Business Startup Checklist

Following is a new business startup checklist assembled by Nationwide Accounting Services to assist in developing a new business. Not all items listed apply to every business. There may be items you will want to consider that are not listed.

  • ADA Compliance (Americans with Disabilities) Act
  • Advertising Materials
  • Alcoholic Beverage Permit
  • Select Agent for Service of Process
  • Bank Account
  • Budget for 12 Months
  • Building Permit
  • Business Credit Card
  • Business Directories - Listings
  • Business / Marketing Plan
  • Chamber of Commerce Membership, Open House
  • Cleaning Service
  • Computer Backup System
  • Computers, Printers
  • Confidentiality Agreement
  • Contracts - Standard Forms
  • Copier/Scanner
  • Coupons
  • Credit Card Merchant Account
  • Design Business Cards, Letterhead, Envelopes, Brochure
  • Determine Location of Business
  • Employee Handbook
  • Employment Agreement
  • Equipment - Lease
  • Equipment - Purchase
  • Establish Prices For All Products/Services
  • File Fictitious Business Name Statement (DBA)
  • Fire Department Permits
  • Fixtures - Purchase
  • Forms - Approved For Use
  • Franchise Compliance Checklist
  • Furniture - Purchase or Lease
  • Grand Opening
  • Health Permit
  • Hire Employees and / or Independent Contractors
  • Independent Contractor Agreement
  • Insurance - Directors and Officers (D&O)
  • Insurance - Health
  • Insurance" Liability
  • Insurance - Property
  • Insurance - Workers' Compensation
  • Job Descriptions - Written
  • Kitchen Supplies
  • License - City or County
  • License - Professional
  • Line of Credit
  • Mail Announcements
  • Merchants Association
  • Name of Business
  • Neighborhood Watch
  • Non-Compete Agreement
  • Obtain Federal Tax ID Number
  • Obtain State Resale Sale Permit
  • Office/Retail Lease
  • Operations Manual
  • Office Supplies
  • Order Business Cards, Letterhead, Envelopes, Brochures
  • Payroll Service
  • Phone Equipment - Purchase or Lease
  • Phone Lines
  • Policies and Procedures Manual
  • Postage Machine
  • Press Release
  • Professional Associations
  • Purchase Inventory
  • Research - Competitors
  • Safe, Cash Register
  • SBA Loan
  • Security Guard - .Gash Pickups
  • Select Attorney
  • Select Commercial Bank
  • Select Form of Business Entity - Form It
  • Security Alarm/Monitoring
  • Set up Accounting System, Billing System
  • Shareholders Agreement (Buy - Sell)
  • Sign Permits
  • Signs
  • Small Claims Filing Service
  • Start-up Capital
  • Surveillance Cameras
  • Tenant Leasing Agent
  • Trademark Registrations
  • Trade Organizations
  • Train Employees
  • Website Design and Construction
  • Zoning Limitations

Nationwide Accounting Services
818-991-9019