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Congrats on deciding to create your own business! Let’s talk about the nitty gritty to get it set up, so it’s legitimate and legal.

LINK to episode 1: How to choose a name for your business

*Note I am not an accountant or a lawyer. This is not legal advice and is not a substitution for legal advice. 

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STEP 1: Legally register your business

1) Search online or find an accountant or lawyer to decide which legal entity to choose:

• Sole-proprietorship (you are your business and have no employees)
• LLC (limited liability company, you are not your business, your business is it’s own entity, you have some added protections but still taxed similarly a sole-proprietor)
• Corporation (S-corp etc, your business is separate and you have some added tax benefits)

*note these are just the most popular. There are other business entities such as a partnership, non-profit, etc. 

2) Register your business with Your Secretary of State

3) Do a search and make sure your business name is not already taken. 

4) Apply for an EIN with the IRS.

• This is like a social security # for your business and allows you to pay taxes and open a bank account.
• Learn more and apply here: https://irs.usa-taxid.com/

5) See if you need a State Tax ID #

This varies state by state. The process to get a state tax ID number is similar to getting a federal tax ID number, but it will vary by state. You’ll have to check with your state government for specific steps. Learn more here: https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/launch-your-business/get-federal-state-tax-id-numbers

 

STEP 2: Set up Your Business Bank Account + Credit Card

1. Choose whatever bank you already have accounts with or do a quick search for banks in your area with low rates for business checking accounts. (I use TD bank in Vermont)
2. Ask your bank what is needed to open an account and make sure you have it all ready before you go in and open your account. 
3. Once it is set up you can order checks and set up your business credit card. 
4. Optional: Set up a business savings account as well to save for taxes, planned expenses, or paying yourself. 

 

STEP 3: Apply for a Business Credit Card

Google “highest rated small business credit card” and choose one (I use SPARK from capitol one: https://www.capitalone.com/small-business/credit-cards/spark-miles-select/)

HOT TIP: put ALL biz expenses on your biz card and pay it off with your biz checking account. Put all personal expenses on your personal credit card and pay it off with your PERSONAL checking account. You need to keep biz and personal expenses SEPARATE for tax reasons. 

 

STEP 4: Determine How to Accept Payments

Consider an online payment processor over cash, check, or Venmo

Paypal for business: I got to six-figures using PayPal for business because you can easily create a button for people to make a payment securely off your website or send the payment link or invoice directly to a client via email to make their payment via debit or credit card. I also LOVE the reports they generate and automations that can integrate with email service providers, and also the “subscriptions button” that allows you to easily set up recurring payments for payment plans. Con: they take a cut for processing the payments.

Cash, Check, Venmo or paypal.me: You can also use old school cash, check, new-school Venmo or paypal.me (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/) to send a secure link to make a payment via credit card. I personally like the paypal.me for starting out since it’s easy to use, secure, and looks professional. 

*note since creating this recording, my business now uses Stripe (Stripe.com) as well, but I honestly find Paypal to be more user friendly to start. Other options include Square and QuickBooks invoicing functionality.

 

STEP 5: Track your expenses

Choose a day once a week or month to track 2 things: your income, and your expenses (plus what each of these expenses were)

Options for tracking your income and expenses:

1. Keep receipts and track income and expenses on a google spreadsheet or excel spreadsheet
2. Use an online bookkeeping program like QuickBooks Self Employed
3. Hire a bookkeeper or an accountant to do this for you

You can learn more about the TYPES of expenses you can write off, and how to categorize them here: www.intuit.me/2u0s7ab

 

STEP 6: Paying Yourself

Either write yourself a check from your business checking account or set up a transfer from your biz bank account to your personal account – so easy!

 

STEP 7: Pay Taxes

1. Set aside about 30% of your income for taxes
2. Consider making quarterly tax payments to the IRS. Learn more here: https://www.sba.gov/blog/quarterly-taxes-basics

If you want to make more income + impact in your business and simplify the ins and outs of creating a profitable, sustainable business join us in The Aligned Female Entrepreneur where I map all this out for you step-by-step AND set up your business to scale to six-figures.