The Small Business Start-Up Kit
by Peri Pakroo · Peri Pakroo
Step-by-step Nolo guide by Peri Pakroo to the legal and administrative work of opening a business: choosing a structure, registering a name, getting permits, filing taxes, and setting up bookkeeping, so first-time founders can complete setup themselves.
This link may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure
More resources on Legal Structures
SBA.gov Choose Your Business Structure
The U.S. Small Business Administration's official guide comparing sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, and C, S, and B corporations by liability, taxation, and paperwork, so founders can pick the entity that fits their business and understand what registering it involves.
The Entrepreneur's Guide to Law and Strategy
Textbook by Harvard Business School's Constance Bagley and venture lawyer Craig Dauchy covering entity choice, founder agreements, venture financing, intellectual property, contracts, and employment law, so founders can treat legal decisions as part of company strategy rather than paperwork.
nolo.com
Nolo is a legal information site offering plain-language articles, guides, and affordable do-it-yourself legal forms for individuals and small businesses. It covers business law topics such as forming an LLC, contracts, employment, and intellectual property, with templates, checklists, and state-specific guidance.
Legal Guide for Starting & Running a Small Business
Nolo's plain-English legal handbook by business attorney Fred Steingold, covering entity choice, licenses and permits, leases, contracts, hiring, insurance, taxes, and disputes, so owners of a small US business can handle routine legal matters and know when to hire a lawyer.
sba.gov
The U.S. Small Business Administration (sba.gov) is a government resource offering guidance for starting and growing small businesses, including business-law topics such as contracts, licensing, compliance, financing, and federal contracting.