Start a local service business
An owner-operated U.S. service business with 1-5 people, serving local customers in person or on site.
No account needed. Your progress is remembered in this browser.
Do this next
Choose your business structure
Decide whether you will trade as a sole proprietor, an LLC, or a corporation before you file anything.
The whole path
Step 1
Choose your business structureDecide whether you will trade as a sole proprietor, an LLC, or a corporation before you file anything.
About 45 min · easy · free
Step 2
Form the business entityRegister the entity with your state and receive the approved formation document.
About 60 min · moderate · cost varies
Do this after: Choose your business structure. You can still read it now.
About 20 min · easy · free
Do this after: Form the business entity. You can still read it now.
Step 4
Open a business bank accountGet a bank account in the business name so company money never mixes with personal money.
About 45 min · moderate · free
Do this after: Form the business entity, Get your EIN from the IRS. You can still read it now.
Step 5
Set up accounting and bookkeepingConnect the business bank account to bookkeeping so income and expenses are tracked from day one.
About 90 min · moderate · cost varies
Do this after: Open a business bank account. You can still read it now.
Step 6
Secure your domain and professional emailRegister the business domain and get email running on it.
About 60 min · moderate · cost varies
Step 7
Build a basic service websitePublish one clear page that says what you do, where you do it, and how to get in touch.
About 180 min · moderate · cost varies
Step 8
Set up a simple sales pipelinePut every enquiry into one visible pipeline instead of a phone notes app.
About 60 min · easy · cost varies
Step 9
Set up estimates, invoices and paymentsBe able to send a quote, turn it into an invoice, and take payment.
About 60 min · easy · free
Do this after: Open a business bank account. You can still read it now.
Step 10
Verify the stack and mark launch-readyRun one end-to-end check across everything you have set up.
About 45 min · easy · free
Do this after: Set up accounting and bookkeeping, Build a basic service website, Set up a simple sales pipeline, Set up estimates, invoices and payments. You can still read it now.