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Looking to Start, Grow, or Accelerate your business?

Start a Personal Action Plan today!

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The Steps to Start a Small Business

Interested in creating a business? Here are steps to get you started.

( 10 steps to start your business, U.S. Small Business Administration )

1 Conduct Market Research

Gather information about potential customers and businesses already operating in Ashland to see if there’s an opportunity to turn your idea into a successful business.

2 Write Your Personal Action Plan

This is the foundation of your business and a roadmap for how to structure, run and grow your new business.

3 Fund Your Business

Your business plan will help you know how much money will be needed to start your business. If you don’t have this amount, you’ll need to either raise or borrow it.

4 Pick Your Ashland Area Business Location

Whether you’re wishing for a brick-and-mortar business or launching an online store, the choices you make could affect your taxes, legal requirements and revenue.

5 Choose a Business Structure

Your legal business structure impacts your registration requirements, how much you pay in taxes and your personal liability.

6 Choose Your Business Name

Picking a name isn’t easy, but it should reflect your brand and capture your spirit. Also, make sure your name isn’t already being used by someone.

7 Register Your Business

Once you’ve picked the right business name, make it legal to protect your brand. You’ll need to register with the federal government.

8 Get Federal and State Tax Ids

Use your employer identification number for important steps to start and grow your business, like opening a bank account and paying taxes.

9 Apply for Licenses and Permits

Stay legally compliant to keep your business running smoothly. The licenses and permits you need for your business will vary by individual, state, location and other factors.

10 Open a Business Bank Account

A small business checking account can help you handle legal, tax and day-to-day issues. Once you have the right registration and paperwork, it’s easy to set up.

The Working Community

About 330 employees in Ashland travel nine minutes or less to their jobs, according to estimates done by the American Community Survey. An estimated 250 employees travel 40 minutes or more to get to a job outside of city limits.

Although Ashland largely consists of an agriculturally-based economy, there are various types of employment distributed over many categories of work.

Retail trade
Health care and social assistance
Arts, entertainment and recreation
Manufacturing
Accommodation and food services
Mining
Wholesale trade

An Exemplary Place to Work

Whether you’re looking to start something new or join an already established company, Ashland is the place to be. With booming business and new positions popping up all over town, you’ll find your place in the community.