D2.BC.01

Business entity registered and EIN obtained

How this closesHand in your document — Submitting it closes this step. We keep a copy for your record — we never file or submit anything for you.

Why this matters

Your entity registration and EIN are the two documents everything else is built on. No business bank account, no seller permit, no payroll, no contract and no loan application proceeds without them.

If you are operating as a sole proprietor under your own name you may already be trading legally, but you will need an EIN the moment you hire anyone or open a business account.

Before you start

Decide your entity type (sole proprietor, LLC, corporation, partnership), your business name, and a California address.

The EIN is issued free by the IRS and takes minutes online. Registering an LLC or corporation with the California Secretary of State carries a filing fee and takes longer. Current fees not yet confirmed by LAEDC.

The rest of this step is for LAEDC clients

The steps themselves, the questions worth asking Pathfinder, where to send your document, and who to call when you get stuck. An account is free, it keeps your progress, and it connects you to an advisor who works with businesses like yours.

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