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1. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR EMPANELMENT OF COLLECTION/ RECOVERY AGENTS (CRA)• Management Consulting Firms, Accounting Firms, Firms offering Asset Collection Management Services and NBFCs having expertise in Asset Collection Management services would be eligible. The firms working as Collection Agency with Public Sector Banks would be given preference.• CRA employees shall be graduates from any reputed university in India / Abroad.Preference will be given to the firms having Accounting / Engineering / Law Professionals. Besides, Collection Agency shall have “DIRECT RECOVERY AGENT CERTIFICATE” issued by the concerned agency (IIBF --INDIAN INSTITUTE OF BANKING & FINANCE) as per the guidelines of RBI (IIBF).• CRA should be registered with State’s Shops and establishment Act 1948 or other mandatory registrations which are statutory in nature as per law.• The registration of the CRA shall be at least three years old.• CRA shall have experience of at least three years of experience in handling the Collection/ resolution of NPA accounts with Public Sector Bank(s).• CRA shall have completed at least five assignments successfully with Public Sector Bank(s) earlier.• The firm of CRA shall have PAN number.• CRA shall have a thorough knowledge of the extant RBI guidelines and also instructions/ circulars issued by RBI/ IIBF/ IBA time to time on Collection Agency.• CRA having complaints before Police and also involved in court cases especially in the matters, which are in deviation to the extant RBI guidelines on “Collection Agency” and scope of work indicated by the Bank need not apply.• CRA blacklisted by any Bank need not apply for empanelment.• The Statutory and regulatory guidelines and changes in them issued by agencies concerned on Collection/ Recovery Agency from time to time should be adhered.__________________________________2. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR EMPANELMENT OF PRIVATE DETECTIVE AGENCY (PDA) AND SKIP TRACING AGENCY (STA)• Management Consulting Firms, Firms offering Private Detective Agency (PDA), Skip Tracing Agency Services and NBFCs having expertise in PDA and STA services would be eligible. The firms working as PDA and STA with Public Sector Banks would be given preference.• PDA and STA would be required to ascertain details of net worth, occupation, source of income, details of properties of the customers in their name/ guarantors and other assets as on date along with their current value, which may inter alia include- Immovable property in their names, residential house/ other buildings, if any, in their names, details of bank balances, deposits, investments etc. in their names and any other assets held in their name.• PDA and STA should be registered with Maharashtra Shops and establishment Act 1948 or other mandatory registrations which are statutory in nature as per law.• PDA and STA having complaints before Police and also involved in court cases especially in the matters, which are in deviation to the extant RBI guidelines on and scope of work indicated by the Bank need not apply.• PDA and STA blacklisted by any Bank need not apply for empanelment.• The registration of the PDA and STA shall be at least three years old.• PDA and STA shall have experience of at least three years of experience in handling the assignments with Public Sector Bank(s).• PDA and STA shall have completed at least five assignments successfully with Public Sector Bank(s) earlier.• The firms of PDA and STA shall have a PAN number.• Employees of PDA and STA shall be graduates from any reputed university in India/ Abroad.• PDA and STA shall have a thorough knowledge of the extant RBI guidelines and also instructions/ circulars issued by RBI/ IIBF/ IBA.• The Statutory and regulatory guidelines issued by agencies concerned on PDA and STA from time to time should be adhered.__________________________________3. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR EMPANELMENT OF RCU/ FI/ DVA (Vendors)• Partnership Firm or a Limited Company, Management Consulting Firms, Firms offering RCU/ FI/ DVA and NBFCs having expertise in RCU/ FI/ DVA, owned by predominantly persons who are Indian Residents, would be eligible.• Vendors should be registered with Maharashtra Shops and establishment Act 1948 or other mandatory registrations with statutory authority as per law.• Vendors working as RCU/ FI/ DVA with Public Sector Banks/ Other Banks.• The Vendors should not been found guilty of misconduct in a professional capacity. The Vendors blacklisted by any Bank need not apply for empanelment.• The vendors having complaints before Police and also involved in court cases especially in the matters, which are in deviation to the extant RBI guidelines on “RCU/ FI/ DVA” and scope of work indicated by the Bank need not apply.• The employees working with Vendors should be HSC or Graduate in any discipline, experience of two years with reasonable analytical ability.• The Vendors should have at least two years of experience in handling RCU/ FI/ DVA. The registration of the Vendors shall be at least two years old.• The Vendors need to submit at least two reference letters and the Bank needs to verify the quality of services provided by the vendor with the referees before empanelling them. The referees shall be from Branch managers of banks/ NBFCs where previously the Vendor had done Verifications. The reference letter shall be on the letterhead of the bank or NBFC which providing the reference.