Starting a Business in the state of Michigan

According to the website http://www.business.gov/stes/michigan/start.html, there are ten guidelines to starting a business, some of which are legal requirements. I have provided an outline below of steps you will want to take when starting a small business. The website above will go into greater detail for each of these steps to guide you into what is required within the state of Michigan.

1. Research and plan your business – learn about writing a business plan
2. Get business training and expert advice - taking advantage of free training and counseling services in your community.
3. Select a location for your business - get advice about complying with zoning laws.
4. Financing your business – learn about government backed loans, venture capital, angel investors, or grants that may help you get started.
5. Select your business name - file an assumed name certificate with your county clerk’s office.
6. Determine the legal structure for your business - register this with the state of Michigan
7. Get an employer identification number (EIN) which is also known as a federal tax identification number. You can apply for this number online.
8. Register for state taxes - learn about registering for one or more tax-specific identification numbers, licenses or permits including income tax withholding, sales and use tax (seller’s permit), and unemployment insurance tax.
9. Obtain business licenses and permits - to operate legally, most businesses require a business license or permit issued by the state and your local government.
10. Research legal requirements for adding employee – research steps to understand any legal requirements you must take before hiring employees
    
    Go to the link at the beginning of this post to obtain more information related to each step outlined above.