Guides
Guides for new business owners
Plain-language guides for the first years of a business, in the order most owners meet them, and explainers for every kind of business funding. Each links to the official sources.
Last updated .
Starting out
- Starting outFirst-year checklistSetup, habits and deadlines for a business’s first year, in order, with a guide for each step.Read the guide
- Starting outBusiness formationThe main business structures, the S corp election, EINs, registered agents and licenses, explained.Read the guide
- Starting outSeparate your financesWhy separation matters, how to open a business account, and how owners pay themselves.Read the guide
- Business credit guideBuild business creditThe usual order of steps for building a business credit file, from EIN and bank account to vendor accounts and a first card.Read the guide
- Business credit guidePersonal vs. business creditWho keeps each file, what identifies it, and how personal guaranties and card reporting tie the two together.Read the guide
- Business credit guideBusiness credit scoresWhat the main business credit scores measure, why each bureau differs, and what tends to move them.Read the guide
- Business credit guideRead a business credit reportThe building blocks of a business credit report, what to check in each, and how to handle errors.Read the guide
- Starting outTrack business expensesWhat records to keep, how to categorize spending, mileage logs and a simple weekly routine.Read the guide
- Starting outBookkeeping basicsCash vs accrual, reconciliation, the three financial statements and how to compare software.Read the guide
- Starting outSmall business taxesIncome tax by structure, self-employment tax, estimated payments, 1099s, payroll and state taxes.Read the guide
- Running the businessBusiness insuranceGeneral liability, property, BOPs, workers’ comp, auto, cyber, surety bonds and lender requirements.Read the guide
- Growing the businessHiring your first employeeEmployee vs contractor, the forms, payroll taxes and deposits, workers’ comp and the full cost of a hire.Read the guide
- Financing guideGet loan-readyWhat lenders commonly look at, the documents to gather, and the lender terms worth knowing.Read the guide
- Running the businessCash flowProfit vs cash, a 13-week forecast, receivables, payables, reserves and when financing fits.Read the guide
- Planning guideWrite a business planTraditional vs. lean plans, what goes in each section, and how lenders read one.Read the guide
- Funding guideSmall business grantsWhere real grants come from, what to expect, and the warning signs of grant scams.Read the guide
- Starting outProtect your business nameEntity names, DBAs, trademarks, domains and handles, and why they are not the same thing.Read the guide
How business funding works
- Business loans guideSBA loansHow the SBA’s 7(a), 504 and microloan programs work, who makes the loans and what lenders ask for.Read the guide
- Business loans guideWorking capital loansHow short-term business loans for operating costs work, what they cost and what to ask.Read the guide
- Business credit guideBusiness line of creditHow revolving business credit works, secured versus unsecured lines, and the fees to compare.Read the guide
- Business credit cards guideFirst business credit cardHow business cards work, why most carry personal guarantees, and how they can affect your credit.Read the guide
- Business financing explainedEquipment financingEquipment loans versus leases, buyout options, liens and the costs to compare.Read the guide
- Business financing explainedBusiness refinanceReplacing existing business debt with new financing: how it works and what to compare.Read the guide
- Business refinance guideLoan maturity and balloon refinanceBalloon payments, renewal versus refinancing, prepayment terms and a general timeline to plan around.Read the guide
- Business financing explainedConstruction loansFinancing to build, expand or renovate commercial property, released in stages as work is done.Read the guide
- Business financing explainedPayroll financingThe forms of short-term funding businesses use to cover payroll, and what each really costs.Read the guide
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