Strike Right

Your plan

Starting checklist

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No cost or low cost

Help matched to your business

Also check your city or county economic development office, your chamber of commerce, community colleges and the public library. Many run free workshops and keep lists of local grants.

Forming an LLC

What it takes to form an LLC in each state

Pick a state to see its filing fee, ongoing reports and special rules, plus everything to have ready before you file.

State

What you need before you file (every state)

A unique name ending in "LLC," "L.L.C." or "Limited Liability Company." Check the state's business name search first.
A registered agent with a physical street address in that state (no P.O. boxes), available during business hours. You can be your own agent.
A principal business address, which can be in another state. Filings are public, so some owners use a business address instead of home.
Organizer and member or manager names, depending on the state's form.
Management choice: member-managed (owners run it) or manager-managed.
The filing fee, paid online by card in most states.

Right after you file

Get a free EIN from the IRS ↗.
Sign an operating agreement. New York requires a written one; every LLC should have one, especially with more than one owner.
Open a business bank account and keep business money separate.
Put the annual report or tax due date on your calendar. Missing it can get the LLC dissolved.
Register for state taxes and get any licenses your work needs.
Federal beneficial ownership (BOI) reports: FinCEN now exempts companies formed in the U.S. Check fincen.gov ↗ for changes.

Compare all 50 states + DC

Tap a column heading to sort.

			Report	Special rules

State fees as listed in October 2026. Online, mail and expedite fees can differ, and fees change. Confirm on your state's official site before you pay. Find your state's filing office ↗

Going beyond your home state

Selling in all states or selected states

Where you sell changes what you register, which taxes you collect and which rules apply. Choose your reach to see what applies to your business.

Where will you sell?

First customers

Pilots, trials, promotions and getting known

Ready to send

Business letter builder

Pick a letter, fill in the details and copy a finished business letter or email. It uses your state, city and business type from the top of the page.

Letter type

Your name

Your title

Business name

Email and/or phone

What you offer, in one phrase

Recipient name

Recipient title

Recipient organization

Blanks show as [brackets] until you fill them in. Letters of intent are written as non-binding; have anything binding reviewed by a lawyer or a free legal clinic.

Decide before you file

Business structures compared

You can start simple and change later. Ask a free adviser which fits before paying any filing fee.

Structure	Good for	Personal liability	Filing & upkeep	Taxes (default)
Sole proprietorship	Testing an idea alone, low-risk work	You're personally responsible for business debts and claims	No state formation filing. A DBA if you use a business name	Profit goes on your personal return (Schedule C) plus self-employment tax
General partnership	Two or more owners starting informally	Each partner is personally responsible, including for other partners' business acts	Usually no formation filing. A written partnership agreement is strongly advised	Partnership files an information return; profit passes to each partner
LLC	Most small businesses wanting liability protection	Generally limited to what you put in, if you keep business and personal money separate	State filing, registered agent, usually an annual or biennial report	Passes through by default. Can elect S-corp treatment once profits justify payroll
Corporation	Raising investor money or issuing shares	Generally limited	Most paperwork: bylaws, board, minutes, state reports	C-corp is taxed separately; S-corp election passes through

Raising venture capital for an app? Investors usually expect a Delaware C-corporation. If you start as an LLC, you can convert later. SBA guide to structures ↗

Starting with little or no money

A realistic funding ladder

Climb in order. Each step costs less and risks less than the one after it.

Spend nothing you don't have to
Validate with real customers first: conversations, a simple landing page, pre-orders or a paid pilot. Use free advising, free software tiers and library research before paying for anything.
Earn your first revenue
A small first sale is the strongest proof you can show a lender or program, and it funds the next step without debt. Signed letters of intent help too.
Microloans and community lenders
SBA microloans go up to $50,000 through nonprofit intermediaries. Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) often lend to people banks turn down. These are loans and must be repaid. SBA microloans ↗ · CDFI Fund ↗
Grants, where you genuinely qualify
Grants for ordinary for-profit startups are rare and competitive. Real ones tend to be local (city, county, foundations), sector-specific, or for research-based technology through SBIR/STTR. SBIR.gov ↗ · Grants.gov ↗
Investors and accelerators
Fits businesses built to grow fast. Expect to give up equity, and read terms carefully before accepting.

Questions to ask any program

Are applications open now, and when is the next deadline?
Can I apply before registering the business or earning revenue?
Is this a grant, a loan, an investment or a reimbursement?
Is it free? If not, are fee waivers or scholarships available?
Do I need collateral, a credit history or matching funds?
Which documents do I need to apply?

Avoid grant scams.Real grant programs never ask you to pay a fee to receive money, and no one can guarantee you a grant. Be wary of calls, texts or ads promising "free government money." FTC: government grant scams ↗

Plain answers

Common questions

Do I need an LLC to start?

No. You can legally operate as a sole proprietor in every state, though you may need a DBA, licenses or permits. An LLC adds liability protection and some paperwork. Many people test an idea first, then form an LLC once money or risk is involved.

Which state should I form my LLC in?

Usually the state where you live and work. Forming elsewhere (Delaware, Wyoming, Nevada) doesn't avoid your home state: if you operate at home you'll likely have to register there too and pay both states' fees. The main exception is a startup raising venture capital, which often forms a Delaware corporation.

Does getting an EIN cost anything?

No. An Employer Identification Number is free from the IRS, and you can apply online in minutes. Sites that charge for one are third parties. You need an EIN if you have employees or form a multi-member LLC or corporation, and banks often ask for one.

Is filing an LLC the same as getting a business license?

No. Forming an LLC creates the legal entity. Licenses and permits are separate, come from your city, county or state, and depend on what you do and where you do it.

What's a registered agent?

A person or company with a physical street address in your state who accepts legal papers for your LLC or corporation. You can usually be your own agent. The address becomes public record, so some owners use a paid agent service for privacy.

What's a DBA?

"Doing business as," also called an assumed or fictitious name. You file one when you operate under a name that isn't your legal name or your LLC's exact registered name. Depending on the state, it's filed with the state or the county.

Should I open a separate bank account?

Yes. Keeping business money separate makes taxes far easier, and for an LLC or corporation it helps protect the liability shield.

How do I protect my business name?

Registering with your state stops another company from registering the identical name there, but it isn't a trademark. Search the federal trademark database before you invest in a name, logo or domain. USPTO trademark search ↗

Who owns the code, designs or content someone builds for me?

Without a written agreement assigning the rights to your business, a freelancer or contractor usually keeps the copyright to what they create. Use a written contract with an IP assignment clause for anyone who builds your product, logo or content.

Strike Right is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Programs, fees and rules change, so confirm details with the official office or a qualified adviser before you rely on them.

About

About Strike Right

Strike Right is a free guide for anyone starting a business in the United States. It turns scattered official information into one plan: what to file, which licenses apply, where to get free help, and how to win your first customers, tailored to your state, city and type of business.

No sign-up and no cost. Your choices stay in your own browser. Strike Right is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

Strike Right created by Frandy Slueue, a production of CodeBreeder LLC.