I had this idea: I wanted to start a company. The simple assumption that one needed a 'company' to sell services and later products, an entity or shell that represents the collection of individuals that provide the services...a company.
The company required a name and designate. For example, was it a large or small company, is the company designated as an 'S" or 'C' corporation, a Limited Liability Company or Sole Proprietorship? Well, how about a company that is a small business? Okay already, given that I have no idea what the terms for a company really mean or why it is so important. Hmmm, let's roll the dice and pick one. So, VisualShare, LLC was born so to speak, and operates as a small business concern a.k.a. a company.
A small business is, at the very essence, cyclic. Those of you out there that are seasoned business professionals are probably thinking 'really and how long did it take you to arrive at that conclusion?' There are periods when management, strategy, development and financial stability are out of sync with each other (not that the likelihood of synchronization will ever be a realistic expectation), and one comes very close to throwing in the towel.
There is the initial excitement and euphoria when the small business gets the first contract for goods and services that is balanced with the reality of meeting payroll and payroll taxes. All of a sudden the small business becomes close, too close for comfort, with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) (we all know who THEY are), and dread the day that contact would have to be initiated with them. Faced with the dillemma that when you have what you would consider a simple question you have three options 1) phone, 2) inperson or 3) email. The answer will involve multiple routing on the IRS phone system that takes a mere 45 minutes or you can take a field trip the your local lIRS office, take a number and wait for the next service agent to assist you (another 45 minute wait). That would leave the third option, email. Email is a great option because mosts likely, you will be sitting at your computer and can address the growing list of other tasks that the small business requires while waiting for a response. No problem.
Where was before the rant about the IRS...oh yes, the small business. Along with the usual suspects like payroll and corporate taxes, there are minor issues such as, renting space, office furniture, hardware, software, supplies, contractors, consultants, technical support, customer support, sales, followup, the Chamber of Commerce..... No problem.
Oh the naivete. Oh what challenges in starting a company and doing everything in your power to make a success of a small business. As the company VisualShare matures and (hopefully) continues to grow, the initial challenges pale in comparison to what lies ahead. As the saying goes "What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger". Uh-huh, right. No problem.