Permanent Resident? Start Your Own Business!

After you win a green card through the Diversity Visa program you will be entitled to many of the same rights that citizens in the United States have. One of these rights—one of the more cherished of American rights—is the freedom to start and run your own business. It is also rather easy to start a business in the United States. The World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index claims that America is the fourth easiest country in the world in which you can run a business. There are a total of 183 countries on the list.

(Be sure to sign up for the Green Card Lottery this month. Registration ends on November 3, 2012)

Starting your own business is not the easiest thing to do, but there are a variety of government programs that exist, specifically, to help you get started and succeed in the exciting world of capitalism. Here we will discuss some of the advice that the Small Business Administration recommends for starting up your company.

One of the first things that you should do is to get financing. It is rather unlikely that you—much like many other people in the United States—have the cash to finance your business outright. In order to do this you will need to speak with a banker about obtaining a loan. A loan officer will want a business plan from you first. A business plan is often a presentation, but can also be a document that details what your business will do, how much money it is expected to make, how you will advertise for it, and how the everyday operations of the business will be conducted. The business plan will assure the banker that you are both serious about your endeavor and have researched it sufficiently.

Not only will you need to ensure that you have the money to back your business venture, but you will also have to make sure that your business complies with the pertinent laws. In the United States there are always at least three layers of government, federal, state and municipal and local. Each layer of government is going to have certain regulations that your business will have to meet. It is your responsibility as an entrepreneur to make sure your company complies with these rules.

Other regulations include the need to respect worker’s rights and obey labor laws from all levels of government. A little over a century ago, in the large cities of the United States several political social movements began to make some changes in the governmental regulation of business. Children were no longer allowed to work the extremely dangerous jobs they once did, people did not have to work 16 hours a day, every day, any longer, and working conditions continue to be improved to this day in terms of safety and benefits. This is considered a vast improvement over older conditions and remains rather popular with the majority of Americans, especially those involved with unions.

Business is an adventure and the freedoms ensured by the government in the United States are sure to make your adventure as exciting as you can possibly imagine. So apply for the Green Card Lottery and start your adventure today.