Q: Why do I need a business plan? A: A business plan will help you determine whether you are ready to start you own business and help you avoid common pitfalls.
Q: What does legal structure mean? Why is it important? A: You must choose your legal structure when you register to do business in New Mexico. Which structure you choose: Partnership, Limited Liability Company, Corporation, or Sole Proprietorship will affect your taxes, rights, and responsibilities as the business owner.
Q: What do I need to include in my business name? A: Your business name needs to be unique, simple, and memorable and express your business focus. Avoid using your name and puns.
Q: How do I know whether another business is using my selected name or something similar? A: The New Mexico Secretary of State website features a search mechanism where you can look up your business name to ensure it is not "confusingly similar" to the name of another business.
Q: Do I need a trademark? A: Trademarks protect words, names, symbols, sounds, or color that distinguish goods and services from those manufactured or sold by others. You do not have to register your trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, however you may benefit from it. A small business owner typically does not have to register a trademark if operating in a small geographic area. But if selling a product or service over the Internet, the trademark protection becomes more important.