• The Vendors should have infrastructure such as fax, computers, mail connection, scanner, etc.• The Office should be well connected to Railway Station, Bus Station and City Centre.• The firm of RCU/ FI/ DVA shall have PAN number.• The Statutory and regulatory guidelines issued by agencies concerned on RCU/FI/DVA from time to time should be adhered.FIELD INVESTIGATION AGENCIES (FI), RISK CONTAINMENT UNIT (RCU), DOCUMENT VERIFICATION AGENCY (DVA), COLLECTION/ RECOVERY AGENCY (RCA), PRIVATE DETECTIVE AGENCY (PDA), SKIP TRACING AGENCY (STA) who fulfill the above eligibility criteria only shall submit the application)_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________SKIP TRACING JOBS AND TRAININGSkip tracing is an industry term used to describe the process of locating a fugitive or a missing person that can’t be found at their place of residence or usual hangouts. “Skip” refers to the person being searched for (derived from the term “to skip town”) and “tracing” meaning the act of locating the skip.The act of skip tracing is most often used by bail bondsmen, bounty hunters, repossession agents, private investigators, debt collectors, and even journalists. Skip tracing, however, may be performed by a professional — called a skip tracer — who is an expert in this process.HOW IS SKIP TRACING PERFORMED?Skip tracing is performed by collecting information on the individual in question. All information recovered by the skip tracer is analyzed, verified, and used to determine the location of the individual. Skip tracing may involve gathering and analyzing a great deal of information or very little information, both of which have their own set of advantages and disadvantages.Although most skip tracers now head to the Internet to gather information on the whereabouts of individuals, many also employ social engineering, the art of calling on individuals who may have information about the subject.It is the job of the skip tracer to use any number of resources and databases to collect the required information. As such, skip tracing often involves accessing the following:o Phone number databaseso Credit reportso Credit card applicationso Job applicationso Criminal background checkso Loan applicationso Utility billso Public tax informationo Public records databaseso Courthouse recordso Department store loyalty cardso Air travel recordso Driver’s license/vehicle registration departmentsSKIP TRACING AND BOUNTY HUNTINGThe term skip tracing is most often used in the field of bail bonds and bounty hunting, and many bounty hunters and bail bondsmen use the services of skip tracers to help locate individuals who have failed to meet the conditions of their bond. Because of this, skip tracing and bounty hunting are often mistakenly used synonymously.Skip tracing is a unique process, however, and, although it is often a function of bounty hunting, the two actions are distinctly different. In short, bounty hunters can act as skip tracers but skip tracers cannot serve as bounty hunters.Both bail bondsmen and bounty hunters use skip tracing to locate an individual who has skipped bail. Because the defendant who skips bail does not want to be found for fear of being sent to prison (referred to as an intentional skip, versus an unintentional skip, which involves a person who isn’t trying to avoid detection), the job of skip tracing in the bail bonds field can be quite challenging.Skip tracing in bounty hunting involves assessing information on the subject and uncovering facts to help in the apprehension of the fugitive. Using both traditional records and online tools and databases, all the while abiding by federal, state and local laws, such as trespass laws and privacy laws, skip tracers collect evidence and compose reports that are then used by bounty hunters when attempting an apprehension of the fugitive.Skip tracing is not unlike detective work, as it involves scouring databases, understanding where and how to search for information, and following up on leads. Skip tracing professionals conduct interviews, engage in surveillance activities, and assess information about their subject.HOW TO BECOME A SKIP TRACER: JOBS AND TRAININGAlthough there are no formal training requirements for performing skip tracing, professionals who want to learn how to become a skip tracer should make it a priority to learn about state and federal laws regarding everything from surveillance laws to privacy laws. Individuals interested in jobs in skip tracing may also achieve more career opportunities by specializing in a specific area of skip tracing, such as bounty hunting or debt collecting.Many skip tracers receive their training on the job, working for bail bond agencies, private investigation firms, debt collection agencies, etc. A good working knowledge of computer systems and databases is required to achieve success in this profession, as is the ability to communicate well with people.Formal training for skip tracer jobs can be attained through seminars and workshops, which are often offered through professional associations, such as the National Association of Fugitive Recovery Agents and the American Recovery Association Inc. Online seminars in skip tracing are also a popular option for skip tracers and other professionals, such as bounty hunters, debt collectors, and private investigators, who want to learn about the latest online search tools and databases.OPPORTUNITIES FOR SKIP TRACERSA number of industries hire skip tracers as employees, including debt collection agencies, investigative firms, and even law enforcement agencies. However, perhaps just as many skip tracers work as independent contractors, with bounty hunters, bail bondsmen and private investigators using their services as needed.__________________FRAUD PREVENTION AND CONTROLo PROCESS OF FRAUD SAMPLING: ----APPLICATION FRAUD: - An Application for a credit card or loan using details intended to mislead the issuer, or a card or loan obtained by using false information, fake identity over application form can be said to be an application fraud.o To check the credibility of a person, contact point verification, income document verifications & KYC document verifications are the basic methods used.o An applicant may use an altered data in his income documents so as to improve the chances of approval of his application. Consequently, after the approval, the member generally fails to make payments.o The documents that are presented by the applicant at the time of applying for the card or loan may be any of the following: -INCOME DOCS.1. Income Tax Return (ITR) and Financial2. Form 163. Salary Slip / Salary Certificate / Appointment letter4. Credit card Statement of any other Bank he is a card member of Other than these documents.5. LIC policy documentBANK STATEMENTo KYC Docso ID Proof (Passport, DL, Voter ID, PAN, Ration Card etc.)o Address Proof (Passport, DL, Voter ID, PAN, Ration Card, Electricity Bill, Telephone Bill, Water Bill, Rent Agreement, Lease Deed, GPA, Partnership Deed etc.o It is an easily understood fact that alterations into the data of any of these documents or production of fake documents hence improving the profile of the applicant is not a very difficult task to be performed by intentional frauds.o A Fraud can make one or multiple applications to one or several card-issuing banks using false data and variations between applications in order to make some of them pass the bank’s screening process.o Almost all Card or Loan issuing Companies / Banks have contracts with vendors for sourcing their card applications. Since this is an outsourced activity, the types of frauds that we stated earlier / above are often committed by the employees of the vendors as well in order to improve their total number of applications sourced and consequently to meet their targets and get good commissions. Hence Issuers (Banks) often come across cases of application pumping, applications of non-existing persons or addresses.o We hence make attempts in several ways to help strengthen the banks improve the detection of fraudulent applications. Our first and foremost step towards this is to detect fraudulent/ suspicious applications and minimize fraud application losses to the Card Issuer banks / Companies. We use our personal skills/ experience and broad-based approaches to achieve effectiveness in fraud Checks. We pick samples from several applications of the same type of information/ documents and through our discreet /Non-discreet methods of verifications and investigations called fraud samplings to try to detect the fraud applications/ individuals / Sourcing agentso This Process is known as Fraud Sampling.SAMPLE PICK UP: -Executives of RCU or FCU on a daily basis check 100% of the applications received for any products from the banks and select some percentage of the lot, depending over the type of document received for sampling. All the applications that are checked are stamped “F C U Checked” and the ones that are selected for sampling are stamped as “Fraud Sample Picked”. No application without a “fraud sample checked” stamp over it can be sent for further processing in the mailroom of the bank. Besides the executives who review the applications put a chit over the application mentioning the reason sample picked.This chit helps the case to be verified and an action plan to be prepared over it once it is sent to Agency. The premise(s) from where the applications are selected/checked is defined by the bank.__________________Mystery Shopping is a process in which a person visits a retail store, restaurant, bank branch or any such location with the objective of measuring the quality of customer experience.Many companies define detailed processes and parameters to ensure that customers will have a good experience in their sales locations. Some examples are:How customers will be greetedo What is the maximum acceptable waiting timeo What should be the temperature of the facilityo How many products should be on display etc.To ensure that these processes are followed, these companies hire Mystery Shopping Companies to conduct regular audits on their locations.The mystery shopping companies (also called Mystery Shopping Agencies) find people who match the target customer profile, provide them a questionnaire for recording their experience, and provide some training on how to measure various parameters. This person is called a Mystery Shopper. These mystery shoppers then visit the location pretending to be a customer and make careful note of things they have been asked to measure. The data is reported to the mystery shopping company, who compiles and analyzes data gathered from different locations to help their clients measure and improve their customer experience.Mystery shoppers are usually freelancers or people who do this on the side and are paid a fee to conduct each mystery audit. If the audit involves purchasing or consuming anything - the mystery shoppers are usually provided a full or partial reimbursement of the money they spend as well._______________________- Initiating Seeding and Mystery Shopping activities.