What do I need to start a small business?

A name, the right paperwork for your state, a bank account, a logo and brand, a website and Google profile, and a simple plan to get customers.

What should I do first when starting a business?

Check that people will pay for it, then pick a name and make sure it's available with your state and as a web address.

How long does it take to set up a new business?

The paperwork can take days to a few weeks depending on your state. The brand, website and marketing are often the slowest part when you do them yourself.

Starting a business

New business checklist: what you need before your first customer

By the Storyhand Studio team

Starting a business means a long list of small jobs, and it's easy to miss one. Use this checklist to see what's done and what's next. Print it, or go through it one line at a time.

The paperwork

Business name checked with your state and as a web address
Business structure chosen: sole proprietor or LLC (check your state's rules)
EIN (free tax ID from the IRS), if you need one
Local business license or trade license, if your town or trade requires it
Business bank account, separate from your personal one
Business insurance, if your work carries risk
A simple way to track money in and out

Your brand

Logo, in a full version and a small icon version
Two or three colors and one or two fonts you'll always use
Business cards
Signs for your vehicle, shop or trailer
A short line that says what you do and who you do it for

Online

Your web address (domain), in your name
A website with your services, prices or starting prices, area, and a way to contact you
Business email at your web address
Google Business Profile, verified
Social pages with your logo, cover image and the same name

Not sure what each of these is? Read what a new business needs online.

Getting customers

Who your best customer is, written down
A 90-day plan with weekly marketing tasks
A posting calendar for social media
A way to ask happy customers for reviews
A short video that shows your work or tells your story

Where most people get stuck

The paperwork is just forms. The brand, website and marketing are where weeks disappear, because each one is a new skill. That's the part our business package handles, and it's all set up in your name so you own it.