6 Steps to Start as a Small Business Owner

Start your business off right with this step-by-step guide for registering as a business owner.

Step 1: Determine if you need to register your business

If you use your legal name to conduct business, you won’t need to register your business in any state. But keep in mind that if you don’t register your business, you could miss out on personal liability protection, legal benefits, and tax benefits. 

If you use a company name, for the majority of small businesses, getting started is as simple as registering your business name with state and local governments. Visit the Small Business Association website for further guidance. 

Step 2: Naming and registering your business

If your business is a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or nonprofit corporation, you may need to register with any state where you conduct business activities, if:

- Your business has a physical presence in the state

- You often have in-person meetings with clients in the state

- A significant portion of your company’s revenue comes from the state

- Any of your employees work in the state

Step 3: Choosing your business structure

Business structures include sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies (LLC), and different types of corporations. The structure affects how much you pay in taxes, your ability to raise money, the paperwork you need to file, and your personal liability. If you need help deciding or further information, it’s a good idea to consult with business counselors, attorneys, and accountants during this process.

Step 4: Getting an EIN

An EIN (sometimes referred to as a FEIN) is a Federal Employer Identification Number. The IRS uses your EIN for tax administration purposes. It is a number unique to your business. If you don’t register one, your personal social security number will be used for tax administration. Go to the IRS’ EIN application site for more details and to apply.

Step 5: Deciding on a tax structure

There are two basic models for business taxation:

1. Pass-through taxation

2. Double taxation

In a pass-through taxation model, your business does not pay taxes on its income. Instead, the income is passed through to the business owners who pay taxes on that income as part of their personal tax returns. The pass-through model is the only tax method available for partnerships and sole proprietorships.

Corporations are taxed under a double-taxation method. The corporation pays taxes on the business income, and the shareholders and employees pay taxes on the personal income paid out by the corporation. Taxes are paid at two levels. For a more in-depth look at business tax deductions, take a look at our ultimate guide to tax deductions for the self-employed.

Step 6: Getting organized

Now that you’ve named and registered your business (if required), and decided on the company and tax structures, it’s time to manage your business. Using a tool like the QuickBooks Online Simple Start can get you headed in the right direction when it comes to tracking income and expenses, invoicing and accepting payments, recording miles, sending estimates, maximizing tax deductions, and much more. QuickBooks Online Simple Start is ideal for small businesses with a single user; sign up using my link for 30% off for 6 months.

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