Scribd
Upload
9 views3 pages

Startup Checklist 20151

The document provides a checklist of steps for starting a business in Maine, including: preparing a business plan and financial statements; choosing an entity structure; obtaining necessary licenses and permits; registering for tax and employer identification numbers if taking on employees; ensuring compliance with zoning ordinances; and obtaining necessary insurance. It recommends consulting resources like the Maine Small Business Development Centers for additional assistance or questions.

Uploaded by

anawarmohammed637
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
9 views3 pages

Startup Checklist 20151

The document provides a checklist of steps for starting a business in Maine, including: preparing a business plan and financial statements; choosing an entity structure; obtaining necessary licenses and permits; registering for tax and employer identification numbers if taking on employees; ensuring compliance with zoning ordinances; and obtaining necessary insurance. It recommends consulting resources like the Maine Small Business Development Centers for additional assistance or questions.

Uploaded by

anawarmohammed637
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

BUSINESS STARTUP CHECKLIST

The following is a list of steps which provide general guidelines


to anyone who is starting a business in Maine.

 Prepare a written business plan, complete with pro-forma financial statements. This
can serve as an operating guide as well as a financing prospectus. The business plan describes
what you plan on doing and how you plan on doing it. The financial statements include a cash-
flow projection, profit and loss statement and a balance sheet.

 Choose a business entity. Decide whether you wish to operate as a sole proprietorship,
partnership, limited liability company or corporation.

 If you decide to incorporate, form a limited liability company (LLC) or a partnership,


you should consult an attorney and tax accountant. However, you can obtain incorporation
papers from the Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, 101 State House Station,
Augusta, ME 04333. Telephone: 207-624-7736. Forms and information are also available from
their website: (http://www.state.me.us/sos/cec/corp/index.html). If already incorporated in
another state, obtain an application to do business in Maine as a foreign corporation from the
same office.

 If you decide not to incorporate and wish to protect the name of your business, you may
file a Trademark or Service mark with the Secretary of State’s office. For information about
filing for marks in Maine, you may call 207-624-7736 or visit their website:
(http://www.state.me.us/sos/cec/corp/index.html).

 If your business will operate under a business name that is different from your given name, you
must register that name in the city or town where your business is located. This is called filing a
D/B/A (Doing Business As) and the fee varies slightly, according to your location.

 Determine whether you need to obtain any state licenses or permits to operate your
business. Business Answers, (http://www.maine.gov/businessanswers/) a program of the
Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, has a One-Stop Licensing
Center for all the information needed to obtain appropriate licenses for your business. This
service can be reached at 1-800-872-3838 (in state) or 1-800-541-5872 (out of state). You should
also inquire about local licenses and permits at your local town office or city hall.

 Check with the local code enforcement officer to determine if your business will be in
compliance with local zoning ordinances.

1
If you decide to incorporate, or if your partnership or proprietorship has
employees, you will need to:

• Register for a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN). Complete and file
IRS Form SS-4, EIN. You are required to file this if you: pay wages to one or more
employees; or are required to have an EIN to use on a specific return, statement or
document (often banks will require this for a business checking account); or plan to
incorporate (in which case owners drawing salaries are considered employees). This
form can be obtained from the nearest IRS office, or call 1-800-829-3676. IRS forms and
publications can be downloaded from their website: http://www.irs.gov.

• Register for Maine State Income Tax Withholding and Unemployment


Insurance. Complete and file the Application for Tax Registration from the Maine
Revenue Services, 207- 624-5644. The application can be downloaded from
http://www.maine.gov/revenue. You can also register online at the Maine Department
of Labor’s online services: http://www.maine.gov/labor.

• Have employees complete and keep in employer’s files: Employee’s Withholding


Certificate W-4 obtained from the IRS and Employment Eligibility Verification
Form I-9 obtained from the U.S. Dept. of Citizenship and Immigration Services. This
form can be downloaded from: www.uscis.gov/forms or call 1-800-870-3676.

• Obtain Worker’s Compensation Insurance from the business’s insurance carrier.

• Maine employers are required to report newly hired, rehired or terminated


employees to the Maine Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) within 7
days. Employers may submit reports by using the New Hire online portal or
downloading the Report Form. For more information contact Division of Support
Enforcement and Recovery at 207-624-4100 or go to: www.maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/dser.

• Obtain and post the required labor posters that summarize state and federal labor
laws by calling the Maine Department of Labor at 207-623-7900 or download from:
http://www.maine.gov/labor/posters.

 If you plan to sell a taxable product or service, you must obtain a State Sales Tax Number
by filing the Application for Tax Registration with the Maine Revenue Services. This form is also
used to register for State of Maine income tax withholding and unemployment insurance. You
can apply online or download the application at http://www.maine.gov/revenue or call 207-
624-5466.

 Apply for a Resale Certificate if you are a retailer and expect to make purchases for resale
and meet the required qualifications. This certificate allows a retailer to make such purchases
without paying the Maine Sales Tax on them. When the retailer applies for a sales tax
registration, the retailer will be issued a provisional resale certificate provided the applicant
expects to make $3,000 or more in gross sales over the next year. See above for application
information.

2
 If necessary, contact the Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards to determine
compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Telephone: 207-623-7900.

 Contact an insurance agent regarding the necessary insurance coverage your business
will require.

If you have further questions or would like to speak with a business advisor, contact the Maine
Small Business Development Centers at 207-780-4420 or visit our website (www.mainesbdc.org).

You might also like