I want to start my business. Where do I start? Instruction wanted!?

Question

I am US citizen and I need to register a company here. Can anyone tell me the exact instruction what to do? I don't need help with business plan, credits and etc.

Just what do I need to register so I could finally go to any bank and establish a business account? What, where and how do I need to register? Which document to I need to gather for a business bank account?

I need exact instruction for dummies like "Go there, request that, wait for 2 days, get it then go there, fill out form X7634 and get that thing. Now you may go to any bank and get the business account for your new company". :-) I hope somebody would help me with this!

Answer 1

When you register your business, you have two options:

1 - County/city clerk's office -- if your business is sole proprietorship or general partnership. Check with your county if they have a website and instructions on how to register a business. Some counties have fairly good websites that provide detailed instructions on how to set up a business in the county. An example is Fairfax County in VA which offers a Startup guide to new entrepreneurs with links to every step of the way http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpsm/osb/st...

2 - Secretary of State -- if you will operate a corporation or LLC, you go to the Secretary of State to register the business. Texas, for example, offers a guide on where to file your business registration for various types of entities http://www.sos.state.tx.us/corp/business...

To open a bank account, you bring your business registration forms that includes your DBA or fictitious name or doing business as name to the bank. That is the proof that bank needs that you are legally registered to use that business name, and so they can open a business account for you using your DBA name.

I can't be more specific than the above (can't give you use this form X763) because each state and county operate differently and each has their own forms that they use,