I wish I knew a definitive answer on the business account question. My business name is not my name, mostly because a lifetime of spelling my last name to people indicated that wouldn't be a good idea. My bank, which used to have free business checking, now charges $10 a month. I'm thinking about going to an online bank or credit union that has free business checking.

If you receive checks in a business name you *must* use a business account. My local bank actually does offer a free business account, but then fees you to death for everything you would actually do in the account. When you look for another bank with free business checking, make sure the stuff you must do through the bank (like debit card, on-line banking,) etc is free or reasonable. Unless you know of a business account that offers free checks, don't worry too much about pricey checks and deposit slips, cause those you can get through a third party. (And if anyone knows a place besides Costco that offers reasonably priced check and deposit slip printing, please let me know.)

I've used Checks in the Mail [link] for years.

I have a Business Economy checking account through BofA. It is BofA which many folks hate, but as long a there's a minimum balance in the account there aren't many fees. Where BofA can be pain is playing games with holds on large checks and their penalty fees if you do go into overdraft for any reason.

I met with the accountant today. I honestly feel better even thought he hasn't done anything yet. I think we have figured out how to resolve the problems I was having.

Re: business checks. My bank charges 67 for 3 books of business size checks or 15 for 5 books of regular checks. So my business checks are regular size. Sometimes I run out of room but I'm cheap and I can write small.

Calli, if you purchase checks to use solely for business, then yes, they can be deducted.

I just have a debit card tied to the my business account -- which is a regular, no fee account, and the bank I use -- Commerce -- had no issues with me setting it up to be used for business. To get a what's CALLED a business account there, you need you carry a balance of $7000 which -- no. No can do at this point in my business.

I pay $9.95/ month to use Outright for my business accounting needs and it's worth every penny. And it's deductible also.

I really love living in the future. I just emailed .pdfs to our local print shop, who are holding our newsletter shells for us, and they will merge, print, assemble, stamp, and send our newsletter for us. And I didn't have to leave the house. It is the best thing ever.

One more round of business cards:

Thing One: [link]

Thing Two: [link]

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Ginger -- I like both cards; they aren't cookie-cutter and the proofing mark after Georgia is clever!

My only hesitation - and YMMV of course - is adding your home addy (and I am assuming it's your home address) to your business cards.

Unless you have regular F2F meetings at your home office, I would be a little nervous, but then, I leave my business cards everywhere and hand them out to tons of people. Perhaps just city and state?

Again, just my own safety-paranoia quirk.

I like them both, but number 2 a little more. I second the home address thing. How many people are going to actually mail you something that you couldn't give them your address.