This would be an innovation not an invention. An invention is a unique product created whereas an innovation is an modification, addition or other change to a product. As you indicated email existed before either yahoo or gmail. Thus gmail would be classified as an innovation and not an invention.

Equipment financing is typically secured by the lessor, meaning if you default they take the equipment back. As the lessor has the right to take back the equipment the issues for the lessor revolve around the equipment valuation and how quickly it depreciates. If the equipment will last a long time and the leasing is short term that will make it easier to lease. If the equipment will be outdated quickly like a server and the lease term is beyond the useful like of the equipment it will be tougher to obtain a lease. There are many types of leases. Some are true leases and you are essentially renting the equipment for a time period. Sometimes you are actually buying the equipment with a $1.00 payoff. These are all factors in obtaining a lease. Obviously your credit is extremely important but not the only factor in obtaining a lease. Your assets and debts will matter as well.

This appears to be a homework or student oriented question. There is no specific answer but an opinion. Of the four choices we would select English language class. Soft drink is highly competitive and you have to deal with Coca-Cola Pepsi and many others. Obtaining space and bringing a brand to market would be most expensive. Hardware stores would be competing with Home Depot and other similar stores where competition is quite high and the market share of hardware stores is decreasing. Lawn mower repair is a vey narrow niche but not many people are going to have theirs repaired based upon cost of replacement and number of people needing a lawn mower repaired. English language classes have the best opportunity to succeed among your choices, is not expensive to begin and has a high increasing demand. There are probably more consumers then businesses needing English language classes. Businesses can afford to pay more but there are no specific industries that need English language classes so we would stick with consumers. Brand name would be EnglishNow. Our marketing strategy would focus on Want to make more money then learning English is your ticket. Focusing on the Spanish/Mexican market in areas where there are many Mexicans who could get a better job if the spoke English.

You must offer employees benefits on a nondiscriminatory basis. Nondiscriminatory means you can’t offer men health insurance and not woman as this is gender based discrimination. You can offer certain categories of employees benefits that other employees are not eligible. The IRS may disallow a tax deduction if the plan is discriminatory as well. The more basic question is fairness. Unless there is a major reason why you would always be better to offer all your employees a benefit so that you don’t have us against them mentality but were all in it together for team building.

Equipment generally depreciates over time. Typically in 3-5 years the equipment may have no value especially if its technology like computers and printers. Anyone who purchased a computer 5 years ago can attest to the price to buy the same computer today. So what type of equipment and what’s the expected life expectancy of the equipment is important to know. If you are only purchasing a piece of equipment for $20,000 then you should understand that the IRS would allow you to take off the entire amount under section 179 in the year you purchased the equipment. Thus you would have a big writeoff . It appears that you lack funds since you are looking for an investor for a $20,000 piece of equipment. The issue then becomes your status. If you need the equipment to continue in business then you may have to make a deal you don’t like or is a bad deal to continue in business. Someone with terrible credit can buy a machine and pay 180% interest/year and someone with good credit can buy the equipment with 0% financing for 1 year. Generally if someone is receiving 6% of the gross they would receive that until the $20,000 is returned and then receive something additional for lending the money in the form of interest, equity, continued royalty etc.

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Investors consider the Executive summary-typically the first page summary of your business plan to be the most important part of your business plan. Be grammatically correct. Be concise and give the reader something to say wow.

Your question has multiple parts. A business license is necessary for operating a business in a city or county. A permit can allow you to operate in certain places. An LLC or operating as a sole proprietor is a State matter in the case of an LLC and is independent. If you have a sole proprietor or LLC then you must have that entity obtain any license or permit in the name of the entity. As to operating a business from a residence you need to check with the zoning laws as some locations will prohibit you from operating and others won’t based upon the zoning laws. You can always change your working address at anytime.

There are many different types of non-profits so you need to be clear. A 501C3 is what many consider to be the standard but there are numerous nonprofits. In order to receive an exemption from the IRS for your nonprofit you must apply and they require a disinterested Board of Directors-meaning not related, not personal and other guidelines. To maintain your exemption status you must comply with IRS laws. The more you take away any ability to connect the better chance your exemption will remain in place. There is no requirement that you can’t lease but be careful and have a tax advisor review for you.