digit number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service to business entities operating in the United States for the purposes of identification
Every employee must have an EIN Number to file business taxes and establish business credit. It also helps set up a payroll system with ease.
Bills and a check on top of the IRS catalog number.
Before you try to reach the IRS customer service, identify your needs to make the process easy. In addition to the main IRS phone number, there are other numbers you can call for help or to speak to IRS customer service. Here’s a list of other IRS phone numbers to try so you can reach an IRS live person faster.
Woman smiling with headset!
For tax assistance for the deaf and hard of hearing, call 1-800-829-4059
IRS contact number for individuals : 1 (800) 829-1040 Monday – Friday: 7am – 7pm Local time
IRS contact number for businesses: 1 (800) 829-4333 Monday – Friday: 7am – 7pm Local time
IRS contact number for victims of identity theft: 1 (800) 908-4490 Monday – Friday: 7am – 7pm Local time
Taxpayer Advocate Service: 1 (877) 777-4778 Monday – Friday: 7am – 7pm Local time
Exempt Organizations, Retirement Plan Administrators, Government Entities: 1 (877) 829-5500 Monday – Friday: 8am – 5pm Local time
International Services: 1 (267) 941-1000 Monday – Friday: 6am – 11pm Eastern time
A Roth IRA is an individual retirement account that allows you to invest after-tax dollars that grow tax-free and can be withdrawn at age 59 and ½. Each year, the maximum contribution permitted in a Roth IRA account is $6,000. However, for investors age 50 and above, the maximum contribution allowed increases to $7,000.
Piggy bank with two eggs on top of bills.
The steps to begin investing in a Roth IRA consists of the following:
Make sure you’re eligible – anyone who has earned income during the tax year is eligible to contribute to a Roth IRA; eligibility begins to phase out at $129,000 to $144,000 for single individuals and $204,000 to $214,000 for individuals who are married filing jointly
Decide where to open your Roth IRA – consider fees to open or maintain an account, consider the customer service of the company you’re considering opening an account with, consider the cost to trade, etc
Apply for your account – gather all of your basic information and apply for a Roth IRA account with the company you chose in step 2
Begin investing – before you begin investing consider your goals for investing and choose what to invest in based on those goals
Woman on her phone with her laptop in front of her.
A Roth IRA account is a great tool to utilize when planning for your future. It allows you to take advantage of compound interest and have tax-free dollars to withdraw at retirement.
Most asset management companies offer a Roth IRA as an investment vehicle. Below are four asset management companies we recommend to start a Roth IRA with:
Embarking on your journey to becoming a first-time homeowner is an exciting endeavor filled with anticipation and dreams of a place to call your own. As a beginner in the world of real estate, it’s crucial to have a clear roadmap to guide you towards success. In this blog, we’ll break down the process into four digestible steps, tailored to first-time homebuyers like yourself. Get ready to take charge of your homeownership journey and turn your dreams into reality!
Step 1: Cultivate the Right Mindset & Investment Strategy
Becoming a homeowner requires more than just finances—it starts with the right mindset and investment strategy. Begin by envisioning your goals and aligning them with your budget and lifestyle. Ask yourself questions like: What are your long-term plans? How does homeownership fit into your future? Research the local real estate market and identify areas that align with your investment strategy. By setting a clear direction from the start, you’ll lay the foundation for a successful homebuying experience.
Step 2: Secure the Bag – Financing Your Dream Home
With your mindset and investment strategy in place, it’s time to secure the bag—the financing for your dream home. Start by assessing your financial health, including your credit score, income, and debts. Explore various loan options available to first-time homebuyers, such as FHA loans or conventional mortgages with low down payment requirements. Consult with lenders, compare interest rates, and get pre-approved to determine your budget. Armed with a solid financing plan, you’ll be ready to make an offer confidently.
