Technology journey
The practical technology decisions of American life: choosing a carrier and plan without a credit history, comparing home internet options, setting up digital payments and peer-to-peer transfers, protecting your identity, and using AI tools responsibly.
Start Here checklist
Work through these in order. Progress is saved in this browser — accounts and cross-device syncing are coming later.
Recommended reading order
Our editors sequenced these so each one assumes what the previous one taught you.
Step 01
Entity choice, state registration, EIN, banking, licences and taxes — the complete legal and practical sequence for launching a US business.
Step 02
How the United States actually works day to day — choosing a city, renting, budgeting, banking, healthcare, schools, work, taxes, culture, and a printable first 30 days checklist.
Step 03
Connectivity is one of the first things newcomers arrange and one of the easiest to overpay for. Prepaid options remove most of the friction.
Step 04
Identity theft is a real risk in a system built on Social Security numbers. A handful of habits removes most of the exposure.
Step 05
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.
Step 06
Employment brings obligations that contracting does not. Getting classification and payroll right from the first hire avoids expensive corrections.
Essential guides
Long-form, heavily reviewed pillar guides that cover the whole decision end to end.
Entity choice, state registration, EIN, banking, licences and taxes — the complete legal and practical sequence for launching a US business.
How the United States actually works day to day — choosing a city, renting, budgeting, banking, healthcare, schools, work, taxes, culture, and a printable first 30 days checklist.
Housing, healthcare, taxes, transport and childcare — the numbers you need to build a realistic American budget, plus how to compare two cities honestly.
Learning paths
Multi-lesson journeys with objectives, an estimated completion time and a fixed order.
Getting connected, staying secure, and working effectively in an American digital environment.
Entity choice, registration, tax obligations, and the practicalities of your first hire.
How federal, state, and payroll taxes fit together — and what actually lands in your account.
Interactive tools
Calculators and comparison tools that turn this guidance into your own figures.
Generate an ordered launch checklist for a new American business, from entity choice through licensing and insurance.
Model the first twelve months of business costs: formation, software, insurance, payroll, and taxes.
Translate a gross salary into an estimated paycheck after federal tax, state tax, Social Security, Medicare, and common deductions.
Downloads & checklists
Printable, versioned resources you can work through offline.
Entity choice, EIN, licences, banking, bookkeeping, and insurance — sequenced in the order you need them.
Offer letter outline, onboarding checklist, and payroll setup steps for a first American employee.
Offer letter outline, onboarding checklist, and payroll setup steps for a first American employee.
A spreadsheet built around American pay cycles, pre-tax deductions, and typical household categories.
Entity choice, EIN, licenses, bank account, bookkeeping, and insurance — sequenced in the order you need them.
The printable companion to The Complete Guide to Living in the United States — sixteen sequenced actions across four weeks, with space for account numbers, appointments, and local contacts.
Regional hazard checklists, an emergency contact sheet, and a document-backup plan for households.
Frequently asked questions
Often yes. Many banks accept an ITIN or passport plus visa documentation instead.
Read the full answerChecking is for daily spending and bill payment; savings earns interest and may limit withdrawals.
Read the full answerNot necessarily. Several recover revenue through high property or sales taxes, which can exceed what you saved.
Read the full answerUsually not. Delaware suits venture-backed corporations; most small businesses are better served forming in their home state.
Read the full answerYes, ownership is generally open to non-residents, though tax treatment and banking requirements differ. Professional advice is worthwhile.
Read the full answerState filing fees typically range from around $50 to $500, plus registered agent and any local licence fees.
Read the full answerKeep going
Readers who explored this goal usually look at these next.
Identity theft is a real risk in a system built on Social Security numbers. A handful of habits removes most of the exposure.
Entity choice, state registration, EIN, banking, licences and taxes — the complete legal and practical sequence for launching a US business.
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.
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