My suggestion: look into self-publishing. You can get a book published for very little start-up cost using Print on Demand technology.

For instance, my tax guide cost me:
$50 for ISBN
$150 for cover design (free for you, since you're fortunate enough to know somebody with skills in this area)
$67 printing set-up cost.

And for that price, it's going to be available on Amazon, like every other book out there. I get to set the price, and my profit margin is a little over 50%.

I'd suggest buying Aaron Shepard's Aiming at Amazon for more information about how to go through the process.

To answer your specific questions:
1. You are likely to be required to have a business license for your city or county. Just look around a little bit on Google.
2. Your book is automatically copyrighted from the moment you write it. If you choose, you can register that copyright with the federal government, but it's not entirely necessary.
3. An ISBN is simply an identification # for a book. If you want to be sold through Amazon or at bookstores, you'll need one. If you want to simply find a printing company, have your book printed, and sell it yourself, you won't need one. You can buy one at Lulu.com for $50.

Hope this helps,
Mike Piper


Tax Guide for Sole Proprietors/LLC Owners: http://www.pipertax.com/content/view/36/46/