- Conducting various Agency audits including Collection Agency, FI Agency, RCU Agency, etc.- Monitoring the operations of the staff and recommending corrections for improvement.- Valuation of the fraud and assisting in the recovery.- The audit process includes Merchant Visits.- Receipt verification and data analysis from the MIS received.- Report preparation and retail client visits.___________________VERIFICATION OF APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED FOR CONSUMER BANK –ASSETS FOR IDENTIFYING AND MITIGATING FRAUDS PRIOR TO DISBURSEMENT.o Coordination and Monitoring of Verification agency for sampling activities done by the Agencyo Co-ordination with Credit Managers of various products for running daily operations smoothly.o Audit of the collection agencyo Any other activity assigned pertaining to RCU of Consumer Bank - Assetso MIS preparation and co-ordination with Head Officeo Supervising Ahmedabad and Rajkot RCU-RA activitiesTHE MEASURABLE WILL BE –o Control application Frauds by ensuring sampling efficiency at defined sampling percentageso Ensure optimum fraud hit rates with a sharp focus on document and profile related frauds.o Frauds prevented by sampling/screening processo Recovery cross-checks and agency controlso Quality of investigation and root cause analysiso Maintenance of TAT__________________________THE ROLE OF RISK CONTAINMENT UNIT (RCU) –CONSUMER BANKING AS A DEPARTMENT IS BROADLY CATEGORIZED INTO THE FOLLOWING:o Data Intelligence Team also known as Control team send alerts/ reports related to breach of bank defined limits/ suspicious trxn/ regulatory violations etco Pre A/C Opening Check / Verification on a sample basiso Onsite Process Support Visits for ensuring adherence to process.o Analytics for monitoring suspect transactionso Offsite monitoring via Compliance Certificate to confirm compliance to Regulatory items/ Processes/ Systems/ Controls by RL Branches.o Loss Data Management – Unusual Evento Case Management for Incidentso Investigation & Root Cause Analysis of fraud/dispute caseso Third-Party Product Analytics to ensure that the process of sale and product sold are right and suit the customer’s profile.o Analysis of Direct Banking Fraud Trends & Investigation/Action to be taken for limiting the risks.o Collection Receipt / Settlement Cases Calling on a random sampling basis to customers in order to confirm the genuineness of the receipts provided in records.o Agency Audit is conducted to check process adherence._____________________o Develop and sustain a system for Fraud identification, monitoring, investigating, reporting in order to minimize fraud losses and ensure timely recovery of fraud-related claims.o 100% screening & Sampling of Mortgage application based on scientific triggers.o Conducting end to end fraud document & profile investigation to reach out to fraud perpetratoro Weeding out negative elements (application /DSEs/companies) from the systemo Handling a team samplers for various risk control activitieso Cross-checking of FI reports & sharingo Cross-checking the authenticity & quality of RCU agency reports and vendor managemento DMA & DME pre empanelment market checks.o Continuous feedback to the policy team for updating the policy.o Audit & training of all the associated agencies viz., Direct Marketing Associates, Connectors, Collection agencies, Courier agencies, etc and report sharing with Business teams to align the process & system at our outsourced channels_____________________________BANK STATEMENT VALIDATION AND VERIFICATION WITH CONCERNED BANKo Criminal Records Checko Financial Competency Checko Financial Documents Checko Stability Checko Background Verification Checko Passport Checko All other Documents Authentication_________________________JOB ROLEo Verification of applications submitted for Home Loan / LAP Loan for identifying and mitigating frauds prior to disbursemento Coordination and Monitoring of Verification agency for sampling activities done by the Agencyo Co-ordination with Credit Managers of various products for running daily operations smoothlyo Audit of the collection agencyo Any other activity assigned pertaining to RCUo MIS preparation and co-ordination with Head Officeo Supervising RCU-RA activitiesTHE MEASURABLE WILL BEo Control application Frauds by ensuring sampling efficiency at defined sampling percentageso Ensure optimum fraud hit rates with a sharp focus on document and profile related fraudso Frauds prevented by sampling/screening processo Recovery cross-checks and agency controlso Quality of investigation and root cause analysiso Maintenance of TA__________________________BUSINESS VERTICALS: FRAUD & RISK CONTROLFRAUD & RISK CONTROL UNIT (FRC)ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED UNDER PFRC UNIT ARE AS BELOWEMPLOYEE BACKGROUND CHECKI. ADDRESS CHECKWe visit the stated address and verify whether the candidate is staying there. Details are confirmed through the neighbors and contacted person of the stated addressII. EDUCATION CHECKWe verify the same through direct contact with the authorized person/s in the student records department of the relevant educational institutionsIII. EMPLOYMENT CHECKWe check the duration of work, Designation, Salary, Reason of Exit, and any breach of contract been done by the candidate. We verify this information form HR unit/ reporting