To determine the percise steps you should take to start your business, you should consult and discuss with your partners, lawyer, accountant, and local Small Business Development Center. The following checklists are general guidelines, based upon your choosen legal structure. These checklists are in Microsoft Excel format and are 'print ready.'

For additional assistance in choosing your legal structure, please visit http://app1.sba.gov/exsysweb/client/bizform/bizformmenu.html and/or your local Small Buiness Development Center.

  Startup Checklist for Sole Proprietors
  Startup Checklist for Partnerships
  Startup Checklist for Corporations
  Startup Checklist for LLC's

Some special considerations need to be made in certain circumstances. A few of these considerations follow:

Home-Based Business Owners will need to review their deed to ensure that they are not in violation of any restrictions. For information regarding the allowable tax deductions for your home office, please visit http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=111552,00.html.

Owners of Construction Firms will need to comply with state Worker's Compensation Laws and OSHA Regulations. All construction-related firms are required to carry Workers Comp Insurance (even on the owners), regardless of the number of employees or owners. Any 10% or more owner of a construction-related corporation or LLC can file a Notice of Election to be Exempt, found at http://www.fldfs.com/wc/forms.html. For additional information regarding OSHA Assistance for the Construction Industry, please visit http://www.osha.gov/doc/.