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How to start a business

Pick a business you can start this month, price it from real costs, handle the paperwork, then put up a site and find your first customers. Each guide below does that for one business, with its startup costs, a 30-day plan and the site to launch it.

  1. Step 1

    Pick one business

    Choose what you can sell or do well, for one kind of customer.

  2. Step 2

    Price it from real costs

    Add up equipment, permits and fees before you set a price.

  3. Step 3

    Handle the paperwork

    Register the name, get an EIN and check local licenses.

  4. Step 4

    Launch the site

    Put prices, proof and a way to buy or book online.

Sell products online

Make or source a product, then sell it from your own store.

Food and drink

Start small under your state's food rules, then grow into a kitchen.

Home and local services

Win local jobs with clear prices, reviews and a fast quote.

Skills and people

Sell what you know or what you do well, by the hour or project.

Starting with little money or selling online

Frequently asked questions

How should I start a small business?
Start with one product or service for one kind of customer, and test it before you spend much. Price from real costs, register the name, get a free EIN from the IRS, check your city's licenses, then launch a simple site and ask your first customers for reviews.
What is the easiest business to start?
A service you can already do, like cleaning, dog walking, tutoring or consulting, because you need little equipment and can take the first booking this week. Product businesses like print on demand are easy to start too, but margins are thinner and you need ads or an audience.
Do I need an LLC to start a business?
No. In the US you can start as a sole proprietor under your own name and form an LLC later, once you have revenue or risk worth protecting. Some trades and licenses ask for a registered business, so check your state's rules before your first job.
How do I get my first customers?
Tell people you already know, then go where your customers already look: Google and Nextdoor for local services, Instagram and TikTok for products. Send every one of them to one page with your prices, proof and a clear way to buy or book.

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