Research Before You Start: (skip if already in business )
Assess your financial resources and identify the financial risks.
Identify your customers, your competitors.
Research your planned market and develop a marketing plan.
Find suppliers and product costs.
Determine the start-up costs.
Prepare a business plan.

Create the Legal Entity:
Get a lawyer and choose a form of organization (proprietorship, partnership, or corporation, for example) have him advise
and draw up the legal documents (corporation , partnership, etc.)
Choose a business name and have the lawyer check to see if it is available.

Get your Financials and Taxes Set Up:
Select an accountant have him advise on best bookkeeping practices for your industry.
Select a bank and open a business checking account.
Obtain a business license or permit (if applicable).
Get a federal employer identification number (if applicable).
Get a state employer id. number (if applicable).
Get Federal and State tax forms.
Select an insurance agent and obtain business insurance.

Starting:
Get Business Cards, Telephone.
Get office/warehouse/store (if necessary)
Get furniture/equipment (if necessary)
Get/create product.
SELL!

West Coast Depot provides the information contained on this site and is meant as general information only. It should not be used as a substitute for legal, tax or financial
advice. As laws vary from state to state, and are constantly changing, only a lawyer, accountant, tax or financial advisor can provide you with specific advice to rely upon.