Step 3: Ensure Financial Readiness for Homeownership
Preparing for homeownership goes beyond the down payment and monthly mortgage payments. It’s important to consider additional financial responsibilities that come with owning a home. Create a comprehensive budget that accounts for property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and potential unexpected expenses. Build an emergency fund to handle unforeseen repairs or job loss. Educate yourself on homeownership costs and explore programs that offer assistance for first-time buyers. By being financially prepared, you’ll navigate homeownership with ease and confidence.
Step 4: Prepare for Closing – The Final Steps to Your New Home
As you approach the final stretch, it’s time to prepare for closing—the moment you’ve been working towards. This step involves thorough due diligence and attention to detail. Hire a qualified home inspector to assess the property’s condition, ensuring there are no hidden surprises. Review all documents carefully, including the purchase agreement and closing disclosure. Coordinate with your lender, real estate agent, and closing attorney to complete any necessary paperwork. Finally, schedule a final walkthrough to ensure everything is in order before signing on the dotted line. Celebrate as you officially become a homeowner!
Congratulations on taking the first steps towards homeownership! By following these four practical steps— cultivating the right mindset, securing financing, ensuring financial readiness, and preparing for closing—you’ll navigate the journey with confidence and clarity. Remember, this process is an exciting adventure, and each step brings you closer to the joy of owning your first home. Embrace the experience, seek guidance from professionals, and soon you’ll unlock the door to the home of your dreams.
Ready to secure your first home and be held accountable in achieving your financial goals? Join the FOLA Homeownership Challenge today and receive a free workbook to help you follow through and achieve your goals! Also, gain access to our Real In Real Estate course replay (valued at $294) when you fully complete the workbook and submit it to info@folafinanical.com. Click here to embark on this transformative journey, receive expert guidance, and connect with a supportive community of aspiring homeowners. Let’s make your dream home a reality together!
SOURCE: Creeana Jefferson, CEO of Capital Accounting Solutions, LLC | Instagram:@cashcowcree
Entrepreneurs
Female entrepreneur working at home office confirming the order on phone.
AgLaunch Accelerators – AgLaunch programs are designed for entrepreneurs who are early in their business formation and who have not raised funding from outside dilutive sources. Companies should be in the ag or ag tech space. Apply by 5/31/22 – https://aglaunch.com/entrepreneurship/
Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator – Dedicated to helping build sustainable equity and growth for Black entrepreneurs by enabling their success as sellers. Grow your business with access to financial support, strategic business guidance and mentorship, and marketing and promotional support. https://sell.amazon.com/programs/black-business-accelerator
Bronze Valley Accelerator – Bronze Valley Accelerator works with venture-bankable startups led by female entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs of color with a preference for those located in Alabama. Participants can be innovating in any industry vertical. Apply by 5/27/22 – https://www.gener8tor.com/gbeta/bronze-valley-accelerator
EmPOWERED to Serve Accelerator – The EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator in coordination with the American Heart Association is looking for a diverse pool of social entrepreneurs and organizations who are driving change through health justice in their communities. Applications will be accepted from social and health tech entrepreneurs, non-profits and for-profits making a health impact. Apply by 6/3/22 – https://www.empoweredtoserve.org/en/capital-access-grant-funding/business-accelerator-program/application-hub
Finnovation Fellowship – Fellowship program helps build leadership and entrepreneurial skills in early-stage social entrepreneurs. Must be US resident – FINN Fellowship requires you to be located in the Twin Cities area during the program term so you can work out of the FINNOVATION Lab space in downtown Minneapolis. Receive a $50,000 stipend. Apply by 5/15/22 – https://www.finn-lab.com/fellowship
Juntos Crecemos Hispanic Digital & Delivery Program – PepsiCo is inviting Latina entrepreneurs who work in food service to apply for eight weeks of personalized expert consultation, including best practices across operations, technology, marketing and digital presence. https://pepsicojuntoscrecemos.com/jefaowned/
Watson Accelerator – The Watson Accelerator is a hybrid program designed for impact-driven entrepreneurs seeking to elevate their ventures with access to a global network, training designed to strengthen skills, and mentorship with seasoned professionals, venture capitalists, and enterprise executives. Through this 18-week program (3 weeks in Boulder, CO and 14 weeks virtual), fellows will engage in courses in areas such as leadership development and applying practical entrepreneurial skills to their ventures alongside a global community of like-minded changemakers. Funding up to $17,500. Apply by 6/1/22 – https://watson.is/watson-accelerator-application/You Glow
Girl Women Entrepreneur Grant – Grant for $10,000 is open to all women entrepreneurs in the US. Apply by July 1. Top 25 will be announced for round 2 on July 8. Top 10 will be announced for round 3 on August 1. Winner announced mid-August. https://www.eatmeguiltfree.com/pages/youglowgirl
Small Businesses
Typical brick building with 5 story houses and small businesses.
