If you are going to go it alone hire an accountant and a lawyer. Have them
advise you on the form of your company. My lawyer recommended LLC (easier)
my accountant s-corp (saves money). Accountant won. :-) I pay my accountant
considerably more now, but save multiples of that in taxes.

The ideal answer for you depends on your situation, get professionals to
advise you (kind of like telling the client to get a tech writer to develop
documentation rather than the co-op).

I am lucky on benefits front (wife's benefits). She has a new type of plan
with a huge deductible ($4k) but low premiums. You contribute to an account
pre-tax for the 4k, and get to roll funds over year-to-year unlike the
medical savings account. Obviously, again, talk to a professional. I would
think that would have advantages for the sole proprietor as well (lower
premiums).

Good Luck!

Bryan

PS: for the record I am cheap, and have tended to go it alone (TurboTax over
accountant) but have found paying people who know what they are doing is
cheaper in the long run... again a tech writing tie-in... :-)

On 1/26/07, beth.tripp@verizon.net verizon.net> wrote: