Business start-up help: Trademarks, patents, and web-hosting.

Hello,

My name is Thomas and I'm a college student graduating come December 2011. I am developing my own reptile related business that revolves around the hobby. The goal of my business is to provide for a self-sustaining collection of phenomenal reptiles. I plan to bring great ideas to the reptile industry and launch ball python husbandry into the next era.

I have already purchased a domain and created what I want my trademark to be. I'd love to learn where all you breeders/ business professionals go to get trademarks and legal stuff done.

I cannot emphasize the amount of ambition and excitement I have for my company. However, this business will not be my primary occupation. My highest priority is to launch my business right before I graduate and let it grow and build a reputation before returning to graduate school within a few years. Then I will know much more about management and have more resources to invest into my dream.

I am greatly appreciative for any advice and cannot wait to absorb knowledge and taste some wisdom.

To clarify:
1. Information on how and where to get a trademark processed.
2. Best companies for web-hosting.
3. Patents in a nut-shell.
4. Any advice you'd like to share.

Thanks

Sincerely,

Thomas R.

1.0 Normal (Monty)

I'm sorry I don't have much advice for you but I assume from your screen name that you go to U of I. I do also and my roommates are software and hardware engineers respectively. They are currently starting a business as well (not in reptiles) and may be willing to help. Let me know. Also its always nice to know someone else nearby who is into herps too.

i dont have any advise for u but i always help other people to design their website,logo n give idea for them that wanna start a business.if u have any problem or need my help,please pm me.

I used LegalZoom.com to form my LLC.
I use GoDaddy to host my website.

My advice....Make sure you are prepared to do the work necessary to maintain and grow a reptile business. Hatching snakes is a great feeling, but it only happens once a year....the rest of the year it's all about cleaning up snake crap and cleaning rodent bedding.....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by IlliniHerpEnthusiast

2. Best companies for web-hosting.
3. Patents in a nut-shell.

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2. go daddy has been good to me.

3. what are you patenting? snakes are naturally occurring, you can't patent them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by monk90222

I used LegalZoom.com to form my LLC.
I use GoDaddy to host my website.

My advice....Make sure you are prepared to do the work necessary to maintain and grow a reptile business. Hatching snakes is a great feeling, but it only happens once a year....the rest of the year it's all about cleaning up snake crap and cleaning rodent bedding.....

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I second that!! LOL My friday night date is a radio and a bunch of rats with dirty cages in my basement.

It won't get old if you have a true love for the hobby!!!!!

I attend school for website design. I run my own server and don't have to pay a monthly hosting fee. It is easy to do if you have a computer that can handle the work load. (It will only work with a DSL or Broadband connection) It took me 5 years of research to figure out how to do it for free;) They don't teach you that kinda stuff in college. Pm me if you want some details. The only thing that I pay for is my website domain. I get that through GoDaddy!

I'm still in the designing stages for my snake site, but here is my dog one.

http://www.dailybulldogs.com

Good Luck!

Hey everyone,

Thanks for the wonderful advice. I have the domain through GoDaddy.com and I my sister-in-law is going to help me with the web-hosting. I just wanted to trademark my business logo and consider a patent for an invention (not a snake). Keep the great responses coming.

Thanks

Thomas R.