ENTREPRENEURSHIP RESOURCE CENTER

Start Smarter. Build With the Right Resources.

Starting a business can feel overwhelming because there are hundreds of websites telling you what to do. This resource center brings together trusted U.S. government agencies, nonprofit business organizations and practical startup resources to help you move from idea to business.

EXPLORE STARTUP RESOURCES → ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION

YOUR STARTUP ROADMAP

From Idea to Business

LEARN & RESEARCH Understand your market and customer.

PLAN Develop your business model and plan.

FORM Choose a structure and register properly.

SET UP EIN, licenses, finances and records.

LAUNCH & GROW Market, sell, serve and improve.

NOT SURE WHERE TO BEGIN?

Start With the Right Step.

You do not need to use every resource on this page today. Work through the startup process one stage at a time.

PLAN Idea, research and business plan

FORM Structure, registration and name

SET UP EIN, licenses and taxes

MANAGE Money, records and funding

GET HELP Free mentors and counselors

PLAN YOUR BUSINESS

Turn Your Idea Into a Plan

Research the opportunity, understand your customer and decide how the business could work.

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

SBA Business Guide

A comprehensive federal resource covering the major stages of planning, launching, managing and growing a small business.

Start here: Use the SBA guide as your overall roadmap before jumping into individual registrations.

VISIT SBA BUSINESS GUIDE

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Write a Business Plan

Learn how to organize your business concept, market, operations, financial assumptions and strategy into a useful business plan.

Your business plan should help you think—not simply become paperwork that sits on a shelf.

BUSINESS PLAN RESOURCE

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Market Research

Learn how market research and competitive analysis can help you understand potential customers, competitors and opportunities.

Don't assume people want your idea. Research and talk with potential customers before investing heavily.

RESEARCH YOUR MARKET

FORM YOUR BUSINESS

Choose the Right Foundation

Understand structures, registration requirements and the steps involved in establishing your business.

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Choose a Business Structure

Learn about common business structures such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs and corporations and how structure can affect taxes, paperwork and liability.

Business structure can have legal and tax consequences. Consider professional advice when appropriate.

COMPARE BUSINESS STRUCTURES

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Register Your Business

Learn how business registration can vary based on your structure, state and location.

State formation is generally handled through your state's official business filing authority.

BUSINESS REGISTRATION GUIDE

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Choose Your Business Name

Learn about entity names, trademarks, DBAs and domain names before building a brand around a name.

A state business-name filing and federal trademark protection are different things.

BUSINESS NAME GUIDE

IDENTIFICATION, TAXES & PERMITS

Set Up the Business Properly

Find official information about federal tax identification, licenses, permits and taxes.

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

Get an EIN — FREE

Apply directly with the IRS for an Employer Identification Number, the federal tax identification number used by many businesses.

Important: The IRS does not charge a fee to obtain an EIN. Avoid unnecessary third-party EIN fees.

APPLY THROUGH THE IRS

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Licenses & Permits

Learn how licensing and permit requirements can depend on your industry, business activities, state and local government.

Always check state, county and city requirements applicable to your actual business location and activity.

LICENSE & PERMIT GUIDE

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

Small Business Tax Center

Access IRS information for small businesses and self-employed individuals, including taxes, forms, recordkeeping and employer responsibilities.

Tax obligations depend on how your business is structured and how it operates.

VISIT IRS TAX CENTER

MANAGE THE MONEY

Build Good Financial Habits Early

Learn about recordkeeping, taxes, funding and financial responsibilities before problems develop.

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

Business Recordkeeping

Learn what business records can help you track income, expenses, prepare financial information and support items reported on tax returns.

Start keeping organized records from the beginning rather than trying to recreate them at tax time.

IRS RECORDKEEPING GUIDE

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

Self-Employed Tax Center

Understand federal tax topics affecting many sole proprietors, independent contractors and people who operate businesses for themselves.

Self-employed people may have income-tax and self-employment-tax responsibilities.

SELF-EMPLOYED TAX CENTER

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

SBA Funding Programs

Explore SBA-backed lending programs and information about financing a small business.

Be cautious of anyone promising guaranteed government grants simply for starting an ordinary for-profit business.

EXPLORE SBA FUNDING

PROTECT THE BRAND

Names, Trademarks & Creative Work

Learn the difference between registering a business and protecting intellectual property.

U.S. PATENT & TRADEMARK OFFICE

Trademark Basics

Learn what trademarks are, what they protect, how federal registration works and what to consider before filing.

Forming an LLC with a particular name does not automatically create a federal trademark registration.

LEARN TRADEMARK BASICS

U.S. PATENT & TRADEMARK OFFICE

Search Federal Trademarks

Use the USPTO trademark search system to research federal trademark records and learn about searching for similar marks.

