For Entrepreneurs

Start your business the right way — from EIN to first sale.

A step-by-step, no-fluff playbook: form your entity, get your tax IDs, open bank accounts, build business credit, and pick up the tools founders actually use. Every link goes straight to the official source — no upsells, no middlemen.

Hover any resource to see why it's worth your time.

Step 01

Get your EIN (free, direct from the IRS)

Your Employer Identification Number is your business's tax ID. It's free and takes about 10 minutes on the IRS site — never pay a third party.

Step 02

Register your LLC or corporation

Form your business directly with your state's Secretary of State — filing fees vary by state ($40–$500). SBA has a full state-by-state directory.

Step 03

Get your D-U-N-S Number

A free 9-digit ID from Dun & Bradstreet that establishes your business credit profile — required for many vendors, federal contracts, and Apple developer accounts.

Step 04

Open a business bank account

Keep business and personal finances separate — it's required for liability protection and clean bookkeeping. Bring your EIN, formation docs, and ID.

Step 05

Business credit cards to build credit fast

Business cards reported to Dun & Bradstreet and business bureaus help you build a credit profile separate from your personal one. Start with the easier-to-approve options.

Step 06

Tools founders actually use

Payments, design, print, storefronts, websites — the working toolkit for day one.

Square — payments & POS

Accept cards in person or online, invoicing, and a free tap-to-pay app.

Stripe — online payments

Developer-friendly payments, subscriptions, and invoicing for web businesses.

Canva — design anything

Logos, social posts, decks, business cards. Free plan is generous.

Vistaprint — business cards & print

Business cards, signage, apparel, and marketing print materials.

Shopify — sell online

Full e-commerce platform with themes, apps, and payments built in.

Etsy — sell handmade & vintage

Best marketplace for handmade, craft, and vintage sellers.

Wix — website builder

Drag-and-drop site builder with hundreds of templates.

Squarespace — design-first sites

Beautiful templates for portfolios, service businesses, and stores.

GoDaddy — domains & hosting

Register your business domain and set up professional email.

Google Workspace — pro email + docs

you@yourbusiness.com with Gmail, Drive, Docs, and Meet.

Step 07

Social media business pages

Set up official business profiles — they unlock analytics, ads, and shopping features you can't get on a personal account.

Step 08

CRM & customer tools

Track leads, customers, and conversations from day one — starting free.

Bonus

Bookkeeping, taxes & operations

Get your books right from month one — it's dramatically cheaper than fixing them at tax time.

You don't need permission to start.

Pick the next unchecked step above and do it today. Momentum beats a perfect plan every single time.

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