From idea to running business

11 stages, in order. Each one covers what you need to know, an honest note on whether we make money from it, and a tool to help you decide. Skip around if you already know where you are — nothing here requires an account.

  1. 0Idea ValidationBefore you spend a dollar forming anything, make sure someone will actually pay for this.
  2. 1Business PlanA one-page plan you'll actually use, not a 40-page document that sits in a drawer.
  3. 2Entity Selection & RegistrationSole prop, LLC, S-corp, or C-corp — the right answer depends on liability exposure, taxes, owners, and funding plans.
  4. 3EIN (Employer Identification Number)Free, direct from the IRS, takes about 10 minutes. Don't let anyone sell this to you.
  5. 4State & Local ComplianceSales tax permits, industry licenses, and beneficial ownership reporting — the part that varies the most by what and where you're doing this.
  6. 5Business Bank AccountSeparate your finances before your first sale, not after your first audit.
  7. 6Bookkeeping & Accounting SetupPick a system before the shoebox of receipts becomes a real problem.
  8. 7Business CreditBuild credit under your EIN so your personal credit stops being the ceiling on what your business can borrow.
  9. 8InsuranceThe coverage that matters depends entirely on what could actually go wrong in your specific business.
  10. 9Brand, Website & Marketing FoundationDomain, logo, a real website, and the basic profiles that make you findable.
  11. 10Ongoing Compliance & GrowthThe business doesn't stop needing paperwork once it's formed — this is what keeps it in good standing.