A proper trademark clearance search may involve more than finding an identical name.

SEARCH USPTO TRADEMARKS

U.S. COPYRIGHT OFFICE

Copyright Resources

Learn about copyright protection for original works and access the official U.S. Copyright Office registration resources.

VISIT COPYRIGHT OFFICE

MARKET RESPONSIBLY

Understand Your Marketing Responsibilities

Building a business also means understanding rules affecting advertising, claims and customers.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

Advertising & Marketing Basics

Learn federal principles involving truthful advertising, substantiating claims and avoiding deceptive or unfair marketing practices.

Marketing claims should be truthful and supported by appropriate evidence.

FTC MARKETING GUIDANCE

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

FTC Business Guidance

Access guidance concerning advertising, privacy, data security, consumer protection, endorsements and other business topics.

Requirements may vary depending on your industry, customers and marketing methods.

EXPLORE FTC GUIDANCE

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Manage Your Business

Continue learning after launch with SBA resources related to finances, employees, taxes, marketing and day-to-day management.

Opening the business is the beginning—not the end of the entrepreneurship learning process.

MANAGE YOUR BUSINESS

IMPORTANT STARTUP RESOURCE

Need an EIN? Go Directly to the IRS.

An Employer Identification Number is a federal tax identification number used by businesses and other entities for various federal tax and business purposes.

Do not pay just because a website offers to “get your EIN” for you. The IRS provides its online EIN application directly and does not charge an application fee.

GO TO THE OFFICIAL IRS EIN PAGE →

BEFORE YOU APPLY

Get Prepared

✓ Determine the business entity type you are applying for.

✓ Complete applicable business formation steps first when required for your entity.

✓ Have the responsible party's required identifying information available.

✓ Apply through the official IRS website rather than assuming a paid third party is necessary.

✓ Save your EIN confirmation information securely with your permanent business records.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT ALONE

Get Free or Low-Cost Business Help

One of the most valuable startup resources may be a real person who can help you think through your questions. The SBA works with nationwide resource partners serving entrepreneurs and small businesses.

SBA

SBA Local Assistance

Find SBA-supported counseling, training and business assistance available in your area.

FIND LOCAL HELP

SBDC

Small Business Development Centers

SBDCs provide counseling, training and technical assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses.

FIND AN SBDC

SCORE

SCORE Business Mentors

Connect with experienced volunteer business mentors and access entrepreneurship education and workshops.

FIND A FREE MENTOR

WBC

Women's Business Centers

Find SBA-supported centers offering training, counseling and other assistance for women entrepreneurs.

FIND A WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER

BE A SMART ENTREPRENEUR

Official Resources First. Paid Services Second.

✓

Check the government source first. Before paying someone to file something, find out whether you can complete it directly through the appropriate government agency.

✓

Know what you're buying. A legitimate third-party service may charge for convenience, but understand which part is the government fee and which part is the service fee.

✓

Be cautious with promises of “free government money.” Research funding claims through official government sources before providing personal information or money.

✓

Ask professionals when the stakes are high. Legal, tax, accounting and insurance decisions can require advice tailored to your individual circumstances.

PUT IT ALL TOGETHER

Your Business Startup Checklist

Every business is different, but this provides a practical sequence for researching the steps that may apply to you.

Define the business idea What problem will you solve?

Identify your customer Who needs your solution?

Research the market Customers, competitors and demand

Validate the idea Look for real customer evidence

Create the business plan Strategy, operations and money

Choose a business structure Understand legal and tax implications

Choose and research the name Entity, DBA, domain and trademarks

Register the business Complete applicable state/local steps

Obtain your EIN if applicable Use the official IRS resource

Research licenses & permits Federal, state and local requirements

Set up business finances Banking, accounting and recordkeeping

Understand taxes Federal, state and local obligations

Research business insurance Understand risks and coverage needs

Build your brand Positioning, identity and message

Create your marketing system How will customers discover you?

Launch, measure & improve Learn from actual customers

KEEP LEARNING

Don't Just Start a Business. Learn How to Build One.

Resources can show you where to go. Education helps you understand why you're going there. Continue through the Travel Agent Business Hub entrepreneurship education center for step-by-step business learning.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION → CONTACT SHONNA

Travel Agent Business Hub provides educational information and links to third-party resources for general informational purposes. External websites are operated by their respective organizations and may change their content, requirements or web addresses. Business registration, licensing, tax, legal, insurance and financial requirements vary by business, industry and location. This information is not legal, tax, accounting or financial advice. Consult the appropriate government agency or qualified professional regarding your specific circumstances.

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