Starting a business still means planning, paperwork, and a few clear decisions. AI can speed drafts and research. It does not replace your judgment, your market, or your legal obligations.
Legal and registration steps vary by state and industry. Verify with your state, current SBA.gov, and counsel — this is practical orientation, not legal advice.
First-week checklist
Borrowing the classic “steps to start” outline (research → structure → name → tax ID → licenses → money), here is a week you can actually finish:
Write one page on the offer. Who you help, what you sell, what a first sale looks like, and roughly what it costs to deliver.
Talk to three real people who might buy. Notes beat assumptions.
Pick a working name and check that it is not already taken locally or as an obvious trademark collision. You can refine later.
Choose a simple structure for now (often sole prop or LLC — get local advice). Do not stall forever on entity choice.
List licenses and permits to verify for your city/county/state and industry. See our licenses guide.
Open a separate business bank account once you have a name/EIN path. Keep personal and business money apart from day one.
Sketch money for 30–90 days — revenue hope is not a cash plan. Shoestring is fine; surprise bills are not.
Where AI helps (and where it doesn’t)
Helps: drafting that one-pager, turning messy notes into a checklist, summarizing public guidance, outlining emails and FAQs.
Helps: comparing “what does my state usually require?” as a research starting point — then you verify on official sites.
Does not replace: signing contracts, filing taxes, choosing insurance, or deciding whether the idea is worth your time and money.
Does not replace: talking to customers. AI cannot tell you if someone will pay.
The classic steps (still true)
Older public guides framed startup as about ten steps: research and plan, get help, choose a location (or home/online), finance, pick a legal structure, register a name, get tax IDs, register for state/local taxes, obtain licenses, and handle employer duties if you hire.
In 2026 the sequence is the same. The tools are faster. Your judgment still closes each step.
Sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, corporation, nonprofit, cooperative — each has different liability and tax tradeoffs. Many solo operators start simple and change later. The mistake is waiting six months for a perfect entity while no customers appear.
Use a short call with a local attorney or CPA if the stakes are high (partners, investors, regulated industry). AI can list differences; it cannot pick your risk tolerance.
Name, EIN, and bank account
Check name availability with your state and a basic trademark search mindset.
Get an EIN from the IRS when required (common for LLCs, corporations, partnerships, and employers).
Open a business account once you can. Co-mingling personal and business funds creates messy books and messy taxes.
Help that is still worth it
Free or low-cost counseling (SCORE mentors, Small Business Development Centers, local chambers) remains valuable for reality checks. Bring your one-pager. Ask what they would verify first in your state.
Want AI help that fits real work?
Our experts put together a plain-English AI Starter for Owners — checklists, a 7-day prompt sequence, and members folder access. One-time $47.