Registration, Licenses, Permits, Trademarks and Names

State Legal Requirements For Starting a Small Business

Find your state's laws and requirements for starting a small business. Regulations, permits, requirements, and licenses for women and other small business owners.

How to Get a Business License and Special Permits

Local start-up requirements for women-owned and other small businesses. How to get a business license, safety and health inspections, and special permits and licenses.

Four Steps to Legally Establish the Name of Your Small Business

More women entrepreneurs own sole proprietorships than any other form of business. Even though a sole proprietorship is not subject to the name availability rules of other business structures, you still need to register the name of your business.

8 Tips for Naming Your Business

Your company name is a critical part of your overall corporate identity and should reflect something important about who you are or what you do. The name of your business will be on your letterhead, your promotional materials, and website – anywhere it appears in print.

Using a Fictitious Business Name

How to file a fictitious name statement, also known as Doing Business As or DBA statement.