Step 1
Choose and form an entity
Not Started
- Learning objective
- Liability, tax treatment, and the mechanics of forming an LLC.
- Practical action
- Read the lesson, then mark it complete to unlock the next recommended step.
About 15 minutes
🏢 My Journey
Start a Business
Choose a structure, register properly, and open for business with compliance and bookkeeping in place.
- Completion
- 0%
- Steps
- 0 / 36
- Time remaining
- 5 h
- Skill level
- Intermediate
Journey dashboard
Current goal
Start a Business
Status: Loading… · Saved privately in this browser
Overall completion0%
- Current lesson
- Choose and form an entity
- Next recommended step
- Choose and form an entity
Lessons
8
Checklist tasks
18
Remaining items
36
Upcoming checklist tasks
- Choose an entity type and stateBusiness Startup Checklist
- Check name availabilityBusiness Startup Checklist
- File formation documentsBusiness Startup Checklist
- Get an EINBusiness Startup Checklist
- Open a business bank accountBusiness Startup Checklist
Recent activity
Nothing completed yet. Your first step is “Choose and form an entity”.
Time invested: about 0 h · Remaining: about 5 h
State customization
Rules, costs, and agencies differ by state. Choose one and this journey highlights the matching state guidance.
No state selected, so this journey is showing broader United States guidance. Choose a state above to see state-specific transportation, housing, healthcare, education, and business information.
Your roadmap
Nine stages, in order. Mark each step complete as you finish it — everything is saved automatically.
Stage 1
Learning path: Starting a Business
Entity choice, registration, tax obligations, and the practicalities of your first hire.
0 of 4 complete0%
Step 2
Learn your tax obligations
Not Started
- Learning objective
- Federal, state, sales tax, and quarterly estimated payments.
- Practical action
- Read the lesson, then mark it complete to unlock the next recommended step.
About 14 minutes
Step 3
Open business banking
Not Started
- Learning objective
- Separate finances properly from day one.
- Practical action
- Read the lesson, then mark it complete to unlock the next recommended step.
About 10 minutes
Step 4
Hire your first employee
Not Started
- Learning objective
- Payroll, classification, insurance, and onboarding paperwork.
- Practical action
- Read the lesson, then mark it complete to unlock the next recommended step.
About 16 minutes
Stage 2
Cornerstone guide: How to Start a Business in the United States: The Complete Guide
Everything required to go from idea to a legally operating US business — entity choice, state registration, EIN, banking, licences, taxes, and hiring. Written for founders both inside and outside the country. Each step includes what it costs, how long it takes, and the mistake most people make.
0 of 1 complete0%
Step 1
How to Start a Business in the United States: The Complete Guide
Not Started
- Learning objective
- Get the complete, sourced picture in one place before acting on the detail.
- Practical action
- Work through the guide and note the sections that apply to your situation.
About 35 minutes
Stage 3
Supporting articles
The most useful business explainers alongside your lessons.
0 of 3 complete0%
Step 1
Starting an LLC in the United States
Not Started
- Learning objective
- An LLC is the default entity for most small American businesses. Here is what forming one actually involves, and what you must keep doing afterwards.
- Practical action
- Read and capture anything you need to act on in your notes.
About 2 minutes
Step 2
Hiring Your First Employee in the United States
Not Started
- Learning objective
- Employment brings obligations that contracting does not. Getting classification and payroll right from the first hire avoids expensive corrections.
- Practical action
- Read and capture anything you need to act on in your notes.
About 2 minutes
Step 3
Small Business Taxes: The Basics
Not Started
- Learning objective
- American small business taxation is pay-as-you-go. Understanding quarterly estimates and deductible expenses prevents unpleasant April surprises.
- Practical action
- Read and capture anything you need to act on in your notes.
About 2 minutes
Stage 4
Printables and templates
Take the plan off the screen — print it, fill it in, and keep it with your documents.
0 of 1 complete0%
Step 1
Business Startup Checklist
Not Started
- Learning objective
- Entity choice, EIN, licences, banking, bookkeeping, and insurance — sequenced in the order you need them.
- Practical action
- Open the PDF (10 pages, version 2.2) and complete the sections that apply.
About 14 minutes
Stage 5
Interactive tools
Run your own numbers instead of relying on national averages.
0 of 3 complete0%
Step 1
Business Startup Checklist
Coming SoonNot Started
- Learning objective
- Generate an ordered launch checklist for a new American business, from entity choice through licensing and insurance.