Driving Small Business Forward – Ten $25,000 grants will be awarded to Hispanic Small Businesses to use towards the purchase of a commercial vehicle. Apply by 6/17/22 – https://helloalice.com/partners/progressive/
eBay Up and Running Grant – Business sellers will be asked to share details of their small business and how they plan to use the grant to accelerate their growth. eBay is looking to identify sellers who represent a diverse range of backgrounds, bring their unique experiences and inventory to the marketplace, and are committed to their communities and the eBay ecosystem. Grants for $10,000. Apply by 6/10/22 https://helloalice.com/partners/ebay/
Fearless Strivers – Open to black women who are legal U.S. residents (including DC), 18+ and the principal owner of a U.S.-based small business. Grants for $10,000. Apply by 12/31/22. https://www.fearless.fund/strivers
Hello Alice Small Business Grants – Hello Alice is continuing the Year of Small Business celebration by awarding 50 small business owners with $5,000 grants. Apply by 5/20/22 – https://t.co/irmKalmxYH
HerRise Micro-Grant – Each month a $500 micro-grant will be awarded to a for-profit small business owned by women of color. Past recipients used their growth grants for computers, equipment, marketing materials, software purchase, website creation and more. https://www.hersuitespot.com/herrise/
HomeTeam Advantage Small Business Contest with Mastercard – Small business owners in Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, and New York City can enter for chance to pitch for $10,000 prize. Apply by 5/15/22 – https://www.mastercard.us/hometeamadvantage/en/home.html
Kapitus Building Resilient Businesses Grant – Create an original video, no more than 2 minutes in length, telling your small business story and how $100,000 can help you continue to write that story. Not for businesses based in CO or VT. Apply by 6/30/22 – https://kapitus.com/brb/
48 in 48 Website Build Hackathon – Social Justice Event – The event is designed to support and promote nonprofits in marketing and technology. They are gathering teams to build websites for nonprofits with social justice missions. If you are interested in either being part of a team or are a nonprofit looking for free website development check the website by June 3, 2022 – https://48in48.org/social-justice-event/
Colocation America STEM Innovation Grant – This STEM Innovation Grant was created to fund programs that inspire and encourage Pre-K-12 students to pursue their interest and curiosity in STEM. Open to nonprofits and school districts and awards up to $7500. Apply by 5/13/2022. https://www.colocationamerica.com/stem-grant/?mc_cid=f6bf62d366&mc_eid=a05d277bb9
Justworks Grant for Nonprofits – Supporting incubators and other non-profit organizations that help underrepresented founders access the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. Grants for $50,000. Apply by 5/27/22 – https://justworks.com/lp/justworks-org
Truist NonProfit Grant – The Truist Foundation supports nonprofits with grants that target leadership development, economic mobility, thriving communities and educational equity. Quarterly deadlines – https://www.truist.com/purpose/truist-foundation/grant-applicationDollar General Youth Literacy Grant – For Schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations who help students that are below grade level or having trouble reading are eligible to apply. Grant for $4,000. Apply by 5/19/2022. https://www.dgliteracy.org/grant-programs/?#youth-literacy-grants
Tech Startups
Group of young business people concentrating at their work while sitting at the large office desk in an office together
AWS Impact Accelerator for Black Founders – Designed for U.S.-based Black founders who are the CEO and/or CTO of an innovative tech or tech-enabled startup. Should be pre-seed startups with a solution already built and underway. The program is industry and vertical agnostic, and welcomes both technical and non-technical founders who are leveraging cloud technologies or plan to. Apply by 5/13/22 – https://aws-startup-lofts.com/amer/program/accelerators/black-founders
Comcast RISE – Marketing and Tech Support and Investment Fund – There are separate applications for the marketing and technology services awards and the Comcast RISE Investment Fund. Eligible business owners may apply for either, or both programs. (Note: We have had several students in the program win these awards!) Apply by 6/17/22 https://www.comcastrise.com/apply/
