How to Start a Business in the U.S.: Guides by Region

Ten steps take you from idea to open for business. Pick your region for state-specific notes, or start with the checklist below.

Choose your region

The 10-step checklist

1. Test the idea before you spend. Talk to at least 10 people who would actually pay. Price it, and figure out how customers will find you. A one-page plan beats a 40-page one you never open.
2. Pick a business structure. Sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership or corporation. Structure affects personal liability, taxes and paperwork. Many small owners choose an LLC, but ask a CPA or attorney what fits your situation.
3. Choose and check your name. Search your state's business name database and the USPTO trademark database, and check that a matching domain and social handles are free. If you'll operate under a different name, you may need to file a DBA (assumed name).
4. Register with your state. LLCs and corporations file formation documents with the Secretary of State (or equivalent). Sole proprietors often only need local licensing and a DBA. Use the SBA lookup below to find your state's office.
5. Get your EIN. An Employer Identification Number is free from the IRS. You need one to hire, to open most business bank accounts, and for most LLCs and corporations. Never pay a third-party site for it.
6. Register for state taxes. If you sell taxable goods or services or have employees, register with your state's revenue department for sales tax and payroll withholding.
7. Get local licenses, permits and zoning approval. Cities and counties often require a general business license, and many trades and industries need extra permits (food, alcohol, health, contractors, child care, cosmetology and more). Home-based businesses should check zoning first.
8. Open a business bank account. Keep business and personal money separate from day one. It protects your liability shield and makes taxes far easier.
9. Get insured. General liability is the baseline. Add professional liability, commercial auto, property or workers' compensation depending on what you do and whether you have employees.
10. Build your brand and get found. You need a logo, a simple website, a Google Business Profile and a directory listing so people can find and trust you.

Free federal resources

• SBA business guide (plan, launch, manage)
• SBA: register your business / find your state's registration office
• SBA local assistance (district offices, SBDCs, SCORE, Women's Business Centers)
• IRS: get a free Employer Identification Number (EIN)
• USPTO: trademark basics and search
• FinCEN beneficial ownership (BOI) status
• FTC business guidance (advertising, privacy, consumer law)
• OSHA small business resources
• SAM.gov (register to sell to the federal government)
• SCORE free mentoring
• America's SBDC network (free advising)

Tools to launch your brand

Selling food or cosmetics? Labeling rules (ingredients, net weight, allergen and cottage-food statements) vary by product and state. The label maker gives suggestions only; confirm requirements with your state agriculture or health department.

Common questions

What's the first legal step to start a business?

Decide your structure, then register it with your state if you're forming an LLC or corporation. Sole proprietors usually start with local licensing and a DBA.

Where can I get free help?

SBA district offices, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and SCORE mentors offer free advising. Find them through sba.gov/local-assistance.

Do I still have to file a beneficial ownership (BOI) report?

Under current FinCEN rules, companies created in the U.S. are exempt from BOI reporting. Check fincen.gov/boi for the latest status.