Start Your Business Today!

Starting a Business.com is the preeminent resource for first-time entrepreneurs seeking a concise answer to the big questions like, “How do I start a business?” Here, you’ll always find stories from the brightest entrepreneurial minds on the Web, as well as state-specific resources to answer your questions and help launch your business. Browse, click, enjoy, and make your business a reality today!

A Case Study on Startup Equity
by Tim Berry Mon, Mar 02, 2015 3:42:00 PM

I had an interesting exchange over the weekend. Shane Diffily tweeted: @Timberry HI Tim. So what was your answer to How Not to Divide Ownership? It’s v.similar to

Mon, Mar 02, 2015 3:42:00 PM

5 Mistakes Founders Make When Hiring Their First Salesperson

Your MVP is complete. Some seed funding is in the bank, or maybe even a Series A. You’re anxious to see if your product flies off

Wed, Feb 25, 2015 5:30:00 AM

Where Startups Get Their Money
by Tim Berry Mon, Feb 23, 2015 3:28:00 PM

Where do young companies get money? I ran into this three-minute video over the weekend. It’s a great summary. If you’re not already up to speed

Mon, Feb 23, 2015 3:28:00 PM

I'm launching a Kickstarter campaign
by Sarah Rainone Mon, Feb 02, 2015 3:00:00 PM

I have some news I'm excited to share: I'm launching a Kickstarter campaign in March. I can't wait to tell you more about it. But before

Mon, Feb 02, 2015 3:00:00 PM

Don’t Be Fooled By Mismanaged Data
by Tim Berry Wed, Jan 14, 2015 5:01:00 PM

Here’s another great example of why you don’t blindly trust research. This illustration comes from this Gizmodo post. Post author Jesus Diaz is not saying this means

Wed, Jan 14, 2015 5:01:00 PM

MVPs and Excellence
by Sarah Rainone Wed, Jan 14, 2015 2:00:00 PM

Lately, I’ve been hearing from a lot of entrepreneurs experiencing pushback to the concept of minimum viable product. Their teams may disagree about what a product

Wed, Jan 14, 2015 2:00:00 PM

Q&A: What Do I Include in a 1-Page Business Plan
by Tim Berry Wed, Jan 07, 2015 8:09:00 PM

I received this question overnight from my ask-me-a-question page: I am entering a competition that is asking for a one page business plan and I am having

Wed, Jan 07, 2015 8:09:00 PM

Overcoming The Odds: 10 Tips For Getting Into A Top Accelerator

Just as the CEO is the investor’s interface to a business, the application process and form is your interface into top accelerators like Techstars and Y

Mon, Jan 05, 2015 5:06:00 PM

Q&A: Winning Business Plan for a Competition
by Tim Berry Mon, Jan 05, 2015 4:09:00 PM

How do you do a winning business plan for a business plan competition? I’m glad you asked. I’m a frequent judge of these competitions so it’s in

Mon, Jan 05, 2015 4:09:00 PM

8 Unconventional Lessons From Quitting My Job At HubSpot

The following article is a guest post by Ellie Mirman. Ellie is the VP Marketing at Toast. Check out her blog or follow her

Mon, Dec 29, 2014 6:31:00 PM

How to Start a Business Checklist

Imagine Your Future Business What the future brings will depend on what you do today, and if a business is in your future, today is the day you start it. But what’s the first step? Take a deep breath and dream. What you envision will be what you will work hard for years to achieve. This is not a waste of time. Look at who you are and who you want to be. Imagine how your business will take you there. Now exhale. You’re ready to make it happen.
Research Your Market You now know what type of business you’re starting. Now you need to answer some questions: Who are your business’ top competitors? What will your business offer that theirs doesn’t or can’t? A better product? A better price? Is your business’ product desired in your local market? Will you need a storefront? Can your business exist purely online? From your home office? How much capital will you need to start making sales? Will you need an advertising budget to get started? How soon can you start bringing in revenue? The answers to these questions will provide you with what many call a “business plan.” The thing about business plans, though, is if you think about them too much, you’ll waste time you’d otherwise be spending actually working on your business and making sales. Once you have solid answers to the questions above, move on. Your time will be better spent elsewhere.
Name Your Business Many entrepreneurs will spend weeks or even months thinking up the perfect, most clever, very best name they possibly can, as if the business’ name will be what makes their business successful. Of course a good name will help create a solid foundation for your business, but that’s all a name needs to be to start your business–just a good name. Names can always change, but you can’t get wasted time back. Bounce business name ideas off friends and family, make your choice, and write it down. Continue moving steadily down this checklist.
Register Your Web Domain There once was a time when you could debate whether or not your business needed a website. That time has passed. To take advantage of social media marketing and online advertising, to give customers an easy way to locate your business, and to help generate sales, you need a website. Once you have your business name in hand, it’s time to take it to the Internet. There are no secrets to the perfect web domain. You want a web address for your business that is concise, memorable, and easy to type. Much like your business’ name, a good website address will go a long way.
Choose Your Business Structure Unless you’re knitting scarves and selling them at your local farmer’s market, you’ll want to form a business entity that helps to protect your assets and limits your liabilities. Choosing a business entity that best suites your business will initially present you two basic choices: a limited liability company (LLC) or a corporation. Both options afford you the same kind of limited liability protection. Presently, LLCs tend to be more popular with entrepreneurs as they have the same protections as a corporation, but they have fewer formalities and maintenance requirements. No matter which structure you choose for your business, each entity is formed with the state by filing articles of incorporation or articles of organization, depending upon entity type. To learn more about forming a corporation or LLC in your state, scroll to the bottom of this page and click on the name of your state for specific information.
Get an Employer Identification Number Once you’ve legally formed your business entity, you’ll need to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN/FEIN). This number will essentially be your business’ social security number. Down the road, you may need it in an array of situations once you hire employees, but immediately your business will need it to open a bank account and pay taxes. The EIN (also known as a business tax ID number) can be obtained online on the Internal Revenue Service’s website. You can also apply over the phone or through the mail, but online is the fastest and simplest method. You will be able to accomplish this task in minutes.
Open a Business Bank Account To open a bank account for your business, you will need to have obtained your EIN. Banks do, however, often times require additional paperwork from business owners to open an account. To save yourself time and possible headaches, call ahead and know what your bank branch requires to open a business account before arriving in person.
Obtain Licenses and Permits Each state and municipality will have its own unique requirement for what types of business licenses and permits you must obtain to legally operate your business. To learn more about state-specific business requirements, simply scroll to the bottom of this page and click on your state. Be aware that your state may also require you to obtain a permit specific to your business’ industry.
Generate Income What’s the difference between a successful business and a failing business? Revenue. Unlike many other “How to Start a Business Checklists,” we’ve focused on pushing you to the place where you can start generating leads and making sales as quickly as possible. When starting a business, it’s easy to get lost in minutiae and things that don’t matter. The truth is, you’ll have plenty of time to worry and fret over web design, marketing plans, and financing. If you aren’t able to generate money, though, the finer points of a business plan won’t matter. If you’ve made it to this point in the checklist, you’ve started a business. Now it’s time to put your business idea to the test. Make your first sale, then make another. Your business is no longer a dream–it’s your reality. Make it happen.