Want to Start a Business

Best advice I can give you is to contact your local Business Link. They're free and non-obligatory, they help you identify what it is you want to do and send you any amount of useful information. They can also help you access local resources like business courses.

As regards business loans... depends on what's available at the time and your exact circumstances - a bank loan is a bank loan but there are special-interest groups out there to help people in particular circumstances or wishing to set up particular types of business. For instance I was able to get a low-interest loan from the Prince's Trust because I'm under 30... you may be able to dig up something from an eco group because of the recycling aspect... One pretty universal thing is that it's a lot easier to get a loan if you have a solid business plan. So you need to be doing all the research *first*.

Licensing will probably be your biggest challenge. No idea how much money you'll need. Again, Business Link will be able to help - they may not have all the answers for you but they're likely to be able to tell you who to ask.

Company name and logo stuff is pretty simple. Mostly it amounts to: don't steal anyone else's copyrighted images; and don't pretend to be something you're not (for instance you can only call yourself Polarisld33 Ltd if you actually are a Limited Company).

EDIT: Uh... these are UK rules. I didn't spot that you're in the USA. Sorry.

Not only do I know very little about the wreck/salvage/scrap yard business apart from the odd visit to find a new wing mirror, I see that you're based in Colorado USA so as I'm in the UK any advice would be of little use.

Hopefully somebody will come along soon and give you some good advice. Though I'd have thought if you've got a good business plan (and putting some money in yourself - to show commitment) you should be able to get a loan regardless of your age.

I've noticed most people don't know all that much about wreck/salvage/scrapping companies which is part of the reason I feel I have a chance with it (limited competition). I also just love old "junk" so regardless of how lucrative it ends up being, the personal satisfaction in the job will always be there.

It's too bad business isn't the same(ish) in more countries. Seems like it would make it easier on international companies. Though, if things don't start looking up here in the US, I might have to start looking into moving and starting a business in another country!

Oops.

Your advice led me to find the perfect website. I never knew about it, but there is a US Government business website and it has the answers to all of my questions. Not sure what they have out there, but the website I found has a step by step for starting a new business and also offers free online business classes. Thank you for your advice.