Starting a business corporation is the official step in getting your business on track since your brand is now under legal protection by the jurisdiction. In the US, it costs relatively less in terms of registration fees compared to other countries, and Americans can register a business easily with minimal requirements. In this article, I’ll walk you through how to start a business from scratch in a step-by-step guide.
Starting a business corporation is the official step in getting your business on track since your brand is now under legal protection by the jurisdiction. In the US, it costs relatively less in terms of registration fees compared to other countries, and Americans can register a business easily with minimal requirements. In this article, I’ll walk you through how to start a business from scratch in a step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Search a Business Name and Domain Name
In the US, you could either register an LLC (Limited Liability Company) or C-Corp. Each state has its name searching portal, but here are some sources that you can pre-check.
National Corporation Directory https://corporation.directory/quicksearch/company
United States Patent and Trademark Office https://www.uspto.gov
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission - EDGAR https://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml
After ensuring your desired business name is available, the next step is searching the domain name using your business name to see if the domain is available. Searching for a domain name through WHOIS or domain registrar is free.
Step 2: Submit an Application for Business Registration/Incorporation
Your location and business structure determine how you’ll need to register your business. Determine those factors first, and registration becomes very straightforward.
For most small businesses, registering your business is straightforward by simply registering your business name with state and local governments. In some circumstances, you don’t have to register a business as soon as you are conducting business as yourself using your legal name. However, if you don’t register your business, you could miss out on personal liability protection, legal and tax benefits.
Instead of doing it yourself and paying a lawyer, there are some business registration platforms online making the process affordable, fully automated, and extraordinary.
FirstBase.io is a leading business incorporation platform helping customers to incorporate a LLC or C-corp in the US, especially business owners or entrepreneurs living outside of the US or non-US citizens. Firstbase is building an all-in-one Company OS to help define how founders across the global launch, manage, and grow their businesses.
Step 3: Buy a Domain Name
There are hundreds of TLDs (Top-Level Domains) available, including legacy TLDs such as com/net/org, gTLDs, Geo TLDs, ccTLDs. Domain price varies between ICANN-Accredited domain registrars and TLD prices, and some domains can be as cheap as $0.99 with a first-year promo or some cost more than a thousand.
The most popular and widely known TLD remains as .com. However, there are many fast-growing gTLDs that you can keep in mind such as .shop and .store, or TLDs that resonate with your business including .design, .photography, .lawyer, .accountant.
Step 4: Create Business Branding - Logo, Brand Color, Brand Vibe
After a domain name is registered, the next step is creating a business logo and branding. A memorable logo should not be generated using an online free logo creator or generator, and it should contact colors, shapes, lines, and vibes reflecting your business.
The cost of logo design service ranges from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars, so it depends on your financial resources. In a nutshell, it is better not to use online logo generators as you might see many similar logos like yours online.
Step 5: Register a Trademark
After a logo is created, it is better to register your logo under a trademark application, as it protects hijackers from stealing your brand by registering logos similar to yours. In the US, you can register a LLC or corporation to secure the business name, and you would need a registered trademark to secure the brand and logo.
Step 6: Create a Website
After all legal work is completed, the next step is building a website for your business, either an eCommerce shop allowing your customers to make purchases online or a display landing site introducing your business. There is no best website builder since each focuses on different customer needs and functionality requirements. For example, there are website builders made for restaurants, hotels, online creators, real estate, and more.
Our website builder, Tapiocan, is a Canadian drag-and-drop website builder designed for small businesses and startups to build a professional website with low costs. The all-inclusive Pro Plan includes a lifetime free domain, 5 business mailboxes, Google Cloud hosting, and access to 200+ website widgets. Tapiocan's mission is to empower small businesses and startups to build an online presence on their own without technical burdens.
Website is like your brick-and-mortar store online. Now you have your online store, time to kickstart the business and board on the business journey. Kindly share your thoughts or feel free to reach out to the Tapiocan Team if you need website building services.