Fill and Sign the How to Start a Businessstarting a Business Guide Form

Business Start-up Checklist Choose a business based on your skills and interests Research the business idea What will you sell Is it legal Who will buy it and how often Are you willing to do what it takes to sell the product What will it cost to produce, advertise, sell & deliver With what laws will you have to comply Can you make a profit How long will it take to make a profit Write a business plan and marketing plan Choose a business name Verify right to use the name See if the business name is available as a domain name (check at Register.com ) Register the business name and get a business certificate Register your domain name even if you aren't ready to use it yet Choose a location for the business or make space in the house for it Check zoning laws File partnership or corporate papers Get any required business licenses or permits Reserve your corporate name if you will be incorporating Register or reserve state or federal trademark Register copyrights Apply for patent if you will be marketing an invention Order any required notices (advertisements you have to place) of your intent to do business in the community Have business phone or extra residential phone lines installed Check into business insurance needs Find out about health insurance if you will not have coverage under a spouse Get adequate business insurance or a business rider to a homeowner's policy Send out publicity releases Apply for sales tax number if needed Get tax information such as record keeping requirements, information on withholding taxes if you will have employees, information on hiring independent contractors, facts about estimating taxes, forms of organization, etc. Call Department of Labor to determine labor laws if you have employees. Apply for employee identification number if you will have employees Find out about workers' compensation if you will have employees Open a bank account for the business Have business cards and stationery printed Purchase equipment or supplies Order inventory Order signage Order fixtures Get an email address Find a web hosting company Get your web site set up Have sales literature prepared Call for information about Yellow Pages advertising. Place advertising in newspapers or other media if yours is the type of business that will benefit from paid advertising