- Practical action
- Open the tool, enter your figures, and record the result in your notes.
About 12 minutes
Step 2
Business Expense Calculator
Coming SoonNot Started
- Learning objective
- Model the first twelve months of business costs: formation, software, insurance, payroll, and taxes.
- Practical action
- Open the tool, enter your figures, and record the result in your notes.
About 12 minutes
Step 3
State Comparison Tool
Coming SoonNot Started
- Learning objective
- Compare any two states across taxes, housing, climate, education, healthcare access, and job markets.
- Practical action
- Open the tool, enter your figures, and record the result in your notes.
About 12 minutes
Stage 6
Official and verified organisations
Go straight to the agencies and nonprofits that actually handle these requests.
0 of 2 complete0%
Step 1
Business
Not Started
- Learning objective
- Registration, Small Business Development Centers, financing, licensing, tax resources, and mentoring.
- Practical action
- Review the 7 verified organisations and bookmark the ones you will contact.
About 8 minutes
Step 2
Personal Finance
Not Started
- Learning objective
- Budgeting help, free tax preparation, credit education, banking access, and retirement planning.
- Practical action
- Review the 17 verified organisations and bookmark the ones you will contact.
About 8 minutes
Stage 7
State resources
Rules, costs, and agencies differ by state. Choose a state of interest to tailor this stage.
0 of 2 complete0%
Step 1
Business registration in your state
Not Started
- Learning objective
- Check how business registration works where you are heading.
- Practical action
- Read the matching section of the state guide and note anything state-specific.
About 9 minutes
Step 2
Jobs and pay in your state
Not Started
- Learning objective
- Check how jobs and pay works where you are heading.
- Practical action
- Read the matching section of the state guide and note anything state-specific.
About 9 minutes
Stage 8
Practical checklists
The hands-on tasks. Tick them off as you go — progress is saved with your journey.
0 of 18 complete0%
Business Startup Checklist
Form the entity, meet compliance, and open for business.
0 of 10 tasks0%
Bank Account Setup Checklist
Open a checking and savings account and get paid on time.
0 of 8 tasks0%
Stage 9
Completion review
Confirm the outcome, capture what is left, and choose where to go next.
0 of 2 complete0%
Step 1
Review what you achieved
Not Started
- Learning objective
- Confirm the practical outcome of this journey against your original goal.
- Practical action
- Re-read your notes and list anything still outstanding.
About 10 minutes
Step 2
Choose your next journey
Not Started
- Learning objective
- Keep momentum by starting the journey that naturally follows this one.
- Practical action
- Browse the journey templates and start the next one that matches your plans.
About 5 minutes
Download center
Every printable this journey uses, with version history and the date we last reviewed it.
Business Startup Checklist
RecommendedEntity choice, EIN, licences, banking, bookkeeping, and insurance — sequenced in the order you need them.
PDF · 10 pages · version 2.2 · last updated 2026-06-11
Recommended next
Related guides, learning paths, and articles chosen from the topics this journey covers.
- GuideHow to Start a Business in the United States: The Complete Guide
- ArticleStarting an LLC in the United States
- ArticleHiring Your First Employee in the United States
- ArticleOpening a US Bank Account as a Newcomer
- ArticleBuilding an American Credit Score From Zero
- ArticleHow US Taxes Work for Newcomers
Recommended tools
Run your own numbers rather than relying on national averages.
Verified organisations
Resource Center categories matched to this goal.
Milestones
Encouragement at the points that matter — no points, streaks, or badges to chase.
Journey started
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First lesson completed
Unlocks at 1% complete.
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25% complete
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50% complete
Unlocks at 50% complete.
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75% complete
Unlocks at 75% complete.
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Journey completed
Unlocks at 100% complete.
Milestone not yet reached
Newsletters for this journey
Follow the topics you are actively working on.
Business
Company formation, tax, and compliance.
Personal Finance
Banking, credit, and taxes.
Start another journey
Run several plans in parallel, or switch priorities whenever your plans change.
Planned for US360 Plus
Labelled placeholders only — none of these features are switched on yet.
Personalised coaching
One-to-one guidance from a US360 contributor.
Coming soon
Advanced planning tools
Multi-scenario modelling across a whole journey.
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Take a roadmap and its printables offline.
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One plan covering everyone in the household.
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Invite someone to follow the same roadmap.
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Progress reports
A dated summary of everything you completed.
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Live sessions tied to your active journeys.
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AI planning assistant
Adaptive sequencing based on your progress.
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