Who’s Behind This Site
My name is Robert Smith. I’m a small business owner based in Tallahassee, Florida. I run a private investigation firm, which means I’ve been through the full gauntlet of state licensing, permits, background checks, insurance requirements, and regulatory compliance firsthand.
When I started my business, I spent weeks piecing together information from scattered government websites, county offices, and state agencies. The process was frustrating – not because it was complicated, but because nobody had put all the information in one place.
That experience is why this site exists.
What We Do
We research what it takes to start a business in every state so you don’t have to.
Each guide on this site is built by reviewing official state sources – Secretary of State offices, departments of revenue, professional licensing boards, county agencies, and industry-specific regulatory bodies. We compile the requirements, costs, timelines, and application links into clear, step-by-step guides.
We cover:
- Business formation – LLC registration, EIN applications, business structure decisions
- State licenses and permits – What your state requires to operate legally
- Industry-specific requirements – The exact certifications, inspections, and permits your business type needs
- Tax registration – Sales tax, employer taxes, and state tax IDs
- Insurance requirements – Workers’ comp thresholds, liability coverage, and bonding
- Costs – Real fees from real agencies, not guesswork
Our Research Process
Every guide follows the same process:
- Primary source review – We go directly to state agency websites (.gov sources), not third-party summaries
- Cross-referencing – Requirements are verified across multiple official sources
- Fee verification – All costs are pulled from current agency fee schedules
- Direct linking – Every requirement links to the specific agency or application page where you can take action
- Regular updates – Rules change. We update guides when fees, requirements, or processes change
Why Trust This Site
We’re not a law firm, and this isn’t legal advice. We’re researchers who care about accuracy. Here’s what sets us apart:
- Firsthand experience – The founder has navigated state business licensing personally, in one of the most heavily regulated industries (private investigation)
- No paywalls – All information is free. You shouldn’t have to pay to learn what your government requires
- No filler content – Every page exists because it contains information that’s genuinely hard to find or poorly organized elsewhere
- Cited sources – We link to the official agencies throughout every guide so you can verify everything yourself
Disclaimer: The information on this site is for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, tax, or professional advice. Requirements change – always verify current requirements with the relevant state and local agencies before relying on any information here.
Get in Touch
Have a question, correction, or suggestion? We’d love to hear from you. Visit our contact page or email res@startbusinessbystate.com.