authority of the particular Company where candidate was employed previouslyIV. REFERENCE CHECKWe contact with the references provided and check the genuinely/ Integrity/ social background of the candidateV. CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKWe verify the presence or absence of any criminal records through the police station whose jurisdiction the stated address of the candidate comes underVI. GLOBAL DATABASE CHECKWe identify any sanctions, debarments, disciplinary records and compliance violations (India / Global) through Data-BaseVII. DRUG TESTWe visit client premises to collect the required samples and check for the presence of the specified drugs. The findings are corroborated with a report from the laboratory________________________________RCU (RISK CONTAINMENT UNIT - RCU) ServicesI. SCREENING & SAMPLING PROCESSThis is Pre – Sanction activity done for Various Retail loan products and in this we do screening of 100% files logged in, and look for any subspecies documents/ profile. We collect the samples of those documents up to the prescribed percentage of logged-in files for Verification and detailed report with findings is submitted in agreed Turnaround timeII. DOCUMENT VERIFICATIONWe verify the authenticity of KYC/ Income and other documents with the issuing authorities which could be the registrar, the hospital, Passport office, and other concerned authorities and highlight any mismatch or discrepancy detected (during verification) between the details mentioned on the document and that found in the authority_________________________SEEDING & MYSTERY SHOPPINGSEEDING & MYSTERY SHOPPING IS AN ACTIVITY CONDUCTED TO CHECKo Customer identification process followed by respective Units / Associateso Apparatus, equipment, and infrastructure employed for conducting Activitieso Sacrosanctity of services and approach, the process being conducted by Units / AssociatesDEALER STOCKYARD AUDITDEALER STOCKYARD AUDIT IS AN ACTIVITY CONDUCTED TO CHECKo To identify or Analyze the Utilization of Funding done by Bank’s / Financial Institute to Dealer’s for their working Capitalo Analysis & Tracking of physical stock available at the stockyard, stock in transit and sold Stocko Re-finance for new additional stockINVESTIGATIONINVESTIGATION IS A DESK CHECK & FIELD CHECK CONDUCTED TO FIND OUTo The correctness of Documents or Information Provided by any Applicanto Checking of his background & Involvement in political/ illegal activityo Cross-checking his criminal backgroundo Checking of relationship with business associates of Customero Checking of his Lifestyle with connection to his monthly earningo Previous Employer Feedback checking on his integrity

Start Business: A Step-by-Step GuideTalk to any entrepreneur or small business owner and you'll quickly learn that starting a business requires a lot of work. An idea doesn't become a business without effort.Some budding entrepreneurs understand the effort necessary to create a business, but they might not be familiar with the many steps required to launch a business venture. If you're willing to put in the effort to build a business, you're going to want to know the steps needed to reach your goals.1. Refine your idea.If you're thinking about starting a business, you likely already have an idea of what you want to sell, or at least the market you want to enter. Do a quick search for existing companies in your chosen industry. Learn what current brand leaders are doing and figure out how you can do it better. If you think your business can deliver something other companies don't (or deliver the same thing, only faster and cheaper), you've got a solid idea and are ready to create a business plan.Define your "why.""In the words of Simon Sinek, 'always start with why,'" Glenn Gutek, CEO of Awake Consulting and Coaching, told Business News Daily. "It is good to know why you are launching your business. In this process, it may be wise to differentiate between [whether] the business serves a personal why or a marketplace why. When your why is focused on meeting a need in the marketplace, the scope of your business will always be larger than a business that is designed to serve a personal need."Consider franchising.Another option is to open a franchise of an established company. The concept, brand following and business model are already in place; all you need is a good location and the means to fund your operation.Brainstorm your business name.Regardless of which option you choose, it's vital to understand the reasoning behind your idea. Stephanie Desaulniers, owner of Business by Dezign and former director of operations and women's business programs at Covation Center, cautions entrepreneurs from writing a business plan or brainstorming a business name before nailing down the idea's value.Clarify your target customers.Desaulniers said too often people jump into launching their business without spending time to think about who their customers will be and why would want to buy from them or hire them."You need to clarify why you want to work with these customers – do you have a passion for making people's lives easier," Desaulniers said. "Or enjoy creating art to bring color to their world? Identifying these answers helps clarify your mission. Third, you want to define how you will provide this value to your customers and how to communicate that value in a way that they are willing to pay."During the ideation phase, you need to iron out the major details. If the idea isn't something