Fill and Sign the Start Up Checklist 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