START A BUSINESS BY STATE
Start your business.
Get the setup right.
Find startup costs, licensing requirements and help with formation, insurance and funding for the business you want to build.
Free startup guides All 50 states + D.C.
READY TO MOVE FORWARD?
Take care of your next step
Form your LLC
Get help with the filing, registered agent and setup steps so you can get on with building your business.
Start my LLCGet insurance for your business
Tell Simply Business what you do to explore coverage options and compare quotes for your business.
Explore industry insurance guides
Fund your next move
Compare options for equipment, working capital or expansion based on your business stage and borrowing needs.
Compare funding optionsOur guides are free. We may earn a commission when you use a partner service.
BUILD SOMETHING OF YOUR OWN
Explore our industry-specific startup guides
Go deeper into the costs, licensing and practical steps for these types of businesses.
AI automation
Turn business workflows into paid automation services. Plan your offer, tools and first clients.
Auto dealership
Work through dealer licensing, location requirements and the costs of opening your lot.
Cleaning service
Plan your services, startup costs, insurance and first customers.
Daycare
Work through licensing, your space, staffing and the costs of opening a childcare business.
Electrical business
Connect your trade qualifications with contractor licensing, insurance and running your own business.
Food truck
Plan the truck, kitchen arrangements, permits and operating costs before your first service.
Hair salon
Map out salon licensing, your location, equipment and the business side of opening.
HVAC
Plan your qualifications, contractor setup, tools, insurance and service customers.
Landscaping
Choose your services, budget for equipment and get the business ready for clients.
Massage therapy
Move from practitioner requirements to setting up your practice and finding clients.
Plumbing business
Plan contractor licensing, equipment, insurance and the work of running your own operation.
Private investigator
Understand experience and licensing requirements, agency setup and finding your first cases.
Property management
Plan licensing, management fees, business setup and winning property-owner clients.
Real estate agent
Follow the path through education, licensing, brokerage selection and your first clients.
Tree service
Plan your services, local requirements, equipment, safety and business insurance.
THE DETAILS DEPEND ON WHERE YOU WORK
Find the requirements in your state
Get the registration, tax and licensing steps for your location, with agency details and filing costs.
Browse all 50 states + D.C.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
PUT THE NUMBERS TO WORK
Research for real business decisions
Our guides bring together official requirements and practical setup steps. Our research uses public data, with sources and methods explained in each study.
What does a Delaware LLC really cost?
Compare the filing fee with the costs that can follow when you operate in another state.
Read the research Business survivalHow long do businesses stay open?
Explore BLS survival data by state and industry, with the definitions behind the numbers.
Read the research AI at workWhat are businesses actually using AI for?
See which tasks businesses report using AI for, from writing to everyday office work.
Read the researchBEFORE YOU BEGIN
A few useful answers
Where should I start?
Choose your state to find registration, licensing and setup requirements for where you plan to operate. Then explore our industry-specific guides for more detail on startup costs and the work involved.
How do I work out my startup costs?
Build a budget around registration, licenses, insurance, equipment and the cash you need before customers start paying. Your business-type guide helps identify those costs; your state guide provides the local requirements and filing details.
Are the guides free?
Yes. You can read our guides and research without an account or subscription. Formation, insurance and funding services have their own fees or terms. We may earn a commission when you use a partner service.