Business Start-Up Checklist Page 2
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Obtain the necessary business licenses and/or permits. Most businesses need licenses in order
to begin operations. Licenses may be required for your city, your municipality, your county and/or your
state. It is best to contact both your Secretary of State to check on business license requirements for your
particular type of business and industry, and also to contact your local government agency in charge of
licensing to learn their requirements and how to obtain the necessary licenses.
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Obtain business insurance. Just as you have personal insurance you should obtain insurance for
your business. Some industries may have specific insurance requirements. Discuss your particular
industry and business needs with your insurance agent, to ensure you obtain the appropriate type and
amount of insurance.
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Investigate other insurance and government requirements. Businesses face a number
government and insurance requirements, particularly if the business has employees. You should
investigate your business’s obligations for the following:
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Unemployment insurance
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Workers’ compensation
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OSHA requirements
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Federal tax
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State and local tax
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Self-employment tax
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Payroll tax requirements (such as FICA, federal unemployment tax, and state unemployment tax)
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Sales and use tax
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Check zoning requirements. This is particularly important if you are starting a home-based
business. You’ll want to ensure you are meeting your city’s zoning requirements for your area.
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Lease office space. If you are not going to be operating a home-based business, you’ll probably
need to find office space for your new company. Along with leasing an office, don’t forget to purchase or
lease the furniture and office equipment you will need to get your business up and running.
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Set up your business accounting. You may decide that your accountant will handle the
accounting for your business, or you may want to handle the accounting yourself with a small business
accounting solution such as QuickBooks. Either way, you’ll want to ensure that you are prepared to
properly account for all business disbursements, payments received, invoices, accounts
receivable/accounts payable, etc.
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Establish a line of credit for your business. Establishing a line of credit will help lessen the
number of times your new business will be required to prepay for the products and services it purchases.
It also helps establish a favorable credit history, which is helpful as your business begins establishing
vendor and supplier relationships. As a subset of this, obtaining a D&B D.U.N.S. number for your
business is also advisable. D&B (formerly Dun & Bradstreet) is the resource most often used to check the
creditworthiness of a business.
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Create business materials. Having materials such as a logo for your business, business cards,
and stationery will help your business develop an identity and potential customers find you.
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Develop a marketing plan for your products/services. A primary reason you are starting your
own business may be the hope of making money. In order to make sales, people need to be aware of what
you’re selling and how to find you.
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Parent category: Life