Business Start-Up Checklist
Inquire with the Montana Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network to assist with navigating business ventures.
DETERMINE YOUR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
Resource:
- Small Business Administration: Choose Your Business Structure
- Montana SBDC: Legal Structures
- Internal Revenue Service: Business Structures
REGISTER YOUR ASSUMED BUSINESS NAME
Resource:
- Montana Secretary of State's Office: Register A Business
Contact:
FILE APPROPRIATE ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUMENTS
Resource:
- Montana Secretary of State’s Office: Montana Business Name Search
Contact:
APPLY FOR FEDERAL AND STATE TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS
Resource:
Contact:
DETERMINE BUSINESS LICENSING REQUIREMENTS
Resource:
- Montana Department of Revenue: State of Montana Licenses
Contact:
- Montana Department of Revenue: 406.444.6900 | eStop Business Licenses
- Montana Department of Labor & Industry: 406.841.2300 | Professional & Occupational Licensing
- Montana Department of Agriculture: 406.444.3144 | Technical Service Bureau
- Montana Department of Revenue: 406.444.6900 | Liquor Licensing Division
- Montana Department of Justice: 406.444.1971 | Gambling Control Division
- Montana Department of Labor & Industry: 406.444.9029 | Independent Contractor Central Unit
- Montana Department of Labor & Industry: 406.444.0563 | Construction Contractor Registration Unit
EMPLOYMENT RULES AND REGULATIONS
Resource:
- Montana Department of Revenue: Employee Tax
- Montana Department of Labor & Industry: Employment Laws
- Montana Department of Labor & Industry: Worker’s Compensation and Occupational Disease Blue Book
- Montana Department of Labor & Industry: Montana Unemployment Insurance Employer Handbook
- Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services: New Hire Booklet
Contact:
- Montana Association of Labor & Industry: 406.444.0566 | Worker’s Compensation Regulations Bureau
- Montana Association of Labor & Industry: 406.444.3783 | Unemployment Insurance Division
- Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services: 406.444.9290 | New Hire Reporting System
DETERMINE TAX OBLIGATIONS AND SETTING UP WITHHOLDING RECORDS
Resource:
- IRS Publication 583: Starting a Business and Keeping Records
- IRS Publication 334: Tax Guide for Small Business
- IRS Publication 505: Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax
- Montana Department of Revenue: Montana Wage Withholding Tax Information
Contact:
PROTECT YOUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Contact:
- Montana Technology Innovation Partnership (MTIP): 406.994.3885
- U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: 1.800.786.9199
- U.S. Copyright Office: 1.877.476.0778
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Business Resources: 406.841.2870 | Business MT
- Exporting: 406.841.2783 | Export Montana
- Government Contracting: 406.256.6871 | Montana Procurement Technical Assistance Centers
- Healthcare Reform: 406.444.2040 | Montana Health Insurance Answers
- Manufacturing: 406.994.3812 | Montana Manufacturing Extension Centers
- Market Research: 406.532.3265 | Montana Site Selector
- Market Research: 406.841.2740 | Data and Research
- Market Research: 406.841.2740 | Census and Economic Information Center
- Market Research: 1.800.923.8282 | U.S. Census Bureau
- Market Research: 406.444.4100 | Montana Labor Market Information
- Montana Products: 406.841.2757 | Made in Montana
- Veteran Business Outreach Center: 406.869.8411 | VBOC
- Women in Business: 406.587.3113 | Montana Women’s Business Center
