Steps to Sucess

Resources for Starting and Growing a Business in Kansas

Click Here to View the Complete Steps to Success Resource Guide

Table of Contents:

Thinking About Starting a Business. 2

How to Start a Business. 2

Small Business Assistance Agencies and Resources. 4

NetWork Kansas. 4

Kansas Business Center 6

Kansas.gov. 7

Kansas Department of Revenue (KDOR) 10

Kansas Secretary of State. 11

Kansas Insurance Department 11

Kansas Department of Health & Environment (KDHE) 12

Kansas Small Business Development Centers (KSBDCs) 12

Federal Resources. 13

SCORE Business Resource Center 13

United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 14

Minority Business Development Agency. 15

Starting a Business in Kansas. 16

The Business Plan. 16

Executive Summary. 16

Business Description. 16

Products or Services. 17

Project Financing. 17

Management 17

Ownership. 17

Description of Major Customers. 18

Description of Market 18

Description of Competition. 18

Description of Prospective Customers. 18

Description of Selling Activities. 19

Technology. 19

Manufacturing Process. 19

Financial Information. 20

Site Selection. 20

Business Organization\Tax Structure. 21

Sole Proprietorship. 22

General Partnership (GP) 23

Limited Partnership (LP) 25

Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) 26

Corporation. 27

Limited Liability Company (LLC) 30

Business Trust 31

Franchise. 31

Nonprofit Corporation. 32

Registering Your Business. 33

Assumed Name and Trade Name. 33

Corporate Name Reservation. 33

Trademarks and Servicemarks. 33

United States Patents, Trademarks, Servicemarks and Copyrights. 34

Records. 36

Professional Relationships. 37

Selecting a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) 37

Selecting an Attorney. 38

Selecting a Banker 38

Selecting Insurance. 39

Registering as an Employer 40

Kansas Withholding Tax. 40

Kansas Definition of Employers. 40

Unemployment Insurance. 41

Kansas Employment Security Law.. 42

Kansas Workers Compensation. 43

Federal Employer Identification Number 43

Social Security Taxes. 45

Self-Employment Tax. 45

Income Tax Withholding. 45

Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA) 46

Federal Estimated Income Tax. 47

Filing Electronically. 47

Federal Excise Taxes. 48

Other Employment Scenarios. 48

Husband and Wife Business. 48

State and Federal Employer Posting Requirements (Posters) 49

Business Registration, Licensing and Permits. 51

Registering for Kansas Sales Tax. 51

Registering for a Kansas Consumers' Compensating (USE) Tax Certificate Number 52

Exemption Certificates. 52

Non-resident Contractor/Subcontractor 53

Retail Establishments Selling Alcohol 54

Tire Excise Tax Registration, Vehicle Rental Excise Tax and Vehicle Dealers. 56

Tire Excise Tax Registration. 56

Vehicle Rental Excise Tax. 56

Vehicle Dealers. 56

Laundry and Dry Cleaning Establishments/Dry Cleaning Environmental Surcharge. 58

Businesses Impacting Health & Environment 58

Kansas Department of Animal Health. 63

Kansas Department of Agriculture. 64

Food Safety and Consumer Protection Programs. 64

Environmental Protection Programs. 65

Water Resource Programs. 65

Administrative Services and Support 66

Motor Carrier Licensing. 66

Natural Resources and Utility Licensing. 71

Other Regulated Industry Licensing. 72

Securities Registration. 72

Licensing/Regulation of State-Chartered Banks & Trusts Companies, Savings & Loans, Mortgage Companies, Money Transmitters and Credit Counselors. 73

