How to Start a Business in Your State

Starting a business is an exciting prospect. You have many decisions ahead of you, including testing out business ideas, choosing an entity structure (will you go with a corporation, LLC, partnership, or something else?), picking a business name, and finding a location for your shop or office.

Apart from the more fun choices, you'll also have some legal legwork ahead. If you decide to form a corporation, LLC, or other registered business, then you'll need to form your business with the state. You'll probably also need to apply for some kind of federal, state, or local business license and register for state tax accounts. Apart from these legal requirements, you might want to open a business bank account, invest in business insurance, and hire employees.

Check out the Business Formation section of our store to access to our online LLC and corporation formation services and to find do-it-yourself forms and books to help you cover every aspect of your business.

Empower Yourself: DIY Products by Nolo

Sidestep the lawyers with do-it-yourself books, documents, and software.

Manage the legal and tax affairs of your LLC with this set of books. Form and operate your LLC with Nolo's LLC Handbook. Understand LLC taxation with Tax Saavy for Small Business.
Use this pair of Nolo’s bestselling business books to answer your routine legal questions and guide you in filling out the forms, documents, and contracts needed to run your day-to-day operations.
Our form provides everything you need to establish the internal rules of your limited liability company.
Building Your Business is Expensive. Launching Your LLC Shouldn't Be.

Nolo offers hundreds of consumer-friendly, do-it-yourself legal products for all types of legal situations. Browse our full product list.

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Learn About Our Team

Our editors have over 100 years of combined experience practicing law. These professionals have worked in a wide range of legal areas, from estate planning to criminal law to business formation and beyond. They’re experts at explaining complicated legal issues in easy-to-understand terms.

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