Business Startup Checklist
[your business name here]
1. PURPOSE OF DOCUMENT
This document has been prepared in order to simplify the startup process of establishing your business.
By breaking each section down into manageable steps, the overall process becomes much easier to
complete.
2. BUSINESS STARTUP CHECKLIST
Please be advised that there may also be additional steps specific to your area of interest, which may
not included below. This may depend on your geographical location as well.
Choose your business model and identify your specialised product or service.
Conduct in-depth research on the industry and the market.
Write a business and financial plan.
Check with a domain registry service to see if the business name is available for use as
an Internet domain name.
Register the domain name even if you aren't ready to use it yet.
Choose office space to lease if you don’t intend on operating as a home-based business.
Check zoning laws and deed restrictions if you are going to operate as a home-based
business.
Decide on a form of legal structure for your business.
If you will operate as a sole proprietorship, register your Assumed Name Certificate or
d.b.a. (doing business as) in the county where you will conduct business.
Call the Secretary of State’s office to search your business name to see if it is already
registered.
File partnership, corporate, or Limited Liability Company papers with the Secretary of
State's office.
If you will operate as a corporation or LLC, obtain filing requirements for the state
franchise tax.
Apply for an employer identification number from the IRS.
File the appropriate tax election with the IRS such as the entity classification and “S”
election.
Contact the Internal Revenue Service for information on filing your federal tax
schedules.
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Obtain tax information such as record keeping requirements, facts about estimating taxes,
etc.
Apply for a sales tax permit with the State Comptroller of Public Accounts if necessary.
Find out when you will need to remit the taxes.
Investigate local business tax requirements such as reporting tangible personal property
used to produce income on tax rendition forms.
Investigate business insurance needs.
Obtain the required city, county or state business licenses and/or permits.
If you will have employees, look into other insurance or government requirements:
Unemployment insurance
Worker's compensation
OSHA requirements
Federal, state and local tax information
Self-employment tax
Payroll taxes such as FICA, federal and state unemployment taxes
Get tax information on hiring independent contractors
Set up your business accounting system. Look into the available small business
accounting solutions software packages.
Register or reserve your federal trademark/service mark and register appropriate
copyrights.
Order any required notices of your intent to do business in the community.
Identify communication equipment needs such as a business land line, cell phone,
Blackberry, fax or PDA.
Open a business bank account.
Purchase furniture, equipment and/or supplies.
Order inventory, signage, and fixtures.
Organise a primary e-mail address.
Identify a web hosting company.
Ensure your business website is up and functional.
Develop your business marketing materials. Have business cards and stationery
printed.
Prepare any sales literature.
Explore your financing options such as self financing, debt or external equity
financing.
Call for information about Yellow Pages advertising if appropriate.
A word of caution: There are frequent policy and legislative changes so some of the above steps
may be different for you or may not apply to your business or industry. We advise you to seek
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[your business name] Business Startup Checklist
professional advice or counsel to verify that you have met all legal requirements before starting and
operating your business.
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