you're passionate about or if there's not a market for your creation, it might be time to brainstorm other ideas.Key takeaway: To refine your business idea, identify your "why", your target customers and your business name.2. Write a business plan.Once you have your idea in place, you need to ask yourself a few important questions: What is the purpose of your business? Who are you selling to? What are your end goals? How will you finance your startup costs? These questions can be answered in a well-written business plan.A lot of mistakes are made by new businesses rushing into things without pondering these aspects of the business. You need to find your target customer base. Who is going to buy your product or service? If you can't find evidence that there's a demand for your idea, then what would be the point?Conduct market research.Conducting thorough market research on your field and demographics of potential clientele is an important part of crafting a business plan. This involves conducting surveys, holding focus groups, and researching SEO and public data.Market research helps you understand your target customer – their needs, preferences and behavior – as well as your industry and competitors. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recommends gathering demographic information and conducting a competitive analysis to better understand opportunities and limitations within your market.The best small businesses have products or services that are differentiated from the competition. This has a significant impact on your competitive landscape and allows you to convey unique value to potential customers. A guide to conducting market research can be found on our sister site, business.com.Consider an exit strategy.It's also a good idea to consider an exit strategy as you compile your business plan. Generating some idea of how you'll eventually exit the business forces you to look to the future."Too often, new entrepreneurs are so excited about their business and so sure everyone everywhere will be a customer that they give very little, if any, time to show the plan on leaving the business," said Josh Tolley CEO of both Shyft Capital and Kavana."When you board an airplane, what is the first thing they show you? How to get off of it. When you go to a movie, what do they point out before the feature begins to play? Where the exits are. Your first week of kindergarten, they line up all the kids and teach them fire drills to exit the building. Too many times I have witnessed business leaders that don't have three or four pre-determined exit routes. This has led to lower company value and even destroyed family relationships."A business plan helps you figure out where your company is going, how it will overcome any potential difficulties and what you need to sustain it. Check out our full guide to writing a business plan, and when you're ready to put pen to paper, these free templates can help.[See related story: The Best Business Plan Software]Key takeaway: Before writing your business plan, conduct market research and consider your exit strategies.3. Assess your finances.Starting any business has a price, so you need to determine how you're going to cover those costs. Do you have the means to fund your startup, or will you need to borrow money? If you're planning to leave your current job to focus on your business, do you have money put away to support yourself until you make a profit? It's best to find out how much your startup costs will be.Many startups fail because they run out of money before turning a profit. It's never a bad idea to overestimate the amount of startup capital you need, as it can be a while before the business begins to bring in sustainable revenue.Perform a break-even analysis.One way you can determine how much money you need is to perform a break-even analysis. This is an essential element of financial planning that helps business owners determine when their company, product or service will be profitable.The formula is simple.Fixed Costs / (Average Price – Variable Costs) = Break-Even PointEvery entrepreneur should use this formula as a tool because it informs you about the minimum performance your business must achieve to avoid losing money. Furthermore, it helps you understand exactly where your profits come from, so you can set production goals accordingly.Here are the three most common reasons to conduct a break-even analysis:Determine profitability. This is generally every business owner's highest interest. Ask yourself: How much revenue do I need to generate to cover all my expenses? Which products or services turn a profit and which ones are sold at a loss?/Price a product or service. When most people think about pricing, they consider how much their product costs to create and how competitors are pricing their products. Ask yourself: What are the fixed rates, what are the variable costs, and what is the total cost? What is the cost of any physical goods and what is the cost of labor?Analyze the data. What volumes of goods or services do you have to sell to be profitable? Ask yourself: How can I reduce my overall fixed costs? How can I reduce the variable costs per unit? How can I improve sales?Watch your expenses.Don't overspend when starting a business. Understand the types of purchases that make sense for your business and avoid overspending on fancy new equipment that won't help you reach your business goals. Monitor your business expenses to ensure you are staying on track."A lot