Free Gillico desktop pictures: gillico.com/downloads/desktops. 40 images in all, in 9 different resolutions, from 800 x 600 to 1920 x 1200, with categories like metal, concrete, wood, flowers and plants. All photos are original, and ©2006, Gillico. Please feel free to download and redistribute, but please do not modify or reuse the images.

Enjoy!

I picked them up this morning!

Today I filed papers with the city of Alameda, first to get a home occupation permit, which specifies what part of my house I will use to conduct business, and then to get my business license. Now I have both, as well as a bank account, which makes Gillico about as close to being a real company as it gets... for a sole proprietorship. Now I am allowed to conduct business from my home office, as well as to hire sub-contractors for projects, pay for things as Gillico, and, most importantly, accept payments for Gillico. Please send your check or money order to...

A quick update: I completed the filing of DBA papers at the Alameda County Recorder and Assessors office. I've also contracted with the local paper to run a fictitious business announcement for the next four weeks. Ergo, today Gillico formally came into existence!

Also, presented for your approval: the new Gillico logo.

I have found a lot of resources so far, and I thought it might be helpful to collect them in one place for easy reference.

• Alameda County Library: Procedure for Starting a Business
• City of Alameda: Starting a Business
• Oakland Community and Economic Development Agency
• SCORE East Bay
• CA East Bay Small Business Development Center
• SF SBA office
• CA Business Portal: Starting a Business
• CA Lawyers for the Arts
• N. CA Graphic Artist's Guild resources
• Business Owners' Idea Cafe

I have news! I am leaving LookSmart to make Gillico my full-time concern. Gillico will be offering a wide range of creative services, from design and engineering to photography to copywriting to web hosting and more. This is not dipping my toe into the freelance world, this is my move to create a sustainable business that will last for many years to come. My last day at LS is technically 3 February, but I have some vacation days to cash in first. And I have a lot to do once my time is my own again: I need to see a CPA, a lawyer, perhaps make a visit to the SBA, and file a DBA as well. With lots of work, and a little luck, Gillico will be opening its doors officially for business on 1 March, 2006.