Starting Your Business

In the U.S., starting a business is relatively straightforward, but staying compliant, fundable, and operationally efficient requires more than just registering a name. Here’s a checklist of high-impact steps every growth-oriented entrepreneur should take when launching a business and why each one matters.

Once your business reaches a certain size, recordkeeping is no longer just about tax compliance. It becomes critical for managing risk, securing financing, supporting strategic decisions, and staying audit ready. If your business employs staff, manages inventory, processes customer payments, or owns physical assets, then detailed, accessible records aren’t optional, they’re operational infrastructure.

Whether you’re launching a small startup or growing an established concept, understanding best practices and taking the right initial steps will help set you up for success. This checklist covers essential steps and helpful recommendations to guide your setup, from legal requirements to strategic considerations that can protect and grow your business.

When you’re just getting started, it’s tempting to run business income and expenses through your personal account, especially if the volume is low or you’re still validating the idea. But once your business begins to grow, mixing personal and business funds becomes messy, risky, expensive, and a credibility killer.

If you’re using accounting software, every financial transaction your business makes is recorded and tracked. This information is valuable, providing insights into trends and enabling you to make decisions you might not otherwise consider.

Thinking about starting your own business but not sure where to begin? This easy-to-use template is designed to help you spark ideas and organize your thoughts—so you can take the first step with confidence.

This Business Start-Up Guide is designed to help you turn that desire to start your own business into a reality. We have selected some important topics that you should review before you open your doors.