of startups tend to spend money on unnecessary things," said Jean Paldan, founder and CEO of Rare Form New Media. "We worked with a startup that had two employees but spent a huge amount on office space that would fit 20 people. They also leased a professional high-end printer that was more suited for a team of 100 (it had keycards to track who was printing what and when). Spend as little as possible when you start and only on the things that are essential for the business to grow and be a success. Luxuries can come when you're established."Consider your funding options.Startup capital for your business can come from a variety of means. The best way to acquire funding for your business depends on several factors, including creditworthiness, the amount needed and available options.Business loans. If you need financial assistance, a commercial loan through a bank is a good starting point, although these are often difficult to secure. If you are unable to take out a bank loan, you can apply for a small business loan through the Small Business Administration( SBA) or an alternative lender. [See related story: Best Alternative Small Business Loans]Business grants. Business grants are similar to loans; however, they do not need to be paid back. Business grants are typically very competitive, and come with stipulations that the business must meet to be considered. When trying to secure a small business grant, look for ones that are uniquely specific to your situation. Options include minority-owned business grants, grants for women-owned businesses and government grants.Investors. Startups requiring significant funding upfront may want to bring on an investor. Investors can provide several million dollars or more to a fledgling company, with the expectation that the backers will have a hands-on role in running your business.Crowdfunding. Alternatively, you could launch an equity crowdfunding campaign to raise smaller amounts of money from multiple backers. Crowdfunding has helped numerous companies in recent years, and there are dozens of reliable crowdfunding platforms designed for different types of businesses.You can learn more about each of these capital sources and more in our guide to startup finance options.Editor's note: Looking for a small business loan? Fill out the questionnaire below to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.Choose the right business bank.When choosing the right business bank, size matters. Marcus Anwar, co-founder of OhMy.Canada recommends smaller community banks because they are in tune with the local market conditions and will work with you based on your overall business profile and character."They're unlike big banks that look at your credit score and will be more selective to loan money to small businesses," Anwar said. "Not only that, but small banks want to build a personal relationship with you and ultimately help you if you run into problems and miss a payment. Another good thing about smaller banks is that decisions are made at the branch level, which can be much quicker than big banks where decisions are made at a higher level."Anwar believes that when choosing a bank for your business, you should ask yourself these questions:What is important to me?Do I want to build a close relationship with a bank that's willing to help me in any way possible?Do I want to be just another bank account like big banks will view me as?Ultimately, choosing the right bank for your business comes down to the needs of your business. Writing down your banking needs can help narrow your focus to what you should be looking for. Schedule meetings with various banks and ask questions about how they work with small businesses to find the best bank for your business. [See related story: Business Bank Account Checklist: Documents You'll Need]Key takeaway: Financially, you will want to perform a break-even analysis, consider your expenses and funding options and choose the right bank.4. Determine your legal business structure.Before you can register your company, you need to decide what kind of entity it is. Your business structure legally affects everything from how you file your taxes to your personal liability if something goes wrong.Sole proprietorship. If you own the business entirely by yourself and plan to be responsible for all debts and obligations, you can register for a sole proprietorship. Be warned that this route can directly affect your personal credit.Partnership. Alternatively, a business partnership, as its name implies, means that two or more people are held personally liable as business owners. You don't have to go it alone if you can find a business partner with complementary skills to your own. It's usually a good idea to add someone into the mix to help your business flourish.Corporation. If you want to separate your personal liability from your company's liability, you may want to consider forming one of several types of corporations (e.g., S corporation, C corporation, B corporation). Although each type of corporation is subject to different guidelines, this type of legal structure generally makes a business a separate entity from its owners, and, therefore, corporations can own property, assume liability, pay taxes, enter contracts, sue and be sued like any other individual."Corporations, especially C-corporations, are especially suitable for new businesses that plan on 'going public' or seeking funding from venture capitalists in the near future," said Deryck Jordan, managing