Register your business | U. S. Small Business Administration Register with local agencies Typically, you don’t need to register with county or city governments to actually form your business If your business is an LLC, corporation, partnership, or nonprofit corporation, you might need to file for licenses and permits from the county or city
Veteran Small Business Certification Veteran Small Business Certification Veteran-owned small businesses can use this application to be certified by SBA to compete for federal contracts Certified veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) will have the opportunity to pursue sole-source and set-aside contracts at the Department of Veterans Affairs under the VA's Vets First program Certified service-disabled veteran-owned small
Choose a business structure | U. S. Small Business Administration You'll need to choose a business structure before you register your business with the state Most businesses will also need to get a tax ID number and file for the appropriate licenses and permits
Basic requirements | U. S. Small Business Administration Register with SAM To participate in government contracting, you must register your business in the federal government’s System for Award Management (SAM) SAM is a database that government agencies search to find contractors Using SAM, you'll be able to certify that your business is eligible for contracts that are reserved for small businesses
Get federal and state tax ID numbers - Small Business Administration Get a federal tax ID number Your Employer Identification Number (EIN) is your business’s federal tax ID number You need it to pay federal taxes, hire employees, open a bank account, and apply for business licenses and permits
Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract program Program benefits To help provide a level playing field for women business owners, the government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses that participate in the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract program
Veteran-owned businesses | U. S. Small Business Administration Training programs To help you succeed, our custom courses are available in-person and online Learn the basics of owning a business and get access to SBA resources You will also hear from small business experts Read on to see what's available