When and How to Hire Your First (or Next) Employee
This guide walks small business owners through recognizing when it’s time to hire, how to run a solid hiring process, what a new employee really costs, and how to onboard them for long-term success.
When starting a business, there are many factors to consider. Here are some articles and resources to help.
This guide walks small business owners through recognizing when it’s time to hire, how to run a solid hiring process, what a new employee really costs, and how to onboard them for long-term success.
Getting the wrong license, or skipping one, can cost your business. This guide covers the main types of business licenses and permits, what they cost, and the steps to apply so you can operate legally.
Registering a DBA lets you run your business under a name other than your own. This guide covers the filing steps, costs, publication rules, and renewal timelines you need to know before you file.
Choosing and registering a business name protects your brand and helps customers find you. This guide covers selecting a name, checking availability, registering it with your state or federally, and reserving it if you’re not ready to file.
Business registration services help entrepreneurs handle entity formation, EIN applications, registered agents, and ongoing state compliance. This guide breaks down what these providers do, what they typically cost, and how to pick one that fits your business, plus a quick FAQ and action checklist to get started.
Choosing a business structure affects your taxes, liability protection, and how you run your company. This guide compares sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, corporations, and cooperatives, and covers the key factors to weigh before deciding which one fits your business
Thinking about starting a business with a partner? This guide breaks down the four main types of partnerships, how liability and taxes work for each, and the step-by-step process for registering one with your state.
Thinking about incorporating your business? This guide walks through corporation types (C-corp, S-corp, non-profit), what’s required to file, current fees by state, and the steps to get registered.
A plain-language guide to forming an LLC, covering the types of LLCs, current state filing and licensing costs, and the six steps to register your business — plus a checklist and FAQ for quick reference.
Before you start a business, get clear on why. This guide covers the most common (and best) reasons people go into business for themselves, backed by current survey data, plus a cautionary story about starting for the wrong reason.