Guides to starting a business in the US
Last reviewed . General information, not legal or tax advice.
Starting a business in the US usually means testing an idea, budgeting the startup costs, choosing a structure, registering with your state, getting an EIN, and getting the licenses, permits and tax accounts you need. These guides cover each step, plus state LLC rules, selling channels and specific business types, in plain English with official sources.
Start here
- How to start a business in the USThe steps to start a business in the US, in order: test the idea, plan, fund it, pick a structure, register, get an EIN, licenses and a bank account.
- How to choose a small business idea and test itFind a small business idea that fits your skills and budget, then test demand, competition and the numbers before you spend on inventory or a brand.
- How much does it cost to start a business?What it costs to start a small business in the US, how to estimate one-time and monthly costs, and how to start with very little money.
- How to start a business while you still have a jobStart a side business while employed: check your employment agreement, keep the work separate, handle taxes through withholding, and know when to go full time.
Make it official
- LLC vs. sole proprietorship: which is right for a new business?How an LLC and a sole proprietorship differ on liability, taxes, cost and paperwork, and how to decide which to start with in the US.
- How to start an LLCHow to form an LLC in your state: pick the state and name, appoint a registered agent, file articles of organization, then get an EIN and stay compliant.
- LLC vs S corp: what is the difference?LLC vs S corp in plain English from IRS sources: an LLC is a state structure, an S corp a tax election, plus who qualifies, wages, Form 2553 and deadlines.
- How to get an EIN for your businessGet an EIN free and online from the IRS: who needs one, what you need to apply, when the tool is open, and the mistakes that delay it.
- How to register a business name: entity names, DBAs and trademarksThe four ways to register a business name in the US (entity name, DBA, trademark, domain), what each protects, and how to check a name is free.
- Do you need a business license? How to find the licenses and permits you needHow to find which federal, state, county and city licenses and permits your business needs in the US, including home businesses and online sellers.
- What insurance does a small business need?The main types of small business insurance, which ones the law requires once you hire, what home-based businesses miss, and how to buy coverage.
Start an LLC in your state
- How to start an LLC in TexasForm a Texas LLC: file Form 205 with the Secretary of State for $300, name a registered agent, then file with the Comptroller by May 15 each year.
- How to start an LLC in FloridaForm a Florida LLC on Sunbiz for $125, choose a registered agent who signs, and file the $138.75 annual report between January 1 and May 1.
- How to start an LLC in CaliforniaForm a California LLC: file Form LLC-1 for $70, file a Statement of Information within 90 days, and plan for the Franchise Tax Board's $800 annual tax.
Taxes
- Seller's permits and sales tax: what a new business needs to knowWhat a seller's permit or sales tax permit is, who needs one, how resale certificates work, and when online sellers must collect tax in other states.
- Self-employment tax and quarterly estimated taxes, explainedHow self-employment tax works (15.3%), who must pay it, how quarterly estimated taxes work, the 2026 due dates, and how to avoid the underpayment penalty.
Money
- How to fund a small businessWays to pay for a new small business: savings, SBA-backed loans and microloans, crowdfunding and investors, plus the truth about small business grants.
- How to price a product or servicePrice a product or service from real numbers: unit cost, margin, competitor prices and your break-even point, plus the FTC rules on advertising discounts.
Make it and sell it
- How to find a manufacturer for your productHow to find and vet a manufacturer for a new product: write a spec, compare makers, test samples, check US safety rules, and place a small first order.
- How to start selling products onlineHow to start selling products online in the US: choose your own store or a marketplace, take payments, collect sales tax, ship on time and follow FTC rules.
- How to get your first customersPractical ways to win a new business's first customers: start with people you know, go where buyers already are, earn honest reviews and follow email rules.
Selling channels
- How to sell on EtsyHow to sell on Etsy: the listing, transaction and payment fees from Etsy's own page, a worked example of what you keep, shop setup steps and taxes.
- How to sell on AmazonHow to sell on Amazon: the Individual and Professional plans, referral fees by category, FBA costs, what registration asks for, and the review rules.
- How to start a Shopify storeHow to start a Shopify store: plan prices and card rates from Shopify's own pricing page, setup steps, and the sales tax and shipping rules you own.
Guides by business type
- How to start a food business from home under cottage food lawsHow cottage food laws let you sell some foods made in a home kitchen: allowed foods, labels, registration and sales limits, with Texas as a worked example.
- How to start a candle businessHow to start a candle business: the federal lead-wick rule, CPSC labeling and the ASTM candle fire safety standards, burn testing, costing and selling.
- How to start a clothing brandHow to start a clothing brand: the FTC fiber, origin and care label rules, RN numbers, CPSC flammability and children's rules, and planning a first run.
- How to start a skincare lineHow to start a skincare line: when FDA treats a product as a cosmetic or a drug, what MoCRA requires of small brands, label rules and safe claims.
- How to start a jewelry businessStart a jewelry business: FTC rules for gold, silver, plated and handmade claims, lab-grown stones, CPSC lead rules for children's jewelry, and pricing.
- How to start a cleaning businessHow to start a cleaning business: local licenses, liability insurance and bonds, pricing from your own costs, hiring employees or contractors, chemical safety.