Plaid Accelerate – Plaid Accelerate is a fintech accelerator program supporting early-stage fintech founders who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color. Apply by 5/31/22 – https://plaid.com/accelerate/
Black Founders & Owned Businesses
AT&T Black Future Maker – Black Future Makers are dedicated individuals pursuing greater possibilities for the greater good. Submit a video of 30-60 seconds, or photo, on your Instagram feed explaining how you are pursuing greater possibilities for you and the community. Grants for $10,000. Apply by 12/31/22 – https://www.attdreaminblack.com/contest
Black Girl Ventures (BGV) Fall 2022 Pitch Program – If you’re a Black/Brown woman-identifying founder in Austin, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, or Miami, you can apply by 7/1/22 – https://www.blackgirlventures.org/apply-to-pitch
National Black Business Pitch competition – The National Black Business Pitch (NBBP) is a competition designed to connect Black-owned businesses to corporations who seek to expand and diversify their supply chain with new products and services. Winner receives $10,000. Apply by 5/23/22 – https://nationalblackbusinesspitch.com/
Pathways to Black Franchise Ownership – Organization that vets, trains, and partners with individuals from underserved communities to own and operate competitive businesses. They strive to remove barriers to Black ownership entry and accelerate ownership outcomes for those seeking new opportunities to own, manage and expand their careers through foodservice franchisee ownership. https://mfha.net/pathways-to-black-franchise-ownership-program/
Visible Hands – 14-week, virtual-first accelerator will give you the opportunity to work alongside a cohort of exceptional underrepresented founders to build or scale your venture-backed startup. Preference given to women, non-binary and trans people, and Black, Latinx, and Indigenous American people. Apply by 5/13/22 – https://www.visiblehands.vc/apply
Wish Local Empowerment Program – You must be a Black-owned business with a brick-and-mortar shop within the United States and less than 20 employees. If selected for the program, you must join Wish Local (which is free). Grants for up to $2000 – https://www.wish.com/local/empowerment
McBride Sisters SHE CAN Fund in Food and Wine – SHE CAN Fund invests in the professional advancement and career growth of high-potential, professional women, with a particular focus on women of color. Mission is to close the gender and race gap in leadership positions in wine & spirits, hospitality, and finance industries by providing professional development – https://www.mcbridesistersfund.org/grants
More
AT&T Black Future Maker – Black Future Makers are dedicated individuals pursuing greater possibilities for the greater good. Submit a video of 30-60 seconds, or photo, on your Instagram feed explaining how you are pursuing greater possibilities for you and the community. Grants for $10,000. Apply by 12/31/22 – https://www.attdreaminblack.com/contest
Black Girl Ventures (BGV) Fall 2022 Pitch Program – If you’re a Black/Brown woman-identifying founder in Austin, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, or Miami, you can apply by 7/1/22 – https://www.blackgirlventures.org/apply-to-pitch
National Black Business Pitch competition – The National Black Business Pitch (NBBP) is a competition designed to connect Black-owned businesses to corporations who seek to expand and diversify their supply chain with new products and services. Winner receives $10,000. Apply by 5/23/22 – https://nationalblackbusinesspitch.com/
Pathways to Black Franchise Ownership – Organization that vets, trains, and partners with individuals from underserved communities to own and operate competitive businesses. They strive to remove barriers to Black ownership entry and accelerate ownership outcomes for those seeking new opportunities to own, manage and expand their careers through foodservice franchisee ownership. https://mfha.net/pathways-to-black-franchise-ownership-program/
Visible Hands – 14-week, virtual-first accelerator will give you the opportunity to work alongside a cohort of exceptional underrepresented founders to build or scale your venture-backed startup. Preference given to women, non-binary and trans people, and Black, Latinx, and Indigenous American people. Apply by 5/13/22 – https://www.visiblehands.vc/apply
