Resources

Starting your business

• Business startup checklist The steps to take when starting a business, in order, so nothing gets missed. PDF
• Sole proprietorship guide How a sole proprietorship works and what to consider before choosing it. PDF
• Limited liability company (LLC) guide How a limited liability company works and what to consider before forming one. PDF
• Ohio single-member LLC operating agreement template An editable template that sets out how your single-member LLC is owned and run. Word document
• Trademark registration toolkit An overview of protecting your business name or logo with a registered trademark. PDF

Planning and finance

• Business Model Canvas A one-page planning tool for mapping your customers, value, costs and revenue. Image (JPG)
• Financial projections spreadsheet (SCORE) SCORE's template for estimating startup costs, sales, expenses and cash flow. Excel spreadsheet
• Discounting How to use discounts and promotions without giving away your profit. PDF

Taxes, insurance and compliance

• Ohio tax courses for small businesses (OVTA OnDemand eLearning) Free, self-paced courses of about an hour each on sales tax, employer withholding and tax compliance. Free online courses
• Ohio services subject to sales tax A list of services that are taxable in Ohio, so you know when to charge sales tax. PDF
• Small business insurance guide The main types of business insurance and how to decide what coverage you need. PDF

For SBDC clients

• SBDC client success form For current clients: report results such as jobs created or financing received. PDF

Free tools

Interactive tools you can use on your own, free. Nothing you enter is sent to the SBDC.