Start-a-Business Checklist

It's easy to do the startup steps out of order, like paying for a logo before anyone checks the name, or going to the bank before the EIN comes through.

This free 2-page checklist puts the steps in order, from testing the idea on five real buyers to the annual report you'll owe next year. Each line links to the official page that sets the rule (IRS, SBA, USPTO, FinCEN, ICANN, CISA and your Secretary of State), so you can confirm the current fee or form before you pay anything.

Georgia is the worked example. You'll see the $110 online filing fee, the rule that your registered agent needs a street address in Georgia, and the January 1 to April 1 window for the annual registration. In another state? The NASS directory link takes you to your own state's filing and name-search pages.

What's on the two pages:

• 12 sections with checkboxes: idea check, name, structure, state filing, registered agent, EIN, operating agreement, bank account, licenses and sales tax, BOI report, annual report, IT basics
• An official link on every step that has a rule or a fee behind it
• Two scam warnings: the IRS never charges for an EIN, and under FinCEN's August 2026 rule US-formed companies no longer file BOI reports, so check fincen.gov before you answer any letter that wants a fee to "file your BOI"
• A print-ready PDF and an editable Word copy

What it doesn't do: it doesn't file anything for you, choose your business structure, or tell you what you'll owe in tax. City and county license rules vary, so the checklist tells you who to ask instead of guessing. The S corporation line tells you to talk to a CPA before you elect.

How it was made: AmagiLabs wrote it with AI help, and every fee, date and step was checked against the linked official page on Oct 29, 2026. Fees change, so re-check the page before you file.

It's free. Enter $0 and your email, and the download link is sent to you. You'll also get one short email when AmagiLabs releases another free tool, and you can unsubscribe from any of them in one click.

Informational only. Not legal, tax or accounting advice. Fees and rules change; check the linked official page before you file. Talk to an attorney or CPA about your situation.

Made by AmagiLabs (amagilabs.ai).