How to start a small "home video" company?

Question

I'm one year away from graduating college and I really want to start my own company...

I want to have a "home" business putting together home videos/sildeshows and offering my services to film family events and edit them myself.

My dad thinks I can just make flyers and start doing it, however I don't know how that will work out in legal terms.

Any suggestions on how I should go about this?

Answer 1

Try the flyers - there's nothing illegal about it unless you put them on windshields on private parking lots or something.  There are usually lots of places around to post flyers, and it's worth a try.

Answer 2

Your dad is on the right track.  I own and operate my own recording studio for a living.  I can tell you from experience the best thing to do is to start small.  If you know what you want to do and how to do it your dad is totally right.  Start flyering and finding local business.  Start cheap or even free until you build a reputation.  Then you can raise your prices and expand.  

As far as legal terms go you don't need to do anything to start a business.  This is capitalism.  What you will need to do though is pay your taxes.  Be sure to write down any revenue that you make from your business.  What I do is I buy generic receipt books from the stationery aisle at walmart (they sell receipt books at any office supply store).  Write down the services rendered and what your clients owe you.  Then give them their copy of the receipt once they have paid you and put your copy in a filing cabinet.  At the end of the year add up what you made.  At the same time anything that you buy for your business can be deducted from your taxes.  Write down any equipment, software, office supplies, or anything at all that you buy for your business throughout the year.  KEEP THE RECEIPTS.

At the end of the year add up what you made and subtract what you bought.  This is your business income and needs to be reported on your taxes.  It's actually really easy to do this as long as you keep good records and receipts.  I just use turbotax.  If you aren't sure though hire an accountant.  That's all there is to it!  Good luck!!

Answer 3

Know all about Video Editing. Read about it and Start by doing little favors for others free of charge.

Stop thinking of the legalities first, that would come along in the later phases.