Choose your legal structure and register the business

Your legal structure affects your taxes, your paperwork, and whether your personal assets are protected. Picking the right one and registering properly makes your business real and official.

Do this

1. Learn the basic options: sole proprietor, LLC, partnership, corporation.
2. For most small businesses, an LLC balances liability protection and simplicity — but confirm with a pro.
3. Register your business with your state and get an EIN from the IRS (free).
4. Open the business bank account once you're registered.

Legal Structure at a Glance

SOLE PROPRIETOR — simplest, but no personal liability protection LLC — liability protection + simple taxes (popular for small biz) PARTNERSHIP — two+ owners; put terms in writing CORPORATION (S/C) — more structure; usually for raising investment

To make it official: 1. Pick a name and check it's available in your state 2. Register with your Secretary of State 3. Get a free EIN at irs.gov 4. Then open your business bank account

Free help deciding: your local SBDC or a SCORE mentor (sba.gov/sbdc, sba.gov/score).