Everything you need to do in your first 90 days — legal, tax, banking, and insurance. Check each item off as you go.
Sole prop if testing an idea, single-member LLC for liability protection, S-Corp once you're consistently profitable. This decision affects your taxes, liability, and paperwork.
Do this first — everything builds on itFile Articles of Organization (LLC) or Articles of Incorporation (Corp) with your state's Secretary of State. Fees vary — Hawaii DCCA is $50, California is $70.
Apply free at irs.gov/ein — takes 15 minutes and you get it instantly. You need this before opening a business bank account or hiring anyone.
Free · instant · irs.gov/einEvery state is different. Hawaii requires GET registration (Form BB-1 at hitax.hawaii.gov). California requires SOS registration + FTB. Check your state's requirements before day one.
⚠ Must do before first saleCreate a free account at eftps.gov to pay your quarterly federal estimated taxes. You'll owe payments 4 times a year — April 15, June 16, September 15, January 15.
Never mix personal and business money. If you have an LLC, commingling funds can destroy your liability protection. Open a separate account the same week you register.
Critical for LLC liability protectionWave is free and excellent for solo founders. QuickBooks if you need more features. Connect your business bank account and categorize every transaction from the start — not retroactively.
Wave is free · wave.comRequired by most landlords and commercial clients before they'll work with you. Typically $400–$800/yr for a solo founder. Get a quote from Hiscox, Next, or your local insurance broker.
15 minutes at Fidelity or Vanguard. You can contribute up to 25% of your net self-employment income — fully deductible. At Hawaii's 11% state tax rate, a $20,000 contribution saves $2,200 in state tax alone.
Most valuable tax move you can makeYou're off to a strong foundation. Ready to go deeper? The full membership includes state-specific tax guides, interactive calculators, and every guide you need to run your business with confidence.
See full membership →The full membership includes state-specific tax deep dives, the quarterly tax calculator, LLC vs S-Corp guide, commercial lease decoder, write-offs guide, and a lot more.