The Business & Tax
Startup Checklist

Get the legal and structural bones in place.

• Choose your entity structureSole proprietor, LLC, S-corp, or C-corp — each has real tax consequences. Talk to a strategist before you file; the default is rarely the smartest choice.
• Register the business with your stateFile your formation documents and, if you operate under a brand name, register your DBA / assumed name.
• Get your EIN from the IRSIt's free at IRS.gov — never pay a third-party site for it. You'll need it for banking, payroll, and filings.
• Secure licenses & permitsCheck state, county, and city requirements for your industry. Missing permits are an easy, avoidable penalty.
• Be your own registered agentWhenever your state allows it, serve as your own agent instead of hiring a service. You stay in direct control of every legal and state notice, you're never dependent on a middleman, and you keep the annual fee in your pocket — just maintain a reliable address and stay reachable during business hours.

Separate, track, and see your numbers clearly.

• Open a dedicated business bank accountNever mix personal and business money. Commingling erodes your liability protection and makes tax time a nightmare.
• Get a business debit/credit cardRun every business expense through it. Clean records with zero extra effort.
• Choose bookkeeping software & a methodPick a system (e.g. QuickBooks) and decide cash vs. accrual accounting. Set it up before the transactions pile up.
• Build a simple chart of accountsCategorize income and expenses the way you'll actually review them. Simple and consistent beats detailed and abandoned.
• Create a receipt & mileage systemA photo app for receipts and a mileage log. The deductions you can't prove are deductions you'll lose.
• Reconcile monthlyMatch your books to the bank every month. Thirty minutes now saves days later.

Stop overpaying. Get proactive, not reactive.

• Know your filing obligationsIncome tax and self-employment tax at minimum. Your entity choice decides which forms you file and when.
• Pay quarterly estimated taxesThe IRS wants to be paid as you earn. Missing quarterlies triggers penalties even if you pay in full in April.
• Evaluate an S-corp electionOnce you're consistently profitable, paying yourself a reasonable salary and taking the rest as distributions can save real money on self-employment tax.
• Set up payroll (if you have a team or pay yourself a salary)Use a payroll provider to handle withholdings and filings correctly from the start.
• Register for sales tax if it appliesSelling taxable goods or services? Register, collect, and remit. Rules vary by state and by where your customers are.
• Claim every legitimate deductionHome office, vehicle, equipment, health insurance, education. Track them all year — not the week before filing.
• Open a retirement planA SEP-IRA or Solo 401(k) lets you lower taxable income and build wealth at the same time. One of the most overlooked moves a new owner has.

Make it durable enough to hand off, sell, or scale.

• Carry the right insuranceGeneral liability at minimum; professional, product, or workers' comp as your work requires.
• Put agreements in writingClient contracts, contractor agreements, and any partnership terms. Handshakes don't hold up.
• Build a compliance calendarAnnual reports, license renewals, tax deadlines, payroll filings — one calendar so nothing surprises you.
• Document your core processesWrite down how the essential work gets done. That's what turns a job into a business you own.
• Meet with a tax strategist yearlyA once-a-year proactive review — before year-end, not after — is where the biggest savings live.