The state of Delaware is a popular place to incorporate for a variety of reasons. The state combines flexibility, low cost and other favorable characteristics to make it a desirable place to incorporate, even if you don't do business there. This fee schedule sets forth the cost of forming a business entity in Delaware, as well as the ongoing costs of managing a Delaware corporation.

The attached document will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses by asking you to rate yourself in several areas that are important to small business ownership. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is important because (1) it can tell you whether you're ready to start a small business, (2) in choosing a new business, it can help you match your skills to the right business, and (3) it can tell you whether you need to consider adding a partner who can bring skills to the business that you lack.

The attached file contains a checklist for all the steps you should take before you start a new business. It's a "to do" list for starting a new business in much the same way that a grocery list is a "to do" for grocery shopping.

This worksheet will enable you to compute the number of employees you will need to start your new business. The worksheet is set up to be used for projecting and completing your new business staffing arrangements for a weekly time period. All you have to do is put in your employee names and the hours to be worked and it will show you and your employees at a glance the weekly staffing arrangements. This tool provides an example and a template for a weekly staffing schedule.

Franchise agreements are tailored to specific situations. Thus, it is impossible to identify every term and issue that should be considered in every situation. However, the Checklist of Basic Franchise Agreement Terms will provide you with a comprehensive listing of the basic terms that may be included in a franchise agreement. It also identifies many of the issues surrounding those terms that should be addressed. If you are considering the purchase of a franchise, use the checklist to help you understand the terms typically included in a franchise agreement and to review the agreement provided by the franchisor.

The real property lease checklist addresses the most common issues that you need to consider when you negotiate a real property lease. This comprehensive checklist identifies the terms and clauses that need to be addressed in a real property lease. It also contains questions under each term or clause that flush out the most important issues pertaining to that term or clause. It's a good tool to use when you have a real property lease in hand from the property owner and you want to know whether the lease covers all that it should cover so that you're properly protected. Of course, you should also have your attorney review the lease.

This worksheet is set up to be used for projecting your family monthly budget schedule for 12 individual months. The monthly schedule is easier to understand than an annual family budgeting tool. We've formatted the worksheet and put in most of the income and expense descriptions. All you have to do is put in your numbers and print it.

This worksheet is set up to be used for forecasting changes in your receipts and disbursements and the effects the changes will have on your cash requirements of your start-up new business. This worksheet will show you what will happen to your cash flow when your forecast is off by 5 percent. We've formatted the worksheet and put in most of the inflows (income) and outflows (disbursements) categories for you. All you have to do is put in your numbers and print it.

The equipment lease checklist is a detailed listing of the terms and issues that you should consider when you need to negotiate an equipment lease. This comprehensive checklist is designed to identify the terms that should be addressed in an equipment lease and to alert you to specific issues pertaining to the terms in an equipment lease.

Those who are interested in starting a new business are often told that they should select a business that takes advantage of their skills and experience. But that often leaves them perplexed because they don't really know how to go about doing that. The attached file will clarify some of the confusion by allowing you to rate your interests and compare them to various business possibilities. Once you've completed the "test," you should be well on your way to choosing the business that's right for you.

This worksheet will enable you to compute the amount of cash you will need to start your new business. The worksheet is broken down into two parts. The first part computes the amount of cash you will need from day one of planning your business to day one of opening the business for customers. The second part of the worksheet computes the cash needs for the first three months you're in business.