Wish Local Empowerment Program – You must be a Black-owned business with a brick-and-mortar shop within the United States and less than 20 employees. If selected for the program, you must join Wish Local (which is free). Grants for up to $2000 – https://www.wish.com/local/empowerment
McBride Sisters SHE CAN Fund in Food and Wine – SHE CAN Fund invests in the professional advancement and career growth of high-potential, professional women, with a particular focus on women of color. Mission is to close the gender and race gap in leadership positions in wine & spirits, hospitality, and finance industries by providing professional development – https://www.mcbridesistersfund.org/grants
Learn step-by-step how to establish business credit
When it comes to business credit, most business owners do not realize the benefits. One of the biggest benefits of business credit is that it is entirely separate from your personal credit. However, to be able to leverage the many advantages business credit has to offer, your business needs to have a solid foundation. A solid business foundation includes entity formation, bookkeeping, and an active business bank account.
The first step in building a solid business foundation begins with the formation of your entity. The most common entity types are Limited Liability Company (LLCs) and Corporations. When you first start your business, it is important to register your business, apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN), and apply for a DUNS number. Your EIN is a number similar to your social security number. It is how the IRS identifies your business. Your DUNS number is how your business is identified with the credit reporting agency Dun and Bradstreet.
Another important step to take before applying for business credit is to set up proper bookkeeping for your business and open a business bank account that can be linked to your bookkeeping software. Having proper bookkeeping in place will make it easier for you to prove that your business has adequate cash flow. Similarly, a business bank account separates your business expenses from your personal expenses which to accurately prove profit and loss
Next is to establish trade lines with your suppliers. If you buy supplies, ingredients or other materials from third-party vendors, those purchases could help build your business credit. Many suppliers extend trade credit, which means they allow you to pay several days or weeks after you receive the inventory. If you have this type of accounts-payable relationship, ask your supplier to report your payments to a business credit bureau. Your business credit score will get a boost as long as you stick to the terms of the trade agreement.
You need at least three tradelines to get a Dun & Bradstreet Paydex score, which measures past payment history. Even if you don’t work with a lot of suppliers, you can set up tradelines with any small vendor, such as your water or office supplies distributor. If those vendors don’t report to a credit bureau, you can list them as a trade reference on your account, and Dun & Bradstreet will follow up to collect your trade data.
A business credit card can be one of the best tools for building business credit. Additionally, many business credit cards offer benefits and rewards for your spend, from cash back to travel points.
If you have thin or poor personal credit, you may want to begin your card search by improving your personal credit score, since many card issuers will use your personal history to evaluate creditworthiness. If that isn’t possible, applying for a secured credit card will likely be your best choice.
While secured cards typically don’t offer rewards and may have a low ceiling for how much you can spend, they can still be valuable for contributing to your business credit profile. And some issuers will allow you to upgrade to an unsecured card if you can demonstrate a consistent pattern of responsible repayment.
In conclusion, having a good foundation for your business is the key to being granted business credit. Once given, you can then leverage your business credit to scale your business. If you need help building your business’s foundation, apply to become a client of Fola Financial!
Along with budgeting, another important aspect involved in mastering financial literacy is investing. According to Merriam-Webster, investing is the process of committing your money in order to earn a financial return. Investing is an important step to take toward cultivating your financial future.
