This is Kai Rasmussen’s blog.  He is the webmaster for astrobotany.com, and UW molecular biology research undergrad.  These are updates about the process, if you are interested.

A couple of days ago I filed for an LLC to formally start a business.  I finally mustered up the courage to wade into business with no business background whatsoever.

It’s been an interesting journey so far.  I’ve gained new respect for bureaucracy, which still pains me at every corner of the process.

The LLC application was easy enough, but then you need an EIN.  Suddenly, it’s best to get a DUNS number as well.  Will you file an 8832 to move from a C-corporation to an S-corporation?  What happened to my entity registration with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue?  Wow, I wish I had a small business accountant.

I hear that at some point you really should get a small business accountant.  Which is what I hope to look into once I figure out what I’m doing.  The advantage of trying to figure everything out myself is 1. it’s cheaper and 2. it’s a learning experience.  The disadvantage is having no idea what I’m doing and inevitably making dumb mistakes about finance.  Making mistakes when learning is natural, but making mistakes when applying for an LLC is costly.  Dang.

The funniest thing to me is listing my humble college apartment (APT5) as the headquarters.

Call me Kai Rasmussen, the Wolf of Apt. 5, business magnate.  Botanists have no business being businessmen.