Insurance Companies/Requirements. 74

Common Business Licenses/Permits. 75

Business Development Assistance Programs. 93

Business Development Division. 93

Rural Development Division. 94

Trade Development Division. 95

Travel & Tourism Development Division. 96

Kansas Housing Resources Corporation. 96

Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation. 97

Centers of Excellence. 97

Additional KTEC Business Assistance Resource Organizations. 99

Incubators. 99

State Data Centers. 102

Kansas Bioscience Authority (KBA) 103

Business Startup Financing. 104

NetWork Kansas. 105

Beginning Farmer Loan Program.. 105

Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation (KTEC) 106

Kansas Association of Certified Development Companies. 107

United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development 109

Taxes. 112

Kansas Sales Tax. 112

Corporate Income Tax. 113

Corporate Estimated Income Tax. 114

Subchapter S Corporation. 114

Business Entity Franchise Taxes and Secretary of State’s Annual Report 114

Privilege Tax on Financial Institutions. 115

General Partnership. 115

Limited Partnership. 115

Individual Income Tax. 116

Retail Liquor Sales Tax. 116

Motor Fuel Taxes. 116

Regular Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax. 117

Interstate Motor Fuel User's Tax. 117

Liquefied Petroleum Motor Fuel Tax. 117

Severance (Minerals) Tax. 117

Local License and Occupations Tax. 117

Transient Guest Tax. 118

Cigarette Tax. 118

Tobacco Products Tax. 118

Liquor Drink. 118

Liquor Enforcement Tax. 119

Bingo Taxes. 119

Vehicle Rental Excise Tax. 120

Tire Excise Tax. 120

Water Protection Fee. 120

Dry Cleaning Environmental Surcharge. 120

Dry Cleaning Solvent Fee. 121

Maintaining a Business in Kansas. 121

Taxes. 121

Taxpayer Assistance Center 121

Kansas Court of Tax Appeals. 121

Property Taxes. 122

Real Property Transfer Tax. 122

Real Estate. 122

Public Utilities. 123

Personal Property. 123

Exemptions from Ad Valorem Property Taxation. 123

Mortgage Registration Tax. 125

Motor Carrier Property Tax. 125

Statutory Requirements on Insurance Premiums Written in Kansas. 126

Business Tax Exemptions: 126

Electronically Managing Tax Accounts. 128

KSWebTax. 128

Kansas.gov. 130

Business Incentives. 133

Personal Property. 133

Tax Abatement 133

Ad Valorem Tax Exemption. 134

Business Machinery and Equipment Property Tax Credit 134

Alternative-Fueled Motor Vehicle Property Credit 134

Angel Investor Tax Credit 134

Business and Job Development Credit 135

Child Day Care Assistance Credit 135

Community Service Contribution Credit 135

Disabled Access Credit 135

Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) 136

High Performance Incentive Program.. 136

Training and Education Tax Credit 137

Investment Tax Credit 137

Certified Local Seed Capital Pool Credit 137

Regional Foundation Credit 138

Research and Development Credit 138

Venture Capital Credit 139

Telecommunications Credit 139

Employer Health Insurance Contribution Credit 139

Kansas International Trade Show Assistance Program.. 140

Attraction Development Grant Program/Tourism Marketing Grant Program.. 140

Agriculture Value-Added Loan Program.. 141

Simply Kansas Trademark Program.. 141

Business Enhancement Grant Program.. 141

Kansas Bioscience Authority Investment Programs. 141

Local Incentives. 142

Industrial Revenue Bonds. 142

Kansas Enterprise Zone. 143

Community Development Block Grant/Economic Development 144

International Trade Assistance Programs. 146

International Trade Administration. 148

United States Department of Homeland Security. 148

Port of Entry. 149

Other Employer Regulations. 149

State Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator 149

Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns. 150

Kansas Human Rights Commission. 150

Small Disadvantaged Businesses and Women-Owned Business Assistance. 151

Kansas Department of Commerce. 151

Kansas Statewide Certification Program.. 152

Kansas Department of Transportation. 153

Federal Minority Business Assistance. 153

Kansas Women's Business Center 154

Workforce Services in Kansas. 155

Workforce Training. 155

Kansas Industrial Training Program (KIT) 155

Kansas Industrial Retraining Program (KIR) 156

Investments in Major Projects and Comprehensive Training Program (IMPACT) 157

Workforce Investment Act of 1998. 158

Foreign Labor Certification. 158

Federal Bonding. 158

Work Opportunity Tax Credits. 159

Registered Apprenticeship. 159

Local Workforce Centers. 159

Local Workforce Centers. 160

Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.. 162

United States Department of Labor 162

Occupational Health and Safety Administration Requirements (OSHA) 162

Required Filings. 163

Annual Reports. 163

Click Here to View the Complete Steps to Success Resource Guide