Start a business (first week)
Starting a business still means planning, paperwork, and a few clear decisions. AI can speed drafts and research. It does not replace your judgment, your market, or your legal obligations.
By Rich Thurman, who spent about 15 years at Microsoft as an application-development consultant and has helped about 1,500 small businesses automate the busywork that eats their week. He still builds real software, AI and data systems today.
First-week checklist
Borrowing the classic “steps to start” outline (research → structure → name → tax ID → licenses → money), here is a week you can actually finish:
- Write one page on the offer. Who you help, what you sell, what a first sale looks like, and roughly what it costs to deliver.
- Talk to three real people who might buy. Notes beat assumptions.
- Pick a working name and check that it is not already taken locally or as an obvious trademark collision. You can refine later.
- Choose a simple structure for now (often sole prop or LLC — get local advice). Do not stall forever on entity choice.
- List licenses and permits to verify for your city/county/state and industry. See our licenses guide.
- Open a separate business bank account once you have a name/EIN path. Keep personal and business money apart from day one.
- Sketch money for 30–90 days — revenue hope is not a cash plan. Shoestring is fine; surprise bills are not.
Quick answers
Should I talk to customers before I start?
Talk to three real people who might buy. Notes beat assumptions.
Should I keep business and personal money apart?
Keep personal and business money apart from day one.
Can AI tell me if my idea will sell?
AI cannot tell you if someone will pay.
How do I pick a business structure?
Many solo operators start simple and change later. The mistake is waiting six months for a perfect entity while no customers appear.
Where can I get free or low-cost help?
Free or low-cost counseling (SCORE mentors, Small Business Development Centers, local chambers) remains valuable for reality checks.
Read the rest of this guide, free
Tell us where to reach you and the full guide opens right here. One sign-up opens every free guide on this site, on this device.
Free live AI training for business owners, every Tuesday.
Rich helps small business owners use AI to save time on the work they already do. Watch him show you how, live. Then ask your questions.
Next session: Tuesday at 5:30 PM Arizona time (4:30 Pacific · 6:30 Central · 7:30 Eastern)
Where AI helps (and where it doesn’t)
- Helps: drafting that one-pager, turning messy notes into a checklist, summarizing public guidance, outlining emails and FAQs.
- Helps: comparing “what does my state usually require?” as a research starting point — then you verify on official sites.
- Does not replace: signing contracts, filing taxes, choosing insurance, or deciding whether the idea is worth your time and money.
- Does not replace: talking to customers. AI cannot tell you if someone will pay.
The classic steps (still true)
Older public guides framed startup as about ten steps: research and plan, get help, choose a location (or home/online), finance, pick a legal structure, register a name, get tax IDs, register for state/local taxes, obtain licenses, and handle employer duties if you hire.
In 2026 the sequence is the same. The tools are faster. Your judgment still closes each step.
Next guides
Choosing structure without freezing
Sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, corporation, nonprofit, cooperative — each has different liability and tax tradeoffs. Many solo operators start simple and change later. The mistake is waiting six months for a perfect entity while no customers appear.
Use a short call with a local attorney or CPA if the stakes are high (partners, investors, regulated industry). AI can list differences; it cannot pick your risk tolerance.
Name, EIN, and bank account
- Check name availability with your state and a basic trademark search mindset.
- Get an EIN from the IRS when required (common for LLCs, corporations, partnerships, and employers).
- Open a business account once you can. Co-mingling personal and business funds creates messy books and messy taxes.
Help that is still worth it
Free or low-cost counseling (SCORE mentors, Small Business Development Centers, local chambers) remains valuable for reality checks. Bring your one-pager. Ask what they would verify first in your state.
Watch AI used on real jobs, live and free
I feed it the actual copy of the post and then I get back from it the response to that Facebook post and I've gone from getting no likes on those to getting about 10 or 15 likes on people that have read those posts [...]
Every Tuesday at 5:30 PM Arizona time (4:30 Pacific · 6:30 Central · 7:30 Eastern), Rich teaches a free 30-minute AI training on everyday business jobs like the one on this page, then Q&A for the rest of the hour. Online, on Zoom, open to everyone.
Want AI help that fits real work?
Our experts put together a plain-English AI Starter for Owners — five copy-and-paste routines for jobs you do every week. $47 one time for the kit. NextGen Member is separate: $19 a month, billed monthly until you cancel.
Get the $47 AI StarterOptional next step. These guides stay free either way.
Start free, go further when you're ready
- Live TuesdaysFreeA 30-minute live AI training every Tuesday, then Q&A.
- AI Starter$47 one timeFive copy-and-paste AI routines. Comes with the option of one free month of Member. After 30 days, Member is $19 a month unless you cancel.
- NextGen Member$19 a monthShort lessons, new ones as we go. Cancel anytime.
A simple starting point, not legal advice. Rules change, so check with your state, SBA.gov, or a lawyer.