My last post I told you I was going to write about my experience trying to open a business checking account.
But first, I pose this question: Do the newest additions to the workforce appear to be getting younger? I mean, you go to Home Depot, the grocery store or gas station and the help is often in their teens. That’s expected.
But, when you go to a ‘professional’ like a doctor, pharmacist, insurance agent or ‘business specialist’ of a bank……I want someone attempting to hide gray hairs or facial wrinkles to indicate that they truly are an ’specialist’!
This leads me to my bank story.
Still on a high from making our unexpected first sale, we decided we better get a business license and open a bank account. We applied for and received our federal EIN number and our stat license (all via the web).
Anxiously, we met at the bank one day after work with the intentions of opening a business checking account. Immediately after entering the double glass doors, we were met by a well dressed woman who asked if she could help us. “We would like to open a business checking account” said.
Smiling, she escorted us to the an 8′x8′ carpeted area with four chairs surrounding a coffee table, off to the side of the roped off teller line. “Our business specialist will be right with you” she said as she motioned us to sit down.
From the back room emerged this 6′ figure wearing a dress shirt and tie. As the figure became clearer to me, I began thinking that was the biggest 12 year old I have ever seen! I found myself looking past him for his Father. Is it bring your child to work day?
There he stood with his young face and nice tie. I don’t think he even shaves yet.
“You’d like to open a business checking account?” he said. “Please step into my office.” Did his voice crack? I think I heard his voice crack.
“Yes” I said hesitantly. “We would like to open a business checking account.”
“Ok, do you have your paperwork?”
“We have our federal EIN and our state license”
“Ok, is this a sole proprietor, or partnership, or…”
“Its a partnership”
“Do you have a partnership agreement?”
“Partnership agreement……no”
“Ok, let me check with my manager” he said as he exited the office.
“Ok, my manager said you need a ‘fictitious name’ certificate”
“What is a ‘ficticious name’ certificate?”
“Um, it says here (as he places a piece of paper on the desk in front of me) that you need a ‘ficticious name’ certificate, and a partnership agreement.”
“Ok, what is a ‘fictitious name’ certificate?”
“Um, I don’t know, but my manager said you need one and this paper shows it right here.”
WHAT! I was furious! I wanted to ask for his mother. How can you ask me to provide something when you can’t even explain what that something is? Would you know one if I gave it to you? Where do I get if from?
Next day, we research the Internet for two days and found some information. A ‘fictitious name’ certificate is also know as a DBA (Doing Business As). This is required by some states when a business is formed under a name other than your legal name. When a ‘fictitious name’ is used, the intent to use the name must be advertised in a newspaper of general circulation, blah, blah, blah, red tape, red tape.
However, after calling the State of Arizona and being referred to Maricopa County and re-referred back to the State of Arizona, we discovered that as a General Partnership we were not required to file such a thing. Nor, could anyone direct us as to where we would go if indeed we wanted to file one.
Four days later, we received our first check in the name of our business for our unexpected first sale. We return to the bank with our partnership agreement (which is just a written agreement between parties that does not have to be filed or notarized or mean anything to anyone except the bank). Don’t ask, just do it.
The same well dressed woman greeted us and seated us in the carpeted square to the side of the roped off teller line. The same 12 year old emerged from the back. WAIT, he took a look at us and without missing a beat, spun around on his heel and returned to the back room and sent out a 16 year old girl.
Hmm, a good indication that I am seen as ‘difficult’……or challenging. Yeah, that’s it, challenging. On the bright side, at 16 she has a few more years experience.
We of course accompany the 16 year old into the same office and rehash our request from our earlier visit. She asks to see our business license, federal EIN, partnership agreement and (drum roll please) the ‘fictitious name’ certificate.
Here we go…….
We advise her that the State of Arizona does not require such a thing. She of course counters with the same piece of paper and points to the ‘fictitious name’ requirement so clearly spelled out. This time, my partner lost her cool. “This is ridiculous!’ she shouted. “We’ll just take our business elsewhere!”
“Let me check with my manager” the girl said as she exited the office quickly.
After confirming with the manager and the banks legal division, it was determined that as a general partnership, we did not need the ‘ficticious name’ certificate. Whew!
Finally, we spend 15 minutes answering some questions, signing a few things, picking out the pretty little checks and wham bam……..we are done.
Only Four days and 15 minutes to open a business checking account.
All is well with the world.
Except………………Are 12 year olds taking over? Or, am I just getting old?
Now about our glass adventure
So, we have been working on making some little glass pendants to sell at the Scottsdale store. We experimented with different colors and sizes. Even put some of the dichroic glass in them to add some extra rainbowish colors. We made quite a few, then realized, we needed to put them on a satin or leather cord. Which means you have to purchase the cord caps, the clasp and of course 2″ of chain to put at the end of the cord (gives the wearer an extra 2″ of length to play with).
Oh yea, I forgot. You also have to make the hole in the pendant big enough to thread the cord through. Hmm, learned that the hard way. And………..apparently, you can buy the cord with the end caps, clasp and 2″ of chain……pre- made.
Who knew. I guess if we hadn’t had the unexpected first sale……..we would have had time to actually research the bank requirements, the material availability and how to take a picture of your product.
Its all a journey. A wonderful, exciting, and delightful journey.
Take a look at the pendants at the top of the page. Not too bad for a first try.