attorney at Jordan Counsel.Limited liability company. One of the most common structures for small businesses, however, is the limited liability company (LLC). This hybrid structure has the legal protections of a corporation while allowing for the tax benefits of a partnership.Ultimately, it is up to you to determine which type of entity is best for your current needs and future business goals. It's important to learn about the various legal business structures that are available. If you're struggling to make up your mind, it's not a bad idea to discuss the decision with a business or legal adviser.Key takeaway: Choose a legal structure like a sole proprietorship, a partnership, a corporation, or an LLC.5. Register with the government and IRS.You will need to acquire a variety of business licenses before you can legally operate your business. For example, you need to register your business with federal, state and local governments. There are several documents you must prepare before registering.Articles of incorporation and operating agreementsTo become an officially recognized business entity, you must register with the government. Corporations need an "articles of incorporation" document, which includes your business name, business purpose, corporate structure, stock details and other information about your company. Similarly, some LLCs will need to create an operating agreement.Doing Business As (DBA)If you don't have articles of incorporation or an operating agreement, you will need to register your business name, which can be your legal name, a fictitious DBA name (if you are the sole proprietor), or the name you've come up with for your company. You may also want to take steps to trademark your business name for extra legal protection.Most states require that you get a DBA. If you're in a general partnership or a proprietorship operating under a fictitious name, you may need to apply for a DBA certificate. It's best to contact or visit your local county clerk's office and ask about specific requirements and fees. Generally, there is a registration fee involved.Employer Identification Number (EIN)After you register your business, you may need to get an Employer Identification Number from the IRS. While this is not required for sole proprietorships with no employees, you may want to apply for one anyway to keep your personal and business taxes separate, or simply to save yourself the trouble later if you decide to hire someone. The IRS has provided a checklist to determine whether you will require an EIN to run your business. If you do need an EIN, you can register online for free.Income tax formsYou also need to file certain forms to fulfill your federal and state income tax obligations. The forms you need are determined by your business structure. A complete list of the forms each type of entity will need can be found on SBA's website. You will need to check your state's website for information on state-specific and local tax obligations."You might be tempted to wing it with a PayPal account and social media platform, but if you start with a proper foundation, your business will have fewer hiccups to worry about in the long run," said Natalie Pierre-Louis, licensed attorney and owner of NPL Consulting.Federal, state, and local licenses and permitsSome businesses may also require federal, state or local licenses and permits to operate. The best place to obtain a business license is at your local city hall. You can then use the SBA's database to search for licensing requirements by state and business type.Businesses and independent contractors in certain trades are required to carry professional licenses. One example of a professional business license is a commercial driver's license (CDL). Individuals with a CDL are allowed to operate certain types of vehicles, such as buses, tank trucks and tractor-trailers. A CDL is divided into three classes: Class A, Class B and Class C.You should also check with your city and state to find out if you need a seller's permit that authorizes your business to collect sales tax from your customers. A seller's permit goes by numerous names, including resale permit, resell permit, permit license, reseller permit, resale ID, state tax ID number, reseller number, reseller license permit or certificate of authority.It's important to note that these requirements and names vary from state to state. You can register for a seller's permit through the state government website of the state(s) you're doing business in.Jordan says that not all businesses need to collect sales tax (or obtain a seller's permit)."For example, New York sales tax generally is not required for the sale of most services (such as professional services, education, and capital improvements to real estate), medicine or food for home consumption," Jordan said. "So, for example, if your business only sells medicine, you do not need a New York seller's permit. But New York sales tax must be collected in conjunction with the sale of new tangible personal goods, utilities, telephone service, hotel stays, and food and beverages (in restaurants)."Key takeaway: Register key documents like articles of incorporation or an operating agreement, a DBA, an EIN, income tax forms and other applicable licenses and permits.6. Purchase an insurance policy.It might slip your mind as something you'll "get around to" eventually, but purchasing the right insurance for your business is an important step that should happen before you officially launch.