Before investing, it’s important to assess your goals and timeline. Ask yourself the following questions: why am I investing and are my goals short-term or long-term? Assessing your investing goals and whether those goals are short-term or long-term is important because there are risks involved in investing. For someone with short-term goals, it’s important to invest in less risky options such as bonds. However, a long-term investor with a higher risk tolerance may choose to invest in riskier options such as stocks.
After assessing your risk tolerance, the next step is to open an investment account. If you’re a full-time employee and your employer has a 401(k) plan, this would be a great place to start because most employers match the contributions of their employees up to a certain percentage. As of 2022, the max amount that can be contributed to a 401(k) plan is $20,500. If you’re not an employee, your employer doesn’t give you the option to invest in a 401(k) plan, or you have maxed out your 401(k) plan for the year, you can open a Roth IRA account. As of 2022, the max amount that can be contributed to a Roth IRA account is $6,000. However, something to note is that the max contribution amount for each of these investment accounts increases for investors 50 and older.
Another important aspect to consider when beginning your investing journey is diversification. A common saying in the investing world is “don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” Diversifying your investments reduces your risk. A good way to diversify is by investing in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Investing in mutual funds and EFTs is also more affordable than investing in individual stocks and bonds.
In conclusion, along with budgeting, investing is an important part of financial literacy. Investing can be a major step toward cultivating your financial future!
Before your consultation with your CPA, it’s important to think about the specific questions you would like to ask them! Your family at Fola Financial put together a list of 14 questions to help you get started! Reference the image below, or click to download the PDF for your records!
To kick off financial literacy month, we wanted to talk about one of the most important concepts in the personal finance community, budgeting. When it comes to budgeting, like most things, there isn’t a one size fits all technique. Personal finance is exactly what it says it is, personal. Therefore, it is important for those embarking on a personal finance journey to find the budgeting method that works best for them. In the personal finance community, there are four main budgeting techniques used by most people within the community: envelope system, 50/30/20, zero-based, and pay-yourself-first.
Envelope System
The envelope system of budgeting is a form of budgeting that focuses on the use of cash. You set up envelopes for each of your spending categories. For example, you would have a different envelope for groceries, gas, rent, utilities, etc. In each envelope, you would have the amount of cash you have budgeted for the respective category. Once the cash in the envelope is gone, you have no more to spend for that category until your next pay period or the next month, whichever you prefer. Most people in the finance community use the envelope system for categories they tend to overspend in, such as entertainment.
50/30/20
50/30/20 is the budgeting technique that states you should allocate 50% of your income to your needs, 30% to saving/investing, and 20% to wants. However, those in the personal finance community who use this technique of budgeting adjust the percentage categories to fit their lifestyle. For example, instead of using 50/30/20, you might decide to allocate 70% of your income to your needs, 20% to saving/investing, and 10% to your wants.
Zero-Based
When using zero-based budgeting, you give all of your income for the pay period or month a job.\Whatever amount of income you receive will be allocated to something to the point where when you are done budgeting, there is nothing leftover. This is a great budgeting technique for beginners who start their personal finance journey not knowing where their money goes. With this technique, you will know where every dollar you make is going.
Pay-Yourself-First
The pay-yourself-first budgeting technique’s main purpose is for you to allocate money to your savings, debt, or investing before you start paying your bills for the month. Once you pay yourself first and pay your bills for that period, the rest of your income can be used for whatever you want. Along with zero-based budgeting, this technique is one that is widely used by beginners within the personal finance community.
Start your April off with a bang by taking the FOLA pledge and joining us for FOLA Financial Literacy Month! To begin your personal finance journey, explore each of these budgeting techniques and find the one that works best for you and that will propel you into financial health.
We are thrilled to highlight Maya Portorreal’s feature on CNBC Make It! Maya is a valued Fola Financial client, and we are always excited to celebrate her success! Check out her interview and be sure to support her yourself by shopping Kitten Co Jewelry 🙂
