Everything you need to do to start a real business — in the right order. From idea to legal entity, bank account, online presence, and first client.
Starting a business doesn't have to take months. Most of what makes a business real — a name, a legal structure, a bank account, a way to get paid — can be done in a single evening if you do it in the right order.
This is the complete guide: every step, in order, with no fluff.
Before you name the business, design a logo, or file anything, you need one sentence: what you're selling, to whom, and why they'd pay for it. Most founder problems — bad marketing, slow growth, no clients — trace back to not having a clear answer to this question.
You don't need a business plan. You need to know: what is the specific problem you solve, who has it, and what's the outcome they get from working with you?
Before you invest time or money into building, talk to 5–10 potential customers. Not to pitch them — to listen. Find out how they currently solve the problem, what they pay for it, and what they wish existed.
The fastest validation: offer to solve the problem right now, for a price. If people pay, you have a business. If they don't, you have information.
Your business name needs to be available (search your state's entity database) and have a matching .com domain. Don't spend weeks on this — it's changeable. Spend 15–30 minutes, pick something clear and professional, and move on.
For most small businesses, the choice is between a sole proprietorship (no filing required, no liability protection) and an LLC (state filing required, personal asset protection). For any business where someone could sue you or where you'll be signing contracts, form an LLC.
| Structure | Protection | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sole Proprietorship | None | Free | Testing an idea, pre-revenue |
| LLC | Personal assets protected | $50–$500 state fee | Any real business |
| S-Corp | Protected + tax savings | More complex | Profitable businesses ($50K+ net) |
| C-Corp | Protected + equity | Most complex | VC-backed startups |
File your Articles of Organization online through your state's Secretary of State website. Most states process online filings within 24 hours. The state fee ranges from $50 (Kentucky) to $500 (Massachusetts). You'll need your business name, registered agent, and organizer information.
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is your business's federal tax ID. Apply at IRS.gov — it's free and your number is issued immediately. You need it to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file business taxes.
Never mix personal and business money. Open a free business checking account immediately after you get your EIN. Mercury (mercury.com) is the standard for startups — no fees, no minimums, opens online with your EIN and Articles of Organization.
A separate business bank account also protects your LLC's limited liability status. If you pay personal expenses from your business account, a court can "pierce the corporate veil" — meaning you lose your liability protection.
A business credit card separates expenses, builds business credit history, and earns rewards. Ramp (ramp.com) has no annual fee, strong cashback, and detailed spend controls that are useful from the first month.
You don't need a custom website on day one. You need: a domain name (Namecheap, ~$12/year), a business email address, and a one-page site with your name, what you do, and how to contact you.
Carrd.co lets you build a clean one-pager in under an hour for free. You can upgrade to a more robust site once you have paying clients.
Your first client will almost certainly come from someone who already knows you. Before you think about SEO, paid ads, or content marketing, send 10 personal messages to people in your network who could hire you or refer someone who would.
One sentence: what you're doing, who it's for, and a direct ask. That's it. You don't need a pitch deck or a discovery call framework for message number one.
The Midnight Founder walks you through every step — from naming your business to filed LLC, EIN, and business setup. Free to start.
Start my business tonight